25. Bright Ideas
Chapter 25
Bright Ideas
Steel
Torque’s cell rang. “Greco, you good?” He stared at me and arched his brows. “You believe Farah? Why would he tell her that? She’s trying to get rid of you.”
I moved closer to him during another pause.
Torque squinted. “No street number for this place?” After another pause, he said, “I don’t care. You stay with Farah until we have someone drive by the area.”
He ended the call. Before Torque could update me, I heard Rafferty talking. His loud, irritated tone put me on alert. The way he let the shit that Greco and Torque gave him slide off him, I didn’t believe there were many people who could annoy him.
“Lex, she’s missing and I need to know if you can help me. Jasmine mentioned Simone having a tracker for her keys because she kept misplacing them. I searched Simone’s purse and her keys are gone. If she’s got them with her, we might be able to find her… but only if she shared that kind of info with you.”
He closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose. When he opened his eyes, they went wide. “Don’t worry about the Devil Lancers. Get the fuckin’ password.”
Torque sidled up to me. “What the hell’s a password gonna do for us?”
“Shut it,” I clipped out. My gut filled with low-level hope that this was our break.
Rafferty had an iPad in front of him. He tapped at the screen. “Yeah, Lex. I’m in Augusta now, but I need the passcode to her iPad before I can try to log in.” He nodded. “Great. I’ll call you—”
He paused. I hated not knowing what was being said, but I knew better than to interrupt right now.
“Lex, I’m not even sure if this will work. Once we know more, I’ll text you.”
He ended the call.
Torque tipped his head toward the tablet. “What the hell is that?”
Rafferty aimed a calm expression at Torque. “Her iPad. She has one of those AirTags. Lex verified it’s on her keys. She kept misplacing them after she got pregnant.”
“That helps us how?” Torque asked.
Rafferty gave a small nod. “If there are any other Apple devices with Bluetooth enabled near her keys, we can log into her ‘Find My’ network and locate them.”
“Which could be out back,” Torque muttered.
“Those keys are in her pocket,” I said, my relief building.
But I’d only be fully relieved when she was out of harm’s way and I’d ended Knuckles once and for all.
“How do you know?” Torque asked.
My eyes slid to him. “I watched her put them in her pocket when we got here. Not five minutes after we hit my room, you pounded on my door because Jordan was here. If Rafferty didn’t find her keys in her purse, then I’m sure they’re still in her pocket.”
Torque nodded. “All right. Farah told Greco that if he’s looking for Knuckles, he should try a place near the cemetery in Old Town. She didn’t have a street address. Supposedly they use some shotgun house for interrogations, though I don’t trust a damn thing that bitch tells us.”
My head reared back and I recalled all of Torque’s questions to Greco. I’d have asked the same things and been twice as skeptical.
“Yeah, send a prospect in a cage. I don’t want a bike roaring through that area.”
Rafferty shook his head. “That’s a great plan, but if she didn’t give an address, what’s the prospect looking for? You think Knuckles would leave his bike visible from the street? I don’t know Old Town like you two do, but I’m guessing it isn’t an area where there’s a neighborhood watch.”
I tipped my head at Rafferty. “You’re right, but we can tell the prospect to keep an eye out for Josie’s car and Mug’s chopper.”
“Done,” Torque said.
Rafferty tapped at the screen and his lips tipped up. “The password worked.”
I moved to look over his shoulder, then thought better of it and paced to the bat rack. I grabbed one and swung it through the air. The thought of bashing Knuckles in the head appealed to me, but even that seemed too merciful for him.
“Been a long time since I saw that look on your face,” Torque said.
“What look is that?” I asked.
He grinned. “You’re gonna bring the pain to somebody.”
I swung the bat again. Its unique sound filled the room. I fucking loved hearing that.
Yeah, there was going to be pain all right.
Rafferty looked up from the tablet. “The house Greco mentioned is near a cemetery, right?”
I crossed the room and looked at the map he had on display. It had been years since I last rode down Taylor Street, but I recalled a line of shotgun houses were there.
I nodded at Torque. “Seems Farah told Greco the truth.”
“We riding out at dark?” Torque asked.
I snapped my gaze to him. “He isn’t feeding her, Tor. We have to get her out of there.”
“How do you plan to do that in broad daylight?” Rafferty asked.
Torque jerked his head toward my room. “Let’s discuss this with Tie, Nelson, and with Greco on the phone.”
I shook my head. “I know what you’re trying to do, Tor, but Rafferty isn’t going to turn on us. Not with Jade in the crossfire.”
Torque sighed. “You’re taking a lot of risks here, brother.”
My brows shot up in question. “If it were your old lady Shelly, wouldn’t you do the same?”
“Maybe… probably.”
“That’s cold,” Rafferty muttered.
Torque’s gaze snapped to Rafferty. “It’s not your business.”
My phone rang with a ring tone for Jeremiah. “Whatever you want, Jeremiah, I don’t have time.”
I could hear the smarmy smile in his tone. “Has to do with Corrupt Chrome MC.”
“What do you have?” I asked in a neutral tone.
“Corrupt Chrome’s supplier is after the cartel you use.”
That had to be the biggest problem with drugs. We relied on a supplier and they set the base prices.
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.
“Their cartel is the reason Corrupt Chrome is pushing the Lancers out of the market.”
“We aren’t out of the market.”
He chuckled. “Not yet. That info I gave you last week changed. Knuckles has to meet with his supplier at ten tonight down by the river. I hear this cartel guy’s gone rogue. Take him out, and Corrupt Chrome doesn’t have supply to sell any more.”
Traces of a plan formed in my mind.
“Thanks, Jeremiah.”
“Thanks? I wouldn’t thank me. Manuel – he’s the cartel contact – he carves up people who double-cross him. You’ll be lucky if you don’t end up floating in the Savannah River if you’re planning to take on these assholes.”
I smiled. “Right now, that’s a risk I have to take.”
Nelson wandered behind the bar, folded his arms, and leaned his weight onto his arms resting on the bar.
Torque raised his brows as I tucked my phone in my back pocket. “What did he want?”
“Says the supplier for Corrupt Chrome has gone rogue. Knuckles is supposed to be a meet him tonight by the river.” I jerked my head toward the iPad. “Taylor Street isn’t too far from the river.”
“We need to wait until night,” Torque said.
“No. I’ve got to get her out of there. Then Knuckles is a fucking dead man. I don’t care about the risk.”
“You’re going to kill him in cold blood?” Rafferty asked.
I shrugged. “He fucked with the woman I love. Hell, he fucked with two people I love even if I haven’t met that baby yet. I know what I’m about to do is wrong, but I’m doing it for the right reasons.”
“Your reasons,” Rafferty countered.
I twisted a hand up. “Men like Knuckles can’t just barge in and throw their weight around because they got involved with a bad cartel. You got a decision to make, Rafferty. If living by our code bothers you, then you’re cut out more for the Riot than the Devil Lancers.”
“It’s too soon to head over there, Steel. Your woman can survive a skipped meal,” Nelson said, sipping some water.
The glare I aimed at him should have incinerated him.
He straightened and held his hands up in surrender. “I know she’s pregnant, but Torque’s right. We have to be smart. Won’t be cool if you’re six feet under when she has the baby.”
“Or in prison,” Torque muttered.
I blew out a breath. “Right.”
“You don’t know who else is there. I’m not a member, let me see what I can find out,” Rafferty suggested.
Nelson’s eyes widened and he looked impressed. Torque tipped his head to the side, a ghost of a smile playing at his lips.
I leveled a stern gaze at Rafferty. “Be very damned careful.”
He stood. “Goes without saying. Never been to this ‘hood. Seeing as the place backs up to a cemetery, I shouldn’t be spotted.”
“Make sure you aren’t,” I said.
Torque stared at the door after Rafferty left. “He might have potential.”
I shook my head. “The cemetery was part of my plan, too. No question he has what it takes to prospect with us.”
Torque nodded. “I’ll have to ignore him being a Riot kid.”
I arched a brow. “Or admit that it’s the Riot that makes him worthy.”
Torque let that go. “What about the other chapters? Vegas is getting hit pretty hard.”
I sighed. “Yeah, Shark and I had a talk last week about the ways Corrupt Chrome is causing them problems. Tell him to light a fire.”
Torque pulled out his phone. “Raleigh and Miami, too?”
“No. More than one Corrupt Chrome clubhouse getting hit like that won’t fly and would get us more attention.”
Twenty minutes later, Nelson looked around at the bar. “What did you do with the Ketamine?”
My eyes locked with Torque’s. “Did Greco have it?” He was one of the brothers who would use Special K if it was on offer.
Torque shook his head. “I saw it here while the kid messed with the iPad.”
“Fuck,” I hissed, grabbing my phone to text Rafferty.
I know what you took. Don’t use it.
He responded ten minutes later.
No idea what you’re talking about.
No. You don’t know what you’re doing.
He sent back a smiling devil emoji.
“Goddammit!” I shoved my phone in my back pocket. “I’m going to follow him.”
“Steel, if he gets nabbed with the Special K, that’s his problem,” Torque said.
I glared at Torque. “If he gets found dragging Josie or Mug into the cemetery or whatever hair-brained scheme he has in mind, they’ll figure out Simone’s connection to him.”
Nelson stood. “You’re gonna blow the opportunity to take out Knuckles. I’ll go.”
I stared at him for a long moment. That would work better all around. “Thanks, brother.”
I sent another text to Rafferty.
Nelson is joining you.
He responded faster than before, and I suspected he was at the cemetery already.
Cool.
Shelly edged into the room, almost on tiptoes. “You need to eat something, Steel.”
I shook my head. “Not a chance I can eat while she’s out there… and being starved by that fucking sick bastard.”
Her posture slumped, she bit her lower lip, and nodded. “I’m sorry you’re going through this, Steel. You’ll get her back though. I know you will.”
“Thanks, Shell,” I said, wishing I had the same confidence she did.
My phone vibrated with a text from Nelson.
Got a status update if you got time.
I called him and he answered immediately.
“Yo, they sent Josie away a few minutes ago. Knuckles, Mug, and Sledge are inside, though Rafferty says Mug did a walk-around the outside of the house just before she left.”
If I showed up, there would be three of us against three of them. The problem was that Knuckles would hurt Simone at the first chance. A better option would be if we could get Knuckles in the house alone, but the only time he might be alone would be when he left for his meeting at ten.
Nelson kept talking. “Rafferty suggested drawing Mug outside again by throwing something at the house, but I think that’s too risky. We’d have to knock him out and drag him back here to the cemetery. At worst, Sledge or Knuckles would catch us. At best , they’d figure something’s up when he doesn’t come back.”
I nodded. “Yeah, you’re right, but I like where his head is at. We’ll hold that for later, if it’s necessary. I'm sending Russ and a prospect to Josie's place, she's a loose end.”
“Understood, Prez. I’ll text if anything changes.”
I ended the call and gave Torque the gist.
A prospect barged through the front door. “There are two Riot members out front. You want me to let them through?”
“Is one of them Volt?” I asked.
“Blood and Cal,” the prospect said.
After a deep breath, I nodded. “Let ‘em through.”
Outside, the wind had picked up and the cloud cover had increased. Part of me wanted the clouds to dump the rain and get it over with, but the other part of me wanted the rain to hit at night, when I planned to kill Knuckles. It rankled that he wouldn’t die a slow and torturous death, but I needed Simone back.
Blood and Cal trudged toward the clubhouse. Torque sauntered out and joined me.
“Why the hell are you here?” I asked when they were four feet away.
Blood yanked his sunglasses off. “Knuckles wants his fuckin’ money… it’s not something we can do through a wire transfer. That kind of cash requires security and multiple duffel bags.”
“You brought the cash?” Torque asked.
“Fuck, no ,” Blood said. “But I brought all the tools to kill these assholes and hide their fuckin’ bodies.”
“Or not,” I said.
Both men showed their surprise at my words.
“You want to go down for this shit?” Cal asked.
I shook my head. “Knuckles has a meet scheduled with his cartel contact. A source tells me that contact has gone rogue, though I’m not inclined to believe that yet.”
Cal nodded. “Yeah, great way to set you up. You’re keyed up to deal with Knuckles and instead that cartel contact takes you out.”
This shit was exhausting. Maybe Volt had been right. Going legit looked better and better.
No . I had to see this shit through.
“Where is Volt?” I asked.
“Forty-five minutes behind us or so. He’s not on his bike and he had to pick up Jackie,” Blood said.
“I’m not sure you should be here,” Torque said.
Blood stood straighter. “You can’t hold us back. Watched Simone grow up, love her like she's my own. Not a fucking chance we aren’t gonna get her out of this shit.”
I stepped closer to Blood. “I’m getting her out of there.”
Blood tilted his head. “Why does it sound like you know where she is? And you’re sittin’ around here doing fuck-all about it?”
I clenched my fists. “Ten minutes ago, I learned there are three men in the shotgun house with her, and they just let the woman leave who helped abduct her.”
“Loose end,” Cal muttered.
Blood jerked his head toward Cal. “Back to what he asked, you’re gonna go down for Knuckles getting killed?”
I shook my head. “If the cartel contact is rogue, then I intend to make it look like he and Knuckles got into an altercation and they both shot each other.”
Cal nodded. “That could work… assuming you know where this meet is going down.”
“Where is Simone during all this?” Blood asked.
“Probably being watched by Sledge or Mug based on what we got from Nelson and Rafferty.”
Cal narrowed his eyes. “Rafferty? You aren’t talking about Rafferty Rolland, are you?”
“Taking our girl isn’t enough for you?” Blood asked.
I locked eyes with Blood. “He was there after Scar and Pump made their approach in the store. Liked how he handled those assholes. It isn’t my fault you haven’t approved him as a prospect. I’m leaving the decision to him.”
Cal crossed his arms over his barrel chest. “I know someone at the DEA. This might go against your grain, but why don’t we just call them in and get her out.”
Torque matched Cal’s body language. “Because Sledge, their VP, is known for using their blow and he gets trigger-happy when he does. You send in the DEA or any other cops, that asshole’s gonna kill Simone.”
I nodded once. “The moment Knuckles leaves for his meet, we’ll draw out Mug and Sledge. Hell, the two of you showing up with the cash could work as the perfect distraction. Then we’ll get Simone out and burn those assholes alive.”
“Surprised you don’t want to do the same thing to Knuckles,” Blood said.
I ground my molars together then forced myself to relax. “I do, but that draws too many questions. We aren’t the only ones who know that Sledge likes to get high. Mug isn’t always the sharpest tool in the shed. Them setting the place on fire isn’t out of the question.”
Cal stared across the yard for a beat. “So, these two coincidentally burn the house down while Knuckles gets whacked by a cartel member… who also gets killed. Have I got your plan straight?”
I nodded.
Skepticism shone from Blood’s brown eyes. “Corrupt Chrome may not have an Augusta chapter, but sure as hell there’s more than just the three of them in town to cause you problems.”
Torque unfolded his arms and put his hands in his pockets. “You’re right. We don’t know where their road captain is in this, and Pump and Scar are in town from Jacksonville. All three of them need to be dealt with, too.”
I angled my head toward Torque. “Call Durham. Ask him if any of those three are at Player’s Palace.”
Torque pointed a finger gun at me. “You’re probably right.” He arched his brows. “Lap dance time?”
I twisted my hands up. “As long as their police buddy isn’t there, yeah.”
“What’s that all about?” Blood asked.
Before I could answer, a GMC Acadia towing a bike on a small trailer pulled up to the gate with Volt behind the wheel. Jackie sat in the passenger seat, looking pale and worried.
“Let him through,” I yelled to the prospect.
“Damn. I had hoped he’d talk Jackie into staying home,” Cal muttered.
“Are we letting them into our clubhouse?” Torque asked.
Cal and Blood were forty yards away, where Volt had parked his SUV. They were giving him and Jackie a run-down of what we’d discussed so far, if I had to guess.
I dragged a hand down my face. “If they can’t find a hotel room, at least one of them will have to sleep here tonight while the others stay at my place.”
Torque blew out a sigh that sounded like a growl. “Never fuckin’ thought I’d see the day we let Riot brothers into our clubhouse.”
“Me, neither, Tor.”
Volt gave Blood a curt nod, focused on me, and stalked my way. I knew how pissed I’d be if something happened to Jordan. The idea of something happening to a daughter would amp up my anger exponentially.
Fuck.
He stopped a foot from me with his feet planted wide. His anger wasn’t apparent until he spoke in a bristling tone. “You said she wasn’t in danger.”
With a slow nod, I said, “I didn’t know one of the women—”
Volt’s fist connected with my cheekbone. Even if I’d seen it coming, I wouldn’t have ducked his punch. I deserved that and more.
Torque stepped between us. “All right, asshole. You got your fuckin’ punch in, but that shit won’t help us get your daughter back.”
Volt’s eyes burned at Torque. “From what they tell me, you assholes know where she is and aren’t already on the move. That’s fuckin’ bullshit.”
I rubbed my cheek. “Let’s go inside. You got any damned bright ideas, you can share them.”