“I’ll say it a-fucking-gain,” Stone said and I could tell he wasn’t happy about feeling like he was out of the loop. He had been too busy watching me in the window that he didn’t even know what this little get together was even about.
I knew whatever it was had to be big considering it was only a few members of the club. It wasn’t an official meeting. These were the most trust men, and he was letting them into his home to update them on the Stretch situation.
“I found out what the fucking Henchmen want in return for Stretch,” Pike said nodding in Stone’s direction.
“And,” Stone growled sounding pissed off without even hearing what it was. No one said anything for a few minutes and then Stone asked again. “How much do they want?”
It was quiet for a minute and then my dad answered quietly, “A mil.”
“A mil? We ain’t got that kind of cash just lying around!” Stone shouted even though everyone in the kitchen and I knew the Brother’s didn’t have that kind of money anywhere.
I’d been doing their books for a short time and even I knew they didn’t have that kind of money. Yes, my dad and mom had a great house, but it wasn’t anywhere near a million dollar house. And the club? No. Nowhere near a million dollars. I didn’t know anyone who had that kind of money, or even access to that kind of money.
“Alright, alright, alright,” Stone said waving his hands in the air. It was as though he was trying to quiet a loud crowd, but no one at the table was being loud except for him. Well, and my dad. “Since we can’t do that, we have to come up with what we can do. We have to find out where they are holding him—”
“Pike already suggested that when you were off getting your dick sucked,” my dad said angrily. He leaned towards him, “You really want to get shot again?”
“Sorry pres, we gotta do it. It’s the only way. It’s my fault they have him. If I find out where he is, I’m going with or with you any of you all.”
Chapter 13
I listened to them go back and forth for a while about what they should do. Stone declaring more than once if he finds out where Stretch he’s going for him. And he won’t come back until he finds him. Then my dad would tell him if he goes, he won’t be coming back at all unless it’s in a body bag. The Henchmen weren’t going to just let him waltz in and take Stretch.
My dad was right, but Stone wasn’t hearing him. He was determined to do whatever it took to get Stretch back. I could tell he blamed himself for whatever had happened.
If they went in, guns blazing, they’d all get killed. My dad said that was exactly what The Henchman wanted. They were at war and they wanted back in the city. The Wild Henchmen wanted to retaliate for when the Brother’s took claim to the city.
It used to be an even split until The Henchmen were forced out by the local PD and I’m pretty sure my dad was behind whatever happened. I never heard the full story and probably never would, but whatever happened led to the Brother’s being in control of the whole city.
The Wild Henchmen didn’t just want their territory back, they wanted the Brother’s territory too. Of course, no one knew this for sure it was just what my dad speculated as to one of the possibilities.
Once the Brother’s Rebellion were vanquished The Henchmen could just come back into town and take over. Taking down as many of the Brother’s as they could would make it easy. They didn’t have any qualms about pulling out their guns if the Brother’s stepped onto their property.
If they all charged in, I would lose both my dad and Stone. My mom would be lost and heartbroken without my dad. I couldn’t say anything but I wanted to beg Stone to rethink things. But I knew he wasn’t about to sit back and wait for a miracle either.
I had to do something. If I didn’t Stone would do something stupid. He’d only been shot at a few days ago and was already looking for more trouble.
I quietly slipped back to my room. The door made a small click as I locked it behind me. I started pacing as I tried to think up a plan. A plan that would result in getting Stretch back and where no one got killed.
But the only way that could happen was if the Brother’s could come up with a million dollars. My dad didn’t have access to that kind of money and I was pretty sure he didn’t know anyone that did either.
There had to be something I could do. And whatever it was I had to do it fast before Stone put himself in front of all The Henchmen’s guns. He survived one bullet but he wouldn’t survive ten… twenty… or more.
I had to get to Stretch, but how could I do that without getting killed myself? Maybe I couldn’t get The Henchmen their money, but maybe I could make them think that I had.
Then it hit me. I came up with a plan… and I was pretty sure I’d be able to pull it off. At least temporarily. It would at least buy the Brother’s some time and hopefully I’d get Stretch back.
The next day after everyone had left the house, I went into the office as usual only this time I had my rolling suitcase with me. I opened the graphic program on my dad’s computer and quickly designed the best replica of a one hundred-dollar bill I could.
It was fairly decent, but I didn’t have the skill or time to print on the backside. I wouldn’t be able to get the security strip inside of it either. It would be obvious it was counterfeit but hopefully I wouldn’t be there when they realized.
After several tries at breaking into my dad’s safe I figured it out the code. It was my birthdate. I tilted my head, “Aww, dad!”
I started taking out stacks of money. There had far more money that I had imagined there would be. The more I had to work with the better my chances were at actually pulling this off.
I checked to make sure the door was locked before I laid out all the money on the floor. I was going to have to break up the stacks for this to work.
First, I’d put a layer of the real money at the top of the suitcase and then a few bills on each of the counterfeit stacks. I’d also have to pack them neatly and tightly, which I could do but was going to take time since I was working alone.
I didn’t bother to count how much of the real money there was, but there couldn’t have been more than ten thousand. This was probably all the money the Brother’s had to their name. And I was taking it. They were going to hate me, even if I got Stretch back.
I remembered the gun that was in my dad’s desk drawer and took it out. It would be better to have it with me even though I hoped I wouldn’t have to use it.
I started taking papers out of the printer and using the paper-cutter to cut them to size. They didn’t look great at first but I got better they more of them I trimmed. I put the worst stacks towards the bottom of the suitcase and started filling it up.
I zipped the case closed and sighed. The whole project had taken me most of the day. I had to hope that Stone hadn’t done anything crazy in the meantime.
The thought to call him crossed my mind, but I still had to hunt down a phone number for the president of The Wild Henchmen and make my offer. I’d bring him the mil, and he’d give me Stretch.
It didn’t take me long to track down a number for The Wild Henchmen. In fact, it had been far easier than I had anticipated because they had made a website. Thanks Henchmen. I was almost tempted to check to see if they had a Facebook page but I didn’t have time.
I took a deep breath and picked up the phone on my dad’s desk. My cell phone rang just as I was about to punch in the numbers. It startled me and my body shook causing me to drop the desk phone. It landed on the desk and spun in a half circle before the cord yanked it away slightly. I grabbed my cell and swiped to answer. My heart was skipping beats. I pushed the chair back as if that would somehow get me more oxygen, so that I could calm down.
“Yes?” I said sounding both anxious and pissed off. I tried to steady my breathing.
“Josie?” Stone said, not sounding friendly. This was not a social call.
“Yes? What is it?”
“Where is your old man at? I’ve been trying to find him all
morning.”
“Oh! I’m doing great! And you?” I said trying not to sound annoyed he was calling me trying to find my dad. It wasn’t like it would have been difficult to greet me first.
Although, I didn’t like to hear that he couldn’t track down my dad. But it wasn’t that unusual for him to disappear for long stretches of time. This was probably one of those times. Maybe he was meeting with the local PD and updating them on our Stretch predicament.
“Josie this is important.”
“OK, sorry, but he’s not here. What’s this regarding?” I asked even though I was pretty sure he wasn’t going to tell me. This would have fell into club business, which meant since I wasn’t in the club I didn’t get to know. Even though I already knew.
“Club business,” he said, and I chuckled. “Call me if you hear form him.”
He’d hung up without a goodbye. I hoped this wouldn’t make him even more likely to go after Stretch.
“Yeah, well good fucking day to you too,” I said and instead of feeling angry I looked up at the wall he had pressed me against. The picture that had rattled against the wall was crooked. I couldn’t help but smile.
I stood up to adjust the picture but something stopped me. The crooked picture would be a reminder of what had happened between me and Stone against that wall, so I left it. I wanted to see it every time I came into the office. I left it alone and dialed the number for Dick, the president of The Wild Henchmen.
“Who’s this?” a gruff voice said.
“Doesn’t matter, let me talk to the president. Tell him I have the money,” I said keeping my voice steady.
“Hold,” the voice grunted and I could hear someone talking in the background, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
There was a scratching noise as if someone was covering the bottom of the phone. Then a long pause.
“You got the mil?”
“Yes. But I want to hear him first. So we know he’s alive.”
“Oh, sugar lips, you are in no position—”
“OK is this where I say goodbye then?” I said hoping he wouldn’t call my bluff.
“Alright, hold on to your frilly panties.”
It was about a five-minute wait before I heard the noises of people moving around in the background. The phone noises changed, there was a scratching noise again and then a click. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was on speaker phone.
“Talk,” the gruff voice said. I was about to open my mouth when Stretch spoke.
“It’s me. I’m here,” I could barely understand him but I did recognize his voice. Something was different though, he was having trouble talking. It sounded as though it was hard for him to form his words. I wondered if they had done something to his mouth or jaw. If I had to guess, I was pretty sure he’d been beaten, probably because he wouldn’t talk.
“What have they done to you?” I asked rubbing my palm against my jeans. I was starting to sweat. Maybe I had made a mistake thinking this would work. I was so far over my head.
“Think my nose is broken… maybe jaw too,” he said and I could tell by the last word he spoke that he didn’t want to talk any more. And it wasn’t because there were people around, it was because he was in pain. Major pain but he wasn’t letting it show.
I could imagine him standing there with the dried and fresh blood on his face. His fists were probably clenched even though they likely had him tied up.
“I’ve got the money. I’m coming. Just hold tight.” It was the only thing I could think of saying. He was probably wondering who I was and when I was coming. But he was smart enough not to ask questions in front of The Henchmen. “Put Dick back on.”
“I’m here,” he said verifying that I had been on speaker phone.
“How do you want to do this?” I said closing my eyes. This was going to be the hardest part. Actually making myself go right into the lion’s lair.
After what had happened with Troy I wasn’t sure I was brave enough to actually do this. With Troy I was always hiding and waiting for him to pounce, but with The Henchmen I was a lamb walking straight towards my prey.
“You, and only you, will meet me at the top of the Darling Street parking ramp at 9 pm. Not a minute sooner and not a minute later,” he said and snuffed up what sounded like a big wad of snot. “If I catch wind you ain’t alone, well, that’s going to be a big problem your boy Stretch here, and if I get my hands on you, needless to say you won’t like it much either. Understand?”
I nodded but realized almost instantly he couldn’t see me. “You got it. Nine. Alone. Darling Street parking ramp.”
“With the money,” Dick added with a growl as if he thought I’d forget. Then he hung up the phone.
“Jesus Christ,” I whispered as I put my head down on the desk. I clawed at the collar of my shirt as if I was having trouble breathing.
They were going to take the money, kill me and then they’d kill Stretch. I had me a big fucking mistake. I should have thought this through. If I hadn’t been so worried about what Stone was going to do, I wouldn’t have come up with this plan. I wouldn’t have come up with any plan. Now I was stuck. I couldn’t back out because if someone didn’t show up with the money, they’d probably kill Stretch to teach the MC a lesson.
I grabbed the suitcase and opened the door. The hallway was empty, so I wheeled the heavy case out to my car and somehow managed to get the suitcase into the trunk.
It was going to be a long wait until tonight but I was going to sit on the porch waiting until it was time to go. I had to keep an eye on my car even though it was pretty unlikely someone would come and steal it from our driveway. It just made me feel better to keep an eye on the money until it was time to go.
I played out the scenario in my head over and over again. Each time I prayed they wouldn’t look too closely at the money and spot the fakes. If they did, we’d be dead. If it could work in my visions, it could work that way at 9 pm at the top of the Darling Street parking ramp too.
Chapter 14
It was eight o’clock, and I was sitting in my car. The truck held the suitcase with the money I stole from my dad and the fake money I’d crafted. The fake money I prayed they wouldn’t notice until I was far away with Stretch. But then I’d have to come clean about what I had done.
If my dad wouldn’t kill me if he ever found out about Stone and I, he was definitely going to kill me for taking the ten grand from his safe. It was money I wasn’t going to be able to replace. Although, if I survived everything… The Henchmen and then my dad, I would try.
I was parked about three blocks away from the parking ramp watching the clock tick down. It was probably twenty to nine when I heard the motorcycles rumbling in the distance. I assumed it was The Wild Henchmen. I lowered myself down in my seat and watched as they went by and into the ramp.
They were early. Dick wasn’t going to be alone… not that he had said he would be. He was probably sending his men to check out the ramp first. To make sure I they weren’t walking into some kind of trap.
This had been a stupid idea. If I wasn’t sure they’d kill Stretch if I didn’t show up, I would have shifted the car into reverse and pulled out of my parking spot. I would have drove home and tried to forget the whole thing ever happened. But they’d make someone pay and that person would probably be Stretch.
I hadn’t really considered what The Henchmen would do once they got back to their clubhouse and started counting the money. The second they spotted the fakes they would be furious. They’d probably go on a rampage for the Brother’s Rebellion.
It wasn’t even possible to screw up any more than I did. I was going to have to change my name. Leave the state. I’d probably have to go into protective custody or the witness protection program or something.
My dad could handle The Wild Henchmen once he’d found out what I’d done, at least I thought he could. He’d do some damage control, maybe lose a few men in the process, but I myself was forever screwed.
I
f my parents had a will, I would definitely be written out of it. Which I would have been once they found out about Stone anyway. I couldn’t believe I had allowed myself to get involved with the Brother’s. I had been so determined to keep them out of my life, yet here I was smack dab in the middle of it all.
8:50 pm.
I started the car and drove towards the parking ramp. When my phone rang, I let out a little squeak and clapped my hand over my mouth.
I took a few deep breaths and calmed myself so my voice wouldn’t give off any clues as to my stress and or nerves.
“What?” I said shaking my head. Fail. I sounded far more upset than I had intended and I probably should have just went with a simple hello.
“Josie? Where are you?” It was Stone.
“I’m out, what’s it to you?”
“Chill sweetheart,” Stone said in a false relaxed voice. I knew him better than he thought. It seemed obvious to me that something was bothering him.
I cleared my throat, “I’m just kind of busy with something is all.”
Very busy. Stupidly busy. Busy doing something really stupid.
“Damn it, Josie… we’re still looking for the pres. No word from him on your end?”
“No. I haven’t heard from my mom either though.”
“We called her—”
“Right. I’ll call you back later. I need to go,” I said as I turned my way up the levels of the parking ramp.
8:57 pm.
It was taking me longer than I planned to drive through the ramp. I was going to be a minute or two late. Hopefully Stretch wouldn’t be laying there dead. I wasn’t even sure if I believed Dick would kill his only bargaining chip, but maybe he would. I didn’t know anything about the guy, except for that he wasn’t a big fan of the Brother’s.
Stone started to say something as I set the phone down on the passenger seat. I tapped to end the call before he even finished his sentence. There wasn’t time. I’d explain later. I was pretty sure he’d understand. He’d probably be pissed that I had taken matters into my own hands, but he’d probably be happy to see Stretch again. Maybe he’d even thank me.
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