Chapter 20
The Man in Black
Motown
Suddenly, the curtain moves, and Decker shoves the binoculars at me. “He’s signaling again.” I grab them and immediately focus on Logan’s hands. “Take this down.” I watch carefully. Logan does a sign for HOUSE. Then spells out T-E-S-S-A. “Fuck!”
“What?”
“Give me a second.”
Logan does the sign for FIRE. “They’re going to go to Tessa’s to set her house or shop on fire as a distraction.”
“Shit!” Decker swears.
“Eleven o’clock. One. Zero. Four. Pier Street.” When Logan starts to repeat his message, I know I’ve got it all. “Keep watching,” I tell Decker, then pull out my phone to call Hawk.
“Hawk, shit!” I bark into the phone, running a hand through my hair. “We got trouble.”
“Spit it out!” Hawk demands.
“He’s sending guys to Tessa’s place to set it on fire. Don’t know whether it’s her house or store. It’s going to break her.”
“Calm down. We’ll figure it out,” Hawk replies.
“There’s more. The meeting will be on Pier Street. I’ll text the address to you,” I add.
“Stay put, Motown. Stay focused on Logan. I’ll talk to Guard, and we’ll put a plan together. I’ll be in touch,” Hawk says before hanging up.
I force myself to stay on task, but the thought of Tessa taking another hit is soul-crushing.
She came to start fresh and spread her wings.
So far, she’s had to deal with unlawful cops and threats.
Let’s not forget that it took me months to make my move on Tessa, even though we both knew it was more than one night.
I knew she was special then, but I let my own fear get in our way, and I swore I wouldn’t let anything hurt her again.
And yet here we are, facing another threat.
“You okay, bro?” Decker interrupts my thoughts.
“Yeah.” I sigh.
“Tessa’s ours. Hawk won’t let anything happen.”
“We’re stretched thin,” I answer. “Logan’s life comes first.”
“We’re not alone.” Decker means Guard and his crew, and he’s correct, but even with the guys who are here from the Pride, we’re still stretched tight, and the goal is to get to Bronson. If we eliminate him, then we can all rest easier.
I’m a soldier. I know that the casualties of war mean destruction and death. I’m used to seeing villages burned to the ground, crops and livestock destroyed or taken by enemy forces. But we’re talking about my Tessa and all she’s worked for. The burning in my gut won’t quit until this is over.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I check the message from Hawk.
Tessa is covered. The entire town is pitching in.
Phone tree. I’m stunned. They literally just started this phone tree thing this morning.
But it goes to show that the people of this town want to live clean and hate seeing a good woman hurt.
“Motown, they’re coming out,” Decker says, patting my shoulder to get my attention.
I see down below that they’re getting into a car with Logan in the back seat with one of Bronson’s goons.
He’s holding a gun on Logan, but Logan completely ignores it, pretending it doesn’t faze him in the least. He’s playing his part, and the Redemption Riders are going to make sure we’re there to back him up.
I text Hawk. They’re on the move. Without waiting for a response, Decker and I hurry down from the rooftop and get into our car. It’s a shitty piece of junk to look at, but the motor is top-notch. We want to stay inconspicuous, and this car does just that.
We trail behind, almost losing them twice due to traffic and the vehicle’s sharp turns, but we manage to keep them in sight.
The driver is taking great pains to make sure he isn’t being followed, but eventually, he turns off onto Pier Street.
We sit at the end of the road, a fair distance away from the industrial area.
“We need to scout out the best hiding spots for the Riders,” I tell him.
Coming in from the back end of the factories, along the edge of the railway tracks, we’re able to hop the fence and scope out the perimeter.
The old mill is where they’re holding Logan.
The iron numbers are practically hanging off the abandoned building.
The car we’ve been following is tucked between that building and the one next to it.
We backtrack to the tracks and make the call to Hawk to let him know where to find us.
It doesn’t take long for the team of Pride and Riders to assemble.
Demon, Risk, and several other Satan’s Pride brothers have joined us: Priest, Roscoe, and Wildcard.
From the Riders, Flex, and Shooter are with them.
We creep over the fence, each of us taking positions that directly cover the old mill.
When we start to see movement, we draw our guns, but stop when we notice Sebastian waving his hand to let us know that they’re also taking position.
Now it’s a matter of wait and see.
The worst part of any mission is waiting.
I’ve been conditioned through my years in the army to stay focused and keep my rifle aimed at the targets.
Hawk and Drifter are going to be in the van with War, waiting to make their move.
We’ll wait for Reno and Guard to lure Bronson out with Logan before the takedown begins.
Everyone’s been informed that Bronson will be taken alive, if possible.
Bronson’s car pulls up first. Three of his men get out of the car and scan to see if anyone’s around before opening the back passenger door to let Bronson out.
More of his men arrive, each taking up a position around the mill.
Sebastian moves back before he can be seen as one of Bronson’s soldiers steps around the corner of the building.
Bronson calls out for one of his men, asking him to bring Logan out.
Once Logan is standing in front of Bronson, Bronson says, “You’d better hope your connection comes through for you. On the other hand, I could use the target practice, so either way, I’ll have a good night.” He laughs loudly, sounding like a demented hyena.
Logan remains silent, but his gaze never wavers as he looks Bronson directly in the eye.
It’s eleven sharp when a black limousine rolls up to the building.
Behind the limo are two cars and a van. Reno’s men get out of their vehicles first. Bronson waits to see who emerges from the back seat.
When Reno steps out, Bronson’s jaw drops.
The last thing he expected to see was one of the most powerful Mafia bosses in the country.
Reno looks Logan over to make sure he isn’t injured before he turns his attention to Bronson. “I suggest you release my man. I sent him in good faith, and you’ve made this entire transaction more complicated than necessary,” Reno says coldly.
“I have many enemies, and I need to protect myself,” Bronson explains.
Reno quirks his brow. “Enemies who will interfere in our business dealings?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Bronson responds, quickly covering up an error that might cost him millions in product.
“Release Logan,” Reno orders.
“I want to see the product first,” Bronson counters.
“I promised you a sample.” Reno nods to the man standing by his side.
His soldier moves to the trunk of the car and takes out a package of white powder.
He comes back to Reno and puts it in his hand.
“You’d better tell your men to lower their guns, or I’m going to have to tell mine to aim right for your heart,” Reno warns.
Bronson turns his head and motions for his men to lower their guns. Reno steps forward. Bronson takes a step toward him. Logan moves with Bronson. Logan is almost out of the way, but not quite enough to make our move.
“Logan, into the car,” Reno commands.
“Not yet,” Bronson says, holding his arm out to stop him from moving forward.
“I’m losing patience.” Reno’s tone sends shivers down my spine.
“We haven’t talked price yet.”
“I don’t know how you operate, but in my business, the only people needed to make a deal are those who have the final say.
Logan is a good soldier; however, he was sent to relay a message, not negotiate.
You either release him immediately, or this conversation is over,” Reno dictates.
It’s a bold move to push Bronson’s buttons, but he needs to get Logan out of the line of fire.
Bronson reluctantly drops his arm, allowing Logan to pass. Logan walks steadily toward Reno, who jerks his head to the van. The back door swings open to allow Logan to enter.
Once Logan is safe, Hawk emerges from the van with Drifter. Immediately, Bronson’s men lift their guns, aiming them at Hawk. But Sebastian and his Mafia soldiers come into view with several of Bronson’s men, who have been relieved of their weapons, with guns now aimed at their temples.
Bronson quickly assesses the situation and clearly understands that this could easily turn into a bloodbath.
Reno is safely back in his limousine; he’s moved out of the line of fire.
Reno’s done his job, even more than we could have hoped for.
Reno’s not one for stepping into problems that don’t concern him.
His respect for Risk from Satan’s Pride and his affiliation with Alessio Cassini from Il Destino, another Mafia family, convinced him to generously donate his time to the cause.
Sebastian, his brother, is also his consigliere, along with his twin brother, Dante.
Sebastian is a hothead who likes to get his hands dirty.
He’s decided to take a hands-on approach, walking into the middle of the street.
Risk comes out from where he was positioned to stand next to Sebastian.
It’s known that their bond goes deep, which is why Risk is willing to take a bullet for Sebastian.
“This is going to get messy,” Bronson says with a smirk on his lips. He pushes his bodyguard in front of him to protect himself.
“This is how it’s going to go,” Hawk finally speaks. “You can either drop your weapons and come with us quietly, leaving your men alive. Or we can have the bloodbath you’re craving.”
“If I die, you die,” Bronson answers.
“Maybe.” Hawk shrugs. He looks around the area. This is our cue to show ourselves. “I came prepared, Bronson.”
Bronson sees that he’s surrounded. His situation is dire, and he knows it.
Without hesitation, he whips out his gun and aims directly at Hawk’s heart.
Before he can pull the trigger, a single bullet whirls toward Bronson, knocking the gun from his hand.
Blood pours from his hand, and he cries out in agony.
We all turn to see a man standing tall on a rooftop, dressed all in black with a rifle in his hands. Jesus Christ! Is that Phantom? Christ, it is! A million questions flood my mind, none of which can be answered now.
With Bronson writhing in pain, his men stand down. Sebastian forces them back into the mill. Risk is with him, along with a slew of soldiers and Pride brothers. Orion emerges from the van.
“It’s done. Feds are going to be here real soon. All evidence leads back to Bronson, his men, and the corrupt cops on his payroll,” Orion tells us, adding, “We need to get the hell gone before they arrive. We’ve got about ten minutes, at most.”
Guard runs in to make sure Bronson’s men are tied up and waiting for the feds.
He’s leaving the feds a nice tidy package.
By this time, I’ve come into view and take my first swing at Bronson, nailing him right in the mouth.
“That’s for terrifying my woman,” I grunt, as I pull back my arm to ram my fist into his face again.
“We don’t have time for that now. Save it,” Hawk says. “Get him into the van.” I literally drag Bronson into the back of the van where Logan is waiting, and he slams a boot into Bronson’s belly.
“We’ve got to hold off,” I repeat Hawk’s direction.
Logan jumps out. “I’d better ride in front. I might end up killing him.”
With Bronson secure in the van and Roar watching him. I rush back to Hawk. He’s giving orders for all of us to move out, leaving behind a very large crate of meth laced with fentanyl for the feds to find.
Hawk searches the top of the building where the man in black was standing, but the man has disappeared.
“Was that Phantom?” I ask.
“Yeah.” He sighs.
“Where the hell did he go?”
“He’s got to pay a visit to a friend. He’ll be back,” Hawk replies. “Let’s go! Time’s up, and we’ve got to roll.”
The Redemption Riders make it back to our bikes and cars, which were hidden away. The Satan’s Pride brothers take off in another direction, heading home.