by Ana Stone
“So, I go to Morris and tell him I know what he’s up to.” Roxy said. “What then?”
“Tell him you want in. You’ll take Chief Phillips with you. He will back your play and offer the protection of the police. You’ll be wired so we can document the sting. Once Dillon agrees, admits his involvement and plans and offers you a seat at the table, Chief Phillips will arrest him. The task force can then move in on the meth lab and the entire operation will be shut down.”
Roxy had no objection to that part of the plan. If Morris was trying to fill the vacuum the MC would leave behind when they went down then he was no better than they and deserved to be arrested. The same thing went for Zeke’s mother. But she was not confident that the plan would go as smoothly as Maybelle anticipated.
She knew that Dillon had his own security, and if he was as crooked as she was led to believe then there was reason to assume that his security would be composed of men who were not afraid to get dirty. That meant she and the Chief could be walking into a situation that could turn nasty. Why Maybelle had not bothered to address that possibility concerned her.
“So, I’m assuming West will go to the Chief and tell him that he’s recruited me to tap Morris?”
“Naturally,” Maybelle replied.
“And you’re giving me authorization to go in hot ̶ in case the need arises?”
“Of course.”
Roxy looked at West. “When are you going to talk to the chief?”
“As soon as we’re done here.”
“We’re done.” Maybelle announced. “Make sure you signal the surveillance team when you go in. We’ll have everything covered.”
Roxy stood. “Just one thing. You’re one hundred percent certain Zeke won’t be harmed?”
West got to his feet and answered the question. “I’ll personally guarantee that.”
Roxy turned her head to meet his eyes and after a moment nodded. West’s word meant more to her than any guarantee Maybelle could give. He was, literally, the only person she trusted at the moment.
“Then let’s get this show on the road.”
“Ready when you are, partner.”
Roxy turned her attention to Maybelle. “Just make sure you do your part.”
“Don’t I always?” Maybelle asked with a supercilious tone.
Roxy grunted and headed for the door. She had no concrete reason not to trust Maybelle, but something was gnawing at her, telling her that putting her trust in Maybelle was a mistake. She just wished she could remember what had prompted that feeling. Hopefully she’d remember.
Before someone got killed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Zeke got out of the truck, leaving the key in the ignition and the door open. Reese stayed in the passenger’s seat for a few moments, scanning the area. As Harley and Chopper pulled up on bikes, he got out.
“So where’s the supplier?” Zeke asked.
“We’re early,” Reese replied. “He’ll be here.”
Zeke turned and looked around. Not only was there no sign of the supplier, but there was also no sign of the back-up Maybelle had promised. Either they were really good, or he’d lost his edge. Normally he could spot that sort of thing. But what if she had double-crossed him? He couldn’t imagine why she would, but there was still a niggle of doubt. He resisted the urge to check the weapon he had tucked into the back waistband of his pants.
A few minutes passed before a car drove up. A late model silver Mercedes. Another black Mercedes followed it. The first car parked in front of Zeke’s truck and two men got out. They didn’t bother to hide the fact they were armed. They nodded to Reese then took a quick turn around the truck, the container it was parked in front of and those adjacent to it.
When they finished, one of them walked to the black Mercedes and tapped on the door. A man got out of the back. Middle-aged and short, his expensive suit did nothing to disguise the fact that he was a thug. He had the look of one. A nose that looked to have been broken more than once, a scar across the top of one cheek and the flat hard eyes of a predator.
He spotted Reese and a smile broke out on his face. Reese walked over and clasped his hands.
“Was surprised to hear from you,” the man said. “Didn’t think you had the stones for another deal with all the shit going down.”
Reese grabbed his crotch and laughed. “Hard as steel, brother. You got the goods?”
“You got the money?”
Reese looked back at Zeke and nodded. Zeke reached in the truck and pulled out a duffle-bag. He started around the front of the truck to hand it to Reese but before he’d taken two steps one of the supplier’s men called out a warning.
“We’ve got company, boss.”
Zeke looked in the direction the man was pointing and saw West disappearing behind a metal container. He also saw Razr come around the corner of the container behind West with a gun in his hand.
He didn’t think about the consequences of his actions or what it would mean to the deal. He just dropped the bag and pulled his gun. Razr was raising his weapon, taking aim when Zeke fired. Almost before the rapport split the air, Razr was hitting the ground.
That’s all it took to turn the meet into a fight. The supplier’s men drew on Zeke as Reese shouted for everyone to calm down. Zeke took out one then ducked behind the truck, listening to bullets slam into the other side.
Reese and the supplier were both shouting, the supplier to his men and Reese to Harley and Chopper, and their message was now the same. To take Zeke out. Shit.
He spotted a man trying to sneak around the back of the truck and took him down. It was one of the supplier’s men. Another man moved in behind the one that had just hit the ground. Harley. Just as Zeke took aim a shot behind him had him diving to the ground, firing at Harley then rolling to aim in the direction of the gunfire.
Reese slumped against the front of the truck, grappling for purchase to stay upright as blood poured from an exit wound on his chest. The way his mouth was moving and no sound emerging and the color of his skin told Zeke loud and clear that he only had seconds left.
More gunfire had Zeke rolling closer to the truck, his gun ready. Reese collapsed just feet from him. It didn’t take more than one look to know he was dead. Two more shots and silence fell.
Zeke cautiously got to his feet and peered over the hood of the truck. West stood on the other side, weapon in hand, surveying the area. Zeke stood fully and then stepped around Reese’s body to walk around the front of the truck.
Aside from him and West, there was no one else left alive. West holstered his weapon and spoke. “All teams report.”
Zeke realized he was talking to his team via an earpiece communicator. Two seconds later West spoke again. “Get the locals in to clean this up. Make sure they understand we have jurisdiction.”
He then looked at Zeke. In that moment something rose to the surface of Zeke’s mind. Memories of him and West, of the friendship that had started when they were boys and had lasted a lifetime. He remembered the closeness they’d shared, the trust and the bond that was stronger than he’d had with anyone else.
He remembered that West had saved his life many times over, and had risked his own to do so. He remembered that he’d always known that no matter what West had his back and that there was never a reason to doubt the trust he placed in West.
Memories of who he really was rose to the surface. “How the hell did we get so fucked up, bro?” he asked.
“I don’t know, man. It wasn’t supposed to go down like this.”
“Then why did it?”
“That’s something we’re trying to figure out.”
“We?”
“Roxy and me. We think Maybelle had something to do with it.”
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“And yet it’s the only thing that does,” West replied. “Let me ask you something. Do you remember who we are? I mean before we all ended up back here in Harmony.”
For the first ti
me Zeke could answer affirmatively and mean it. “Yeah. I do. At least I think I do. There still could be shit missing.”
“Most likely. But the important thing is you know who we are. And knowing that makes it possible for me to tell you that we’ve been fucked with in a big way. None of our memories match up. Not even after recall. Someone tampered with the programming and there are only three people with that power. The Controller, Maybelle or –“
“Remington.” Zeke interrupted. “Shit on a stick.”
“That pretty much sums it up.” West agreed then looked over as two cars approached. “That’s my team. You’re going to have to go with me. We’ve got everything on tape, but I need to get a statement just to make it official.”
“And after that?” Zeke asked.
“After that I say we go see Maybelle and get some answers.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
West started to walk off but paused and looked back at Zeke. “Thanks. For saving my life.”
Zeke shrugged it off. “I think you paid me back in kind, man. We’re even.”
“Are we?”
Zeke knew what West was asking. They may have each saved the other from death today, and Zeke’s memories may have returned so that he knew West for the friend he’d always been, but there was still one thing standing between them.
Roxy.
*****
Roxy snatched up her phone before the first ring ended. “West? Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. We’re okay.” He replied. “But the deal didn’t exactly go as planned. One of Reese’s men got the drop on me. Would have blown me to hell but Zeke killed him. Things pretty much went south after that.”
“And Zeke?”
“He’s safe. He and I were the last men standing. Everyone else is dead. And Roxy? His memory returned. At least some of it.”
“How much is some?”
“Don’t know yet. But he seems to get that he and I are on the same team. We’re cleaning up here and then going back to the task force office to get an official statement from Zeke. And before you ask, yes, he’s in the clear. We’re just dotting all the I’s and crossing the t’s.”
“And then?”
“Then Zeke wants some answers. From Maybelle.”
“Stall him, West. You can’t let him go in there like a bull in a china shop. You know how he is when he’s mad and his mad is just now getting started if his memories are returning. You need to keep him away from her until I can get there.”
“I know. I’ll do my best. Where do things stand with you?”
“On my way to Morris’ now. I’ll call when we’re done there.”
“Be careful. I love you, babe.”
“Same here. Talk to you soon.”
She ended the call and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat beside her. She felt like she could finally take a full breath now that she knew West and Zeke were safe. She hoped that Zeke really did remember how much his friendship with West meant. She’d never known two straight men who were more devoted to one another.
They might not be related by birth, but they were brothers, bound in love and loyalty that ran far deeper than genetics. Theirs was a brotherhood forged from childhood, tempered by war and blood. They relied on one another in ways most people could not fathom and literally placed themselves in one another hands time after time. They were people who could truly say they trusted one another with their lives because they’d done just that countless times.
And with luck would again. If they could get back to full recall. Roxy wasn’t sure that was possible. While she’d remembered a lot of her past, there were still blanks and still things that didn’t quite mesh or add up.
She had no doubt that she had been compromised and that some of her memories could not be trusted. She felt sure the same held true for Zeke and West, and until they were all whole again, none of them could get back what had been taken from them.
And she fully intended to get it back. For all of them. But first, she’d take care of this task for Maybelle and put an end to this business in Harmony. Then she wanted the same thing as Zeke. Answers. And there would be hell to pay if she did not get what she wanted.
She pulled up in Morris’s driveway and parked. Two men approached as she got out of the car. The bulges inside their jackets clearly spelled they were armed.
“I’m here to see the Mayor.” She flashed her badge as if the uniform was not enough. “Deputy Roxy Quinn.”
“Is he expecting -“
The man stopped short as Chief Phillips pulled in behind Roxy. They all waited as the Chief got out of the car and walked over to them. “Deputy,” he acknowledge her then addressed the men. “We’re here on official business to see the Mayor.”
One of the bodyguards pulled out a cell phone and placed a call. “Sir? Chief Phillips and Deputy Quinn are here to see you.”
After a moment he lowered the phone. “The Mayor will see you. Please follow me.”
At the Chief’s gesture, Roxy preceded him, following the bodyguard around the side of the house and through a gate in the fence that led down a walkway by an enormous pool and to a large raised patio on the back of the house.
Two double sets of French doors stood open on the patio leading into the house. She and the Chief followed the man inside and found the Mayor sitting in a gigantic great room, a drink in his hand and a ballgame on the big flat screen television mounted above the fireplace.
The Mayor set his drink down on a table beside his chair and stood. “Chief. Deputy. To what do I owe the nature of your visit?”
“The Chief is here at my request.” Roxy said. “Or more correctly, my demand.”
“Oh?” Dillon raised his eyebrows. “Interesting. Please sit.”
She took a seat on the sofa and the Chief sat down beside her as Dillon reclaimed his seat. She noted that he did not reclaim his drink.
“So, you were saying,” he prompted.
“I know about your deal with the Chief and the MC.”
His eyes darted to the Chief before he smiled at her. “Is that so?”
“Yes, it is. And if you want to keep a firm grip on that, you’ll cut me in.”
To her surprise, he threw back his head and laughed. She waited him out and when he finally blew out his breath and sobered, she spoke again. “I’m glad you find it so funny, but it might not be quite so humorous when I inform Agent Franklin.”
Roxy almost went for her gun when she saw Dillon reach down beside him in the chair but decided against it. Let him make the first move.
He did. His hand rose, with a Glock gripped firmly in it.
“I don’t think I want to take you up on that offer, Deputy. In fact, I think I have a better idea ̶ at least better for me.”
He looked at the Chief. “Kill her.”
Chief Phillips raised both hands, palms out. “Now hold on. There has to be a better way. Why not just cut her in? It’s more protection for you and --”
“I’m not interested in more protection,” Dillon interrupted. “I said kill her.”
“Right here in your house? Now, Mr. Mayor, you know how foolish that would be. How are we going to explain me shooting one of my own deputies?”
“Easy. She showed up, brandishing a weapon and threatening me because I’ve been instrumental in taking down the MC ̶ the same MC her boyfriend runs with. I held her off and managed to activate my silent alert and you showed up. When you tried to talk her down she went to shoot me and you had no choice but to shoot her.”
The Chief went still, lowered his hands and sat there for a long time in silence. Finally he blew out a breath and got to his feet, pulling his weapon. He looked at Roxy. “I’m sorry Deputy but there’s no other way out of this.”
Roxy went for her gun at the same moment the Chief pivoted and shot the Mayor. One shot, center of the forehead.
“Fuck me,” she whispered and rose, her own weapon in hand. A split second later, two bodyguards ran into the room, guns d
rawn.
“Drop ‘em boys,” the Chief ordered. “No need for anyone else to die today.”
The men hesitated, looked at one another then laid down their weapons and kicked them over toward the Chief. “Cuff them, Deputy,” he ordered and tossed her cuff ties.
Roxy secured the men to chairs in the dining room then returned to the Chief who was standing beside the Mayor’s body. “Why did you do that?” she asked.
“It was just a matter of deciding who deserved it more,” he replied. “And since agent Franklin told me you were working for him, I figured the mayor was the logical choice. I hope I wasn’t wrong.”
“No, you weren’t,” she replied and pulled out her phone to place a call to Maybelle.
“We’re going to need a clean-up crew here,” she said when Maybelle answered the phone.
“Who’s dead?”
“The Mayor.”
“Did you kill him?”
“No, the Chief.”
There was a long pause before Maybelle responded. “Very well. Bring him to me.”
“Why?”
“Just do it, Roxy.”
“Fine.”
She hung up the phone. “Sit tight, they’re on the way.”
That’s just what the Chief did. He took a seat and sat there without saying a word. When the doorbell rang, Roxy answered the door. She didn’t recognize the four men standing there, but when one of them said “Mother sent us,” she stepped aside and let them enter.
One of them remained behind. “What’s the story?” he asked.
“We came to see the Mayor because the Chief had gotten word that Morris was planning on moving in on the Renegades territory with the meth operation. The Chief came to confront him and Dillon pulled on him. The Chief was quicker and Morris is dead.”
“That’s it?”
“Kiss.” She said.
“Kiss?””
“Keep it simple stupid. Simple is always best. You need any help here?”