5. Jameson
I woke up to my phone buzzing on my nightstand. Grumbling, I opened one eye and answered, “This better be good.”
“The girl is on the move again. And I have the map of her route right in front of me,” Nodin answered.
I sat up, both eyes flying open. “What? How?”
“Their road map fell out of their car when they were loading up, and they didn’t notice. So I picked it up after they drove off.”
A small grin tipped my lips. “Sounds like it’s my lucky day. Where are they headed?”
“I’ll take a picture and send it to you, but it looks like their next stop is Roswell.”
I let out a gruff chuckle. “Let me guess, then they’re going to the Grand Canyon and Vegas after that.”
“Yep,” Nodin answered. “Pretty typical tourist road trip.”
I lay back down. “Sounds like they’ll be here in two or three days, then.”
“Yeah, I think so, too. I’ll let you know for sure tomorrow.”
I yawned before responding, “Thanks, brother.”
A few seconds later, my phone buzzed with a text. I opened it to see the photo of the road map and briefly studied their route. After Vegas, she was going through Cali, then up the coast to Seattle.
Too bad she wasn’t going to make it.
Guilt started to creep in, but I was pretty sure Miguel already had his own men trying to find her. One way or another, she was going to be taken against her will. But once we negotiated our deal, that wouldn’t be my problem.
I yawned again. It was still pretty early, and I didn’t have anything to do until later, so I decided to go back to sleep. When I woke up a few hours later, I went to update my dad about Lucia.
I knocked on his open office door at the compound. “Hey, I have an update for you.”
He glanced up as I was speaking. “Good because we’ve got word of some more cartel in Bullhead City.”
I furrowed my brows, wondering if they were trying to find Lucia. “Do you think they’re already looking for the girl or just normal fucking with us bullshit?”
“Not sure. If they are looking for her, we need to make sure to grab her before they do.”
I nodded. “Well, Nodin found a map of their route, and it looks like they’re coming this way. They should be here in two to three days.”
I showed him the image on my phone. “You might have to grab her before she gets here since the cartel is poking around. Maybe take her from the Grand Canyon or Vegas.”
When I initially saw her route, I thought it would be best if I grabbed her from the desert on her way from Vegas to Cali. But now that the cartel were in the area and possibly looking for her, I had to reconsider. “I think you’re right.”
I started rethinking my plan, running different scenarios through my head. After a few seconds, I spoke my thoughts aloud. “If they camp overnight at the Grand Canyon, I could grab her in the middle of the night with less chance of witnesses.”
“And if they don’t?” my father countered.
I blew out a breath. “Well, I can take her from her hotel in Vegas, I guess.”
He chortled. “With the possibility of hundreds of witnesses?”
Irritation buzzed through me. “Well, what do you suggest, then?” I bit out through clenched teeth.
He shrugged. “This is your deal. You’re the mastermind of this operation.”
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. After a few seconds, I blew it out and said, “Maybe I can pick her up.”
The plan started forming in my brain as my dad replied, “Yeah. That’s the whole point of this.”
I shook my head. “No, I mean pick her up, as in, act like I’m interested in her and try to take her home.”
My father rubbed his beard. “You know, that’s not such a bad idea.”
“If she willingly leaves with me, I don’t have to worry about witnesses or an exit plan. I just have to get her to come home with me, or invite me back to her hotel. Either way, once she’s on my bike, I can get her out to the safe house and restrain her there with no witnesses for miles.”
He nodded. “What about the friend?”
Damn, I forgot about that. I rubbed the back of my neck as I tried to think of a solution. “Well, I could have Raleigh come with me and play wingman. If he can keep her friend busy all night, then it will be too late when she realizes what’s happened.”
He arched a brow. “What if she goes to the cops?”
“I don’t think she will. They are on the run from a cartel drug lord, so I’m sure they’re trying to stay off grid.”
“I hope you’re right.” He blew out a breath. “Maybe you should grab her, too, just to be safe.”
I sighed. I really didn’t want to have to worry about two women. “That might be more trouble than it’s worth.”
“If it gets the cartel off our backs, it’s worth it,” he countered. “We don’t need the cops and cartel looking for this girl.”
He had a point. “We’ll have to separate them so they don’t work against us. Maybe one in the safe house, another here or at the warehouse.”
“Your brother needs to help with this. We can’t afford for shit to go south with so much on the line.” He took out his phone and tapped it a few times before it started ringing. My brother answered after a couple of rings. “Hello?” He sounded like he was half-asleep, his voice gruff and raspy.
“Hey, I need you to come to my office. Now.”
Raleigh sighed. “What’d I do this time?”
“Nothing, just get your ass in here now.”
“Fine, fine. Don’t get your panties in a twist,” my brother retorted.
A smirk curved my lips as my dad frowned. “Hurry the fuck up, Raleigh. I ain’t got all fucking day.”
My father hung up before Raleigh could respond, grumbling under his breath. “You two are going to put me in an early grave.”
I chuckled. Raleigh and I were always getting into trouble growing up, especially being born into a biker family. Crime and danger were part of the lifestyle, and we fully embraced them.
Since we’d become adults, and especially following my grandpa’s death, I’d matured. Slightly. Raleigh still didn’t take much seriously and loved to party. So he pissed off my dad to no end because he didn’t really take on responsibility unless he was forced or had his hand held.
But I could always count on him when it really mattered.
Raleigh showed up about ten minutes later. He looked like he just rolled out of bed, his long hair hastily put up in a messy bun on top of his head. I usually wore my hair in a low ponytail or two braids as a nod to our grandfather.
I assumed he slept at the clubhouse if he arrived so fast after just waking up. “You crash here last night?”
He nodded, stifling a yawn. “So what’s up? What did you call me here for?”
“Remember what I told you about Matteo’s brother and the cartel?”
His brows furrowed. “Vaguely.”
I rolled my eyes and scoffed. “Well, I found our leverage, and I need your help.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall, arching a brow. “What leverage?”
“A daughter on the run and on her way here,” I answered.
A smirk curved his lips. “You can’t handle one girl?” he teased.
“There’s a friend with her. And we don’t need her running to the cops when the girl goes missing,” my dad answered.
Raleigh nodded, his features lifting in understanding. “So what’s the plan?”
We brought my brother up to speed on everything, then tried to finalize some of the more important details. “Maybe we should just roofie them,” my brother suggested. “There are always wasted people stumbling around Vegas, so I don’t think that would draw attention.”
For some reason, that didn’t sit well with me. Lucia was innocent in all this, and I felt bad enough taking her hostage to get at her dad. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I’ve got enough game to get her to come home with me.”
He snorted. “You’re confident. You don’t even know her type.”
“A biker is everyone’s type,” I retorted. “We’re a fantasy come to life.”
My dad chuckled. “Don’t get too cocky. Maybe take the roofies just in case you ain’t her type.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. But just as a last resort.”
My brother nodded. “And then we bring them back here?”
I shook my head. “No. You bring yours here and I’m taking Lucia to the safe house.”
“Why?” he questioned, brows furrowing in confusion.
“So they don’t try anything. If they’re separated, they can’t try to form an escape plan together,” I answered.
“I guess that makes sense,” he replied with a shrug. “How long do I have to babysit this broad for?”
“As long as it takes,” my dad said gruffly, his tone leaving no room for debate. “Once we have the girl secured, I’ll reach out to Miguel with our terms.”
“Sounds good. I’ll let you know when I hear from Nodin again.”
My dad nodded. “Make sure you stay on top of this, Jameson. We won’t get another opportunity like this again.”
A lump suddenly formed in my throat. Swallowing it down, I assured, “I will.”
No pressure or anything.
That night, I didn’t sleep that well. I was anxious about the job and wound pretty tight since my dad had made it clear how important the kidnapping was.
Not to mention, Lucia would be in the area in two or three days, and once I grabbed her, I wasn’t sure how long it would be before I was able to go out and have a good time again.
I definitely needed to let off some steam.
I had a couple of casual hookups going on with some of the strippers at the club, like the one from the other night. But sometimes I had one-night stands with tourists in Vegas when Raleigh and I drove there some weekends to party and gamble.
Instead of going to the strip club again, we could head to Vegas early and have some fun before grabbing Lucia. I sent a text to my brother to see what he thought.
Me: Hey, what do you think about hitting Vegas early and having some fun before we grab the girls?
Raleigh: I like how you think, brother
Me: Cool. Let’s get ready and head out today
Before Dixyn moved back home and turned our lives upside down with the cartel, I had been planning to move out and get my own place. I had a room at both my dad’s and the clubhouse, but I wanted more privacy.
But when I got shot in the leg on a run, I needed help while I recovered. Then we took out Matteo and had been dealing with the fallout ever since. I didn’t feel like it was the best idea to go out on my own; we had strength in numbers living together, and I didn’t want to make my dad, brother, or myself easier targets by splitting up. It was bad enough that Dixyn and Poppy were with Bullet, even though he had proven he’d do anything to protect them. It wasn’t “us.”
I packed enough clothes for a few days, then loaded my bag on my motorcycle. I debated taking my Tahoe to be able to transport Lucia after I grabbed her, but I thought that my bike might entice her to willingly come with me.
I really hoped bikers were her type.
Raleigh showed up as I was loading up. “Hey. Just gonna grab some clothes, then we can go.” He stopped, his brow furrowing as he looked at my bag on my bike. “Don’t you think it would be better to take the Tahoe?”
I shrugged. “I thought the bike would add to my appeal and get her to come willingly.”
He snorted, then turned and walked inside the house. “Don’t let your ego get the best of you.”
Chuckling, I followed him. “What? You don’t think I could pull her?”
“I don’t know. Neither of us knows her type. And I think you should be prepared for any situation, and having to transport a drugged girl would be easier in an SUV.”
I hated when he was right even though I’d had the same thought. “You have a point. I was just hoping it wouldn’t get to that.”
Raleigh jogged upstairs. “I’ll be quick.”
I went back outside to move my bag to my Tahoe, then waited for my brother. He came out about five minutes later. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yeah. Where do you want to stay? I think I have comps at Caesar’s, MGM, and the Bellagio.”
“Bellagio. That would impress her, even if you’re not her type,” Raleigh answered.
I laughed as I hopped in. “Well, hopefully you have your own comps because we need two rooms, and I’m not paying for yours.”
Raleigh got in his truck. “Hey, this is club business. If I don’t, I can put it on the business credit card.”
Before I could respond, my phone vibrated. Nodin’s name flashed on the screen. “Hang on a second,” I told my brother.
“Hey, what’s up?” I asked as I answered the call.
“The girls are on the move, and they’ve had a change of plans.”
I arched a brow. “Oh, really? Good or bad for us?”
“Good. They’re heading straight to Vegas now. They’ll probably be there around midnight.”
“Shit.”
I could hear the confusion in his voice as he responded, “I thought this would be good for you. The quicker, the better.”
I cleared my throat. “Yeah, I guess it is. Raleigh and I were heading to Vegas to have a little fun before they got there, but I guess we won’t have time now.”
Nodin chuckled. “Well, I don’t know what your plan was, but I doubt they’ll be accessible tonight anyway. After an almost twelve-hour drive, they will probably just crash at their hotel.”
“True.” I took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag. “Thanks, Nodin. Let me know if anything changes.”
“No problem. Before I go, will you let your dad know I’ll be crashing there for a couple of days once you take over?”
“Sure thing. See you soon.”
When I ended the call, I took another drag.
“Who was that?” Raleigh asked.
After blowing out the smoke, I replied, “Nodin. He’s been tailing the girls, and he said they’re on their way to Vegas now. They’ll arrive around midnight.”
Raleigh’s brow furrowed. “Are we grabbing them tonight?”
I shook my head. “Nah, I think we should wait until tomorrow. They’ll probably just crash after that long of a drive.”
“That might be easier,” Raleigh pointed out. “We could take them from their room while they’re asleep.”
I scoffed, then hit my cig again. “Without causing a scene?”
“We could drug them,” my brother replied with a shrug. “Then they wouldn’t wake up.”
Sometimes my brother didn’t think things all the way through. “And what, we just throw them over our shoulders and walk through the lobby?”
“I don’t know, but what if they leave tomorrow? Then we miss our shot, and Dad will be pissed.”
I chortled, letting the smoke flow out my mouth. “I’ll take my chances. We can’t go into this rushed, or we’re more likely to make mistakes. We can always catch them in the desert if we miss them in Vegas.”
Raleigh held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, but if things go to shit, you’re taking the blame with Dad.”
I rolled my eyes and took one last hit of my cigarette. “Don’t I always?”
“Fuck you,” my brother replied playfully with a smirk. “Are we going or not?”
I started my car. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go.”