Chapter 10 - Dice #2
Walsh examines the watch when Blade places it on the coffee table. "Interesting. This isn't one of the watches stolen from me three years ago, is it?"
"No," Maddie speaks up. "This is the one I was hired to steal last night. Your men tried to grab me instead."
"I knew you’d be there, but had no idea what was inside."
"The other watches are long gone," Maddie continues. "Sold years ago. But you can have this one as a gesture of good faith."
"Good faith," Walsh repeats, clearly amused. "From thieves and outlaws. How charming."
"So, we have a deal?" Reaper asks. "You take the watch, leave Pine Haven, and forget about any grievances with Ms. Brooks or anyone associated with her."
Walsh seems to consider this, swirling his drink. "A tempting offer. But you see, it's not just about the watches. It's about principle. Ms. Brooks and Mr. Thompson embarrassed me. In my line of work, that requires... consequences."
"Did you kill your own men?" Blade asks bluntly. "The ones who tried to grab her."
"Maybe. They were merely foot soldiers," Walsh dismisses with a wave. "Expendable."
"Let me be clear," Reaper leans forward slightly. "This isn't a negotiation. It's a courtesy call. You leave Pine Haven today, or you leave in a body bag. Your choice."
The temperature in the room drops several degrees. Walsh's security men shift their positions, hands moving toward concealed weapons. I tense, ready for whatever comes next.
But Walsh just laughs. "I do appreciate directness." He sets his glass down. "Very well. I'll take the watch and leave your charming little town."
Something doesn't feel right. It's too easy. "Just like that?" I ask skeptically.
Walsh turns his attention to me for the first time. "Ah, you must be the younger Thompson. You have your brother's suspicious nature, I see."
"When someone who sent men to kidnap my friend suddenly agrees to walk away, yeah, I get suspicious," I retort.
"Business is business," Walsh shrugs. "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Today, it seems, is not my day."
"So, we're done here?" Reaper asks, clearly not trusting Walsh's easy capitulation either.
"Almost," Walsh says, picking up the watch and examining it. "I should mention… This arrangement only covers Ms. Brooks and your club. James Thompson's situation is... well, that's already in motion."
My blood runs cold. "What the fuck does that mean?"
"It means some wheels, once set in motion, cannot be stopped. Even by me," Walsh replies with a thin smile.
Before anyone can react, I lunge forward, grabbing Walsh by his expensive shirt and slamming him against the wall. "What did you do?" I demand, my face inches from his.
His security men draw their weapons, but Blade and Reaper are faster, their guns trained on the guards' heads.
"I'd answer him," Reaper suggests calmly. "My prospect has a temper."
Walsh doesn't seem particularly intimidated, despite my grip on his shirt. "Nothing personal, I assure you. Just business. Your brother crossed the wrong people. I merely... facilitated their response."
"What people?" Maddie demands, moving to stand beside me. "Who else is involved?"
"That would be telling," Walsh says with infuriating calm. "Let's just say James made enemies in prison. Dangerous ones."
A sick feeling settles in my stomach. James has mentioned trouble inside, rival gangs, power struggles. I'd assumed it was the usual prison politics, nothing that would follow him out.
"Fix it," I growl. "Call them off."
"I'm afraid that's impossible," Walsh says. "The arrangement is already in place. Money has changed hands. Promises have been made."
I pull my fist back, ready to wipe the smug look off his face.
"Dice," Reaper's voice cuts through the red haze of my anger. "Not here."
I hesitate, torn between obedience to my president and the overwhelming urge to hurt Walsh.
"He's not worth it," Maddie says quietly. "We need to focus on James now."
She's right, and I know it. With supreme effort, I release Walsh's shirt and step back.
"Smart choice," Walsh straightens his collar. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have travel arrangements to make."
"This isn't over," I promise him.
"For me, it is," he replies with a shrug. "Your brother's problems are his own."
I can't help myself. My fist connects with his jaw before anyone can stop me. Walsh stumbles back, more surprised than hurt. His security men raise their weapons again, but Blade and Reaper still have them covered.
"Consider that a parting gift," I spit. "If my brother gets so much as a scratch, I'm coming for you. And there won't be enough security in the world to stop me."
Walsh rubs his jaw, a flicker of genuine fear finally showing in his eyes. "Duly noted."
Reaper gestures toward the door. "We're done here. Blade, make sure our hosts honor their promise to leave town."
Outside, the rest of the club is still in formation, an intimidating presence on the circular drive. Ghost raises an eyebrow in question when he sees my bruised knuckles.
"We need to talk," Reaper says to the group. "Back at the clubhouse."
The ride back is tense, with Maddie's arms wrapped tightly around my waist. My mind races with possibilities, each worse than the last. What has Walsh set in motion? Who has James crossed? And most importantly, how do we protect him?
Back at the clubhouse, Reaper calls everyone into the chapel. For once, he includes Maddie without hesitation, recognizing that this concerns her as much as any of us.
"Walsh will leave town," he informs the rest of the group. "That problem is handled. But we have a new issue. James Thompson may be in danger upon his release."
"What kind of danger?" Viper asks, always direct.
"Unknown," Reaper admits. "Walsh claims James made enemies in prison, and that some sort of 'arrangement' is already in place."
"Could be bullshit," Wilder suggests. "Trying to get in your head."
"Maybe," I acknowledge. "But we can't take that chance. Not with a prospect’s brother."
"What's the plan?" Knight asks, looking surprisingly concerned for someone who's never met my brother.
"We beef up security for his release," Reaper decides. "Full club presence. No chances taken. Ghost, reach out to your contacts inside the prison, see what you can learn about who James might have crossed."
"I know some people too," Maddie offers. "From my... previous work. They might have information."
"Good," Reaper nods. "Ace, work with her on that. The rest of you, be ready to move when we know more."
As the meeting breaks up, I pull Maddie aside. "You okay?"
She nods, though I can see the concern in her eyes. "I'm worried about James. Walsh doesn't make idle threats."
"We'll handle it," I assure her, more confidently than I feel. "The club's got our backs. James will be protected."
She places a hand on my chest, directly over my heart. "We'll protect him, Dice. The club, you, me… We won't let anything happen to him."
Her confidence steadies me somewhat. "He's survived this long," I say, trying to convince myself as much as her. "James is tough. Adaptable. Whatever's coming, he'll make it through."
"Of course he will," she agrees. "He's a Thompson. And from what I've seen, Thompsons are pretty damn hard to kill."
Despite everything, I find myself smiling. "Damn right we are."
She rises on tiptoes to kiss me lightly. "We'll figure this out. Together."
And somehow, when she says it, I believe it. James will be okay. We'll face whatever's coming as a unit—the club, Maddie, me. And somehow, we'll all come out the other side.
For the first time since Knight woke us this morning, I feel like I can breathe again. There are still threats looming, still dangers to face, but we'll face them together.
And really, that's all that matters.