CHAPTER SEVEN
Weren’t you the one who taught me it’s sometimes best to ask for forgiveness than for permission? I was doing what you taught me—taking care of our family. You have to talk to me at some point. Please.
~Text from Max to Ry~
Christy
Three hours later
It’s been hours since Jon and Jason went into his office. They were there for at least twenty minutes before coming out, and Jon called church. All the guys went into the room and were there for what felt like forever, but was probably only thirty minutes or so.
By that point, Ma was sitting next to me, and Amanda was at the table with Romona, Anna, Kierstie, and Madison. Mary wasn’t here, but she’d volunteered to work for me since she knew I would be useless and probably spill everything on customers with how distracted I’d be.
When everyone started piling out of the room and back into the club room, Ma stood up and waited for Pa and Jon to come in, then she let her mama bear come out.
She holds up her hand to stop Pa and Jon from going any further.
“Now you need to listen. I understand club business better than anyone, but this is my baby. This is my boy you’re talking about who’s gone missing, so I’m gonna need one of you to start telling me something—anything.
If you don’t, you won't like the consequences. I think both Christy and I have been more than patient. I don’t expect you to tell me everything, but you will tell me something.
” I glance over at Ma, and the look she is giving Pa and Jon is downright scary.
Glad I’m not on the wrong side of that look.
Jon holds up his hands in that placating way that men seem to all be able to do. “Now Ma—” Ma moves quickly and gets right up in Jon’s space and pokes her finger in his chest.
“You don’t Ma me, Jon Michael Weston. You tell me something…
tell me if my boy is alive at least.” I think she might be the only person on the planet who can put a look of fear into both Pa and Jon.
Jon reaches out and touches Ma on the shoulder.
“I can’t tell you everything, and things are still evolving, but I have gotten word that he’s alive and he’s okay. ”
Ma takes a deep breath, and I see her shoulders start to move in the way that you know she’s crying.
Pa takes her in his arms. I feel like I’m not in my body.
He’s alive…he’s okay…but why isn’t he here?
I sink into a chair next to where I have been standing.
I look down at my hands, and all the emotions I’ve been holding in come out.
Fear, anger, relief, worry–just all of it.
I don’t think I make a sound, but I must because in just a moment, arms come around me and hug me.
I look over, and it’s Jane. She pulls me closer to her, and she speaks quietly.
“He’s alive. The brothers are gonna figure out how to bring him home.
He’s okay. Loving a man, really loving a man, isn’t always easy, but really loving a good man like Max, sweetheart, it’s worth everything.
” I nod, because words aren’t coming. I hear her sigh, so I look back over to her as she glances over at Jon, who’s now standing next to Juan.
She gives me a slight grin. “It’s worth it, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t drive you crazy a good amount of the time, but it’s still worth it. ”
I just want him here so I can see with my own two eyes that he’s okay. If he’s been fine the whole time, then I might kill him myself. That’s to be determined.
Max
Ever feel like things are going too smoothly?
That’s the feeling in my gut right now. It’s been a few hours since Luke filled me in on everything, and Jon and Jason at least know I’m alive and most of the plan.
I really fucking hope this all works, because I’m ready to get home and kiss my woman.
I have a feeling she’s gonna give me what for when we see each other.
I might deserve that… okay, I totally do.
Luke’s driving the van with Taz in the passenger seat. Brander’s in the back with me. Fucker is creepy as all get out. He is definitely not in the Ted Bundy class of serial killers. There ain’t one charming bone in his body.
We’re supposedly going to the bank. Taz has it in his head that because I’m a lawyer, we can go in and I can have them change the beneficiary to him, so he can take out all the money.
The money that the paperwork shows Erik as the rightful owner of.
The money that the rightful owner withdrew from the account a few months ago.
He put it in a different account, one not associated with anyone up on that mountain.
I’m guessing something is going to happen before we go inside the bank.
For one, going inside would put innocent people at risk.
For two, there are two vehicles that have been following us for the last couple of miles.
Prowl is behind us on his bike. I have a feeling he’s directing shit from there.
Hell, I would bet my left arm that he’s got Braxton talking in his ear.
Taz looks back at me. “You get me this money, lawyer, and you can find a ride home from the bank. You don’t, and that puddle of blood that we left in your office will seem like a drop of blood.
Brander here will let every single ounce of blood out of your body, then he’ll fucking kill you.
” Gotta love a physically impossible threat. Man’s definitely not a Rhodes Scholar.
Brander is playing with a knife, and he looks over at me.
“Think about doing something stupid, and I’m gonna find your girl and take pleasure in taking my time with her, enjoying her before and after I drain the life from her body.
That’s the thing people don’t understand.
Fucking a live woman and fucking a recently deceased woman is nearly the same thing and as fucking enjoyable.
But if I had to pick one, I’d pick the one no longer living.
I can pound them as hard as I want, and they can’t talk back.
Talk about a fucking dream come true.” The sick fuck.
If I wasn’t sitting here with my hands tied behind my back, I’d…
I’d fucking dispatch him myself. Thinking of him even in the same room as Christy…
rage is the only word that even comes close to it.
Luke slows down at a stoplight, and Taz looks in the side mirror as we turn to head closer to town. We go down a couple of miles, turn again, and make another turn. Taz looks over to Luke with a look of confusion on his face.
“Why are you taking the long way to the fucking bank?” Luke makes a left turn. “Because I figured you and fucking Brander back there are wanted by just about everyone, and we kidnapped him, so I thought it best to stay off the fucking radar of the local cops.”
Less than a minute later, a cop car pulls up next to us and flashes its lights. Luke, playing the part, yells out, “Shit! What the fuck could they want? I’ve been going the fucking speed limit this whole time!” Taz looks over, and his eyes widen.
“That ain’t a Watson cop. That’s a fucking state patrol officer. We ain’t ever been able to buy one off. Whatever you do, prospect, don’t stop. Lose them as fast as you fucking can!” So much for things going smoothly.
The next few minutes pass in a blur as Luke drives like a bat out of hell, but still maintains control. There isn’t anything in the back of this thing but Brander and me. We’re crashing back and forth, especially since I can’t brace myself with my hands at all.
Luke makes another turn and shouts out, “Shit, they laid down spikes! Watch out!” I can see his foot hit the brake as he tries to slow down and avoid hitting them at such high speed.
We hit the spikes, and Luke does his best to control the van, trying to slow it down and keep it from rolling.
Taz screams out, “Keep going, fucker! They can’t catch us! I ain’t goin’ to fucking prison!”
Luke ignores Taz and keeps trying to slow down the van when we’re rammed from behind.
The van spins around a few times before it comes to rest, magically still on the fucking road.
Brander has crashed into me multiple times during this whole thing, and I’m pretty fucking sure I’ve got some bruised ribs at this point. Fucker is like a dead weight.
Someone on a bullhorn outside starts talking. “Everyone, get out of the vehicle with your hands up now!” Shit’s about to get real and about to go down.
Someone repeats the same demand. Taz starts losing it in the front seat. “Nonononono! It wasn’t supposed to go like this! I had the perfect fucking plan!” Before anyone can say anything else, he opens the door and is yanked out by someone. He fights them, but I hear officers taking him down.
Brander looks like an animal who’s about to willingly chew off his own leg to get out of its cage.
He looks at me, and I swear on my life his eyes go black like night, and he gets this look on his face…
the smile is nothing short of evil. “I’m not fucking going down like that.
They ain’t gonna do to me in prison what they fucking did to Dahmer. ”
Everything happens in an instant. Brander reaches to his waist and pulls out his gun, while Luke is fast enough to get his out and yell to whoever’s close outside.
“Gun! Now!” At least two shots go off, and I watch Luke fall back from getting hit, and I feel a sharp pain in my arm while Brander screams like a banshee.
In an instant, the side and back doors open to the van, and about a million and one guns are pointed at us.
Brander’s hand is shot, causing him to drop his gun. Guys wearing bulletproof vests emblazoned with FBI on them tackle and subdue him. Braxton, in his own vest, comes up and surveys the scene. He looks at me and asks, “You alive, Weston?” I nod.