Chapter Two #3
Taylor turned and stared back at her. Taylor’s eyes softened and the stress lines marring her forehead seemed to ease. For as flawed as their friendship was, loyalty never wavered for either of them. If the roles were reversed, she knew Taylor would have her back, no matter what.
“What’s the plan?”
Taylor rested her hands on her hips, sighing. “You’re not gonna like it.”
Kenzie dropped her head to her chest, completely deflated.
This would end badly, her gut said so. “Let me guess. It’s going to make for a great story someday.
” Those were Taylor’s infamous words she recited before Kenzie was dragged into a scheme or shenanigans that usually ended up in the principal’s office, her kitchen table at home, and the police station. Twice.
“It will.” She sighed. “Hopefully we won’t be telling it through the glass wall of a prison.”
“Oh God. I need to sit down.” She ambled to the couch and dropped into the cushion, tugging her knees into her chest.
“I’m kidding.” Taylor chuckled. “Look, it’s really simple. I need to find Drew, get him to the bail bondsman, and then my ass is clear, and I can be done with that douche forever.”
“Yeah, okay, but you’re forgetting the key point to this plan. You have no idea where he is.”
“True. I need to lure him out of hiding.” She smirked. “And if I know Drew, which I do, the carrot I’m going to dangle will be impossible for him to resist.” She crossed her arms in a confident stance, cocking her hip to the side.
“Ew.” Kenzie gazed down her best friend’s body.
“Not me. Trust me, I’m a dime a dozen for Drew, that much I’ve learned.
I’m talking about money. He’s on the run, and he’s got more enemies than friends.
He may have people helping him now but Drew wears people down.
Sooner or later, he’ll be on his own again.
What Drew needs is money and I’m going to get it for him. ”
Was she insane? “You’re going to give him money? Why?”
“Well, I’m not actually going to give it to him. Instead, I’m going to lure him out from the rock he’s hiding under and have him follow me straight to the bonds company, Lock-Hart. They’ll get him, put him in jail, get their money back, and get the hell off my ass. It’s perfect.”
Kenzie closed her eyes, rubbing her temples in a circular motion. She felt a migraine coming on. They were usually induced by Taylor’s asinine schemes. “Yeah, okay, but there’s one small problem with this plan. You don’t have any money, Taylor.”
“Not now, but I’m gonna get it.”
Kenzie shook her head. “I’m afraid to ask.”
“It’s actually pretty brilliant. See, through Drew I met Dante. He runs an underground fight club downtown. Cash only business.”
Kenzie burst out laughing. “And you think they’ll lend it to you.”
Taylor’s gaze darted away to the door. “Not quite.”
“Then what?”
“Look, all I have to do is go in, chat up this guy, Dante. He’s the one that collects the cash from the door and he transfers all the bets.
And I’m talking thousands of dollars.” Taylor sat down on the couch next to her.
“I’ll just lift the cash when he’s not looking, he’ll never know.
The way Drew described it, it’s just a pile sitting in a grey bag.
Once I get the money, I’ll reach out to Drew’s only contact, show him the money that gets Drew to come out of hiding and voila, I’ll personally hand him over to Lock-Hart. What do ya think?”
Kenzie’s jaw dropped halfway through this so-called brilliant plan. She stared at Taylor, waiting for her to start laughing because it was a joke. She narrowed her eyes and shifted to the wall then back to Taylor in utter shock. “Oh, my God, you’ve officially lost your mind.”
Taylor flinched. “Wait, what? It’s brilliant.”
“Brilliant? Are you insane?”
Kenzie jumped up from the couch, pacing around the room frantically, jerking back to face her friend who’d obviously lost all common sense.
“You wanna steal money from a man who runs an illegal fight club, which by the way, is probably funded by men who are probably on the FBI’s ‘Most Wanted’ list. Then you want to lure Drew out of hiding with the promise of cash?
” She widened her eyes in disbelief. “Cash that you stole, and somehow get him to just come with you to the bail bondsman. That’s your plan? ”
“Okay, I know…”
“It’s crazy! It’s fucking absurd.” She threw her hands above her head. “No, no way am I being part of this.” Kenzie rarely shouted, but this situation called for it. Taylor had absolutely lost her mind.
“Okay, just calm down. I never intended you to be a part of it, Kenzie. This is my shit, and I won’t drag you into it, I promise.”
Kenzie scoffed. “Wake up, Taylor, I am in it. Smacked down right in the middle of it.”
“If I leave now…”
Kenzie snapped. “No. You are not leaving.” She immediately started in on her middle finger, gnawing on the cuticle as she walked to the love seat and sat down. “There’s got to be another way. Stealing and running can’t be the best option.”
Taylor shrugged. “I’m up for suggestions.”
“I’ll loan it to you. I have money.”
“Not eight thousand.” Taylor got up from the couch and seated herself next to Kenzie on the love seat. Their thighs pressed against one another before a soft hand landed on her back.
“Look, I’ll be safe and smart.”
Kenzie snorted, shaking her head. There was nothing safe or smart about this situation or the intended plan.
“I’ll pay the money back. As soon as Drew is in custody, I’ll return the cash. Two days’ tops. In that time, yeah, maybe they’ll figure out who swiped it and come looking for me but I’ll be smart. I won’t get caught.”
This was stupid. Of course, she would get caught.
Taylor was impulsive, she had no sense of patience or waiting for the exact time to make her move.
That’s where Kenzie came in--she was usually the voice of reason, the one to convince her best friend to let shit play out and wait until the right moment.
It was what made them work. Of course, none of their foolish schemes and plots had ever been this dangerous or risky.
“When are we doing this?”
Taylor shook her head and opened her mouth but Kenzie cut her off. “We either do this together or not at all.”
Taylor’s eyes flickered over her face. She was probably evaluating how serious Kenzie was. There was no way she would bail on her best friend. It wasn’t the good times which defined a friendship, it was how the bad were handled.
“Friday night.”
“Okay. But we are giving that money back, Taylor. No shopping sprees. It’s not ours, and we will do the right thing.” She dropped her face into her hands and mumbled, “The right thing. That’s a joke.”
“It may be crazy but it’ll work, and I promise, I will return the money, maybe even before they realize it’s gone. It’s my only option.”
Her elbows rested on her knees, her chin in her palms. Her only option? It couldn’t be, there had to be something else they could do. Unfortunately, Kenzie didn’t know what. She knew that if she didn’t go along with this plan, Taylor would do it alone.
Taylor leaned closer, resting her head next to Kenzie’s. “I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”
“As long as neither one of us gets killed or jail time, I’m in.”
Taylor burst out laughing. “Famous last words.”
****
Bogs stopped mid-step and looked up the staircase.
The building was old, with the character of construction from the sixties.
The staircase was wide open. He leaned over the railing and peered up.
He couldn’t see her but the heavy footsteps were an indication she was running to her apartment.
The echoing of her heels, then the slamming of the door made him laugh.
Run, little liar.
“Let’s go, man.”
Bogs continued down the stairs following behind his brothers. That was quite the show Mackenzie Sutton gave them. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen someone stumble over a lie as badly as she had. Kenzie.
He thought her driver’s license picture was hot, the real thing standing in front of him was possibly the most stunning girl he’d ever seen.
“What did the lady say, last door on the right?” T asked when the made it to the main floor.
“Yeah,” Stone answered as he walked to the back of the building. He glanced over his shoulder at Bogs. “Fucking Casanova.”
Bogs chuckled. “What? She’s beautiful, I couldn’t resist. You see the way she squirmed?” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Damn, that face, right?”
“Not here to get you laid, man.”
Bogs snorted. “As if I’ve ever needed your help getting laid. Got that covered, man.”
T stopped at the door, pausing. “Keep your fucking focus on the job, not pussy.”
Bogs chuckled. “Says the man who…”
T stepped into Bogs, bumping his chest. “Shut the fuck up, man. If you mention my wife and the word pussy, I will beat the shit out you.”
Bogs smirked. “You beat my ass and baker girl won’t be giving up...” He paused knowing better than to tease him too much. “Anything to you. Your women love me. Like it or not, they won’t take kindly to you picking on the little brother.”
“And you fucking feed off that, don’t ya.” Stone rolled his eyes.
He had a great relationship with both their wives, Sadie and Cassie. Being the last single man of the Garrison brothers, the women seemed to dote on him. And Bogs let them.
T ignored Bogs and knocked on the door. A man he assumed was the Super, answered the door, cautiously eyeing the trio. He took a step back. The three brothers together always got that same reaction. Fear.
“Can I help you?”
“Fix the fucking elevator,” T barked.
The man flinched. “Uh, do you live here?”
“No, I don’t fucking live here. If I did that elevator would have worked months ago. You get it fixed. If you don’t, I’ll be back, and trust me, you don’t want me coming back.” T growled and started down the hall. Stone followed but not before giving the man a warning glare.
Bogs laughed, gaining the attention of the Super. “Get it done, man. That guy is no joke. You don’t want to see him mad.”
He leaned out the door, watching T and Stone. “He looks mad now.”
“Exactly. You don’t want us coming back. Have a nice day.” Bogs walked down the hall and through the door smiling.
They made their way to the truck and filed in.
Bogs took the backseat and immediately fired up his laptop.
They had found their mark and knew where she was hiding out.
The assignment would be handed back to Trent and Declan as it was theirs.
However, Bogs was intrigued about how Kenzie had gotten herself into this mess, and another piece of information her neighbor leaked had his fingers tapping over the keyboard in a mad frenzy.
“Whatcha looking for?”
“The ex.” He pulled up the court documents within seconds.
He scrolled down the names until reaching M.
Sutton. The restraining order was standard.
He read the report. Her ex-boyfriend hadn’t laid a hand on her but he’d roughed up her place causing damage.
He saved the file. He might have to revisit it soon and make sure he was staying away from Kenzie.
A heated flare of possession ripped at his chest.
“What? Trent’s got that intel. Fucker’s on the run.”
Bogs closed his laptop. “Not Taylor’s ex.”
Stone turned around in the passenger seat and twisted his lips in a mocking smile. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? That chick’s ex, that who you are looking up? Damn, Bogs, can’t you meet a girl at a fucking bar like the rest of Texas?”
Bogs furrowed his brows. “You serious right now, man? You want me to take dating advice from you?”
T chuckled. “The little shit has got ya there, brother.”
Stone had met his wife Sadie when he practically kidnapped her, and T was only slightly better in that he was undercover, banging Cassie’s roommate when he met his wife.
The stories these two would have to tell their grandkids would need to be seriously altered.
However, given even the most unconventional way of meeting, once they met their future wives, they were done.
Bogs’ phone rang.
“Hey, man.”
“How’s it going?” Trent asked.
“Good, we got your girl.”
Trent laughed. “My girl? You mean Taylor. God help the man that makes that woman ‘his girl’.”
Bogs had to agree with Trent. Taylor was trouble. The girl hadn’t been in trouble with the law until now, which was almost surprising considering the company she kept. It seemed she had a type. Mainly prison bound.
“She’s at her friend’s. Just made contact with Kenzie, she’s covering for her.”
“Kenzie?”
“Yeah, Mackenzie Sutton, goes by Kenzie. We got eyes on their place now. How do you want to play it?”
“Dec and I will head down now. Got the tracer on her phone, as long as she doesn’t lose it, we got her. Hasn’t left the building in a week. She’s gotta be plotting. Sooner or later, she’s got to come out, and when she does, we’ll get her.”
“What do you need from us?”
“Nothing right now. Would appreciate you guys being on standby though.”
“You got it, man. Later.”
“Later.”
He hung up and gave the info to his brothers.
They were heading back to their office downtown.
Two more requests came in to Garrison Securities and they needed to handle it.
He may not be watching her but the thought of sweet Kenzie Sutton was taking up space in his mind.
He’d get more on her and go from there. It had been a long time since a girl had caught his eye the way this green-eyed beauty had.
There was something about her. An innocence that most women his age lacked.
If the blush on her face was an indication, she was not only innocent, but possibly inexperienced.
Some men would balk at that. Not Bogs, he was intrigued.