Chapter 9 #2
“Not a damn thing.” I didn’t like the look of them, not one fucking bit. “We need to lose ‘em.”
“Too big of a risk.”
“Too big of a risk not to,” I warned.
Shotgun pulled out his phone and called Hawk. After he informed him we had a tail, Hawk took a quick turn and started down a different street. When we followed behind, the van didn’t follow. Instead, it continued straight ahead. “What the fuck was that?”
“Got no fucking clue.”
Shotgun let Hawk know the tail was gone, but Hawk wasn’t taking any chances.
He took several extra turns and made sure to take a completely different route back to the clubhouse.
When we pulled up, Menace was waiting for us in the parking lot.
As soon as we started to get out of the SUV, he came over and said, “Heard y’all ran into some trouble. ”
“Not exactly sure what we ran into,” Shotgun answered. “Might’ve been nothing, but I highly fucking doubt it.”
“Any idea who was in the van?”
“Not a fucking clue. The tint was too dark to see.”
Menace nodded. “I’ll see if I can pull up anything on the street cams. Maybe I can get a license number or something.”
“Wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“I’ll get on it as soon as I head inside.” Menace motioned his head toward the clubhouse door. “Viper’s waiting for you in his office.”
Shotgun nodded, then headed inside. Eager to know if he’d heard anything from Country, Rafe rushed over to Menace and asked, “Any word on Country?”
“Sorry, man, but I haven’t heard a damn thing. I called CC, and she hasn’t seen him either.”
“So, he didn’t end up at her place last night?”
“She said he was planning to head over after he locked up, but he never showed.”
“Fuck.” Rafe ran his hand through his hair with frustration. “I just don’t get it. Where the hell could he be?”
“No idea. I tried tracking his phone but got nowhere. The damn thing is either dead or busted.”
“You check Stilettos?”
“Yeah. I pulled up the cameras, but there’s no sign of him there either.
” Menace was doing his best to remain calm, but I could see the concern in his eyes.
Hell, we were all concerned. It wasn’t like Country to go completely AWOL.
“Talked to Viper about it. He thinks it’s time for us to try and run him down. ”
I turned to Rafe as I asked, “Any ideas on where we should look?”
“I guess we could try checking out around his place. Maybe check Shiner’s, the bar across from Stilettos, and Mikey’s down on the strip.”
“What about Candy and Leigha? Any chance he might’ve slipped off with one of them after their shifts?” Menace never cracked a smile as he said, “You know he’s hooked up with them a couple of times.”
Knowing they lived out by Frankie’s, I replied, “I’ll go by there and see what they say.”
“We’ll divide up,” Hawk announced. “Check in if you see or hear anything from him.”
After a quick nod, we set out to our bikes, and one by one, we rushed through the gate in search of our brother.
There was a good chance Country had just fucked up and partied too hard, but there was also a chance he was in some kind of trouble.
Either way, it was up to us to find out.
We might not have been bound by the same last name or even blood, but when we each joined the club, we’d made a pledge to one another—a pledge to show up whenever we’re needed most. No matter what the circumstance, we have each other’s backs.
We stand by our brothers, even when we’re struggling to like ‘em—those days can be the hardest, but that’s what brotherhood is all about.
It’s why none of us complained as we ventured out to find Country.
He was one of our own, and we’d do whatever it took to make sure he was safe.
But we’d also kick his fucking ass if he was laid up in bed with some chick.
I was hoping that was the case when I pulled up at Candy and Leigha’s apartment, but unfortunately, neither of them had seen him since the night before at the club.
I messaged Rafe, and after hearing that Country wasn’t with the girls, he told me to go back to the storage lot and check in with Ada and Gladys to see if they’d heard from him.
I was on my way there when I drove by the park behind Frankie’s place.
I didn’t think much about it until something drew my attention over to a group of boys.
Again, I didn’t think a lot about it ‘til I spotted Frankie’s son, Corry.
He was with two other kids around his age, and they were huddled up with a local dealer.
The two boys he was with were wearing hoodies over their heads, but Corry wasn’t doing a damn thing to cover himself from any onlookers.
I needed to get to the storage lot, so I was just gonna leave it.
I figured Corry was old enough to handle things on his own, but then I spotted a cop sitting around the corner.
Fearing Corry might find himself in trouble again, I turned back and pulled into a parking spot across the street.
I got off my bike and started walking towards the group of boys.
As soon as Corry spotted me coming his way, his eyes grew wide with panic.
He was freaking out but did his best to hide it as he shoved his hands in his pocket and slowly ambled towards me.
Forcing a smile, he held up his hand and said, “Hey, Widow. What are you doing here?”
“I was about to ask you the same.”
“Ah, I was just catching up with some of my friends.” He tried to play it cool as he shrugged and said, “You know, killing time and all that.”
“I see.” I glanced back over where he and his friends had been standing and wasn’t surprised to see that they’d moved to a more secluded spot a few yards away. “Looks like your friends are up to no good.”
“Nah. We’re just hanging out. No big deal.”
I didn’t have time nor the patience to put up with Corry and his bullshit. I needed to get going, so asked him, “Talking to a dealer something you usually do when you’re hanging out?”
Corry’s eyes dropped to the ground. “We were just looking to blow off some steam.”
“You think that’s a good idea?”
“I was thinking about it.” He gave me a half-shrug. “Had to go to my dad’s this weekend, and it blew. He was in a mood all freakin’ weekend. On my ass about everything.”
“Your mom know where you are?”
“She thinks I’m with Dad.”
This whole thing was getting worse by the fucking minute. “Your dad know you’re here?”
“Nah. He thinks I’m at Sean’s basketball practice.
I told him I wanted to go, so he dropped us off at the school.
” He kicked a rock with his tennis shoe as he said, “I went in one door and out the other, and Dad didn’t have a clue.
He was already long gone, so I came here and met up with my friends. ”
“Probably not the best idea.”
“You’re right. It was stupid.” Corry grimaced as he said, “Already promised Mom I wouldn’t do this shit again. I guess I really am just a fuck up.”
“Not a fuck up. Just a kid who’s trying to figure shit out. But this right here...” I motioned my head towards his buddies as I said, “This isn’t the way to go.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I think it’s time to get you home. Come on. I’ll give you a ride.”
When Corry looked across the street and saw my Harley, his mouth dropped open. “You’re taking me on your bike?”
“Yeah. That cool with you?”
“Heck yeah.”
When he darted across the street, I shook my head and muttered, “Damn. Your mother is gonna have my ass and yours over this.”
I walked over to him and grabbed a spare helmet from my saddlebag. Once he had it on, I got him settled behind me and gave him the rundown on how to hold on. I was about to start the engine when my burner started to ring. I grabbed it out of my pocket and answered, “You got Widow.”
“Hey, man. We found him.”
I would’ve thought it was good news, but something about the tone in Lynch’s voice told me it was anything but good. “He alright?”
“They fucked him up good, brother.”
“Who?”
“Got no idea.” My blood ran cold as I listened to him say, “We found him behind one of the dumpsters at Stilettos. It’s bad, brother. Really bad, but I’m hoping we got to him in time.”
“Where is he now?”
“At the clubhouse with Doc. He’s doing what he can to work on him.”
“I’m on my way.”
I was in such a panic, I’d all but forgotten I had Corry with me.
I didn’t even tell him where we were going as I raced towards the clubhouse.
The kid just hung on for dear life, never saying a fucking word, and he remained silent as we pulled through the gate and parked at the back door.
I wasted no time getting off my bike and starting inside.
I’d just reached for the door when I heard Corry ask, “Should I just hang out here?”
“Damn.” I turned around and found Corry standing by my bike.
The poor kid looked completely freaked out, and I couldn’t blame him.
Seeing the size of the clubhouse, the enormous fence surrounding us, and the gate with the prospects standing guard was a lot to take in—especially for a sheltered kid like him.
I motioned him to come forward as I said, “No. Come on. You can hang out in the family room.”
“Cool.”
Looking like he’d just won the lottery, Corry came rushing over and followed me inside. I led him down to the family room and took a quick second to point out the remote. “Hang here. Watch TV or whatever but stay put. Do not move from this room.”
“Yes, sir.”