CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Zeek
“YEAH, THANKS, MAN.” Bull hangs his phone up, and shakes his head at me. “Sorry, man, nothing.”
Standing up I throw my beer. “Fuck!” It’s been a day, a fucking day since they took her. I feel like I’m failing her, that I should have found her by now.
“Chill, man, the bike was just pulled out. You can head to Vegas now.”
The burner phone Paw gave me rings.
“Hello?”
“Zeek…” Frank greets. My heart stops, everything around me going deaf.
“How’d you get this number?”
“Ah, you continue to underestimate me, Zeeky boy.”
“Where is she?” I push through gritted teeth.
“Zeek, I just wanted to be the first one to congratulate you.” Frank’s voice chuckles from the other end of the phone. My jaw tenses, my hand flexing around the phone.
“Cut the shit, you tell me where she is or—” The phone pings.
“Check that.”
“I swear to God if you touch—”
“Check the fucking message, Zeek!” he hollers into the phone, his humor gone.
Scratching the back of my neck I pull the phone from my ear and open up a text message feeling nauseous it’s going to contain something gruesome. It’s a picture but I can’t make it out. The picture comes to full resolution showing two pink lines in a small circular window.
It’s a pregnancy test.
A positive one.
“Congratulations, Zeek,” I hear through the speaker of the burner phone.
My world crashes. Everything echoes, my vision blurring. My stomach clenches so tight I feel like I might throw up. This can’t be real.
Putting the phone back to my ear, sweat drips from my forehead.
“You better—”
“I don’t think you’re in the position to make demands at this point. This is how it’s going to go, you fucking traitor. Your betrayal does not go without consequence and you know that, in fact, I am completely at a loss to where your loyalties lie, Zeek. Maybe I should have had you taken out with your father, cut the betrayal of bloodlines when I had the chance.”
“Fuck you. I’m not a traitor.”
“No? Well, I guess we’ll find out. The bosses have been taking more than their normal cut from the casino and when I suggested my cut on my end be raised, they refused. It’s time they…and you…realize I am taking over. Tomorrow night a black sedan will be leaving Sin Casino with duffle bags of money to be delivered to the Mafia. You are to interfere and take that money, bringing it back to me.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You’ll never look at a wire hanger the same again, and your bitch will lie with the last one you were fucking when you decided to question my ruling. We got a deal or not?”
Clenching my eyes shut, my face spreads with an angry warmth. I’m done dealing with Frank. I’m going to fucking rip him limb from limb the next time I see him.
“Fine,” I seethe into the phone.
“Oh, and there’s one more thing. You are to get with the program, Zeek, your club works for me. No more fighting the inevitable here.” The line goes dead, and my fingers curl around the phone to the point I nearly break it.
“FUCK!” I scream, my hands tangling in my hair. My eyes water, my chest heaving up and down. “I have to find her. I need to find her now!” I state hysterically at anyone who can hear.
“What the fuck, man?” Bobby looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Staring at Lip, I swallow hard.
“She’s pregnant. Frank has her, and if I don’t meet his demands, he’ll kill her and the baby. I can’t let that happen.”
“I’m going to be an uncle?” Lip asks with a look of shock on his face.
“Yeah, and to a cop baby.” Bobby chuckles causing Lip to glower at him from over his shoulder.
“What was the job?” Bull questions, breaking the banter between Lip and Bobby.
I explain that the casino bosses are actually the Mafia, and have set Frank up in the perfect life. In return, he skims money off the top of the casino’s profits and gives it to them. I tell them how Frank has been trying to take my club over to turn on them, and take over everything. I inform them Frank is making a point to the bosses and myself by making me, and what is left of my men, steal the money and return it back to him.
“How much money are we talking here?” Bull asks, rubbing his chin after I give him and the Devils the rundown.
I shrug. “I’m not sure, couple million.”
Everyone’s eyes go wide. Bobby spitting beer all over Shadow.
“Thing is, I know even if I do this Frank is going to kill Jillian to make a point to me. He’s not going to take me fucking a cop, and running off with her, without any consequences.” He killed the last girl I had something going on with just for the hell of it, he’ll do it again without a second thought and I can’t let that happen.
Bull rubs the back of his head. “Give me and my boys a moment?”
I glance at Lip who gives me a reassuring nod.
“Make it quick, I really need to be going.” I’m not sure what the fuck I’m going to do, but sitting here isn’t an option.
Stepping outside, I put my hands on my hips and take a deep breath. A breath that doesn’t even feel like I’m breathing at all, because I’m not. Pregnant. She’s pregnant with my kid. My father used to tell me to pull out and I’d be fine. Cross would then tell me that’s how I was made, and not to listen to him. Guess Cross wasn’t just feeding me bullshit though, ‘cause now I’m a father.
Look at me, how can I be a damn dad. I can barely be the man Jillian deserves, let alone the role model a child deserves.
A piece of me wonders if Frank is toying with me, but another part wonders what if he’s not, what if Jillian is pregnant. Dragging my hands down my face I groan, before screaming into the night air. I fall to my knees, my rage and fury spilling from my vocals like poison begging to be released.
Eventually I run out of breath, and my roar subsides into a pitiful yell.
Chest panting, eyes watering I fall forward on my hands and look at the rocks. If he hurts her, I’ll kill him. I’ll kill everyone in my path. I’ll paint the streets of Vegas as red as the carpet lining the floors of Frank’s casino.
“Zeek, you alright, man?” Lip comes into view.
Pulling myself together, I stand, and wipe my hands on my jeans.
“Yeah.”
“Bull wants you.”
Nodding, and pushing the hair from my face, I follow Lip inside.
“So, you want your chick back?” Bull asks, and I can’t help but roll my eyes, the question redundant. “You give us that money, we’ll help you get your bitch back.” Bull takes a sip of his beer, eyes never leaving mine.
“So you want the money…in return for helping me save Jillian?” I ask, eyebrows raised.
“Yup. But you either get our help and give us all the money, or you don’t get us at all.” Nodding, I glance at Lip who is staring right back, arms crossed.
“I just want her,” I state immediately. I know I’m passing up a ton of money, but you can’t put a price on what I feel for Jillian.
“That means nothing for you and your club. You’re picking your woman over money,” Bobby clears it up, as if I didn’t understand Bull’s ultimatum.
“Yeah, I got that.” Running my hand back and forth over my sweating forehead I’m still confused as to why they’re wanting to help me. They don’t owe me anything. Hell, they should be delivering me to Frank themselves. “Why do you want to do this? You don’t understand what you’re getting yourselves into. If we fail, Frank could come after your club.”
Bull crosses his legs, and leans back against the bar. “What can I say? I like happily ever afters…and money.” They all laugh in unison.
“We could also use the money. This place is falling apart if you haven’t noticed.” Shadow points at the ceiling where I crashed through.
“If Frank doesn’t get his money, he’s going to kill her.” I inform them. Not sure how we’re going to get the money and Jillian.
“I think with your men and my men, we can get the money, get your woman, and kill that sleazy asshole Frank.”
My hand darts up on its own, pointing at him, my heart pounding against my chest murderously.
“Frank is mine!”
Bull’s lip curls at the corner.
“You got it.”
Jillian
“I GUESS WE WILL SEE WHERE Zeek’s head is at. Does he bring me the money, or try and save his woman and kid and die in the process?”
I close my eyes, not wanting to hear his voice anymore. Most women who find out they’re pregnant are pacing in their bathrooms, their significant other worrying their hands in the other room. The idea of parenting scaring them, as they wonder if they will survive the struggles ahead.
I’ve been kidnapped, and was just forced by gunpoint to piss on a pregnancy test, which will be used to walk the father of my unborn child into a death trap.
The turmoil and burning path that Zeek and I walk along will never fail as long as we are together.
“Doesn’t matter, does it? In the end we’re going to kill them both.” Cross laughs.
Frank rubs at his tie. “Not if Zeek complies. The deal was he has to return to the club and be under my thumb. I can’t keep those animals in line, and do the business side of things, too. I need someone with some brains to run the club.”
“Hello,” Cross waves his hand. “I could have saved you a lot of fucking trouble, you could have just put me in charge.”
Frank sighs and rolls his eyes. “That will never happen. You can’t even keep a level head if I’m not standing over you. You’d have the club in a blood bath, every connection the club has would be severed. You’re where you’re supposed to be.”
“And what about her? You killing her?” Cross juts his chin toward me.
Frank’s hand slowly moves up, and I watch as he rubs his chin, his eyes raking over me. “Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t know yet.” He turns on an exhale. “I’m going to lie down before Zeek shows up, keep an eye on her. I don’t care how you do it, just do it.” Frank yanks on his tie again and heads toward the elevator.
“Oh, that’ll be my pleasure.” Cross chuckles, his eyes sweeping up and down my body. I grimace, and look the other way. I focus on a vase with fake flowers, trying to calm my rapid heartbeat. The need to break down, give up, and cry is overwhelming.
I need to figure out a way out of here.
“Tell me, how does it feel to be harboring the DNA of a man who killed your father?” Cross jabs.
“Tell me, how does it feel to be nothing more than the dog of the Outlaws?” I rebuttal. His face falls as he grits his teeth and then he marches over with haste. I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing, his stubby legs reminding me of Mr. Potato Head walking. His hands sink into my hair, yanking hard. My humor flees as I whimper with pain.
“I’m going to enjoy ripping you apart.” Lips brush against the shell of my ear. He throws my head forward, the muscles in my neck tensing painfully. “Including that bastard baby.”
My body strikes with adrenaline, my heart thumping madly in my chest. My eyes burn to cry, but I fight it. I don’t want him to see how badly he affects me.
I won’t break. I’m strong.
“Then again, I think caging you in a basement until you pop that child out would be best. Then we can condition the kid—make him, or her, into an animal like the father. But better. One who obeys and knows his or her place.”
I stare blankly ahead, my mind not really anywhere at the moment. I’d rather die with this baby then ever let that happen.
Images of Zeek’s face before he kills fill my mind. That hollow look, the way Zeek doesn’t think he’s capable of love or being loved all portrayed on our child’s face flare behind my eyes.
I don’t want that for Zeek, and I sure as hell don’t want that for a child of mine. My limbs become antsy, my lungs burning to release an emotional scream.
“An outlaw’s blood, mixed with a sheriff’s. That kid of yours would exhibit some incredible skills.” Cross plops on the couch, his arms outstretched along the back. “Yeah, I guarantee Frank would be on board with that.” He lowers his head, his eyes hooded. “So it looks like you won’t be taking the easy way out.”
I scream a blood curdling, face reddening, all I have scream. Crying hysterically to the point I can’t even see straight.
Cross laughs in response to my anguish, hurt, and pain.
I’m breaking.
But even as the thought passes through my brain, I know it’s not true. I’m not breaking. It’s too late for that.
I’m already broken.
Zeek
GETTING READY TO HEAD BACK to Vegas I decide to call Felix and give him the heads up, find out if he’s seen Jillian.
“Hello?”
“I’m headed back to Vegas now.”
“About time,” Felix whispers. “You get the Devils to help you take the club back?”
I swallow, my head throbbing like someone is pounding a fucking drum in there. Looking at Lip I rub at my forehead with my freehand.
“Yeah, about that. Frank gave me an ultimatum, take the shipment of money from the Mafia and he’ll let Jillian go.” The phone goes silent.
“But?” Felix knows there’s more. He knows Uncle Frank just as well as I do.
“We go back to working for Frank.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Felix barks into the phone. “You and I know he’s going to kill her anyway, and after you give him the money you go back to being his bitch! If the Mafia doesn’t come and kill you first!”
“He’s not getting the money, the Devils are.” I’m trying to explain to him what is going down, but his tone of voice is really starting to piss me off.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?” He’s angry, shouting like a pissed off teenager. “Who’s not to say the Devils won’t fucking set you up?!”
“I don’t have a choice right now, Felix. It’s my only option!” I holler back, my patience wearing thin.
“You do this, and you won’t get the club back ever again, you know that, right? You saving her is playing right back into his hands. You’re picking the fucking cop over your club, again!” He’s still shouting, and it pisses me off more than I already am. I snap. I’m still his fucking president, and he’s obviously forgot his fucking respect before he answered the phone.
“Felix!” I yell into the phone. “She’s fucking pregnant with my child, and I’m saving her before anything else. You either be my brother and help me save my girl and unborn child, or you bail. You turn your back, portraying your loyalty to me and ending your position as my Vice President. I don’t blame you either way. I’m the one changing the rules…I know that. So step the fuck up and be the right hand I need, or walk the hell away.”
I hang the phone up, glancing at Lip. My face must look like a fucking kid in a horror house with the way Lip is looking back at me.
“What’s he so pissed about?”
“I’m picking saving a cop rather than saving my club.” The words are thick, and falling from my mouth with hesitation. I worked so hard for the club, spilled so much blood to get to where I am. I am putting years worth of goals and dreams at the bottom of the list to save a girl I never should have given a second look at.
I’m going to save a sheriff.
I’m going to save my ol’ lady.
I’m going to save the woman carrying my unborn child.
So, if Felix walks, fuck him.
“I got your back, man. I’m in.” He nods his head firmly, and gives my back a friendly slap. The soft look on his face digs deep inside my chest. All I have ever wanted was to have my brother take my side, be here for me, and I for him. A bond. A family. A fucking brother.
“You sure?” I ask, he owes me nothing and I’m still shocked he and his club want to help me.
He shrugs. “What’s a brother for if you can’t rely on him to help steal your cop girlfriend back from an insane family member who is part of the Mafia?” I laugh.
Lowering my head, I rub the back of my neck awkwardly.
“Thanks, man,” I whisper.
I take a deep breath, and get a hold of my emotions. I’m starting to feel like a bitch getting all soft over here.
“So, let’s do this,” Bull adds, blowing smoke through his mouth and nose.
With that, every member of the Devil’s Dust speaks up, all offering their help.
I follow the Devil’s Dust out of their club, bulletproof vest in one hand, a nine millimeter and a loaded .45 millimeter in my holster. They all chipped in to make sure my ass was protected, and I still can’t fucking believe it. Looking over my shoulder, waiting for a prank to transpire, or a bullet to hit me in the chest.
“Why are you doing this for me?” I ask Lip as I clip my vest into place.
“It’s called brotherhood.” He shrugs, putting on his own vest.
“You were right, you know.”
“Right about what?”
“Not coming back to Vegas with me, that my club was nothing but savages.”
“Man, I just said that because—”
“Regardless, you were right. This right here, what you guys are doing for me I’ve never seen it before. In Vegas they would have killed me, but not before laughing in my face when I asked for help. This is…it’s something else.”
Lip pats me on the back. “Well, it’s not too late to switch things around.”
I nod. He’s right, if there’s any time to show my boys what a brotherhood should be and become the fucking president I know I can be, it’s now.
Heading toward the bikes, Shadow points to the SUV.
“You two should take the SUV, we might need the extra muscle if we’re taking down a car with millions of dollars,” he suggests.
Swallowing hard, I head toward the black SUV with Lip as the rest of the Devils head towards their bikes. Adrenaline pounds through my veins that tonight is going to get messy.
Lip jumps in the driver’s side and I give them directions before we speed toward Vegas.
The whole time I’m checking my gun, making sure it’s loaded, and pulling on my bulletproof vest anxiously.
“You okay?” Lip questions.
Looking out the window I blow out a nervous breath. “Does it look like I’m okay?”
“Just try to relax, you can raise hell when you get there.” I nod my head in agreement, because raise hell is exactly what I plan to do.
“Give me the rundown, let me know what to expect. Where is the car with the money and shit?”
“There will be a black sedan with at least three men in it, and they’ll be armed to the teeth. They arrive at the back entrance where the armored truck takes the money for deposit, one of the men who helps load the trucks will take the marked bags and hand them off to one of the men driving the sedan. The pick-up is always on schedule…never late. What is today?” Taking my eyes from the window I look at Lip.
“Friday.”
“The truck will do its pick up right before the rush then, eight PM.”
“How do you know all this?”
“When I was sixteen I was the one loading the trucks. Dad made me.”
Lip’s eyes flick between the road and me. “Seriously? If you had gotten caught—”
“He would have killed me, I know.”
Lip takes in a staggered breath. “That’s not what I was going to say, I was going to say you would’ve done hard time.”
Trailing my gaze from the road to Lip, I pin him with a serious stare. “There’s more frightening things in life than doing hard time, it’s called family.”
Lip looks at the clock on the dashboard, the engine roaring with more acceleration.
“We’ll be there in a couple of hours, we’ll get the money, and then we’ll get your woman.”