Twenty-Seven
As I was getting on my bike, the phone rang. I looked down at the display, thinking it was one of the boys with an update, but the display said it was Tish!
I picked up, yelling, “Tish, what the fuck?”
There was no answer. I could hear her breathing hard; it sounded like she was moving fast. “Tish, babe, I don’t know what’s happening, you’ve got to talk to me.” Still no answer. “Babe, if you can’t talk to me, keep the line open, DO NOT hang up, Tish! I’m coming for you, I swear it, just hang on.” I listened but now I couldn’t hear her breathing or any sound at all.
Jumping on my bike, I hauled ass to the clubhouse. One of the prospects on the gate heard me coming and swung it open so I could pass through without having to stop. Parking, I ran up the steps and flung open the door, yelling for Sonny. He stuck his head out of the meeting room.
“In here, Fighter.”
I ran in holding out my cell phone. “She called, Sonny. She hasn’t spoken but I could hear her breathing, now nothing, but the line is open still.” I handed him the phone. “Find her, man.”
“Tish,” he said into the handset, but the phone was still silent. “Tish, I’m triangulating your location, keep the line open, sweetheart. If you can, push a couple buttons on the phone so we know you understand us, just don’t hang up.” Nothing, just dead air.
“FUCK!” I shouted, banging my fist on the desk.
Sonny was busy with his laptop doing some computer shit, while Dukes sat in his chair, smoking. “Calm yourself, Fighter. He’s doing the best he can, man.”
Breech and Danko came running in. “Any news, Fighter?” Breech asked.
“She called me, Breech, but she isn’t talking. I heard her breathing, like she was running, then nothing. Sonny is tracking her cell. How’s Jiji taking it?” I asked.
“Jiji is freaking out. Sandra is keeping her company with Lani; they’re in the kitchen with some of the club girls, making sandwiches.”
“I can’t worry about her right now, man; she’ll just have to suck it up ‘til we get Tish back,” I snarled.
“I’ll go check on them, make sure she’s okay.” He came around the table, grabbed me up, and gave me a hug, slapping my back.
“Thanks, brother, I appreciate that.”
“We’ll get her back, Fighter. She’s family; we won’t stop ‘til we have her back.”
“If something happens to her, Breech…”
“Stop, Fighter, don’t go looking for trouble. Let’s concentrate on the positive and on getting her home.”
I brushed a hand against my eyes, ducking my head so he couldn’t see.
Bumping my fist, he left to check on Jiji.
I found Jiji in the kitchen with the women. When she saw me coming she flew over to me. “Breech, did you find her? Is she all right? Is she coming home?”
She clung to my arm, firing questions at me one on top of the other. Her hair was a mess from pushing her fingers through it, her eyes were red rimmed and watery from crying, and her nails were digging into my arm as she pleaded for news.
Sonya was standing close by; she handed Jiji a tissue so she could wipe her eyes and blow her nose. “I hope you find her soon, Breech,” she said.
I lifted my hand, shooing Sonya away. She made a face but left us alone. Lowering my hand, I brushed Jiji’s hair away from her face, cupping her cheek. “We don’t know anything yet, doll. She did try and contact Fighter, and Sonny is tracking her cell as we speak.”
“Please, Breech, you have to find her; he’ll kill her for sure this time. He’s an animal with no morals.” She burst into tears, trembling from the force of her crying.
I couldn’t help it; I drew her into my arms, rocking her, trying to soothe her as best I could. She fisted my T-shirt, her tears soaking it through. She snaked an arm around my waist, letting me take her weight. Behind me the door closed quietly as the others left us alone in the kitchen. When the storm of tears passed, her body became pliant, her energy drained.
She leaned back in my arms, looking up at me. “Promise me you’re going to find her,” she pleaded.
“I swear to God, I will do everything I can to find her and bring her home to you and Fighter, Jiji.” Her eyes widened and her body started trembling for a different reason. I lowered my head, meaning only to kiss her forehead, but she rose up on her toes, tipping up her chin, and I couldn’t resist kissing her parted lips. She looped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer to her, opening her mouth at the urging of my tongue. That’s all the invitation I needed.
Crushing her to my body, I kissed her, exploring her mouth with my tongue, then using it to tangle with hers. Her breasts flattened against my hard chest, and I’m sure she could feel the outline of my cock growing thick and pressing against the seam of her jeans.
The door opened with a bang and Jiji jumped away like she’d been burned. Her face flushing, she busied herself picking up a plate of sandwiches and moving to leave the kitchen. I stepped in her path, blocking her escape.
“Breech, Sonny almost has a fix on Tish; we have to strap-up man,” Danko said, ignoring the scene he walked into.
“I’m coming, Danko, be there in a second,” I said. Danko grunted a reply as he left.
I looked down at Jiji, using my fingertips to tilt her chin up so she had to meet my eyes. “I have to go, doll; we’ll talk about what happened here later. I’m not sorry I kissed you, only that now isn’t the time or place.” She acknowledged my comment with a bob of her head, then fled. I sighed watching her flee. She wasn’t going to make it easy for me.
Sprinting up the stairs to my room, I unlocked the gun safe and pulled out my weapon of choice, a Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 still in its holster. I knew it was loaded, so I grabbed some extra clips, stuffing them in my cut. I slammed the safe door, running back downstairs to the office.
Sonny looked up from his laptop and shouted, “Got it,” as I breezed in. “The phone is located off County Road 8, near Oneonta.”
“Let’s roll!” Dukes said.
Dukes, Sonny, Fighter, Danko, and I ran out to our bikes. We roared out of the lot following Sonny, who had taken point with his tracking software. I wasn’t a religious man, but I prayed as we raced through the early morning fog.
Please let her be okay. Please let us find her.
“Hang on, Tish, the Devil’s Wind is coming for you!”