by L. Wilder
“Let’s see if our facial recognition software will bring anything up on him.” Big took a screenshot of the man’s face and plugged it into the program. We both waited silently to see if we could get a hit on the photo. After forty-five minutes of searching, Big stopped the program. “Let’s try a different angle.”
He took a new, clearer picture and uploaded it onto his computer. Once he had it up and running, he leaned back in his chair and stared up at the screen. When several pictures popped up on the screen, I leaned forward to get a better look. “It’s him!”
“Victor Aguilera, aka El Toro.”
“It says he’s a member of Calaveras de la Muerte.”
“He is.”
“That’s the Mexican cartel.” Panic surged through me. “That’s bad, right?”
With little expression on his face, Big stood up and started for the door. “Need a word with Cotton. Go through the video again. See if you pick up anything we might’ve missed. When I get back, we’ll see what we can find out about Amanda.”
“But, what about Victor?”
“Check the video, Josie.” His voice was hard and cold, and I could see from the tense look on his face that he was concerned. I wanted him to talk to me, to tell me what was running through his head, but he cut me off and left me to worry alone, making me freak out even more.
I tried to push back all the emotions swirling inside me as I scooted over into his chair. I had to focus and couldn’t let my doubts stand in the way of finding my sister. I went through the film for a second time, making sure I didn’t miss a single detail, but ended up with more questions than answers. I couldn’t help but wonder if Amanda had some part to play in Tristen’s kidnapping. I tried calling her more times than I could count, but she never answered. Maybe they’d gotten her too, but it seemed unlikely. I couldn’t imagine why Lisa would put her sister in danger like she had mine. My frustration level was reaching an all-time high, so I turned my focus back to the video. I scanned back to the SUV.
No matter how much I zoomed in, I couldn’t make out who was behind the wheel, but I was able to get the license plate number. Just as I was about to start searching for the owner of the vehicle, Big returned. The expression on his face was a tad intimidating as he walked over to me. “Is everything okay?”
“As well as it can be. You find something?”
“I got the license plate off the SUV.”
“That’s good.” He sat down beside me and leaned back in his chair. “Let’s see what we can find out.”
He waited patiently as I started my search. When the results came up, I knew we’d reached a dead end. “It’s registered to a Louise Carlton. An eighty-year-old woman from Nebraska.”
“Stolen plate.”
“Now what?”
“Let’s see what we can find on Lisa.”
After forty-five minutes of searching, I came up empty handed. “I can’t find anything. No home address. No phone number. It’s like she vanished after she left Washington.”
“You said she moved to LA with her sister, right?”
“As far as I know, she did. Maybe everything is under Amanda’s name.”
“You got an address for her?”
I couldn’t think. It was too much. All of it. The video. Lisa. Victor. The Mexican cartel. How in the world would we ever get my sister back? The worry I felt was all-consuming, making it impossible for me to get a hold of my fear, and I could only imagine what my sister must have been feeling.
Chapter 7
Big
“Shit.” There was no mistaking the panic in her voice. We’d all heard the horror stories about the cartel, the brutality, the heartless murders over drugs and family wars, and we knew there was no way our club had the power to go up against them. “We have to go to the police.”
“The police?” I laughed. “What the hell are they going to do about it?”
“They can go in there and arrest them. They’ll get my sister back!”
She’d lost her damn mind. There was no way in hell we could go to the police with this. They were the last people I’d trust to get Tristen out of there. “It’s a gang, Josie. The cops can’t do shit. You gotta know that.”
“Why? It’s their job! That’s what they are there for!”
“No.”
“They’ve got to do something. We’ll show them the video. That’s all the proof they need.”
“You got two girls sitting in an airport. They hug. They talk. They spend over an hour together with no sign that anything is wrong. Then, one of them gets a little sick, and they decide to leave. End of story. You’ve got no proof that anyone did anything wrong.”
“Are you kidding me? She put something in her drink!”
“Could have been anything. Sugar even.”
“Big! You know that’s not what happened!” she shouted. She was getting pissed, but I needed her to see why we couldn’t go to them.
“You’re not hearing me, Josie. We can’t trust the cops with this. For every good cop, there are two bad.” She turned to face me with her eyes full of intensity. “These people even hear we’re asking about Tristen, and they will kill her.”
Having her so close was screwing with my head. Everything about her, from the scent of her hair to the tiny freckles on the bridge of her nose, was driving me to the edge. I needed to stay focused, but the undeniable pull I felt towards her was making it impossible for me to concentrate. I couldn’t take the way she looked at me, like I had all the answers, like I was some kind of fucking hero who was going to save the day. I wanted to be that hero for her, to give her whatever she needed, but in the end, I’d only let her down. Even if I managed to bring her sister home, I’d never be a fucking hero. I’d never be the kind of man a girl like Josie deserved, so I had to forget about making her mine and find Tristen. Finding her was the only thing that mattered.
Tears streamed down her face. “What are we going to do?”
I placed my hand on hers. “I know it’s hard, but you’ve gotta trust me on this, Josie. We’ll figure something out.”
I couldn’t tell her, but I knew it in my gut that we were fucked. That’s all there was to it. We were royally, unbelievably fucked. The minute I saw the ink on that guy’s neck, I knew we were in trouble. Everyone knew the Mexican cartel was growing rampant in southern California, and while I’d never dealt with them directly, I knew the men who belonged to these organizations were ruthless. There was nothing they wouldn’t do to protect their livelihood. The narcotics they distributed were some of the purest around and went for higher prices. They played it smart. By laying low and staying in rural areas, they were able to divide out the drugs and distribute them without getting caught. Unfortunately for us, they didn’t just deal with drug distribution. Sex trafficking was also a huge money maker for them. From everyday prostitution to high-end slavery, there was always a market for sex. Once they had a guy willing to pay the right price, they’d find a way to make it happen, even if that meant kidnapping a girl in an airport.
There was only one person I knew who could help us. He’d spent his life developing contacts, making connections with the shadiest to the savviest, and lucky for us, he owed me a favor. I took my phone from my back pocket and sent him a message. After he responded, I forwarded the video footage to my email and reached for my cut. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“Wait! Where are you going?” She hopped up from her seat and took a step towards me.
“Got someone I need to see. Think he might be able to help us.” I grabbed my keys, then started for the door.
“Are you leaving me here?”
“Yeah. I’ll be back as soon as I can. You can wait for me in Tristen’s room or go meet up with the girls at the bar or something.”
With a determined look on her face, she took another step towards me. “No.”
“No?”
“No. I’m going with you.” She took one of my hoodies off the coatrack and slipped it over h
er head. The hem of the sweatshirt fell at her knees, making her look even smaller. “All set.”
“Josie…”
“I’m just going along for the ride. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
“Seriously. I won’t say a word. I just need to get out of here for a little bit and get some fresh air… Let me tag along. Please.”
“You’re gonna need a coat and gloves. Go grab some out of Tristen’s closet and meet me out front.”
Without another word, she headed out the door and down the hall. On my way out, I stopped by Cotton’s office. Early on, we’d both agreed that going to war with the Calaveras wasn’t an option, so we’d have to come up with another way to get Tristen back. When I told him my plans to go see Nitro, he had his doubts, but ultimately gave me the okay. When I finally made it outside, the lot was basically empty. Most of the guys were either out on this month’s run, or they were working in the garage. I started towards my bike and found Josie already standing there waiting for me. She was all bundled up like a damned Eskimo with Tristen’s helmet in her hand. Most women would’ve kept a man waiting, fixing their hair or making sure their makeup was on just right, but Josie wasn’t like most women. She had her mind set, determined and undistracted, and nothing was going to slow her down, especially not her damned hair. I liked that about her.
“Clutch told me this was your bike.”
“It is.”
Her nose crinkled as she smiled. “He said that I was gonna freeze my ass off.”
“You might.” I put on my helmet and threw my leg over the seat. “You can always stay here.”
“I’ll be fine.” It took her a minute to get her helmet on, but once it was on, she eased her leg over the seat. She grimaced slightly from the pull on her sore muscles, but she shook it off and settled in behind me. After she put her feet up on the foot pegs, she patted me on my lower thigh. “All set.”
I felt like a damn horse being told to giddy-up with that damn pat, but it worked. Without hesitation, I started the engine and headed out of the gate. Nitro was waiting for me at one of the old dive bars out by the dock, so it wasn’t exactly a quick ride. At first, Josie kept her hands tightly clamped around my waist. She was rigid and tense, especially when we took a curve, but eventually she acclimated herself. Her hands slowly drifted to my hips, and she started to relax a little. When we got out onto the main road, the cold wind kicked up, making me think I should’ve taken a cage, but she didn’t complain. Instead, she pressed her chest against my back, tucking her head against my shoulder. Fuck. She was so close. Why did she have to feel so damn good wrapped around me? It was like her body was made for mine, and I liked it. I liked it too much, and under different circumstances, I would’ve taken the long way to Nitro’s. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. Nitro was expecting us, and he wasn’t a man who liked to wait.
When I pulled up to the bar, I killed the engine and waited for Josie to get off the bike. She placed her hands on my shoulder and eased herself off. She took a step back and looked around with confusion. The parking lot was basically empty, and the dark windows made it look like no one was inside. “Is this place even open?”
Without responding, I took my helmet off and put it on the seat. After she’d done the same, I started walking towards the door. Before we stepped inside, I turned to her. “Mouth shut.”
She sighed with acceptance and nodded as she followed me inside. Nitro was sitting at one of the tables in the back, and he gave me a curious look when he spotted Josie walking behind me. “You didn’t tell me you were bringing a tag-along with you.”
“This is Josie, Tristen’s sister.”
A mischievous grin crossed his face as he gave her the once-over. “Hey there, beautiful. Just seeing you has brightened my day.”
Nitro was a cocky bastard, but his arrogance was expected. In his profession, you had to be a self-confident prick. The people he dealt with would consider any sign of weakness a death sentence, and Nitro knew it. He was one of the best. It’d taken him a long time and lots of hard hits, but he’d established himself in the gun trafficking world. Even though he was tough, deep down he was a good guy; I wouldn’t have come to him if he wasn’t.
She offered him her hand and said, “Wish I could say the same.”
“Ahhh, got yourself a fiery one here, Big. I like her.” He motioned us both to sit down. “I gotta say, I was surprised to hear that you needed my help. It’s usually the other way around.”
“Wouldn’t have taken your time unless it was important.” I waited for Josie to take a seat, and then I sat down in front of Nitro. “Tristen’s missing.”
“Got any idea where she might be?”
“I do. That’s why we’re here.” I reached for my phone and pulled up the video. “Watch this.”
He took the phone from my hand and started to skim through footage from the airport. “Fuck, brother.”
“Exactly.”
He looked over at me, and it was clear he was rattled. “You know what you’re dealing with here?”
“I do. That’s why I came to you. I need your help with this, brother. The club can’t go up against the fucking cartel. We need another way to get our girl back.”
“Not sure what I can do here.” He ran his fingers through his short, dark hair. “I can make some calls. See what I can find out.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
“I’ll do what I can. It’s gonna take some time. Until I get back to you, keep your mouth shut. Don’t go asking around or digging into these guys. Don’t do a fucking thing, Big. The last thing we want to do is tip them off. They’ll kill us and her without blinking a fucking eye.”
“Understood.”
“Give me ‘til morning.”
“Until morning?” Josie complained. “But, we need to know something now.”
I looked over at her with a warning look. “Josie.”
As expected, she ignored me and continued her rant. “You obviously know your way around these kinds of people or Big wouldn’t have brought us here. A few hours could make the difference between us getting her back or losing her forever.”
“Beautiful and speaks her mind. I like it.” He chuckled. “I’ll do what I can.”
I stood up and motioned for Josie to do the same. “Time to go.”
With a defeated look on her face, Josie got up and started walking away from the table. Before she stepped out the door, Nitro called out to her. “Josie.”
She turned to face him. “Yes?”
“I’ll do what I can. I give you my word.”
The tension in her face diminished as she replied, “Thank you, Nitro.”
Once we were back to the bike, I stood angrily as I watched Josie slip on her helmet. When she noticed my expression, her eyes dropped to the ground. “I’m sorry.”
“You can’t do that shit, Josie. When I say keep your mouth shut, that’s exactly what I expect you to do. Period.”
“But…”
“No fucking buts about it. This isn’t some game. This is the real deal. Lives are at stake, including yours and mine. Nitro isn’t a man that does fucking favors, Josie. This shit is gonna cost me. You don’t have to understand it. You don’t have to like it. But you do have to do what you’re told. You got it?”
“What do you mean it’s gonna cost you?”
“And you don’t ask fucking questions!”
“Fine! But, you don’t have to be a total asshole about it!”
“Apparently, I do, ‘cause you don’t listen for shit!” I grabbed my helmet and put it on. “Now, get your ass on the bike and zip it.”
“You’re a dick.” She took off her helmet and tossed it on the ground as she started walking away from me.
She’d only taken a step when I reached for her and pulled her to me. Surprise filled her eyes as I took a step forward, pinning her to the back wall of the bar. I could feel the heat of her breath against my neck as I hel
d her there. She looked up at me with a mix of determination and lust in her eyes. “You’re right. I am a dick. I am an asshole, but I’m here. I’m doing what I can to save your sister and protect you in the process. It’s not exactly easy when you don’t do what I tell you to.”
She slowly exhaled as she considered what I’d just said. “I’m sorry. You’re right, and you’re not an asshole.”
“I am. I’m not one of the good guys, Josie.”
“I kinda think you are.”
“You’re wrong. Dead wrong.”
Having her so close to me was making my entire body ache with need. I wanted her. There was no denying that, and seeing that same craving reflected back at me made it impossible to resist her. Without thinking of the consequences, I leaned into her.
Just as I was about to press my mouth against her perfect full lips, the back door slung open and our attention was quickly drawn over to Nitro.
“I think I may have something.” The moment was lost as we both took a step back and waited for him to continue. “I’m still working on it, but I know who has her. My contact thinks she’s with a crew in southern California. He’s going to do some checking and get back to me in a couple of hours.”
“Any idea what these guys are planning to do with her?”
He paused for a moment, looking at Josie with concern before he answered, “I don’t know yet, but I’m sure it isn’t good.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we gotta play it smart. These guys don’t fuck around, but then, neither do I.”
Chapter 8
Josie
My mother once told me that falling for the wrong man was like jumping off a cliff. When you hit rock bottom, you’ll end up broken with scars that last a lifetime. I knew Big was just the kind of man she was talking about. Everything about him screamed wrong—hacker, member of a motorcycle club, leather and tattoos, criminal—but something about him kept pulling at me. It had been over an hour since I left him, and I could still feel the warmth of his body pressed against mine, could still smell the scent of his cologne on my skin, and could still feel that rush I felt when he was about to kiss me. I was walking on the edge of that cliff, and I feared I might just take a running leap. As much as I wanted to know what it would be like to be loved by him, I knew it would be a mistake. I had no place in his world, nor he in mine. We were wrong for each other in every way. I had to keep my distance and stay focused on finding my sister. I needed to forget those gnawing feelings I had growing in the pit of my stomach. They would only cause me trouble, and more trouble was the last thing I needed.