Page 90 of Property of Player

Cici

Dad and I are on the deck. The sound of the surf is loud, and there’s a full moon reflecting on the waves, turning them a silvery sheen that sparkles in the darkness.

I lean my elbows on the railing and watch the waves roll in, while my father sits in an Adirondack chair behind me, smoking a cigarette and drinking a scotch.

“I should go soak in that hot tub,” he says, blowing smoke toward the starry sky and gesturing toward the hulking shadow on the other side of the deck.

“Want me to turn it on for you?” I ask, but his phone goes off and he pulls it out.

He glances at the screen and frowns, then puts it to his ear. “Yeah?”

I can’t hear what is said, but suddenly he’s on his feet, his body tense. “What the fuck do you mean she’s gone?”

I move toward him, watching his face intently. “What is it?”

He holds up a finger, listening, then his eyes connect with mine and he tucks the phone under his chin. “Taylor’s missing. They found her phone in the back of the clubhouse parking lot, out by the dumpster. Saw Molly’s car race out of the lot just before they found her phone.”

“Oh my God. Dad, Taylor warned me to stay away from Molly. She overheard her talking at the clubhouse.” I dig my phone out. “Taylor texted me the information so we could tell you guys when you got back. I forgot all about it.” I find the text, and we both peer at it.

“Hang on, son,” he says to my brother.

TAYLOR: I overheard Molly talking on her phone to someone. Here’s what they said. Molly told some guy named Duck that “she wasn’t doing it.” He replied, “You’ll do exactly what I tell you, bitch. Just like the day you set up that fucking VP. Only you fucked up, and we blew away their president’s ol’ lady and daughter-in-law. Now we’re at fucking war, and it’s making buying that land harder. Prez wants that goddamn land. He’s tired of waiting. We’re taking her, and you’re gonna give her to us.”

My father’s eyes snap to mine. “Send that to Player.” Then he paces off and talks to my brother. “I think they’ve taken her, son. I think Molly is delivering her to the Depraved Sinners. Mobilize the club. I’ll be there soon. I know what they want. They’ll want to make an exchange. We’ll get her back, son. Even if I have to make a deal with the goddamn devil.”

Chapter twenty-nine

Taylor

My muscles feel weak and deeply sore when I come to, but I can’t move. Not because of the effects of the stun gun, but because now my hands are tied behind my back and there’s tape over my mouth. I’m still in darkness and from the uncomfortable position I’m in, I’m pretty sure I’m still in Molly’s trunk. Or maybe I’ve been moved to some other vehicle.

Panic floods me, and my heart pounds. The car is not moving. What if they just leave me locked in here to die?

I try to struggle, wondering if I can get the tape around my wrists off somehow.

Voices carry to me and get closer.

The trunk pops open.

It’s still nighttime.

Molly and a man peer in at me. He’s wearing a leather cut. I can only assume he’s with the enemy club of the Kings of Anarchy, but my thoughts are fuzzy and I can’t remember their name.

There’s a diamond patch with a 1% in the middle.

My eyes hit the SFFS patch along his ribs.

I know what it means. Player wears one that says KFFK. His means Kings Forever, Forever Kings.

What does his S stand for?

Sinners. Depraved Sinners.

There’s a patch with a rifle and one below it with a dagger. Player once told me when we were young that they mean they’ve killed with a gun or a knife.

I spot the three military style stripes that I know mean this guy is his club’s Sergeant-at-Arms.

“I thought she was younger.”