by Brook Wilder
Dom wraps his arms around me.
“Man, I really wish I could help. But I just can’t…”
Dom looks at me.
“I can’t do it.”
Dom turns to Abel.
“I hope you understand. I always have your back, just not this time.”
Abel looks at James.
James takes a deep breath.
“I don’t know, man. You’re hitting us with a lot right now. I’m still trying to take in everything you just told me and…”
Abel frowns.
“I get it. I guess I’m on my own.”
My brother looks like he’s hanging on by a thread. There’s so much I want to tell him. I’m struggling to put it all to words.
“Abel…”
He looks at me.
“I’m scared. James is right. This is all overwhelming. But as I sit here, I realize something else: you’re right too. There will never be peace in Tomahawk until this is over and done with.”
“So, what are you saying?”
“I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you have a plan on how to get this done, then, I don’t think you should go it alone.”
I look up at Dom.
“If you get involved with this, promise me, you have to swear... You have to swear you’ll be safe. I mean it.”
Dom is surprised. I know he never thought I would go for this. But I almost feel like I don’t have a choice. As much as I want us to leave all this madness behind and start our happily-ever-after, I love my brother too. I don’t want anything to happen to Abel. And I would feel much better if he has the backup he needs to bring justice to the Vipers.
Dom touches my shoulder.
“Are you sure about this, babe?”
I take a deep breath and nod. Inside, I hope I don’t regret it.
Dom turns to Abel.
“I guess that means I’m in.”
Abel smiles.
Dom and Abel look at James.
“The bottom line is, I could never say no. I’m sure Lena will be alright with this. Hell, we’ve all been fighting this battle for way too long.”
Abel’s eyes light up.
“I knew I could count on you guys.”
Dom nods.
“So, have you thought this out? What’s the play here?”
“Whatever we do, we have to be careful. We have to fly under the radar, you know? These Vipers, they’ll be all over asses if we slip up. And to tell the truth, this is war.”
James looks up at them.
“I’ve never backed down from a fight. And these motherfuckers have had it coming for a long time.”
I look at Abel.
“Are you sure you don’t wanna work with the authorities on this?”
Abel shakes his head no.
“It’s just like I told you, that’s not an option. I’ve got to take this into my own hands. That’s the only way. Even if we get the state police in on it, the most they’ll do is try to raid the club and arrest a Viper or two on narcotics possession. They’ll post bail and go back to doing the same ole shit in no time.
“The only way to kill a snake is to cut it off at the head. But we have to be smart about it. There’s no room for error when dealing with these bastards. We all know that.”
Dom turns to Abel.
“Yeah. But we’re right here, and we’re not going anywhere. Whatever you need.”
“I can’t believe we just got done dealing with all of Lyle’s shit and now this. It’s like a back-to-back shit storm. But I do know one thing. It won’t last. I’m gonna do everything in my power to shut the Vipers down. This right here... It’s all or nothing. And we’re gonna have to get our hands dirty to save Tomahawk, but that’s the only way.”
I recognize the determined look in Abel’s eyes. Even when we were kids, he was never one to back down. I’m pretty sure that’s one of the reasons why he wanted to protect and serve. Even now, that means the world to Abel.
But I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m worried about my brother. Abel has always been so headstrong, and I wonder sometimes if he’s in over his head. My heart is beating faster as I think of everything he’s just told us: secrets, dead bodies, Vipers... It’s all a very toxic mix.
I really hope Abel knows what he’s doing.
END OF BOOK 2
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PREVIEW – TANGLED
Abel
I roll down the window and take in the fresh air. The sun is setting as I head downtown. To tell the truth, it’s not much of a ‘downtown’ in Tomahawk. On the rare occasion we get tourists here, most of ‘em they drive right past it without even noticing. There ain’t much to see, just a post office, a diner, and a couple of buildings.
Today, I’m in plain clothes, driving an unmarked vehicle. After years in law enforcement, I know the element of surprise is the most important key to catching criminals. But I really don’t know what to expect right now. I just got a call from one of my informants, Benny. His exact words were, “There’s some crazy shit going down at the hardware store.”
Benny is a known drug addict and thief, so I take everything he says with a grain of salt. But still, I decide to look into it. Just in case. Things have been crazy around here, especially with the mysterious deaths of several Grizzlies. I know the Vipers are behind it somehow, but I don’t have proof. At least, not yet.
Maybe today my luck will change. I’m so desperate, I’m willing to follow just about any lead. But I know one thing for sure, I can’t go it alone. There are other sheriffs I can trust who I know will have my back, but they’re no substitute for Dom and James. That’s why I called them and told them to meet me here.
As soon as I turn the corner, Dom and James pull up behind me on their motorcycles. I smile, feeling a little bit of relief. Whatever I’m about to walk into, I know I don’t have to worry about shit. Not with Dom and James on the scene. That’s one of the main reasons why I had them get deputized. Technically, they’re law enforcement now.
I park in front of the building and step outside into the hot sun. This is probably just a waste of time, I think, as I watch an old man walk outside the hardware store with a bag and a receipt. Benny was probably just high and confused when he called me earlier today. But I’m still gonna check things out. What the hell, right?
Brown Hardware & Supplies has been here for decades. It was owned by Jake Brown, the wealthiest man in Tomahawk. He also owned a whole ton of real estate, including rental houses and three apartment buildings. But the whole town knew his businesses were just a front for his criminal operations.
Jake was one of the most ruthless Vipers around. Drugs. Prostitution. Money laundering. He dabbled in all of that shit before he died a few months ago. But the apple don’t fall too far from the tree, because his son, Eric, picked up right where his rich daddy left off.
There are rumors going around that Eric killed Jake. I don’t know if that’s true, but I’ve heard crazier stories. Come to think of it, when Jake was alive, things between the Vipers and Grizzlies were intense, but now that he’s gone, the beef is out of control. And Eric is a big reason why.
A lot of folks around town talk about how old-school gangsters were different. They believed in honor among thieves. But that greedy bastard Eric has zero honor. All he’s ever cared about is fattening up his pockets. But I have to hand it to him, he’s slick. He knows how to cover his tracks, just like his old man.
Dom and James get off of their bikes. I glance at them.
“Thanks for getting here so quick.”
Dom nods.
“No doubt.”
“Alright, let’s do this.”
We walk into the store. The doorbell chimes. Right away, I notice a lot of the shelves are bare. It seems a little suspicious. But in a small town like this, businesses can’t afford to stock up on everything.
A teenage boy with pimples smiles at us from behind the counter. He’s got a mouth full of braces. His voice squeaks a little when he talks. He’s right in the middle of that awkward-ass puberty phase.
“Hi, can I help you guys with anything?”
I shake my head no.
“We’re just looking.”
Dom, James, and I make our way down the aisles. With each passing second, I realize that Benny has given me a bullshit lead. There’s nothing going on here. Maybe Eric Brown is using this place to wash money from one of his whore houses. But that’s about it.
Dom, James, and I head for the exit.
The kid behind the counter waves goodbye.
“Take care. Sorry you couldn’t find what you were looking for.”
Just as I reach for the door, I hear glass breaking. Sounds like it’s coming from downstairs. I stop in my tracks. The kid’s face turns red.
“Where’s the door to the basement?”
He hesitates.
I flash my sheriff badge.
His eyes get wide as he points to the back of the store. Dom, James, and I hurry to the door. I hear more noises. I can’t make out exactly what’s going on down there, but I’m not gonna wait another second to find out. I kick in the door. It swings wide open.
Dom, James, and I run down the steps. It smells like ammonia. When we get to the basement, we see the reason why. It’s a fucking meth lab. There are jars and tubes all around.
Two teenagers are in the middle of cooking meth, a tall skinny pale kid with black hair hanging over his dark eyes, and a redhead kid with freckles. The tall kid stares at me for a long time. It’s almost like he recognizes me.
Before I can say anything, they take off running. One of ‘em knocks over a flask. It breaks. There’s glass everywhere. The smell is a hundred times worse now.
I cough as Dom, James, and I follow the kids.
“Tomahawk Sheriff Department! Stop!”
They run out of a backdoor that leads outside. Dom, James, and I are out of breath as we chase them. We look around. They’re gone. I can’t believe they got away so damn fast. Dom shakes his head. James frowns.
“Where the hell did they go?!”
I notice two pairs of gym shoes under a parked car. I hold my hand up to my mouth to make sure James and Dom stay quiet. Then, I point out the shoes to them.
I’m not gonna let these kids get away. We’re gonna get some fucking answers. I know they’re not the sixteen-year-old masterminds behind Tomahawk’s meth ring. I’m pretty sure somebody put them up to this shit, and nine times out of ten that somebody would be Eric Brown.
I want to put them at ease. I have to find a way to make them trust me. That’s gonna be hard, but I have to try.
“Listen! We know you’re here. All we wanna do is just talk about it. Okay? Come out and…”
Bang! A bullet flies in my direction. Oh shit! The tall kid is shooting right at us. Instinctively, I grab my gun. Dom and James do the same.
I don’t wanna do it, but it’s me or them. Dom, James, and I exchange fire. I feel a rush of adrenaline. The redhead kid runs off; he’s out of sight. The tall kid is still shooting at us.
I squeeze off a few rounds. I want to scare him. Then I hear the kid scream. Damn! What if I’ve shot him? I hope I didn’t kill him. That would be a helluva thing to live with. Even if it was self-defense, I don’t want that on my conscience.
The kid screams out again.
“Oh God!”
I run to check on him. He’s leaning on the car. I shot him right through his shoulder. There’s a lot of blood. The kid grimaces in pain as he glares at me.
Right away, I call for backup. I’m pretty sure he’ll live. That doesn’t change the fact that I feel shitty about it. As a sheriff, I always stand ready to use my gun, but no matter the circumstances, shooting a kid is a fucked-up situation.
The ambulance comes a few minutes later. I stand there watching as they tend to the kid and put him in the back of the truck. As they drive off, I take a deep breath.
The other sheriffs arrive on the scene. I explain what happened in detail. They don’t question me. They know that I’m not trigger-happy. I only use my gun when I absolutely have to, and sadly this was one of those days.
Two sheriffs gather the evidence from the meth lab. This is the biggest one any of them have seen in ages, and that’s saying a lot for Tomahawk. Drugs are a big problem here, and those Vipers won’t quit till the whole town is hooked. I hope this bust makes a difference, but I’m not too optimistic. That bastard Eric Brown probably has hidden meth labs all over town.
Dom, James, and I walk back to our vehicles. They both turn to me with worried expressions. Dom pats my back.
“You okay, man?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“You don’t have anything to feel guilty about. That kid was trying to kill all of us.”
“I know…”
James grabs the keys out of his pocket.
“Dom is right. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with that kid. A couple stitches and he’ll be fine. You did what you had to do.”
I take a deep breath. I understand where James is coming from, but there’s this uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
This isn’t the first time I had to defend myself with a gun. I’ve been in my share of shoot-outs. There’s always some shit going down in Tomahawk. But this time is different for me. My emotions are all over the place.
It’s true that kid was trying to kill us. Thank God he was a lousy shot. But on the other hand, the kid is somebody’s son. When grown men break the law, I have no problem handling them. But women and children? That’s where I draw the line. Somehow, it feels like I crossed it today.
Women and children are innocent. They need my protection. It hurts me to think about the one woman I couldn’t protect. I can still see Kate’s gorgeous green eyes and the way her smile used to light up a room.
I’d give anything to go back in time to that fateful night when she needed me most. How many times have I wished I could give my life for hers? It’s not fair that’s she’s gone. And there’s nothing I can do to change it.
Whenever I try not to think about Kate, that’s the hardest part. Memories of her laughter, the way she looked in her wedding dress, the way she brushed her hair into a high ponytail... They all come back to me. For the most part, I manage to pull myself together, but sometimes it feels like I’m barely hanging on by a thread.
Dom looks at me.
“Abel? You alright?”
I nod.
James hops on his motorcycle and revs up his engine.
“Why don’t you stop by the bar? You look like you could use a drink.”
I shake my head no.
“I can’t. I need to get back to the station and do some paperwork.”
“That can’t wait?”
“No. Every time there’s a shooting, we have to…”
“Well, maybe you can stop by after you finish. Drinks on me. Okay?”
“Okay. Maybe.”
Dom gets on his motorcycle.
“Alright, man. You take it easy.”
“You too. Will you be at the bar?”
“Not tonight. I’d better get home to Amy.”
“Smart man.”
I smile a little as the two of them ride off. I get in the unmarked car and drive to the station. The whole way there, I keep seeing the kid in my mind. Bleeding. Helpless.
Not exactly helpless. He was pointing a gun at me. But still… Something about it really bothers me. And then there’s the red headkid who took off running. I wonder if I’ll ever track him down.
Growing up around here, there was always t
ension between the motorcycle clubs. But the one thing that’s changed is that the gangs are recruiting kids, younger every year. This shit is crazy. Eric Brown is turning Tomahawk into a cesspool, and I’m more determined than ever to stop him.
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