by Alora Kate
“We’ll take care of him.”
“So we’re coming back?” She climbed off the couch and stood. “He wants to be buried in the forest.” She pointed off, in the wrong direction, but that wasn’t the point. “The trees. We have to bring him back.”
“I know, babe,” he said pulling the door shut. “You got ten minutes.”
Harper huffed and I followed her stomping feet back to the master bedroom. We didn’t have bags, well I had one, but she didn’t so we piled what few things we had on the bed, and grabbed our stuff from the bathroom.
“We have to come back,” Harper demanded.
“The guys will make sure of it, Harper.”
“They better, or I’ll go get Randy and do it myself.”
She was so headstrong.
I laughed and she flipped me off while heading back into the bathroom. I shoved most of my stuff into my bag, thank God I carried a large one and sat back down on the bed. Harper came out of the bathroom empty handed.
“It’s all on the bed,” she said then walked out of the room. I sat and waited for her. She returned a minute later with a black trash bag and I helped her fill it up with the rest of the clothes on the bed.
“You okay, Harper?” I asked watching her tie a knot in the top of the bag.
She finished and stood back up with her hands on her hips. “Not really.”
“We all loved Randy.”
She quickly nodded, grabbed the bag, and muttered, “Let’s go.”
I followed her out of the house and noticed she ignored the blood stains on the floor behind the couch. She was trying to keep it together. I was doing my best to keep it together for everyone. I had to be strong for Harper, Sofia, and Latch. They all needed me. I’ve never lost anyone close to me because I never had anyone close to me to lose; losing Randy was a first for me. Us ladies had only known him a week, but we bonded that first night we sat around drinking Tequila. He instantly wanted to be friends. Randy was funny, spoke his mind, and was a good friend and roommate to us while we were here. All he wanted to do was take care of us.
We stepped onto the porch and Latch came up the steps and locked the front door without acknowledging me. He went back to the van while Harper stopped on the last step. I was on the step behind her. She twisted and looked at the spot where Randy always sat smoking his cigarettes. I waited a moment, watched her square her shoulders, and then followed her to the van.
I glanced at the steps before the van backed out and silently said goodbye to Randy.
An hour later, we were at an upscale hotel so fancy that there were valet and doormen. The doorman eyed the trash bag that Jaxon carried for us but said nothing while we checked in. Everything was shiny and covered in crystals. The floor of the lobby looked like it was gold, along with the elevator buttons.
The guys really splurged.
Latch and Jaxon checked the room out before they let us in.
“There’s a small bedroom you girls can share,” Jaxon said pulling out his phone, hitting some buttons, then jerked his chin at Latch. “He’s here.”
“Who’s here?” I asked confused, and Harper came to stand by me.
“Security,” Latch said, looking at his phone.
“Security?” Harper asked before I could.
“Jaxon and I need to go out,” Latch explained while shoving his cell into his back pocket and glancing at me. “Someone’s sitting with you until we get back.”
I had a bad feeling so I asked him, “When will you be back?”
Jaxon spoke before Latch could, “We aren’t coming back until this shit is taken care of.”
I wasn’t sure which shit he was talking about. Randy, Sofia, or whatever job they had been working prior to all of us interrupting their lives and turning it inside out. Harper walked towards Jaxon and Latch walked to me so we could each have our own conversation.
“It’s not safe for us all to be together,” he said pulling me into a hug. “Give us a few days to take care of some shit.”
I nodded and whispered into his ear, “I already miss you.”
He squeezed me harder and buried his head into my neck, giving me a small kiss. “You’ll be safe.”
“I want you to be safe.”
He pulled back and kissed me goodbye. “I’ll be fine.” He gave me a small smile but it just wasn’t enough. I didn’t want him to go. I threw myself at him, wanting to cry but I had to keep it together.
“Won’t be long Marv, I promise.”
“I want to go on a date with you.”
“I know,” he said, finally giving me a genuine smile. “And we will, soon.”
“Please be safe,” I said, then he kissed me one last time before the security guy showed up.
His name was Jack; he was wearing all black and had that stern hard face that said he was all business. He worked for Gabe at some security firm. He pulled up a chair and put it against the door of the room. The only door that people could go in and out of.
We weren’t going anywhere.
“I’m taking a nap,” Harper said going into the bedroom.
I went to the couch, turned the TV on, and curled up against the couch arm.
I barely cried last night and I really wanted to let it all out but I needed to be strong right now. I could fall apart another day.
Latch
Mrs. Blackstill, Sofia’s mom, was waiting in her black town car just like she said she would be. We walked out of the hotel and Jaxon stayed outside the car while I climbed in, as instructed by our phone conversation earlier.
“Ma’am.”
She pointed to a small brown box that was sitting on the seat. “My driver is sworn to secrecy so whatever is spoken in the next few minutes won’t leave this car.”
I picked the box up, noticing right away how light it was. There were no markings or stickers on it either. I slowly slid the top off finding a napkin with a small amount of dried blood on it. Mrs. Blackstill handed me a pen. I took it and used it to lift the side of the napkin, revealing a small finger. The pinky finger. Of a woman. I gave her the pen back and slid the lid on the box back on.
“My husband doesn’t know,” she said keeping herself composed, looking straight ahead. “I have to take it back to the house so he doesn’t find out I asked for your help,” she said holding back her anger.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Blackstill.”
“She’s alive, but they told my husband this morning that they’d keep cutting off her fingers until he pays them.”
I set the box back down on the seat. It didn’t surprise me that they already made contact. They weren’t wasting time. They were serious and it meant we had to hurry up and find her before it got worse.
“Are they calling his cell?” I asked, pulling mine out of my pocket.
“Yes. They called this morning, and when he refused to pay, the finger was delivered an hour later,” she said choking up. “He refused to pay! Lord knows we have the money and he refused to pay!”
“Did he say why?” I asked, trying to get all the information I could from her.
“No. He won’t tell me anything and he left shortly after that. I called that detective that was working on Kennedy’s shooting case and he told me it was best to deal with you.”
“I need your husband's cell number, house number, and his schedule. I need to know everything about your husband and your life for the past six months, and anything significant prior to that.”
She kept her composure while she said, “I’ll tell you everything I can. Whatever I can if you promise me you’ll bring my daughter home. Alive.”
I hated making promises especially when the victim had been missing for twenty-four hours and her pinky had been removed, but these ladies have grown on me and I’d do anything for them. Gabe and his men were working on it, and so was my uncle, but we had been following the wrong person, protecting the wrong person this past week.
I promised her I’d find her daughter, took all the information she gave me
, and then exited the car. The black town car drove away and I briefly filled Jaxon in before calling the information into Gabe. He asked that the two of us stop by his office so we could compile all of our information and talk strategy.
Chapter 16 - Jaxon & Harper
Jaxon
“Don’t tell her about Sofia,” I warned Latch while we drove to meet up with Gabe. Neither of us had met him, only talked on the phone so this needed to happen. We had to get things under control and make sure we were all on the same page.
We just left from our meeting with Sofia’s mother and it wasn’t good. Wasn’t good at all, but at least we know now that the problem is her father, not Kennedy. Now we had to switch our focus to him and find her before any more fingers get delivered.
“No shit,” he muttered while swerving into the outside lane. Gabe’s office was in the north suburbs of San Diego and with this traffic, it was going to take forever. I hated the silence but I knew we both had our minds full of shit. I was worried about Sofia, pissed off that Randy was gone, and even more worried about Harper. I had to focus on getting Sofia back, then I could deal with the rest. At least that’s what I told myself, but my mind was more focused on Harper at the moment. She said Arsen called her a whore and that if she tried to do what Randy did to him, that he’d come for her. He was pissed when they found no identification in the house on her but it didn’t matter. He snapped a picture of her with his cell and she was more than freaked out about it. The only good thing was that she had her hair colored, though she knew that wouldn’t stop him from finding her. She wanted to dye it back as soon as possible and I agreed. Plus, I wanted to see her natural hair color.
Harper and I barely knew each other but there was a connection with us. I’ve had girls, but with Harper, I feel like I actually have her. Like she needed me, couldn’t live without me, type of shit. It was confusing the short amount of time we’ve known each other, but she did have an orgasm on the back of my bike. Attraction and sex weren't an issue, we just needed to get to know each other better. I needed to know if she’d get pissed if I tossed my clothes on the floor or if she was a hamper kind of person. I needed to know if she was the type to do the dishes immediately after dinner, or if they’d sit in the sink overnight. These kind of things were very important in a relationship. She had a tomboy feel to her which was nice, because if she dressed and looked like she did when I first saw her with Mack, then we’d have problems. I loathed her Barbie Doll look and adored her low-key, down to earth look and vibe.
“Have you heard from Keylan?” he asked switching back into the side lane because the small little red car in front of us was barely moving.
“Not since the last time.”
Keylan had been quiet the last few days, not even returning our text messages which was another concern we had. Even though we’ve been working him for two years, we still had no idea how the man worked or thought. He was completely unpredictable. A ticking time bomb.
At the same time, I didn’t want to hear from him. Sofia and the girls were more important at the moment.
Even though my words would be lost to him, and he wouldn’t believe me, I told him anyway, “What happened to Randy wasn’t your fault.”
I got no response.
Twenty minutes later, we parked the van in front of a large warehouse building covered it silver metal. It wasn’t close to the warehouse district but it fit into this neighborhood of medium sized shops and buildings. There weren’t many people outside, which was due to the extreme heat. It had to be in the nineties with no breeze. I could feel the sweat building and run down my skin as soon as I stepped outside. It didn’t last long, though. The front door was a revolving door and spun us around until it brought us into the main lobby where a man sat behind a large mahogany desk. He was speaking into his wireless earpiece, the small microphone resting on his cheek.
“I heard you, sir, and I’ll say it again, he’s not available. I’d be more than happy to leave him a message.” He talked with a high, chipper, sarcastic voice with a fake smile plastered on his face. He gave us a small wave and then pointed to the black leather sofa on the side of the lobby. His dirty blonde hair was slicked back and he wore a gray bowtie with his purple button down shirt. I watched him pull his ear piece out and toss it on the desk. “I’m on break, bitches,” he said while hitting buttons on the phone sitting on the desk.
He stood straight up, adjusted his clothes, brushed his hands together like they were dirty, then walked towards us. “Hey boys,” he said sitting down between us on the sofa, crossing a leg over the other. “You’re here for Gabe, I know.”
Latch grunted.
“Manly,” the guy whispered and then swung his eyes to me.
“I sent him a private message while I was dealing with that dickhead on the phone.” He smirked. “He’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“Thanks,” I said looking around the lobby. There was a solid black wall behind the desk with one door on each end. The black solid wall went up about ten feet, where it met with glass that continued to the ceiling. There could be an office up there.
“My pleasure,” he said standing. “Coffee? Tea?”
“No thanks,” I said while Latch just shook his head.
“I make the best, angry Margarita,” he said full of feisty attitude.
“You drink on the job?” I asked.
“Oh please,” he said with his hand waving around in the air, “I’ve been with Gabe since he started this business in the basement of his momma’s house. I do my job and I do it well. Besides, I deserve my margaritas considering some of the assholes I put up with.”
To each there own I guess.
“Get back to work, jackass!” Gabe’s voice boomed throughout the lobby. At least I assumed it was him. The man in front of us crossed his arms on his chest and laughed.
“Don’t worry, he fires me twenty times a day but he doesn’t mean it.”
Gabe stood next to him while Latch and I stood. “One of these days I’ll mean it.” He was wearing black jeans, black motorcycle boots, and a black t-shirt that had the name of his company on it in white, Safely Secured.
“Bitch please,” the guy teased with a smile then sashayed back to his desk.
“Let’s go,” Gabe mumbled and we followed him through the door to the left of the desk.
“My offer still stands!” the guy said putting his earpiece back in, and sitting down. No one replied to him and we continued up the stairs and into a loft-type office. I was right about the space; his office overlooked the lobby.
“Tristain is a pain in my ass, but I’m stuck with him,” Gabe said sitting down behind his desk. Latch and I sat in the two chairs across from him. They were black leather just like the sofa in the lobby. “And make sure you pronounce his name right. Tris-Tane. Please for the love of God, don’t call him Tristan.”
I cracked a smile and Latch was still off in another world.
“Before we get down to business I need to clear a few things up.” He said crossing his hands on the manila folder on his desk. “I went to college with Kennedy. He’s a frat brother and he’s engaged to Sofia. Sofia was in the safe house with Marvey and Harper. They all know each other. We all know each other now. In a way.”
“We’re all one big happy family.” I joked, even though it was the truth and got a grin from Gabe, nothing from Latch.
“Speaking of family,” he said looking at me. “I’m sorry about what happened with Laken.”
I nodded. Gabe had been some kind of mentor to Laken these past two years while I’d been undercover. Because I’ve barely talked to her the past two years, I didn’t know much about their relationship.
“Sucks what happened to Edgar,” he continued and I gave another nod. I really didn’t care to talk about that right now.
“Thanks for being there for her when I couldn’t.” This time he gave me the nod. “She’s mentioned you a few times over the last two years, all good things.”
He
grinned. “Okay then,” he said opening the folder. “Let’s get to it. My guys are out following leads on that partial plate and the camera feeds from the college. I’m expecting to hear from them soon.”
“They cut her finger off,” Latch said sitting forward in the chair. “I have every reason to believe they’ll do it again.” He locked his glare with Gabe. “Today.”
“Now that we know her father is the target, we’ll have better luck finding her,” Gabe started flipping through the folder and pulling out pictures that he pulled from the camera feeds. “I’ve got another guy trying to find the person who delivered the box. However, the company’s name was fake and the man had a hat on, wore all black, and walked away. We have no proof he arrived in a vehicle unless it was parked blocks away.”
“I feel useless just sitting here,” Latch pointed out. “Talking.” He pushed his chair back and stood. “There’s nothing else we can do?” Gabe and I watched as Latch kneaded his knuckles in his hand.
“You can work with my men if that’d help you.”
Latch nodded and sat back in his chair.
“We’ll do anything you need us to do,” I added.
“Don’t you have a job your working on?” Gabe asked?
“It’s on hold,” I told him. “Our primary concern is Sofia.”
“Good. I’m assuming Sofia’s father is caught up in something messy. Fucked up. Illegal,” he speculated. “We’ll have to follow every lead.”
“It makes sense,” Latch said at the same time the door busted open.
“Margaritas!” Tristain walked into the room with a large pitcher in one hand and holding four stems of the glasses in the other. “Don’t worry, I got the salt in my pocket.” He winked at me then set the pitcher down on Gabe’s desk.
“Time and place, Tristain. Now is certainly not. The. Time,” Gabe seethed.
“It’s always margarita time!” He set the four glasses down and started to pour. “Who’s driving?” he asked without looking up.
“I am,” Latch growled. He was irritated and ready to get the hell out of here and get to work. So was I. But I wasn’t driving and I wanted to try the damn drink. Obviously, he thinks there worth it to interrupt our meeting.