I scoffed. “I coulda saved you the trouble of kidnapping me with a single phone call.”
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”
“Hatch may have set up our deal with the Howlers, but he put me in charge of the operation,” I lied. The truth of the matter was, the most I’d ever done for the operation was to quality control test the product from time to time.
Warlock raised an eyebrow. “So you’re the fly in my ointment.”
“No, I’m the key to you gettin’ what you want right here and right now,” I said. “Give me back my phone and I’ll prove it.”
“You must think I’m an idiot,” Warlock said.
“No, I think you’re a man who wants to make money and I can make that happen for you.”
“Who you gonna call?” Warlock asked, crossing his arms.
“I’m gonna call Sundance directly. Don’t worry, I’ll let you dial, and you can put it on speaker.”
I had no idea if this bluff would work. Since telepathy was out of the question, I just had to figure out a way to signal my situation to Sundance without tipping off Warlock but I had an idea.
Warlock turned to Trunk. “Get me the boy’s phone.”
Trunk brought my phone and Warlock held it to my face to unlock it, then he scrolled down to Sundance’s number and dialed, putting it on speaker.
“Hey, Cash,” Sundance said on the first ring. “You okay? Got a call from your dad a while ago sayin’ they were lookin’ for you.”
“Yeah, don’t worry about that. This is a business call and I need you to listen to me carefully,” I said. “I don’t have a lot of time to talk, so I’m gonna level with you. The Dogs have overcommitted ourselves with this grow operation and since I’m the one running it, I’m making a call to you directly. An interested third party has come in to take over our share, and we’ve agreed. It’s not a big deal. It’ll be just like the arrangement you have with Eddie Chapman and Lando with that guy from London. You understand?”
“Well, I can’t say I’m not disappointed,” Sundance said. “I like workin’ with you guys, but so long as our end stays the same, I don’t see a problem.”
I relaxed a little. I always knew Sundance was a hell of an MC president, and a world history aficionado, but he was also apparently, one hell of an improv actor.
“Good, I’ll get you in touch with your new partner and I wish you all the best.”
“Alright, I’ll wait for your call,” Sundance said, disconnecting the call.
I cocked my head. “See? That’s how the Dogs handle things. No point in getting nasty. Now, it’s as good as done, so there’s no point in keeping me here.”
“If this is a set up or you’re tryin’ to fuck with me, I’m gonna cut that girlfriend of yours to pieces right in front of you,” Warlock warned. “I told you, I can get to anyone at any time.”
“I’ve been straight with you this whole time,” I lied. “When you don’t deal in intimidation, all you have is your word. Sundance and his club trust us, if I say we’re makin’ a move, they don’t have a problem following, so long as it doesn’t interfere with them earning. But I’ll tell you one thing, now that I’ve setthis new deal in motion, if I don’t get back to my club in one piece, this whole thing’ll blow up.”
Warlock studied me for a few tense seconds before turning to Trunk. “Bag up Loverboy and the bitch, drive ’em out to the marsh, and drop ’em off. Toss his phone a hundred yards as you’re drivin’ off.” Turning back to me he said, “Again, if I don’t have a solid deal with the Primal Howlers within forty-eight hours, I’m gonna rain hell down on both o’ your clubs and even your friends in the FBI aren’t gonna be able to identify your bodies.”
I glanced at him.
“I told you,” Warlock warned. “I’m smarter than my predecessors.”
“All I want, is to make peace and for my club to be left alone.”
“Get him outta here,” Warlock said, and I was driven to a remote area outside of Portland.
* * *
Teagan
Booker walked into the great room and sat down across from me, Dani, Kim, and Mom. Daisy and Huck had also arrived by then, so Daisy was smooshed right up against me, holding my hand. “Sundance just called. Cash reached out.”
“Sundance? Why would Cash call him? Is he okay?” I asked.
