20. Chapter 20
Chapter 20
“It’s powerful shit, boss. I won’t lie. I hope that once this is all over I’ll find that it was worth it,” I replied. “How quick can we get to this meeting? Jackson’s time is running out fast.”
“Call Flame and have her shut down the bar. Tell her to say I’ve ordered every Serpent Sinner there to come to church immediately. Have Doc bring Jemma in. I can at least offer temporary refuge until it’s voted on. I’ll find the rest of the men.”
In less than thirty minutes we were assembled. Everyone was anxious for an explanation. Flame had obviously kept her knowledge of the issue to herself. She hadn’t gossiped about Jemma’s breakdown or Jackson’s apparent abduction. She’d kept the club’s code. She’d proven worthy of our trust once again. I’d make certain Rod was made aware that his love interest was a good choice. She was loyal.
“We have an emergency situation that will require an official vote,” Prime began. “Most of you are aware that Sweet has been protecting a woman and her son from the cartel. Some of you have even been enlisted to watch over them for a few hours. We believed they were safe once we learned the reason for Jemma’s involvement had met his death. Unfortunately, we were mistaken. Jackson, the boy Sweet is mentoring, has gone missing. The police won’t act on it until it’s proven he didn’t run away on his own.”
“Assholes! They don’t give a shit about anything except the bloody rules,” Rage, our Road Captain blurted out. “Waiting means losing the trail. We all know that.”
“That’s exactly why Jemma went to Sweet and Sweet came to me. Some type of action is required, and it has to be done quickly. Every hour counts. This kid is asthmatic. We don’t know whether or not he had his inhaler when he was taken, but we can be sure if he did Aguilar wouldn’t let him keep it,” Prime replied.
“What are we supposed to do, boss? We don’t know where the kid is or even if Aguilar has him. I don’t doubt Sweet or the mom’s instincts, but if we jump into this without some kind of proof then we start a war that could have been avoided,” Specs, our secretary and a reasonable man, spoke up.
“There will eventually be a war one way or another. I realize we’re not completely ready for one yet. Truthfully, we’ll never be totally ready. It’s impossible to guess at everything Aguilar has planned. We have made some progress. We’re more aware of his actions and his intentions than before. An ally has come to us. It’s a costly one, but essential to keeping control of our territory. Drago Petrov, pakhan of the bratva in Houston, has helped us with information regarding the cartel and Jemma’s troubles already.”
“But Prime, how deep do we want to dive into that nest of vipers? Every time we ask for help they’ll want something in return, and it won’t be little. Being indebted to the mafia is trouble waiting to happen. What if they ask for something we can’t give?” Ditch, the Vice President, asked.
“That’s what I’ve called all of you in to ask. Is a child’s life worth risking a war with an enemy that wants us gone or adding a debt to an ally who is greedy and self-serving at best? Neither Jemma nor Jackson is a part of our club. They barely qualify as being under Sweet’s protection. We can turn our backs and let the cops eventually handle this or we can get this thing done before the cops even agree the kid is missing. Which kind of men are we? Do we have Sweet’s back, or do we brush these people aside because they’re not officially one of us?” Prime asked.
“It’s a kid, Prime. I might be able to say no to saving an adult, but not a kid,” Stretch, the treasurer said.
“Jackson spent a lot of hours in my gym. He learned to fight some, and I bet he gave them hell when they took him. But he can’t hold his own against a gun, and he can’t survive one of those asthma attacks without that damn inhaler. I’ve seen one of his spells. It’s scary as hell. He’s a good kid. I vote we do this,” Colt added.
“I vote yes for the kid,” Rage announced.
“Give me a show of hands for helping find and rescue Jackson as well as sheltering Jemma in our clubhouse for her safety,” Prime ordered. “So be it,” he added when all the hands went up.
“How do we find him?” Colt asked.
“That question brings us to a second vote. Petrov has a man inside the cartel. We need to ask Petrov to find out where the kid is being held and any other information he can come up with, such as how he’s guarded, what weapons are involved, what electronic security there is, and the kid’s condition. We may even need some of his men to help with the rescue. Are we willing to ask for this much help when we know there will be a large payback due?” Prime inquired.
“I already know that most of what he asks for will be put on my back. I’m okay with that since it’s a kid and because Sweet is his mentor. I think this has no other resolution. Without this alliance we have nowhere to look,” Rage explained.
“Can I get another show of hands?” Prime asked.
Every hand went up. They all had my back and were willing to risk their lives just because I was asking it of them. I’d kept my mouth shut until then, but that wasn’t possible anymore.
“Thank you. I don’t know what else to say. I’ve always considered you to be my family, and you just proved it. Thank you for treating Jemma and Jackson as family too. I won’t forget it,” I promised.
They all nodded and clapped me on the back as they filed out of the room. They would remain in the building until they were given orders. Prime needed to ask for an audience with Petrov and wait for an answer. Until then we were all on edge and at a loss as to what to do.
Waiting around was hard for all of us, especially me. I was messed up inside, worried about Jemma’s reaction if we learned Jackson wasn’t coming back to her, and my gut burned from the terror of what the child was going through if he was alive. As an enforcer helplessness didn’t sit well with me.
I went to see Jemma while I waited, but she was still knocked out. She was thankfully oblivious to the nerve-wracking wait the rest of us were dealing with. I wanted her to sleep until Jackson was home although I knew that wasn’t going to happen.
It was a relief when Ditch and I were summoned into Prime’s office. Any action or news was better than nothing. If Petrov turned us down I’d find a way to get to Jackson, or die trying.
Prime didn’t waste words once we’d entered. He stated, “Petrov won’t come back here to talk to us, nor will he receive us in his offices in Houston. The best he will do is a video call which he will initiate in about five minutes. It’s actually a time saving solution for us since it would take hours to reach Houston from here. The two of you are here to listen and consider his replies. I would respectfully ask that you remain silent while I negotiate with him. He can be hard headed and argumentative. Let me deal with it.”
My temper would flare, and I knew it. There was no way I could listen to a denial from Petrov without getting angry. I realized Prime had brought in Ditch to keep me under control. I suspected his expertise would be needed.
The video call came in right on time. Petrov’s face appeared on the computer screen, and he was clearly not happy to be bothered so soon after he’d been to visit us.
“I have no time to keep consulting with you, Prime. I have businesses to attend to that are being undermined by my rivals. You must keep this meeting short, or I will cut you off,” he demanded.
“I wouldn’t have asked for an audience with you if there weren’t dire circumstances, Petrov. My time is valuable as well. We have an unfortunate circumstance that needs rectifying immediately. It is our problem, yet we require your aid once again. It concerns the same people as before. Mitch may be dead, but it appears the cartel wants more. They have taken the child, Jackson. We need your inside man to find out where they are keeping him, if he is alive or harmed, what surprises may await us there, and how we may surpass security teams to rescue him. I’m aware it's asking a lot. We will pay for your services in the usual manner,” Prime explained.
“There will be no need to pay me as I will not be aiding you. As I told you, the woman and the child are nothing to me. They are not a part of your organization. I refuse to risk the discovery of my inside man because you have trouble denying your men help with their lovers. I have given you all the aid on this that I care to do. Leave me be.”
“Father! Wait!” Zoe was heard to say as she stepped into camera view. “You cannot mean that! A child’s life is in danger. How can you be so cold about such a matter? You have a good heart. I know you do. You know how it feels to be helpless when someone you love needs saving and you cannot get to them. You were only fourteen when your eight-year-old brother was taken and murdered. You could not help him, and it devastated you. This time you can help and possibly end the guilt you’ve held onto all these years. If you refuse, I will go behind your back and do this myself. I could never forgive myself for letting a child die needlessly.”
“You should not speak of our personal matters to those outside the family, Zoe. You give these people too much information to use against me in negotiations, and you have stepped over your bounds. I am the pakhan, and you must show me respect,” Petrov told her.
“You can reprimand me later, Father. Please, do this for me and for your honor. Do not pretend you have no feelings for this child when I know better. Answer this as a father, a brother, and a caring human instead of as a pakhan. Use your heart, not your head,” she begged.
Prime allowed her to argue with Petrov. He stayed silent. I saw admiration in his eyes as he listened to her pleas. He was growing fond of this woman. As long as it got us the help we needed I was all for it.
“This goes against my better judgment, but for Zoe I will relent. She has given me much to think about and brought up ancient memories. I will ask my informant to gather the intel you have asked for. It will not be quick. As for further help, I will consider it while we wait for the answers you seek,” Petrov finally said.
“Thank you for your aid. We will be waiting for the intel. Zoe, we appreciate your allegiance. I hope we haven’t caused trouble for you,” Prime replied.
“Father would never do me harm. His anger is instantaneous, yet not long lasting. I pray the child is found unharmed,” she answered as the call ended.