Chapter 36 #2
“You may have forgotten that I’ve gone through this. I have a better idea of what she’s going through than any of the rest of you. Do you know what it feels like?”
“Fine,” Z says after Axe nods his head reluctantly.
“This is connected to Midnight Syn.” She pauses as the door opens at the top again and I see Z groan out before the foots echo off the stairs.
“Absolutely not.” He says as Billie steps into view.
“We were comparing notes earlier.” Ella tells him as Billie and Liv move to stand next to her.
“There’s two places they’re probably holding her.” Billie adds.
“Them.” Ella glances over at her.
“What?”
“I went by Low’s apartment.” Liv starts. “She’s not there either.”
“Why would they take Low?” Spyder asks.
“Because.” My tone comes out a bit amused. “Whoever’s in charge either knows Drew, or they knew Caroline.”
“What?” Z asks, looking over.
“Exactly,” Ella and Billie both say.
Looking over at Z, I start again. “They need leverage because they know she’s not going down without a fight. Makes sense if the cops are in on it.”
“How so?” comes from behind me.
“They didn’t listen to me when I warned them how she could be and got to experience firsthand.” I laugh. “Granted, it was relatively tame compared to her slashing my tire.”
“What?” Ella laughs this time.
“Story for another time.” I shake my head. “But they know they need Low there to keep her in line.”
“Exactly,” Ella nods.
“So, what are the 2 places?”
“The abandoned house where they tried to hold Caroline and me.” Ella whispers.
“Or the old asylum.” Billie says.
“The old asylum?” Zeke whispers to himself.
“Of course.” Both Ace and Axe say out loud.
“What asylum?”
“Just outside the city.” Ace nods his head. “And if there’re girls going missing, that would be a perfect place to hold them.”
“It’s all connected, so I feel like it has to be there.” Ella nods her head. “Also Caroline and I may have burned down most of the house.”
All of us look over at Ella, really not even that surprised, just honestly surprised we hadn’t heard it already.
Z turns back, looking at Billie and shaking his head before saying. “I’m assuming the asylum is where they held you guys?”
She nods her head.
“Okay.” Z turns around, looking at the group.
“I’m coming.” Ace calls out.
“No,” Z demands.
“I know the building.”
“You weren’t ever inside.” Billie says. “That’s why I’m here.”
“What?” Z jumps. “No.”
“Yes,” Billie turns, looking at him. “I’m the only one who’s been inside that building. Ace, you were outside. Everyone else who was there that night is dead.”
“That was 30 years ago.” He scoffs out.
I’ve never seen Billie’s eyes darken before she steps forward and, for the first time, she shows us how she was able to be married to the president of an MC for so many years. “I’m sorry, Zane, but that’s not something that ever leaves your memory.”
He rolls his eyes before looking back over at Ace, doing his best attempt at keeping control over his club, and the mom-fear that Billie had just stilled him with. “You’re supposed to still be dead; we don’t need to blow your cover yet.”
“Drew’s not gonna be at the asylum.” I say to them.
“What?”
“They’re expecting us to come.”
“How do you know?” Ella asks.
“It’s too easy. But you’re right. It’s all connected. That’s where they want us. They are there, the girls are there, but she’s not.”
“So where do you think they’re keeping her?”
I shake my head. “She was probably at the asylum, just like she was at the warehouse, but they moved her somewhere else.”
“Why would they risk that?”
“That’s where they want us to go. Right now we’re where they want us, one step behind them.”
“Why?” Z trails off as if he’s trying to connect the dots. “Son of a bitch.” He mumbles. “They’re gonna set us up to take the fall.”
Slowly, I nod my head.
“That’s against everything we fucking stand for.” Is called from behind me.
“We all know that, but how many juries are gonna believe the 1% bikers have morals?” I laugh, nodding at Z. “You already got lucky once; how many more can there be?”
“Where do you think she is?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think I do.” The door closes up the staircase another time, grabbing Z’s attention with Tate’s voice.
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
“Yeah, well, too bad.” She stands up to him, causing him to shake his head. “Because I’m pretty sure I know where she is.”
“And where’s that?” Z placates her
“My basement.”
“There’s no way they’re keeping her in the basement?”
“Not in ours.” She pauses, looking back at him.
“In Sherman’s basement.” I say this time.
“Yeah,” she nods her head again. “Think about it. He was planning on taking me and holding me against my will. Where do you think that was going to be?” she sighs, as if she’s imagining what that would be like. “He never took me off the bank account.”
“Why?” someone asks from behind me.
“Same reason he didn’t take my name off the house or anything else.
I took care of all of that when we got together.
” She shakes her head. “I can see the money he spent. He spent thousands of dollars shortly before he arrested Z. I called the first company, telling them I just noticed a charge and if they could send me the invoice.”
“Did they?” Zeke laughs.
“After a bit of convincing.” She smirks.
“Wasn’t that far from the truth. Told them my husband was arrested for domestic violence and then murdered in prison.
Now I have to get the taxes done for everything for the first time and need all the invoices for the home repairs.
They sent me the invoice, and well, he bought soundproofing and industrial locks.
I called a couple more of the companies, and he bought everything you’d need to hold someone hostage. ”
The look she gives me shows the realization of what would have happened to her without the club protecting her, and somehow I know she feels like it’s her fault Drew’s even there.
“What do we do?” someone asks from across the room.
“There’s two ways we can play it.” Z nods. “Go in all at once.”
“Or go in quietly.” I state.
“Yeah,” he nods his head. Turning towards everyone, he starts again. “Eli, Tatum, and I will go to her house and check.”
“And me.” Ella calls out.