11. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
I halfheartedly listened to Jemma as she spilled her guts to the cop. Carmichael wasn’t a fool. He’d dealt with the criminals who posed as legit businessmen in Texas for over a decade.
I knew he was coming to the same conclusion I already had. Mitch had stupidly gotten into cahoots with the cartel, and now his family had come to their attention. He’d screwed up royally and would end up dead for it.
My concern was for Jemma and Jackson. For some reason beyond my comprehension, or maybe because I chose not to think about it, they were mine. They had become my responsibility to protect.
Playing the knight in shining armor wasn’t in my normal wheelhouse. I used people then dropped them like a hot potato. This time was different, and it was fucking with my brain.
“We’ll do what we can, but if your ex is involved with the cartel, as I suspect, it won’t be easy to extract him. I’m sorry to say that if he doesn’t pay his debt, then he’s practically signed his own death warrant. Worse, we’ve spent years trying to put those people behind bars and haven’t managed to get anywhere with it. Now, we’re aware they have themselves a new leader. Aguilar is less generous to those that defy him than Perez ever was, and that’s making light of it. I can’t even order them questioned or watched because we have no proof that they’re involved, just that your ex pissed off somebody he owes money. I’m sorry for your predicament,” Carmichael stated.
Jemma nodded, resigned to dealing with the issue alone, but there was no way in hell I’d allow that to happen. As far as I was concerned, she’d never be alone again.
I was about to risk Prime’s anger once more because this little family meant that much to me.
“Jemma, I’ve got some business that has to be taken care of. The cop outside will keep you safe for a couple of hours, but I promise I’ll be back. I’ll stay like I did before and watch over you and Jackson. I’ll die before I let anyone past me,” I swore.
She gave me a sad smile before saying, “This isn’t your problem, Sweet. I married the little asshole, so it was my mistake. Kicking his ass to the curb should have freed me, but it didn’t. It’s practically impossible to get rid of cockroaches once they’ve infested your home, and that’s what Mitch is, a damn cockroach. I know you’re needed at the bar. Got to work and forget about us. We’ll continue to survive.”
The derisive laugh that broke from me startled her. “Honey, there’s no way in hell that’s going to happen. I’m in this for the duration and hopefully far beyond it. The only way to get rid of me is to kill me, and you aren’t capable of that. I’ll talk to my boss and be back asap. Don’t try to talk me out of it. It won’t work.”
“I won’t try because I’m scared. I need you, Sweet,” she confessed.
I stumbled forward and shifted her against me. I kissed her like a drowning man who needed to take air from her lungs. Her confession had nearly brought me to my knees. Though I was three times her size she had me under her control.
I’d stolen. I’d tortured. I’d killed. Yet, I had no power over what Jemma made me feel. I was terrified.
I tried to plan what I’d say to Prime when I arrived at the bar, but it was impossible. Every word that came to mind just wasn’t good enough. Either he understood the bold truth and was on my side, or he told me to choose between the MC and Jemma. I didn’t think I’d survive by choosing.
“Where the hell have you been?” Flame greeted me. “You’re late. We’ve already had a fight and I’ve had to deal with Rod acting like a fool when some drunk asshole put his hands on me.”
“I was busy with a complication. It couldn’t be helped. I’ll have a come to Jesus moment with Rod if you want. He’ll leave you be,” I promised.
“Don’t bother. It’s kind of cute the way he stands up for me. It gives me tingles.”
I grinned. Rod was making progress. I felt like a proud papa. “Where’s Prime? I need to talk to him.”
“It’s better if you get busy working and leave him the hell alone. He’s pissed at you for not being here when the fight went down. He had to deal with it, and he’s got a fat lip to show for it,” Flame protested.
“I’m about to make it worse. This isn’t something that can wait. Is he in the office?” I asked.
“Si, he had some kind of important phone call. He didn’t want to be disturbed. If he shoots you don’t blame me, amigo.”
I hesitated before knocking. I listened to see if Prime was still on the phone. I was in a hurry, but I wasn’t suicidal. Then, there was the fact that if I got shot Jemma would be alone.
No sound reached my ears, so I raised a fist and pounded on the door.
“Get your ass in here, Sweet!” Prime yelled. “I saw your sorry ass on the security monitor. You’ve got some explaining to do.”
I held my hands up in a sign of surrender as I entered. There was every chance that Prime would indeed shoot me. He wouldn’t aim to kill, but he wouldn’t miss either.
I winced when he pulled the ice pack off his face. His lip was swollen and had been bleeding as Flame had said. But, more than that, a large bruise covered his right cheek, and his eye was turning black. I was in deep shit.
“This should be you,” he spit out between clenched teeth. “I did your damn job because your fucking ass wasn’t where it was supposed to be. If I wasn’t in pain I’d beat you to a pulp and kick you out the door. But my head’s throbbing, and I can’t see straight.”
“Aspirin and whiskey coming right up,” I stated, while I poured him a double and pulled a bottle of pills out of the cabinet over the tiny bar in Prime’s office.
“This won’t gain my forgiveness, but it’s a start,” he declared as he gulped the whiskey.
“Why didn’t you self-medicate already?” I dared to ask.
“Because I had an important call to handle. I needed my mind sharp, not dulled by whiskey. Someone has to take care of this club,” he reprimanded.
“I should have been here. That’s obvious. I fully intended to do my job tonight, but there were circumstances that I couldn’t control that kept me away. I’m truly sorry, boss. You can exact punishment if you want, but I wouldn’t do things any differently if I was given another chance,” I told him.
“I assume this has something to do with the kid and the woman. I warned you about loyalties, Sweet. You swore an oath to this club and to me. I expect you to put the club first,” Prime reminded me.
The muscle in my cheek twitched as I replied, “And you said they were under our protection. I took you at your word.”
He slammed the glass onto the desk and swore, “Fucking hell! I must have had a soft moment. It was a stupid thing to say since we’re in the middle of our own mess, but I keep my damn promises whether they are stupid ones or not. Fine! What the hell is your excuse?”
“When we came back from our evening out, the cops were at her place. It was Carmichael and some tight-assed newbie who took a dislike to my appearance. Anyway, the babysitter, an old woman who couldn’t have protected Jackson from a fly, found a bag with a bloody dead animal on the porch along with a threatening note. The cops know, just like I do, that the cartel is involved. They can’t do anything without evidence as usual. It’s a damn crock of shit!”
Prime’s eyebrows drew together is anger and thought. He asked, “Why are you so sure the cartel is in on this? There are other loan sharks just as deadly.”
“The things Jemma says about what her ex mentioned while he was drunk make me think about the cartel. The damn note sounded like a threat they’d make. It said any sin of his was hers too. It warned that they’d get payment in flesh if necessary, and they didn’t care whose.”
“That’s not enough to start a war with them, Sweet. It’s a standard threat. We’ve heard it all before. Any asshole who had loaned him money would say the same. He’ll eventually pay or be killed, then it’ll be over,” Prime proclaimed.
“I can’t count on that, Prime. I have to take the threat seriously. Jemma’s scared, so scared she agreed for me to come back and stay there. Jackson believes in me in a way I never thought anyone would. I’m his damn hero. I won’t let him down. I can’t,” I answered.
“You’ve taken on a lot, Sweet. You’re needed at two places, and I can’t cut you in half. We’re spread thin trying to maintain our territory. I can’t spare you 24/7. You can go tonight, but I need you back here tomorrow. I think she’s safe for a few days. If it’s the cartel they won’t make another move for a while. They’ll give a few days to allow her or her ex to get the money. It’s more important to them than hurting her or the kid,” Prime explained.
“What if he doesn’t pay? What if they kill him and still come for Jemma? We need more information, Prime. We need proof that he’s involved with Aguilar.”
Prime rubbed his face, forgetting his injuries. He released a yowl of pain and gave Sweet a glare to remind him the hurt was all his fault.
“You ask a lot for a man who’s already pushed me too far. But you’re also a good enforcer when you’re present, and an excellent friend to us all. I’ll set aside your loyalty issue for now. I have one source that can help us find out what Mitch got himself into. I hate calling in favors so soon, but it’s a necessity,” Prime admitted.
“Favors from who?” I asked.
“I recently cut a deal; one I may regret at some point. The phone call I was on sealed the pact for better or worse. I met with the pakhan of the bratva; the mafia boss; recently. We agreed that we could help each other. It’s a shaky alliance, yet safer than the one we had with the cartel until recently. Petrov or his brigadier can get us some answers. They’re excellent at digging out information. They’re into me for a favor already since I’ve done one for them. I’ll see what they can prove for us,” Prime promised.
“Can I count on Jemma and Jackson getting protection? As you said, I can’t be in two places at once,” I asked, knowing I was going too far again.
“I already told you we’re spread too thin. I don’t know when or if I can spare a damn bodyguard. Even if I can she lives near the cartel’s territory. I know they’re selling there despite the fact that it’s intruding close to our space. It’s supposed to be neutral territory, but if we’re seen there they could take it as a threat. It would start the war I’m trying to avoid. Is this woman worth it?” Prime asked me straight out.
Without a hint of hesitation I answered, “Yes.”