“We’ll start with Katie,” Hatch said. “If she thinks we need Gina, we’ll call her.”
Eldie’s real name was Gina, and she was married to Clutch, the VP of the Burning Saints. She was a medical doctor and got her nickname from Cutter, their previous President. ‘Lady Doctor,’ or L.D., that just became Eldie.
“Where’s Cash?” I asked, quietly at first, and then when no one answered me, I screamed, “Where the hell is Cash?”
“They got the jump on us,” Razor panted out, grimacing and doubling over. “They took him.”
“Who took him?” Booker demanded.
“The Spiders.”
“No, no, no, no,” I chanted out, turning to my father. “Daddy, he has no tracker. I should have insisted he take his back. Oh my god, this is all my fault.”
“None of that matters now, baby girl,” Dad said. “Let’s just focus on getting Cash back.”
Dani made her way to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Come here, sweetheart, let’s let the guys do their thing and you, me, and your mom’ll sit on the sofa and worry together.”
“Dani, I’m so sorry,” I rasped.
“Oh, honey, this isn’t your fault. I would have given Cash hell if he didn’t give you his tracker, so he did the right thing.” She gave me a squeeze, leading me to the giant sectional. “Booker’s gonna get him back. He always does what he says he’s gonna do. Promise, baby.”
“I’m going to make some coffee,” Mom said.
Dani smiled up at her. “Thanks, Dare.”
I curled myself into the corner of the sofa, my fingers rubbing Cash’s anchor like a talisman hoping my small act would bring him home, and trying my best not to completely lose my shit.
Cash
WE DROVE AROUND for what felt like an hour or so, maybe even two. I got the impression they were taking twists and turns along the way to throw me off, so who knows how far we’d driven from where they’d grabbed me.
My captors were mostly silent during the ride, the only sound was the wailing and moaning of Gloria who had regained consciousness shortly after I was bagged. By the time the van stopped, I was nauseous and completely disoriented. Forced out of the van and marched for about a hundred yards, I was lowered into what I think was a metal folding chair before my hood was removed, the bright lights stinging my eyes until a figure walked in front of me. I glanced up to see Warlock’s ugly mug and scowled.
“Cash, my friend, welcome to my new clubhouse,” he said. “I’m afraid it’s still under construction, as you can see. But it’s nice to have our first visitor, nonetheless. I trust your ride here was comfortable?”
I cocked my head. “As opposed to…?”
“As opposed to the fate your boy, Razor, suffered tonight.”
I scoffed. “I’m gonna do a lot worse to you, once I get these ties off.”
“Oh, such hostility.” Warlock chuckled. “I could have killed your friend tonight. But I didn’t. I want it to be known that I’m a man of restraint.”
“A man who has women beaten and raped is a man of restraint?”
“People make their own destinies,” Warlock said. “If they happen to bump into me while on the road they travel, then they must deal with the consequences. Good or bad. Gloria came to me, Cash. Asked for my help and I gave it. I believe in swift conflict resolution. For instance, I have a couple of prospects who have found themselves in some sort of disagreement. I’ve asked them to meet me here tonight to air their grievances. I hope by inviting you to bear witness to this little ‘trial,’ you will see that I am a fair man.”
Warlock motioned to Trunk who opened the door and two young men walked in wearing prospect cuts.
“Roscoe, Scratch, I understand the two of you have got some sort of beef to settle,” Warlock said.
“That’s right,” Scratch said, pointing to the guy next to him. “I don’t wanna work with this guy.”
“Has Roscoe transgressed against you in some way?” Warlock asked.
“Not directly, but I worked on a crew with him a couple o’ years ago and he withheld on a robbery.”
“Is that something you can prove?” Warlock challenged.
