Chapter 26
Charlie
T wenty minutes later, I’m sitting in church surrounded by more than a dozen tattooed bikers waiting for Doc and JR. I go over his injuries mentally cataloging each one. What the hell had JR gotten himself into and does it further endanger our daughters?
“Want something to drink?” Wizard asks.
“I’ll take a Coke.”
“I’ll be right back.”
I check my phone for messages while we’re waiting. I told Ma there was an incident and I’d let her know as soon as I know something more. Wizard returns, sitting a cold bottle of orange Nehi in front of me.
I smile at him. “Did you start carrying these for the Caruso girls?”
He nods. “Stormy had a few, but yes, I keep them in stock and cold now for my girls.”
“Your girls? They’re not your girls, they're mine!” An irate looking JR shouts as he enters the room.
Wizard stalks toward my ex until he’s up in his personal space.
“Watch your tone. You’re here as a guest and that could end at any second. If you think those bruises are bad, I can inflict enough damage to make you beg for death but keep you alive for days. Hell, I’m tempted to torture you for all the shit you’ve already put your family through. Now sit down and shut up until it’s your turn to talk.”
JR takes one look around the room and takes the seat Doc indicates. As soon as Gambit takes a seat, the rest of the Kings follow suit. When the last brother is seated, Gambit grasps a hand sized skull and bangs it on the table.
“Church is in order, fuckers.”
Everyone quiets down. All eyes turn to him. Gambit turns to JR.
“You’ve got the floor. Better make it good and don’t leave any details out. Start with how you know Tyler Barnes.”
JR’s shoulders sag. He looks defeated. After taking a deep breath, he begins.
“I met Barnes in college. It was a freshman year he was an involved alumnus. We’ve kept in touch over the years. He’s not the problem.”
“Who or what is the problem?” Gambit asks.
“I got into some gambling debt and took out a loan from the wrong people. They want the girls,” he blurts out.
I stand up so fast my chair tips over, crashing against the floor. Strong arms wrap around me a split-second before I get to JR.
“We need him breathing to tell us everything, Spitfire. You can kick his ass later.”
I relax in his hold. He’s right. We need to know everything. Over the next hour JR tells us exactly how much trouble he’s in. The biggest concern is the fact that the Russian mob wants my girls.
?
It’s five o’clock somewhere, right? At least, that’s what I told myself as I drink a glass of bourbon. Ma and Pops are on their way. Wizard and I are sitting in Lagniappe having a drink while we wait for them.
JR is in one of the guest apartments somewhere in the compound. He’s supposed to stay there and not let anyone know where he is. For all intents and purposes, we want the Bratva to think he’s gone or dead.
They had him wired for audio and video. One of the prospects retrieved JR’s clothes and the devices from the pool. Wizard sent the devices to Bug.
“Charlotte Evangeline Anastasia Caruso, are you drinking before noon?” Ma says.
“Yup, and you will too when you hear what JR did.”
“What did he do this time?” Pops asks, taking a seat at our table.
“I can’t tell you everything, but there is something you need to know. JR got into some gambling debt and chose the wrong people to borrow money from. Now the Bratva want the girls.”
Ma’s face pales. She opens her mouth and closes it several times before grabbing my glass and throwing back the rest of its contents in one gulp.
“Where is that son of a bitch? I’m going to kill him,” Pops says, standing up.