Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Gideon
I was once again in a freezing-cold warehouse but this time, tied to a chair, was one of Anders’s men. Danny had seen him lurking at the docks a couple of days after we’d infiltrated Lorcan’s guys trying to fuck up my shit.
He was stubborn; Danny had at least four knives in the guy’s body, his face looked like hamburger, and he was shaking with fear—or cold, I wasn’t sure.
“This can all end.” I cocked my head and lit a cigar, savoring the moment smoke hit my lungs. “Just tell me Lorcan’s upcoming plans, and Danny stops playing.”
He only had one good eye and it was trained on Danny, who was grinning as he spun a scalpel.
“I don’t know. I’m not high up in the ranks. He told me to watch the docks, and I did. He gives me orders on the fly. I don’t know what’s next.” Blood and saliva dripped down his chin.
“Tell me. The people in Lorcan’s inner circle, where can I find them?”
His one eye rounded. “Uh, I don’t know where anyone lives.”
I cracked my neck, releasing some of the pressure that began to build. “No, you fucking idiot. Where do they frequent?”
“Oh…” He swallowed and promptly coughed. “Lorcan goes to a club a lot, I think it’s called Slice or something. He has a VIP spot there, and his number one and two go—Ricky and Gal. They’re the only ones I know, really.”
“I know the place,” Danny said. “Downtown, sorta nice. Not sure how he got in and has been building his empire so much so quietly, though.”
I glanced at the man in the chair. “I don’t suppose you know?” He shook his head rapidly. “Outside of Lorcan’s tight-knit group, what outsiders do you know he’s been talking to?”
He opened his mouth a couple of times, terror filling his face. “I swear, I don’t know much. I’m not high up.”
“You telling me you don’t know who in this town is helping Lorcan out? Not one person?” I motioned to Danny, who moved closer to him.
“Wait!” He shouted and I held up a hand. “Parker, I don’t know his last name, works at the pawn shop on Crowley Ave. Lorcan had me go there a few times to pick up an envelope.”
“So, maybe he’s forced to pay?” Danny shrugged.
“No.” The guy sputtered, and more blood dribbled out of his mouth. “Each time he always smiled, said to tell Lorcan it was a pleasure doing business with him.”
That wasn’t a normal response when someone was being forced to pay. “That’s helpful information.” I walked up to the chair, not touching him because I didn’t want to get blood on my two-thousand-dollar Armani jacket.
“Can I go now? Maybe to a hospital.”
I chuckled and peered over my shoulder at Danny. “You make sure to take care of him.”
“Of course, Boss.”
I spun on my heels and left the warehouse in favor of the warm SUV. Danny would make it quick. I texted my cleanup crew to get here, then ordered two of my guys to drive to the pawn shop, check it out, and get info on this Parker fellow.
Fifteen minutes later, Danny hopped into the SUV. “Where to?”
“Home. I have Tate and Carl checking out the pawn shop since Matteo is home and doesn’t need them for the rest of the night. I can’t waltz into Slice, at least not yet. I have to know whose hands Lorcan has greased to gain power in this town while keeping me from knowing.”
“You got it.”
The cleaning crew was pulling up to the warehouse as we left. Danny drove, and I stared at my cell phone. I wasn’t sure if Penn or Alex had sent the singular text: I am Batman.
I had people watching him too, and word as of this morning was that he’d rented a pickup truck and had started packing it up. Penn was leaving town.
That night after dinner, while I was in my office, my phone vibrated. Alan’s name lit up the screen.
“Yes, Alan.”
“Hey, Mr. Hendrix.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Well, see, Penn came in to collect his last paycheck, said he wasn’t staying, you know?” I did know.
“Okay.”
“Well.” It was just then that I realized he was whispering.
“What’s going on, Alan?”
“You gotta get down here, Mr. Hendrix. Three of Lorcan’s men are in a booth in the back, one is at the bar and looking at my cameras.
There’s one car near the front and another in the rear lot.
Penn’s doing one more shift for me since my new guy starts tomorrow, and I think they’re gonna do something to him when he leaves. ”
“I have someone on Penn, and they haven’t said anything.”
“I see your two guys, sir. Uh…”
“What?” I growled.
“They’re a little preoccupied.”
They were going to die. “I’ll be right there.”
I disconnected the call and texted Danny and Alex, told them to get as many guys as they could and get to me.
I had twelve men with me as I pulled into Kaleidoscopes and as soon as I stepped out, two of Lorcan’s men took notice.
Smiling, I approached. “Nice night, gentlemen.” Danny opened the door to the bar. None of the men moved as six followed me in, and the other six covered the outside perimeter.
The moment I stepped foot inside Kaleidoscopes, my gaze met Penn’s behind the bar. He’d been speaking with Lacey but those green eyes found mine. I approached and grinned.
“Penn.”
“Uh, hey, Gideon.”
The two men of mine that had been indisposed earlier came to attention upon my arrival. I narrowed my eyes at them—I’d deal with them in a minute. I tipped my chin at Penn.
“I hear you’re leaving?”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “In the morning.”
My eyes swept the space. “I’m not the only one who heard you’re going.”
His forehead creased. “Is that so?”
I leaned closer. Penn did the same, and the scent of pine followed…lovely. “In here and outside of this bar are Lorcan’s men. Alan called me. Their plan was to grab you as you left.”
He pushed away and surveyed the bar. While there were regular patrons, most of it was filled with mine and Lorcan’s men.
“Huh,” was all he said, and he shrugged. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
Was he serious? “Penn, you need to leave with me now.”
“So, I go with you or…” His eyebrow rose.
“Or die with them.”
He pursed his lips, his eyes surveying the room, and he tossed his rag onto the counter. “I’ll leave with you, Gideon, but I’m out of here tomorrow morning.”
“I just want to keep you alive so you have a chance to flee.”
I watched as he came around the bar, prowling almost, a positively cocky expression on his face.
“I’m all yours, Gideon.”
If only. I stood to leave and that was the moment all hell broke loose.
“He’ll be coming with us.” Four men stood blocking the door. Every one of my men aimed their guns at them, and they were practically matched by Lorcan’s men.
“This is going swimmingly,” Penn joked, and if the situation hadn’t been so dire, I might’ve laughed at his humor.
“When I say get down, do as you’re told.”
He didn’t have a chance for a snarky response. One of the four men fired, barely missing me…and then it was on.
“Down!” I shouted at Penn. He hit the ground, and I covered his body with mine.
He looked at me in shock, maybe not believing I’d shield him, but a beat later his eyes widened in surprise and I was being flipped. Three shots went off right where we’d been lying. Penn had saved my life.