I bite my tongue until it bleeds. The coppery taste floods my mouth and I tell myself to just shut the fuck up.
“You know Derek Johnson, yes?” I nod yes before I even realize I’m doing it. “Well, I want him to sign my little brother. Bro’s had this dream of hitting the big league for a long time now. He's good. Pretty good, anyway.” He shrugs his shoulders then looks over at me. “I want him to give Geraldo a contract. Make that happen, and I’ll drop Alex at home.”
What the fuck? He has a brother? I didn’t see any mention of Geraldo when I did my research, so I’m totally sprung with this new information. How is it that the media hasn’t sourced this out? Does it matter? And now he’s asking for his impossible favor. I mean, my mind goes completely sideways. I don’t know what I can do about this shit, but fuck me! Players don’t sign other players. It fucking just doesn’t work that way!
“I know him, but I don’t KNOW him.” I look straight into Norris’s beady little eyes. This guy can’t be serious! I mean, I’ve got no pull with Derek, I barely know him.
“Aww, come on jefe, use that bank sense of yours. You know how you do? You know how to make things happen.” He snaps his fingers, like that’s all I have to do. I hear the snap vibrate in the air. “You got my number. Call me when it’s done. In the meantime, Alex is safe in my care.” He chuckles, a mean-spirited sound makes me shiver down to my toes. Fuck him.
“Wait! Before you go. I’ll see what I can do, but I want you to give her a blanket or turn the heat up,” I say, gritting my teeth.
“We’ll see.” Norris nods his head briefly.
The conversation is over, apparently. Dude gets up and strolls out like he’s got all the time in the world. I take a beat. I have to calm the fuck down. Now that I know what he wants, it seems impossible. I mean, first off, Derek doesn't call the shots with the Giants! I don’t know what we can do about Norris’s request. I’m a mess, and I know it. But I can’t stop until I get her back. The questions on how and what keep pounding at me. I want to scream!
I take a deep breath and get up to leave. As I walk out of the place, I call Jeremy.
“It’s over, Jer. I’m fine. Let Rocco know. I’ll call you from the car.” I don’t want him to wait another moment to know I’m safe, but I don’t want to talk with all these people around either.
I wait until I’m back in my car, tap the steering wheel, and call Jeremy back from there. I’m heading straight back to Rocco’s.
“Yeah, it’s insane!” I tell Jeremy about the entire conversation I just had with Norris. I don’t know what we’re going to do, but I’m hoping between the three of us we can figure out a solution. “This is personal, bro. I’m almost positive this isn’t gang related. But this dude’s big time, he can crush us. You know what I mean?” I take a stuttering breath. This is just way too big for me. I don’t know what the fuck we’re going to do about Norris. Fuck me.
“I have to do something to get her back,” I grit out.
“Are you sure he has her?” Jeremy asks. Is she still alive is what he is really asking.
I say, “Yeah, he showed me a live feed of her. I’m so worried about her. Fuck, Jeremy, I’m…” I’m shattered is what it is. He has my Alex chained to the wall. I’m so freaking the fuck out.
“Okay, yeah. Meet me back at Rocco’s. We can talk then. We’ll figure something out, I promise.” Jeremy tries to soothe my frayed thoughts, but nothing’s going to work right now. This dude’s a psychopath, and Alex is in real danger.
But I’m not stopping. I’m not stopping until I get my girl back in my arms.
And NO motherfucker’s going to keep her from me. No matter who that motherfucker thinks he is!
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Alex
Fuck! I’m so cold I’m shaking all over. My teeth chatter and my fingers turn a creepy blue.
I wish I have a blanket, or Norris turns up this fucking heat.
I’m still terrified, but at least I know who took me. I just wonder what that fuck Norris wants. I’m trying to stay alert, but I’m losing my mind with this cold freezing my very thoughts.
Who does this, anyway? What kind of vile, nasty person steals someone off the streets and ties them up in a fucking cold room to shiver away the day? What the fuck can I do for him?
Maybe I can get him talking next time he comes in here. I know he thinks he’s really clever, but he’s really dumb as rocks. Well, that makes me chuckle, anyway.
The place smells like urine. My urine. That fucker never emptied that pail. Damn him to hell, just one more reason to hate him. I’ve hated him for all these years. There’s nothing redeemable about his sorry ass. He’s a demented fool.
I listen to the building. It’s so quiet right now, I can hear every creak and moan of this old structure. I’m certain he’s not around, so I start working on loosening these knots. But I have a sinking feeling that he made them impossibly tight.
Fuck. I’m sure Jack knows I’m gone by now, and I worry that they’ve dragged him into this mess.
I think over everything I know about the Cribs. I have a stark realization; I never met any of them. Just Norris. Except his street soldiers. But everyone that actually works at TABOO? They aren’t gang. It might be gang owned, but I don’t really know for sure. Norris runs that shit joint. I think this thing’s much bigger than me, and that Norris is driving the train.
Fuck! I’m screwed, and I know it.
I just don’t think I’m going to survive this. Norris is too trigger happy. I start to pray. I hope God is listening to me right now.
I know in my heart I’m going to die.
I can’t think. I try to comfort myself. I really do. But when every answer comes back to that brick wall of ‘no, that won’t work,’ I feel crushed beyond measure.
There’s no fucking way out.
I know for sure I’m going to die.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Jack
I’m back at Rocco’s as fast as I can drive there. Jeremy and Rocco stand by the gleaming wood bar. They both have worry lines across their rugged faces. As I come rushing inside, my heart is pounding. Fuck fuck fuck!
“I need a fucking drink!” I yell at Rocco. He reaches up and pours me a shot of whiskey. I knock it back and hold the glass out for more. Maybe I can talk after another one.
I’m shaking so badly I can barely hold the shot glass. My rage fuels me. Rocco gives me a refill, and I try sipping this time. Right, fuck that. I knock it back too.
“I met with that slimeball, Norris,” I begin. I’m tearing my hair out by the roots.
“What the fuck does he want?” snarls Rocco.
“He’s holding Alex in a dark, small room. I saw a live feed of her. I can’t figure out where he’s holding her. But I think he’s gone rogue.” I look between the two men and shrug. I feel like crying, but I can’t, I just can’t. Men don’t cry, I tell myself and try to buck up.
“Wait, so this Norris dude’s holding her? Like in a room or...” Jeremy starts to say. I interrupt him.
“Yeah, he has her tied to some kind of radiator or something. She looks cold as fuck. I’m so worried. She’s bleeding! What if we can’t get her back?” I whisper, my anger out of control. “What if we’re too late?”
“What do you mean by rogue?” Rocco looks me in the eyes, his resolve hardening. “And tell us every single detail you remember.”
“He wants something personal. He wants Derek Johnson to sign his brother to a Giants contract. I don’t think this kidnapping is sanctioned by the Cribs, you know what I mean?
“This is so fucked up!” I scream loudly “ARGH!” Because, really, I feel powerless, and my thoughts are insane. The men at the bar give me weird looks, like I’m crazy—and maybe I am.
“Slow down, brother. Slow down and tell us every detail,” Jeremy says
So, I take a deep breath and slowly recount the entire meeting. I launch into a description of every detail I can remember of where Alex is being
held. Maybe we can figure out where this room is, where she’s tied down. Then we can storm in and grab her back. But the Bay Area is a huge place, and she could be just about anywhere.
I pace by the bar as I continue my rant. We need more info about that dude. He's a slimeball fuckface, and I’m wondering if the Cribs even know what he’s doing—or would they even care?
I don’t know. I’m so overwhelmed. And fuck, we don’t have a lot of time. We have only a few options, and the longer it takes us to decide our next move, the longer Alex could be mistreated…or even raped! Fuck! For a brief moment, my mind flashes on that horrendous scene, but I stop myself just as fast. I can’t let my imagination travel there, because if I do, I could be lost in my anger. I need a clear head right now.
Jeremy keeps calm and cool. I mean, he doesn’t know Alex, but he knows she’s important to me, and he keeps his head about him. “Jack, take a beat, man. Take a breath. I know this is fucked up, but maybe we can figure this shit out.”
Thank god I’m not alone in this. I hope the three of us can figure something out, but it seems pretty hopeless. And we’re only three.
“Hold on. I’m not sure of any fucking thing right now. But if we need more men, I can get together a small army. I know Bark will help us—he’s my friend, and he’s Prez of a motorcycle club. We just need to figure out our next move,” Rocco offers as he looks between us.
I take a deep, calming breath. I allow myself to play with the idea of going in with all the muscle Rocco can bring to the party, and for a brief moment it comforts me. We still need a plan, and we need to figure out where she’s being held.
I have a moment of clarity. “Let’s look into this asshole’s property. What do you say? Maybe we can find out where he’s holding her if we can figure out the properties he owns?” It’s a good question, and a place to fucking start.
“Jeremy, why don’t you start doing the research. Don’t you know someone who might know the real estate part of this?” I look over at Jeremy with my eyebrows raised up into my scalp.
“Good idea, I’m on it,” Jeremy just about shouts. I can tell he’s relieved to have something tangible to do. We are men of action and need to make a move. Any move at this point is better than sitting here on our hands.
I look over at Rocco while Jeremy grabs his phone and starts talking to someone.
“I think I need to make some calls, Jack. Get the reinforcements I mentioned? What do you think?” Rocco offers. He’s so sure of himself, this man who used to run the OutKasts, that motorcycle club. That shit ain’t no joke, and I know he has the resources. I nod vigorously.
“Yeah dude, that would be good,” I affirm while my mind’s racing to my next move. I hate to do it, I really do, but I pull out my phone, look up contacts and swipe on a name.
“Yes, is he available?” I hold my breath. He has to be around. My heart is thrumming inside my chest, and I know I’m on the edge of exploding.
“Can you hold?” Derek’s nice secretary says.
“Yes, of course, I’ll hold.” I try to release the breath I’m holding, but I can’t. This has to go well. I can’t let myself panic, or I’m going to ruin this one shot.
“Hi, Derek, I need to see you. Is there any way you can fit me in…like…now? It's important.”
I hear Derek take a breath in, and then he says, “What’s wrong?”
I don’t want to tell him everything on the phone; I’d rather do this in person. Fuck it, I have to get his attention somehow.
“It's time sensitive, and you’re the only one I can turn to. I know I’m freaking out a bit, but I’m hoping to grab ten minutes tops, dude.” I pray that’s enough to get him to give me his time.
“Sure, ten? I can do that now, if you can get here quick,” he replies, thank god! Finally, something I can grasp on to. “I hope our kids are okay?”
“Yes, I’ll be there in a couple. Hold on, I’m on my way. My kids are fine.” I click the phone off and push it into my shirt pocket.
I turn to Rocco and Jeremy and say, “Hey, I’ve got to go. I’ll be back soon. I’m gonna go talk to Derek and see if there’s anything he can do to help us. Okay? Everyone has their assignments?”
I know Rocco is deep in his calls, and Jeremy’s doing the research we need.
They both say, “Yeah,” at the same time I’m almost at the door.
“Later,” I say as I virtually run to my car and jump inside. I’m off like a rocket. I don’t care about traffic signs or any of that shit. I’m going to get to Derek’s office as fast as I can.
Nothing is going to stop me now. Nothing the fuck is going to stand in my way.
I jump the curb when I come to a stop light and no one is the fuck moving. Sweat pours down my back into my jeans. I can feel the sweat gather at my ass. Oh fuck, I’m a ball of nerves. All I can think of is saving my girl.
I’m so worried about her. I know how they’re holding her, I just don’t know where the fuck they have her. I figure it’s some sort of warehouse, maybe in the Marina.
I’ve got to wait for Jeremy to come back with some info, but I bet I’m close. But close isn’t good enough. That dude, that fucking slimeball, is going to get his dues. Yeah, we’ll deliver and get her back, and then this war begins. I’m going to have a hard-on for that asshole Norris. I’m going to do everything I can to make him fucking pay. If I have to, I will burn his world down to the ground.
He’s holding Alex captive. How dare he touch what’s mine. I know Rocco feels the same way, like she’s his daughter, and I’m all in on this thing.
We’ll figure it out. Together we are going to make him rue the day he was ever born. That motherfucker is going to fucking pay. I swear it to myself. I’m not going to be able to walk away clean.
Not from this. Not ever.
Chapter Forty
Jack
I walk off the elevator, straight into Derek’s office. I don’t stop to chat with his secretary. I won’t stop until I’m sitting in front of him. I slide my body into a chair across from his desk and he looks up at me. I know he sees a man on the brink of despair. I wish I could hide that shit, but I just can’t. And I’m sure he can see that I’m losing it.
“Jack, you got here fast, dang it. Dude, what’s wrong?” He looks at me with concern stamped across his face. I really don’t think this is going to go well, but I have to try. I just don’t think he can satisfy Norris’s demands.
“It’s fucked up, I’ve got to say that right out the gate, dude. I’m sorry to bring this shit show to your doorstep, but I need your help. And honestly, I don’t even know if you can help. It's a mind fuck of a situation, Derek. I’m sorry, I really am,” I say with all earnestness. I feel like I’m blubbering words that make no sense. This could go sideways so fast. And I’m not sure how he’s going to take it, but I have to try. For Alex’s sake, I have to try.
“Spit it out, dude.” Derek encourages me forward. I don’t know him well, but I’m certain of one thing: this man has heart. “I’m with you, man. Just tell me what you need.”
“They took Alex prisoner. She’s been kidnapped, but I don’t know where. But what they want, well, that’s a tough one. I had to come to you because they really want something from you.” That’s how I start. I don’t know all the shit I should share with him, but hey, it doesn’t hurt to start with the worst part. I try to reassure myself I’m doing the right thing.
“What the fuck? Who is Alex, and who took her?” He looks as freaked out as I feel.
“Alex is my girl. She works at Rocco’s, and the Cribs—well, a dude named Norris, a top Crib—took her,” I say all on one breath, looking at Derek to see how he’ll react. I hope for some kind of compassion, but what I see surprises me.
He’s angry. Angry isn’t a good enough word. I can see he’s fuming and trying to figure it out. “What the fuck? I mean, why? What do they want from you…or…err…me?” Rage spews from his mouth, spittle flying.
Maybe there’s some fear m
ixed in there. I look into his eyes and I’m just not sure. But I know he’s pissed for sure.
“Norris has her hidden away somewhere secret. We’re trying to figure out where. We’re looking into his properties. Maybe somewhere there. But this dude is a nasty motherfucker and I’m terrified for her. He’s a top dog in the Cribs.” I blow out a stream of hot air and look into Derek’s face. I think the next part is even more difficult to spit out. I wipe away the sweat dripping into my eye.
“He wants you to sign his brother to the Giants. I know, I know it’s impossible. I told him you don’t do that sort of thing. But he scoffed at me. He thinks you can.” I almost cry, almost. I’m so fucking frustrated. This is just an untenable situation. I don’t think Derek can help, but he might have an idea what to do.
“Wait a fucking minute!” Derek is consumed with rage. “You're telling me he won’t return your woman if I don’t do this thing? I mean, you know as well I do that I don’t have that kind of clout. It doesn’t go down like that…" His words fade off. I can see the wheels turning inside his head.
“What if we just say it? That it’s happening? I could lie for her. To save her life, I mean,” Derek offers. I think he’s hoping for a simple solution, but naw. That’s not gonna fly.
“He wants to see a contract. And his brother would know if he wasn’t called up.” Right now, my frustration compounds with every word. I’m having a hard time thinking clearly; everything seems murky. There has to be something we can do. But I don’t know what the answer is, not right now anyway. And any slim hope I had fizzles as I see Derek’s resolve waver. I knew it was a long shot, but just in case I’m being watched, Derek Johnson had to be my first stop.
“Fuck! I don’t know much about ChuckD, but I’ve heard he’s a tough hard ass. If he’s part of this, I’m worried you’ll never see this Alex girl alive again. Do you know much about him?” Derek looks over at me with a questioning look in his eyes.
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