Chapter Twenty-Two
Eros
I hadn’t even been inside the clubhouse five minutes before all hell broke loose. Flash bangs went off, doors were kicked in, shit was thrown everywhere while law enforcement beat our asses. Then everyone was put in cuffs. Of course, I knew this was about Janea.
Now, most of us were sitting behind bars, waiting for a chance to see the judge so we could post bond, but I got the feeling we would be here a lot longer than we should be.
They hadn’t even told us why the hell we were here.
But I told Lydia to contact an attorney to get us the hell out of here as soon as possible.
I hate being in tight spaces, and it was irritating me.
“What the fuck is going on?” Knox’s voice echoed as he pushed his arms through the cold, metal bars of the cell across from me. He and I were the only ones in this section. I had no idea where everyone else was at. “Our guys should have picked up on this,” he said.
I could hear the frustration in his voice. And it was something we would look into after all this shit was over. But I wasn’t sure they could have done anything, especially when power and money were involved.
Our guys within the police department normally would have told us we were going to be raided.
And on any other occasion, I would have expected them to do just that, but I couldn’t put all the blame on them for this one.
This was definitely the power of the Lt.
Governor. The locals were probably informed after the Feds were brought in.
I stuck my arms through the cell bars and rested my forehead against the cold, hard steel, sighing as the weight of the day settled on my shoulders. “It has to have something to do with Janea. I’m sure our guys would have given us a heads up if they could have.”
“You’ve got more faith in them than I do,” Knox said. “But you might be right. I didn’t pick up anything, which is fucking weird. It was like they were radio silent.”
“See, like I said, this has all the hallmarks of Thorne. He’s got her, and this is a way to keep me out of the picture.”
My fucking head was pounding. I couldn’t even think straight because of how much I worried about Janea.
It took at least three fucking cops to get me handcuffed and into the back of their car.
I knew I’d have a few resisting charges added to whatever other bullshit they were trying to charge me with.
I didn’t know what the hell to do because he had her, and I couldn’t get to her.
The stench of sweat, cigarettes, and urine saturated the air. The hum of the flickering fluorescent light overhead casts a harsh, bluish hue over the space. Chipped light gray paint and graffiti covered the cinderblock walls, and black scuff marks decorated the tiled green floors.
People sat shoulder to shoulder on a narrow steel bench screwed into the cinderblock wall, while some sat on the floor not saying a word.
Others were drunk, muttering curse words at nobody in particular, and trying to sleep sitting up, or were high off their asses barely able to hold their heads up.
Hours felt like days, and not knowing what happened to Janea made me anxious.
An anxious Eros was a very dangerous person.
The laughter and heavy footfalls of the guards filled the space when they rounded the corner.
Two overweight, balding guards escorted one guy covered in tattoos who stood at least six four, maybe six five.
He was built like a damn tank, and I got the eerie feeling he was here for me.
I could be overthinking things, but I didn’t think so.
Knox tapped the side of his neck, then motioned to the guy they were escorting who had his hands cuffed in front of him.
I zeroed in on the tattoo on the side of his neck and shook my head.
Yeah, they were trying to take me out before I even made it in front of the judge.
Or at least rough me up to send me a message.
“Fuck,” I mumbled, taking a step back from the bars as the guards made their way closer.
My new cellmate was a member of the 628 Crew.
A group of guys who were into dealing, running women, and guns.
They weren’t enemies of Savage Order, but not our friends either.
They stayed far away from us. I guess they were looking at this as an opening to take over our territory or take me out.
No doubt, orders of the good governor. Not going to fucking happen though.
Once I got out, this shit would be dealt with.
The guards smiled at me, as they unlocked the cell door, then unhooked the cuffs from around the guy’s wrist. I watched him like a hawk as he walked inside the cell, rubbing his wrists where the handcuffs had been. The cell door closed, echoing through the area.
“Make sure y’all behave,” one of the guards said, laughing as he and his partner glared at me.
“Fuck you, motherfucker,” Knox said, causing the guard to glare at him before disappearing around the corner.
I took another step back to make sure my back was against the bars just to make sure I wouldn’t get jumped from behind by someone who was already in here with me.
“Keep your cool,” Knox said from the other cell.
“Don’t worry, I got this. He just a big pussy following orders.”
Knox’s laugh echoed around me as the big motherfucker slid a small knife from beneath the sleeve of his long sleeve shirt. Should have known he had a weapon. Who the fuck wore long sleeves when it was fucking eighty-five degrees?
“I got your pussy, motherfucker,” he growled. “You’re dead.”
I braced myself and jumped back just as the big guy swung.
The knife missed my gut by only a few inches.
Noise from the others in the holding cell increased.
Some screamed, and others started beating on the walls and cell bars.
You think the commotion would bring the guards, but that wasn’t happening. This was the plan.
“Jordy and the 628 are going to pay for this,” I said, as I was able to land a punch to his gut.
It did no good to have a weapon if you can’t dodge a punch.
He grunted but recovered quickly.
Jordy Alvarez was the leader of the 628 Crew.
He was a small-time crook who had big-time connections—family who were members of one of the big-time cartels across the border.
With those kinds of connections, the 628 Crew should be one of the biggest organizations in California, rivaling both Savage Order and the Sinners.
However, Jordy worried more about ass than cash, as my old man would say.
It was his downfall. But none of that mattered to me.
I didn’t give a fuck who his family was, he’d pay for this.
He lunged at me again and sliced through my shirt, and I landed a punch to his jaw, then one to his stomach, then side.
I wrestled the knife away from him, then tossed it between the bars where no one could reach it.
I wasn’t going down for no fucking murder committed inside the damn jailhouse. I’d deal with the 628 later.
The big guy landed a shot to my stomach, causing me to lose my breath, but he wouldn’t get me down. If that happened, he’d kill me. So, we exchanged blow for blow until hurried footsteps roared toward the cell. We were pulled apart, and I was yanked out of the cell.
I looked over my shoulder as I jerked against the guards pushing me away from the cells. “Tell Jordy, I’ll be seeing him.”
The big guy just glared at me until I couldn’t see anyone.
“I hope they paid you enough because when I’m done with you, you’re going to wish he had fucking killed me.”
I laughed as the guards cursed under the breaths. When we reached the room, the guard yanked the door open, then the one standing behind me pushed me inside, causing me to stumble over my feet.
“Sit,” he ordered.
I glared but slowly sat because my fucking ribs were killing me. I touched my torso, and a little bit of blood covered my hand, but I didn’t believe the wound was too deep where he had cut me.
“I’m not saying shit until my lawyer gets here,” I said as they closed the door.
I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. This was so fucked up, and there was no telling what Janea was going through or even if she was alive.
The room they had me in was no larger than eight by ten feet with very low ceilings that made my claustrophobia worse. The walls were cinder block painted in a muted gray, and a single buzzing fluorescent light overhead gave the room a more clinical look.
This wasn’t my first time in an interrogation room, and I was sure it wouldn’t be my last. The door swung open and in stepped two men dressed in plain black suits, white shirts, and black ties.
Feds.
I deeply sighed as they took their seats in front of me. “What happened to you, Mr. Kostas?”
I chuckled. “A little misunderstanding.” I sat back in the chair with a wince. “How long is this going to take?”
“That’s up to you, Mr. Kostas. You and Savage Order are looking at Rico charges.”
“Rico?” I laughed. “Then I’m not saying shit without my lawyer present.”
“It’s best that you cooperate with us, or this will get bad for you.”
Before I could respond, the door opened, and in stepped a well-dressed man I’d never seen before.
“And who the hell are you?” one of the Agents asked, and it was a question I wanted to know the answer to.
“Jonathan Ledet.” He closed the door behind him, then reached inside of his blazer coat, pulled out a business card, then handed it to one of the agents.
“Mr. Kostas’ lawyer.”
I masked the surprise moving through me because I had no fucking clue who the hell this man was. Nile Goins got us out of most of our shit as long as I’d been a member. Not this guy.
“Mr. Ledet, we were just having a talk with Mr. Kostas. It’s best for your client if he cooperates with the government.”
“What are you charging my client with?” he asked. “Because by the look of his face, he’s not being treated well, and I’d hate to sue everyone attached to the case with infringing on the civil rights of my client.”
“No one is infringing on his rights Mr. Ledet, I can assure you of that.”
“Charges, Agents,” Mr. Ledet said. “I don’t have all day.”
“As of right now, there are none.”
Mr. Ledet nodded. “Then my client is free to go?”
“He is,” one of the agents said.
“If you need to speak to him again, make sure you call me first.” He faced me. “Let’s go, Mr. Kostas.”
I struggled to stand, then winked at the agents as I walked out behind Mr. Ledet. By the time we reached outside, my entire body was on fire. That motherfucker must have broken a rib.
“What about my brothers?” I asked.
“They are being released as we speak,” he said when he reached for the backdoor of a blacked-out Audi.
“And who are you again?”
He tossed his briefcase inside, then slid into the back seat. “King says get this shit straight and do it fast. If the Feds are coming after you, then they’re coming after all of us. And the Sinners can’t have that. He’ll be in touch.”
He closed the door, and I watched as the car pulled away from the curb and into traffic.
I can’t worry about the Feds right now. I need to find Janea. Other than Ambrose, she was the most important person in my life. Once she was safe, then I would get this shit straight.