“What are you doing here?” He glances back at the door, and then to me. “Were you listening in?”
“No,” I deny, scuffing my boot on the floor and ducking my head.
But my cheeks burn with heat, and I know they must be glowing.
“Christ, Rook, we don’t need this right now. Fuck offbefore the Prez finds out you’ve been listening. We’re dealing with lots of urgent and important stuff here. Can’t you just go off and do some… I don’t know, rookie stuff? I think there’s a big shipment of beer arriving later today. You can help haul it in for the barmaids.” He storms past me and into a room on his right, grabs some paper, then heads back into the office, slamming the door firmly in my face with a glare. My jaw clenches as I consider how they all treat me like I’m an afterthought.
Mind made up, I shove my hands into my jeans pockets, put my head down, and get the hell out of there. My bike is parked just outside of the clubhouse. I’ll call my contact once I’m out of the range of any listening ears.
I reach my bike and swing my leg over the seat. I plug the key into the ignition and bring the bike to life, the roar of the engine soothing me like a cat’s purr.
Once I’m off the compound, I pull into a small layby on the side of the road and take out my cell. I make a call to the brother of a good friend of mine, one of the men I was imprisoned with. He was meant to be there the night we committed the robbery, but he’d been injured in a fight and couldn’t make it.
We’ve been in touch on and off ever since, and I think he appreciates the fact that I never snitched on any of the other gang members to get myself a shorter sentence. I was the youngest by far, and while my sentence was more lenient than the others, it was harsh for someone who wasn’t armed and hadn’t been involved in the violence.
I think they purposely gave me a longer sentence than many others get in my circumstances to attempt to get me to squeal on the rest of the gang in exchange for time off. Prosecutors had been trying to get the others on amajor felony for a long time, and they believed I had been privy to information that could give them ammunition to argue for longer sentences.
I didn’t refuse to do it because I would ask for a favor one day, but because of my own morals, and because I didn’t know as much as the prosecutors believed.
Now, though, I do need that favor, and I think keeping my damn mouth shut for so long means I’m owed one.
As I wait on the end of my ringing cell, I worry that Jarrod won’t pick up.
“Ryan, my man,” Jarrod answers, using my real name. “Long time, no speak. How’s life treating you?”
“Not great, to be honest. I’m sorry it’s been a while since I’ve called. Things have been hectic, but I’m calling to ask for a favor.”
There’s a long pause, and I wonder why he’s not immediately saidyeah, anything for you, friend. It seems a bit strange after everything I did to help his brother, Clay, when we were in prison. I even went to visit many times after I got out, until he asked me to stop going because he said it reminded him of the outside world.
“Of course.” He finally says the words I was expecting to hear, but it’s clipped and a little bit dismissive.
I tell myself it’s probably because he’s busy and he’s still worried about his brother who remains imprisoned.
“What can I do for you?” he finishes.
“If I recall correctly, you know a few of the guys at the Revenants. The bike club,” I clarify.
“Yeah, I know a couple of them. Why?”
“I think they might have taken a girl… a girl I’m close to. She’s gone from the club I’m a member of. I wonder if you could help me get in there? You don’t have to say who I am, or that I’m a prospect for the Riders. I’ll take my cut off. Maybe you could just stop by to see the guys you know? So I can take a look around? If she’s there, do you think any of the old gang would help?” I think of my meagre savings and rub my jaw. “I can pay.”
Hell, if I get her back, I’m sure Ace and the others will help on the money side of things.
There’s another long moment of silence, then he sighs. “Give me five minutes. I’ll call the Revenants and see if I can pay them a visit. You don’t just show up there. And if it comes to needing help, then yes, I am sure some of my guys will be willing for payment. They aren’t cheap, though.”
“Okay, great, I can make it worth their while. I really appreciate it. Thanks so much. I have been meaning to go and visit Clay, by the way, but he asked me to stop the last time I went. I’ve been torn between what’s the right thing to do.” I realize I’m rambling, but nerves always make me do that.
“Yeah, he said the same to me, but I didn’t listen. I still go every month. He needs the visits.”
Ouch. I guess I can see that. Maybe this is why there’d been a strange silence when I first asked for his help. “Yeah, you’re right, I’ll go next week. I’ll let you make that call.”
He hangs up, and I wait, drumming my fingers nervously against my denim-clad thigh. When my phone rings, I jump, even though I’ve been waiting for it.
“Yes?”
“Come on over to my place. We can head to their compound from here. It’s a new place that I’m leasing. I’ll drop a pin to you.”
“Great, thanks.” I hang up, finally feeling like I’mdoing something to help. God knows what I’ll do if I find her or get evidence of her being there, but if Jarrod can gather seven or eight men, I bet we can get her out of there somehow.
