Cole

 

“What do you fucking mean Justin has her?” I pace in front of Darren’s dining room table, staring daggers at the man leaning on the kitchen island.

 

“I got a message about twenty minutes ago. Justin took her and wants money to get her back,” Darren says from the kitchen.

 

“Where is he keeping her? We need to get there. He will never let J go alive.”

 

I pull my phone out and dial her number. I instantly get her voicemail.

 

“Leave me a message.”

 

“Goddammit. Her phone is turned off. What’s her iPhone login information?”

 

“How the fuck do I know that?” He straightens and walks into the dining room, stopping in front of me.

 

“Fuck. I could track her phone with it. I’m calling Asher. He can get more information than I can.”

 

“I already called. He’s on his way now. I need answers, and someone is going to pay,” Darren growls.

 

“How much does he want?” I pull the bandana off my forehead and rub my head.

 

“150K. He said he knew I would pay it to get J back.”

 

Without knocking, Asher opens the door, phone to his ear. “Get me everything you have. Drew is waiting for the fax at the office.” Hanging up, he stops in the kitchen, putting his hands on the island. “Here’s what I know. We are doing property searches for Justin and any of the thugs on DiMarco’s payroll. They have turned up about thirty-five properties. We are trying to weed them out, but it’s going to take some time. Justin owes them about a hundred large. He’s in panic mode right now. Angelo gave him a deadline for the money. He either pays in cash or with his life. DiMarco doesn’t care which.”

 

So he thinks by taking J, he’ll get the money and nothing will happen to him? I’ll kill him with my bare hands.

 

“There has to be another way to get more information. We don’t have enough to find him. What we do have is going to take forever to check.” I start pacing again.

 

“Cole, we are doing our best—”

 

Darren slams his hand down on the counter. “It’s not fucking good enough, Ash. I need to find my fucking daughter…now.”

 

I know I’m putting my freedom on the line, but this is for J. I would die for this woman. What is a little more prison time? I made friends while I was there. They weren’t always on the up and up, but I had their backs. Now it’s time they have mine.

 

“I have some favors to call in. I can see if we can get the information faster.”

 

“Cole, you know what you are risking by doing that,” Asher says with a raised eyebrow.

 

“Don’t you think I know what’s at fucking stake right now? But these guys have ways of getting information fast. That’s what J needs right now.”

 

Walking into the living room, I pull up the one contact I never thought I’d use. When the call connects, I take a deep breath. “Stinger, I need your help.”

 

“Cole Masters, as I live and breathe. I never thought you’d ever call this number. It must be pretty important to have you asking me for help.”

 

“Someone on DiMarco’s payroll has my girl and I don’t have time to waste.”

 

Stinger Morris is one scary guy. He has his hands in all the underground dealings. You need information, someone killed, or bail money, he is the one to call. With a favor of this magnitude, I know I am going to end up owing him. He will come calling someday.

 

Stinger lets a whistle out before answering. “DiMarco is no fucking joke. Right now, he is one of the biggest players in the game. Who am I looking into?”

 

“Justin Adkins. He wants a hundred and fifty thousand to get her back. I need to know where he’s taken her.”

 

“I’ll make a few calls. Don’t worry, C-man. We’ll get your girl back. Stinger’s on it. Give me fifteen and I’ll holler back at ya.”

 

“Thanks, man.”

 

When I hang up, Darren looks at me. “Well? Don’t make me pull it out of you. What the fuck did the man say?”

 

“He said give him fifteen minutes.”

 

“There is no fucking way he can get more information than we can in fifteen minutes,” Asher says, his dislike of the situation showing.

 

“Ash, I know you hate that I asked a criminal for help, but I am a fucking criminal. I won’t let anything happen to her, not when I just found her. I haven’t had nearly enough time with her.”

 

“I get it, I do, but I am worried I won’t be able to keep you out of the backlash. You just found her and need her, but spending more time in prison won’t let you do that. But I get it. I’ll work with whoever has the intel to get J back.”

 

My phone rings, Stinger’s number flashing across the screen. “Sting, what do you have for me?”

 

“All right. Justin has two properties in his name. Both look to be where his children live. I highly doubt he would take her around his kids. The mother of his oldest has a house and a few acres on the other side of town. That one may be something to look into. There is one more possible location. His dad lives in an apartment, but it shows he owns a house that is going into foreclosure. If I had to put money on it, I would go with that one. It’s on a big lot without a ton of neighbors. If I were holding someone, that is where I would go. I’ll get all the information texted over.”

 

“Stinger, I owe you.”

 

“No worries, brother. I know you are good for it. I’ll collect at a later date. Good luck. If you think you need help from my boys, holler at me.”

 

“Thanks,” I say, already knowing Stinger hung up.

 

When I get a text, I give all the information to Asher and Darren. Before I even finish, Darren pulls out a Beretta 9mm from the drawer and shoves it into his pants.

 

Ash puts his hands on his hips and looks at Darren. “There is no way I can tell you to stay here, is there?”

 

“Absolutely fucking not. Give us a head start. This fuck needs to pay.”

 

“I’ll give you some slack, but don’t hang yourself with it. I’m coming to keep you two hotheads in check. Let’s go get your girl.”

 

 

*

 

 

We stop the truck about a half-mile from the address Stinger gave me. Not knowing what we are walking into, it seems like the best idea. It’s on a secluded street with thick trees on three sides, no neighbors, no traffic. The perfect place to hide someone away. The two-story house is nothing that would draw your attention. The paint is peeling on the siding, the overgrown grass making it look like upkeep hasn’t been done in years. There is an attached garage, a free-standing garage to the left, and from what we can see, two shed-like structures in the back.

 

Asher outfitted us with bulletproof vests and wireless radio communication. He wasn’t happy, but knew there was no way Darren and I weren’t going to be involved. We stop about fifty yards from the property as Asher uses his binoculars to see what we are dealing with.

 

“There is one car parked in the driveway. One male on the front steps appears to be looking at his phone. I don’t see anyone else.”

 

“What’s the plan?” Darren asks from my left.

 

“Cole, take the back. I’ll silence the threat in the front. Darren, do you really think you can do this with two casts?”

“You really need an answer to that? It’s my kid in there.”

 

“All right. Check that first garage on the left. On my count.” Asher makes eye contact with me and Darren. “Don’t be stupid. Just find J.”

 

On Asher’s count, we separate, moving quietly. I follow the tree line until the back of the house comes into view. I stop to watch for a few minutes to see if the guy in the front really is the only person here. Not seeing anyone else, I slowly creep into the high grass. I keep my right arm at my side, holding the 9mm in my grasp. My pounding heart is the only sound I hear.

 

I climb the back steps of the house, keeping my eyes on the door.

 

“Hey, Cisco, I’m… What the fuck?!”

 

I turn to see Justin standing in front of the closed shed door. I raise the gun, pointing it at his head. “Where the fuck is she?” The fuck has the nerve to laugh.

 

“I knew Darren would come. Where is dear old daddy? Does he have my money?”

 

I slowly make my way down the steps. Justin doesn’t appear armed and hasn’t pulled a weapon yet, but he’s a desperate man. Desperate men are unpredictable. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Darren move around the sheds to come up behind him.

 

Darren stops, putting the gun against the back of his head “Where is my daughter?” he growls.

 

“Darren, I knew you’d come for your precious daughter. I only wish I had more time with her. I didn’t get to taste that sweet pussy like I wanted.”

 

His words cause a growl to come from my chest. Darren swings the gun into the back of Justin’s head. Justin drops to his knees, laughing. “Do you really think I don’t know I am a dead man? I knew there was no way I was getting out of this alive. I thought it would be DiMarco. I’m impressed you and J’s toy manned up enough.”

 

I stomp across the grass to stand in front of the kneeling piece of shit. I smash the gun into his smiling face, enjoying the blood spraying from his broken nose. His head flops to the side. I grasp his hair and bring his head back so he’s looking up at me. “If you hurt her, don’t think I won’t kill you, motherfucker. The difference between you and me? I’ve been to prison. I have no fucking fear of going back. It would be a pleasure to tie you up in that tree over there and gut you like a deer. Watching you bleed out would be a highlight.” He has the nerve to smile at me. I pull back my left arm and let loose a quick punch to his already broken nose. He moans, which brings more joy to my cold heart than I thought possible. I go down to one knee in front of him, pulling his head back again. “Where the fuck is J? I will not ask again.”

 

“Her pussy is as tight as I remember.” He licks the blood dripping from his nose onto his lip.

 

The anger that has fueled my body for years is unleashed. I toss my gun to the side and start swinging, not caring what part of his body I come into contact with. His grunts of pain push me on. I’ve hit him so many times, my arms feel like Jell-O, but I won’t quit. If he’s hurt her, I will kill him.

 

Ash comes running up. “Cole, I called for backup. You have about fifteen minutes to find her. I’ll cuff him and put him with the other piece of shit. Go search for her. She’s more important than killing him right now.”

 

Justin smiles through his bloody and battered face. Darren has stood by while I beat Justin. Without a word, he takes his turn. I stand and watch, knowing it’s less than he deserves, but there isn’t enough time. I pull a heaving Darren off a now unconscious Justin.

 

“Let’s find J.”

 

I give Justin one final kick to his check with my steel-toe boot before stepping over his limp body. Asher pulls his arms back to click the handcuffs on him, leaving him where he is.

 

I head to one shed, Darren running to the other.

 

I hope she can come back from this.