Nate
Rage courses through every fiber of my body. As I arrive at the farmhouse, I see the truck and my guys’ motorcycles parked outside.
“Man, thank fuck you’re here,” Zane shouts over to me as I kick out the stand and jump down, walking and unfastening my helmet at the same time.
“What the fuck happened, man?”
“We pulled up, ready to unload the crates, only to be met with bullets. I had no idea what was happening, man. The huge van fired round after round at us as they tried getting into our truck. They must’ve known it was drugs, man.”
“You get a look at them?”
“Nah, they all had masks on. Luckily Roach shot one of them. Bullet through the windshield. It got them fleeing from here. But I don’t know if they’ll come back armed and ready.”
“We have to get the drugs away from here. And the old man?”
“He’s dead, brother. Bullet to the chest. He didn’t make it.”
“FUCK!” I roar so hard my throat hurts.
“Jimmy took a bullet to the arm. He’s okay, doesn’t seem serious.”
I storm inside the old farm building, my men gathered round, placing a blanket over Chester’s body.
“Fuck, boss, it’s good to see you,” Matteo says, stepping toward me and patting me on the arm.
“Who knew about the deal, huh?” I ask.
They all speak at once, each declaring that they haven’t told anyone.
“No one, no one knows about this place,” I bellow, scraping my hands over my face. “And now we have a death on our hands.”
“He was a good guy,” Davo says sighing heavily.
“Take the fucking sheet off him. We have to get out of here. There’s a chance they could come back.”
“Where should we keep the drugs? I mean, we’re going to need a new location,” Davo adds. “What about the whorehouse… just temporarily?”
“No… we need somewhere more secure, unattached to the Savage businesses.” I take a few seconds to think through the options before making a decision. “Take it to the old storage building, down by the quarry. I’ll get in touch with Jostler and let him know you guys are on the way.”
“Sure thing,” Davo replies.
“And trash this place, take some jewelry and shit. Make it look like a robbery,” I bellow, heading outside with my phone in hand. Dialing his number, I call ahead quickly letting him know about our need to use the storage.
“Handled,” I shout back over to the guys. “Now, we move.” Zane makes his way over to me as I place my helmet on my head.
“We gotta find the bastards that just tried to fucking rob us, man. Someone followed us here, how else would they know?”
“Agreed, no one would know about this place, so you guys had to have been followed here. But there are only two people that knew about this last deal. Braxton Harris and Brewer.”
“You think this was the Deathseekers?” His nostrils flare and his feet move back and forth as he becomes a human ball of nervous energy. “First the fucking guns, now this? That guy’s got some fucking balls.”
I hold my hands up in a mock surrender. “We don’t know for sure yet.”
“You’re right. You’re so right. Who else could it be. Listen, Nate. We gotta do something about this asshole. Jarvis is dead because of that cocksucker, and Emily too. He continues to screw us over at every turn. He’s gotta go, brother.”
“I know you’re angry, but we have to stay levelheaded. If Brewer is behind this, we’ll get him. His time is limited, brother. That noose around his neck is getting tighter with every passing day.”
“Call Hunter,” he blurts out, his hand working frantically through his hair. Jesus, he’s wired. It’ll be the anger. It can do crazy shit to you.
“And say what?”
“I don’t know. We kill that fucking blonde chick if he doesn’t give us intel. Jesus, Nate. We gotta stop waiting for shit to play out and start taking action.”
“Hey,” I snap. “You’re questioning my judgement now?” My eyes narrow and the look of anger rests on my face.
“FUCK!” he yells loudly, letting out a pained growl. “I feel helpless just standing here with you. I need to do something.”
Digging inside my pockets, I tip up my packet of smokes, offering them to Zane. “Have a smoke and calm the fuck down. Decisions made in rage are never a good idea.”
He takes a cigarette from the packet, placing it between his teeth, patting the pockets of his jeans as he searches for a light.
“Here.” I retrieve mine and offer the flame to him. With a tip of his head, he leans in until the tip of the cigarette meets the flame. Taking a huge drag, his head falls back, his fingers pressing the bridge of his nose. Smoke plumes into the cool evening air and I watch as his shoulders slump.
“We take care of the drugs, and tomorrow, first on the agenda is what we do about Brewer.”
* * *
After a long drive to the old quarry I’m finally on my way home. Fuck knows what time it is, but I’m pretty sure the sun will rise soon. As I take the turn onto our street and slow my speed, I notice a car parked a few feet away from our driveway.
“What the fuck?”
I squint, hoping to work out who is in the car.
As I get closer to the car, the driver must see me, switching on the lights and starting the engine. I ride to the front of the vehicle, dismounting and racing toward the window, retrieving my gun and pointing it to whoever is sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Jesus Christ, Mrs. Mellano. What the hell are you doing here?” I ask through the partially open window.
“I’m here to see my daughter, asshole.” She spits her words at me, her face scrunched up like she’s chewing a wasp.
“It’s like four o’clock in the morning.”
Reaching for the handle, she swings the door open and steps out. “I’m gonna level with you, Nate. My daughter knows something… something that could get me killed. And I’m not sleeping, barely eating because I’m so scared.”
Pushing my gun back inside the waistband of my jeans, I widen my stance and fold my arms across my chest. “You’re talking about Brewer, right?”
“Yes,” she rushes out. “What has she said? How much do you know?”
“Everything.”
“And?”
Her eyes are wide and waiting for me to answer. “She’s fucking hurting. Confused. You should have kept that little secret to yourself.”
“I couldn’t, Nate. Every day she gets deeper and deeper and more involved in your world.”
“You put yourself in danger just so she could know the truth, pretty stupid thing to do.”
“It’s what you do as a parent, as a mother. I never meant to hurt her with this information. I thought it might make her realize what a mistake she’s making.”
“Mistake?”
“You, the MC. Knocked up and not knowing who the father is.”
I press my lips together, trying to control the anger I feel building. “Let’s get one thing straight,” I say calmly. “Tara isn’t knocked up. She’s pregnant… with my child.”
Tilting her head, she lifts one brow. “We both know that might not be entirely true.”
“Listen.” I sigh loudly. “It’s been a long night. I’m fucked and don’t have time for your games. What exactly is it you want?”
“I need to know that she won’t tell Brewer the truth.”
“Well, I’m sorry to tell you, but the last conversation we had about him, she said she wanted to get to know him. Find out if he’s really the bad guy everyone says he is.”
“No,” she screeches quietly, both hands coming up to cover her mouth. “Nate… you have to stop her. Tell her it’s a bad idea.” Her voice is full of panic.
“I’ve tried. Really I have. But you know Tara. Headstrong and stubborn. Maybe now would be a good time to take a vacation. Visit some family.”
“I... I... can’t,” she stammers. “I don’t have the money, even if I wanted to.”
“It won’t be forever. Brewer is a wanted man, but for now, I agree you should keep yourself safe.”
“She’s going to tell him, isn’t she?”
I drop my eyes to the ground, nodding a little. “I’m not sure. Maybe.”
“Oh, God.” She rests her head on her hands, tears stream down her face.
“If money is the issue, I’ll take care of that. Tomorrow. I’ll have the money to you by then.”
“Really?” she asks, looking puzzled. “You’d really do that… for me?”
“For you, nah. This is for Tara. She’s going to need you.”
“Thank you,” she rushes at me, wrapping her arms around my waist, her wet face rests against my chest.
Stiffening, I don’t move. I let her rest there until she pulls away. “I should, uh, I should go.” Swiping her hands across her cheeks, she removes the fallen tears before stepping back inside her car. “Tara doesn’t need to know about this conversation, okay?”
“Sure thing, ma’am.”