Chapter Seven
Sunday, June 8 th .
Riverside District. Austin.
This was one morning I was wary of checking the messages on my phone. Wasn’t wrong.
Regan was all over me.
“I heard it was emotional suicide to date a cop.”
What was the proper response to that? Had to think about it.
“Didn’t realize we were dating.”
“Definitely not now.”
I laughed and felt kind of bad at the same time. I couldn’t let her get to me. Regan wanted something and I wished to hell and back I knew what it was. Something she was willing to put it all out there to get. What could it be that she was so desperate for?
Probably drive me nuts until I found out what the fuck it was.
New plan.
I’d have Kamps dive deep into her background and search. He could find it for me. Sooner the better. I texted him.
“Regan Shay owns Mahaffey’s Bar. I need everything you can find on her. Not urgent.”
“Copy. Have it later today.”
“Good enough.”
Another text hit my phone but not from Kamps. That would’ve been freaky.
Cindy.
“Neil called me. He has a place for me and Flint. He’s going to call you.”
“Great. Talk later.”
I was sitting at my tiny kitchen table eating toast and cherry jam and drinking black coffee when Neil called. “Hey, bro.”
“Hope I didn’t wake you up.”
“Nope. Been up a while. Cindy said you found her a place.”
“Yep. I’m going to move her today. Can you help me and Cage?”
“Sure. Give me the where and when.”
“We’re on our way down from Arlington now and we should be at the shelter by eleven or so. I have some second-hand furniture rounded up and Mick and Annie have some too.”
“Okay. Meet you at the shelter at eleven.”
“Thanks, Lukas, and thanks for all your work on Cindy’s case.”
“No problem.
My Sunday just got busy. No time to think about Regan, and that’s a good thing.
Rosedale Women’s Shelter. Rosedale. Austin.
I arrived at the shelter at ten to eleven and Neil was already there with his bodyguard, a former Navy SEAL named Cage Rutledge.
The two of them were helping Cindy load her stuff into the truck. She didn’t have much. The sheriff’s department made damned sure of that. That by-the-book dickwad didn’t let her take a thing from her old place—not even the baby’s diapers or formula she’d already paid for.
Cindy had zero dollars, and she needed the baby’s stuff. That’s all she asked for and that jerk sheriff refused to let her go in.
That burned my ass more than a little bit.
One of the women who ran the shelter for Neil held Flint while Cindy was busy loading their stuff.
The back of Neil’s pink truck held a white crib and dresser, the parts of another bed, and a small table, but the whole works didn’t look like enough to fill up an apartment.
“We’re all set, Lukas.” Neil handed me an address. “This is where we’re going. Mom is meeting us there.”
I glanced at the location. “That ain’t far from Aunt Gail’s house.”
Neil nodded. “We’ll stop in. I haven’t seen her in long enough.”
I smiled thinking how happy she’d be to see Neil standing on her doorstep.
Montana House. Chestnut Hill. Austin.
When I got to the address, I got a surprise. With a few bucks from his inheritance, Mick Sullivan had bought a run-down six-plex and had it renovated and turned into a low rent facility for Neil’s shelter victims.
Huh.
The place was called ‘Montana House’ and that had to be in memory of Mick’s girlfriend. Neil’s girlfriend too…for a while. They sort of shared her in a different sort of way—both of them looking out for her.
A complicated situation and a devastating loss for Mick. I could see him doing this in Montana’s memory. Just like him to do something unexpected. The guy always surprised me.
Mick had Annie and Davey with him when he pulled into the building parking lot. A bigger load of furniture in the back of Mick’s truck than Neil had.
With my arm out of commission, I wasn’t much good to carry sofas or anything heavy, but I helped out where I could.
Mostly spent time talking to Cindy so she wouldn’t be scared. She was scared moving into the shelter, then she got used to it, and now she was scared moving into a place on her own.
Her life had been changing pretty fast during the past week.
When the furniture had been unloaded and was all inside the apartment, Annie took over and helped Cindy and they got the place looking decent.
Annie had brought four or five bags of groceries too, and all the food had to be put away.
When we were all done, tears came, and Cindy cried she was so happy. Flint had his own bed and the two of them had their own home in a brand-new apartment.
Neil spent a few minutes with her going over her budget and giving her a list of emergency numbers to call in case anything went wrong.
“Keep the cards handy and become familiar with the agencies that can help you.”
“I will, Neil. Thank you so much.”
We wished Cindy luck and waved to her as we left Montana House.
Since Aunt Gail’s house was so close, we drove over there to surprise her. She rarely got to see Neil with him living in Arlington and being on the Ranger team schedule.
Cherrywood. Austin.
Aunt Gail squealed when she saw all of us on her porch. “Come in, come in. My family is here to visit me.”
After I’d eaten most of the last batch of butter tart squares, she’d made more and had a good supply. She wanted to hear all the details of Mick’s new project to help women who were victims of violent crime, and I told her the happy ending of Cindy’s story.
“Such wonderful work, all of you are doing.”
We talked and drank a lot of great coffee. It was a happy family time that I didn’t get much of. Nearly all the family time I got was with Tommy and his kids.
After a lot of hugs on the porch, everyone left, and I was the last to leave because I technically lived there.
I was backing out the driveway when Regan pulled in behind me and blocked my exit.
I rammed my truck into park and jumped out ready to snap. “How did you get this address?”
She shrugged. “We need to talk.”
“We’ll talk in my truck. I’m not upsetting my aunt.”
Regan climbed into the passenger seat and glared at me over the console, her eyes full of angry questions. I waited for her to start.
This was her party.
The cab of the truck was dead silent as I lit up a smoke and didn’t offer her one. I checked my messages and waited…
“What the hell is wrong with you, Lukas?”
“Nothing is wrong with me. I’m the same as I ever was. What do you want to talk about?”
“I thought we had something together, Lukas, and then suddenly we’re not on the same page at all. I tracked you down to find out why you did a one-eighty on me.”
“Triggers. I’ve got certain triggers, and you set off a lot of them.”
“For instance?”
“As soon as you said we should get to know each other better, I saw flashing lights. Right away I knew you wanted a relationship—that’s what you’re expecting from me. If it isn’t a relationship you want, then it’s something else and you’re going to use sex to get it.”
“That’s crazy talk, Lukas.”
“Is it? You want something from me. All the signs were there when you invited me over for lunch—the lunch I never got.”
“Not true.”
“It is. You didn’t even give me a sandwich.”
“I mean I didn’t want anything from you. I had no ulterior motive.”
“I’m saying you did. And I know what comes next. It’s always the same pattern.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The next time you ask me over, you ease into it a bit more and drop a few hints about what you really want—the trouble you’re in—or how much money you need me to loan you—whatever. Doesn’t matter. What I’m saying is, you didn’t invite me over…just for me. That’s why I refused to come to your place last night.”
“You’re nuts. You know that?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You’ve never had a great relationship, have you? I can tell.”
“Apparently you can’t tell. I have had a good one.”
“Okay. Maybe I couldn’t. You’re hard to read. Tell me why you’re not with that person right now.”
“Can’t be there right now.”
“But you would if it were possible?”
“Can’t.”
“You’re not giving me straight answers.”
“Classified.”
Regan laughed. “That’s a joke.”
“Nope. Not kidding even a little bit. I’ve got to go now and I’m asking you nicely to get out of my truck.”
“This conversation isn’t over.”
“It’s over.”
I put the truck in reverse and started backing up.
“Lukas, stop,” Regan hollered. “You’re going to hit my car.”
“I hope so. Run and get in your fuckin’ car and get it out of my way before I shove the goddamned thing out of my way.”
I put the brakes on so she could get out.
“You’re certifiable, Lukas.” Regan screamed at me as she jumped out and ran to get into her car before I rammed it.
I laughed as she backed into the street without looking and an oncoming truck nearly hit her.
Brakes squealed and I heard Regan scream.
Better keep your distance girl. I’m nobody’s puppet.
Riverside District. Austin.
Completely wiped when I got back to my place. Arm throbbing and a vile headache. Searched for my meds and gulped two little white pills down with a swig of water.
So fuckin’ tired from moving Cindy and the stress of fighting with Regan, my mood was as foul as a wounded grizzly. I flopped face down on my unmade bed and zoned out.
Slept for three hours.
After a solid three hours of drugged sleep, I did not feel like getting up and dealing with the sewer side of my life. But it was work and what I got paid to do.
A hot shower helped.
Clean clothes and one nuked-up mug of coffee and I was ready to go.
Back to work.
Riverside Bar and Grille. Austin.
Thought about taking my bike, but if I happened to get into any kind of altercation and my arm got hurt, I wouldn’t be able to get home.
I drove my truck.
Late when I got there, and I was surprised my booth was empty. Lila had gone home and the girl who worked nights was slinging trays of pitchers and moving her cute butt pretty fast to keep up the pace. The bar was busy.
Bailey.
Long honey-colored hair and big brown eyes. I’d taken her out once, but it hadn’t gone anywhere. Should I try again? Probably not.
She whizzed by my table and took my order on the run. “Shiner’s, Lukas?”
“Yeah, thanks, Bailey.”
“Be right back.”
The Tango Blast guys filled up three of the booths on the other side of the aisle and I tried my best to hear what they were talking about. I needed something for Blacky to sink his teeth into.
Since I got cut I hadn’t been too productive, and I wasn’t in the business of dogging it.
More Tangos filtered in and there seemed to be some kind of buzz going on.
Were they getting ready to do something?
Hope so.
Bailey brought my beer and sat down across from me. “I’m on my break, but the boss said to take a short one. We’re busy tonight.”
“Yeah, y’all are busy. Lots of Tangos here. Something going on with them?”
“Yeah, I think they’re pissed about the Bandidos trying to take Festival Beach from them.”
“Jeeze. Bandidos have a huge club. A lot of support if they want to call in backup.”
“I don’t know the numbers, Lukas. Only the numbers on the bills they tip me.” She laughed.
Cute girl. I might’ve forgotten how cute she was.
Is Bailey worth another try?
I finished my pitcher and left the bar. Sat in my truck in the parking lot behind the building and called Blacky.
He sounded sleepy when he answered, and I figured I woke him up. “Lukas?”
“Might be a rumble at Festival Beach tonight, boss. The Tangos think the Bandidos are going to try to take their turf.”
“Shit. That could be huge.” I heard the click of Blacky’s lighter as he lit up a smoke. “Two big, strong clubs. Won’t be pretty.”
“Park is busy this time of year, boss. Lots of people will be there, night swimming or at the food trucks and there might be a concert going on.”
“Is this confirmed?”
“Not yet. I’m sitting in my truck waiting to see if the Blast head over there. A lot of them are ganging up here in their watering hole. Dozens.”
“Bad sign.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll send Farrell and the night squad over to the park right now just in case.”
Copy, boss.”
I waited another hour. Smoked half a pack and dozed off a couple of times. Then the Blast came running out all at once—a small army in motion. They jumped on their rides and started their engines.
The noise was deafening.
They took off in a big rumbling convoy and I figured it was game on.
As soon as they cleared the parking lot, I drove into the street and followed them. Not that far upriver to Festival Beach Park on the shore of Lady Bird Lake.
The bikers were going in exactly that direction, and I figured Farrell and his guys on the gang squad would be already there. If Blacky called them when I called him, they’d be there waiting. No question.
Trailing along behind when the convoy in front of me got to the parking lot, I pulled in and watched the Blast set their kickstands and check to make sure their weapons were loaded and ready to fire.
This was a turf war.
A fuckin’ huge one.
The first wave of the Blast ran to the gate—about forty of them—and saw the entrance was barricaded by the SWAT team. Behind the SWAT guys I could see Farrell and his guys in their tactical gear.
If the Bandidos were in the park, they couldn’t get out—unless they swam out—and the Blast couldn’t get in.
Blacky had set this up and it was working. So far.
More of the Blast showed up in the parking lot and they joined the first forty or fifty milling around near the entrance.
The second wave contained the boss of the Tango Blast, Javier Perez, and he was yelling at his guys to ignore the SWAT team, charge the barricade and enter the park.
His men were not that stupid, and they weren’t blind. They could see the solid wall of SWAT guys right in front of them. Shields up and MP5s pointed at them.
They didn’t follow Perez’s orders.
Couldn’t.
It was a suicide mission.
Tired and in need of more meds, my mood had deteriorated considerably. I needed to wrap this up and go home.
I hopped out of my truck and sauntered into the midst of the Tango gang and got close enough to the barricade to hear what was going on.
“Perez, take your men out of here before I arrest all of y’all,” hollered Farrell. “The park is closed, and if you come over that barrier, I’m gonna shoot the first guy over. You listening to me?”
Farrell raised his shotgun.
Didn’t faze any of the Tango Blast.
Perez moved forward and all of the Blast held firm behind their leader. They weren’t going anywhere with the boss heading for the barricade.
How could they? They’d look like wussies, and they’d get their asses kicked to the fuckin’ curb by their own club enforcer.
Perez moved forward.
The Tango Blast stood their ground.
Shields up, the SWAT guys made a solid wall behind the barrier. Their automatic weapons were trained on the gang in front of them.
Standoff.
Nobody moved and there was a sweaty, electric silence hanging in the air.
Waiting for the first shot. Then the night would go to hell.
I was tired and miserable, and I wanted to go home to bed, so I thought I might as well end it.
Full dark and nobody could see me. I’d made my way all the way to the barricade and was standing right where I wanted to be—next to Perez.
Adan Pena, enforcer for the Blast, was supposed to be protecting the boss, and he was nowhere near either one of us.
I checked.
While Farrell hollered out another warning for both sides to stand the fuck down, I rammed my knife upwards between Perez’s ribs and into his heart.
Before he collapsed and hit the pavement, I was in my truck going home to bed.
Deterrent.