— "Time to go, " I whispered to myself.
My engine roared and I started to drive toward my destiny. The darkness wrapped my body like a shroud. I was ready to sacrifice myself for Joe and Ash. It always was a possibility. If it could save them, I wouldn’t hesitate…but I promised myself I would take Kasabov with me.
CHAPTER 3
Joe
The night had fallen. A glowing light was shining through the only opening in this dark and cold room. Unfortunately, it was too narrow to be used as an escape passage. I was still locked in Ash's embrace, which gave me a sense of protection and warmth in this miserable room. Feeding us didn't seem to be on our captors’ priority list, and we couldn't even get a glass of water. My head was resting on my friend's shoulder, but we didn’t exchange a word. Was there anything to talk about? The wait was excruciating, as we had no guarantee about our future. Silence seemed to be our only option. Still, I was relieved not to be alone. He was there with me, and I could hold on to him, at least for the time we had left on this earth. I looked up at my friend's face. His expression was still tense. He seemed lost in his dark and secret thoughts. His violent reaction when he realized the ordeal I had gone through at the hands of the Russians moved me. I knew he was very close to Jerry, but I thought they were just old friends, just calling each other "brothers" because it sounded nice, and it expressed their loyalty to each other. I had been wrong. Their bond was deeper than that. Suddenly it became clear to me: They would die for one another. Finally, I decided to talk to him.
— "Ash, " I whispered to his ear.
I felt stupid, speaking so low, but I was afraid the sound of my voice would draw the Russians' attention to us. I wouldn’t be able to face them again. I would have preferred to starve and die of dehydration than seeing them again.
For a few moments, he didn't move. Then, I saw the marks on his leather jacket as he turned to face me. He was avoiding my stare since his outburst. Looking at me seemed to be too painful. It affected me to see him like that. Ash was a rock, a true force of nature. He was fearless, sociable and always making dirty jokes with a bright smile on his face. But at that moment, he was just a man defeated by a more powerful enemy. His weakness and resignation made me feel helpless. It was strange, but it hurt to see him suffer like that. Our detention had created a deeper bond between us. I put my arms around him, and we snuggled against the wall. Undoubtedly, it kept us warm, and it brought a sense of normality in this strange situation.
Finally, he looked at me. The brightness of his blue eyes hypnotized me for a second. I had almost forgotten how they could touch my soul. The dried blood on his face covered his temples. I watched his wounds. Fortunately, they were superficial.
— "When we get out of here, I'll take care of you. One more time, " I joked.
He frowned, but I saw that my attempt to lighten the atmosphere was working. It wasn't much, but I was trying to make this unbearable wait less difficult for us. And if we were living our last moments on earth, I wanted to live them with a big smile on my face without feeling any fear or cry about my fate.
— "Yeah, " whispered the dark-haired man. "I'd like that. "
I didn't have to explain my new attitude. Something told me he understood. We started laughing, and we talked about the past, even if we had no clue what our future would be. All we knew was we were still alive, and we had to hang in there.
— "Are you hurt? " I asked.
He winced, and for some reason, I smiled.
— "Can't you tell? " He joked.
— "I meant except for your face. "
— "No, Mini-doc. I received a few blows, that’s all. Nothing serious. "
— "Thank God. "
Resting his head against the wall, he sighed. His teeth showed, as he closed his eyes.
— "Do you know what I would like, right here, right now? " He said.
He looked at me quizzically when I didn't answer. I wanted to play with him a little and forget what was coming our way.
— "Do you mean besides getting out of here? "
— "Yeah. "
I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes, as I tried to imagine what this eccentric fifty-years-old man could be dreaming about.
— "Easy, " I said as I opened my eyes with a malicious smile. "You are dreaming about a jacuzzi filled with a dozen sweeties who would call you The King and offering you as much whiskey as you can drink. "
His raised one of his bushy eyebrows before choking. Then, he laughed out loud with his arms wrapped around his waist.
— "How did you know? He joked. "But you forgot one thing. "
— "What? "
— "A Janis Joplin's song in the background, " he added in a light tone.
Despite the desperate situation I was in, I let out a hearty laugh. It felt good.
— "How about you, Joe Blake Welsh? What would you like to do if you were outside? "
I bit my lower lip, enjoying a game that allowed me to escape our cell and I let my imagination run wild. Still, I hesitated for a second.
— "I would like to go back to the lake where my father and I shared a very special moment. "
I closed my eyes and drifted off into my dream.
— "The sun would be shining bright, and a gentle breeze would cool the air. We would ride our Harleys to get there… I love their sound and vibrations. Whenever I am on one of them, it feels like nothing else matters. In the evening, we would have a party with colored paper chains and folk music playing out loud. Maybe a live concert… Yeah, that's it! The White Buffalo would perform for us and we would drink until we pass out. That's how the Wild Crows party. "
He laughed again, and so did I. Ash looked at me, but I couldn't figure out his thoughts.
— "What? "
— "Forget it, " he replied with an amused look on his face. "You are just like him."
I swallowed hard. He wasn't the first to tell me I truly was my father's daughter. Even Ash had said so before. It sounded like a compliment to me. I loved Jerry with all my heart, and my love was unconditional. We had only known each other for a few weeks, but our bond was strong and indestructible. Even if I had been raped because of the illicit activities of the club, I didn't hold him responsible. The guilty ones were those damned Russians. They were blood-thirsty and bestial mafiosi, who didn't deserve to live. If my father had killed one of them, I was sure he had his reasons. He wasn't a monster, and a big heart was beating under his leather jacket. It was true for all the members of the club.
— "So you think we are alike? "
— "You can say that. "
— "I don't have a beard, " I joked.
— "You are… different, " Ash said jokingly.
Suddenly we stopped talking. We had heard voices right outside the door. The locked moved, and I held my breath. I recognized one of the men. Instinctively, I put my hand on Ash's wrist, but I knew it was useless. I wouldn't be able to calm him down.
— "A present from our boss, " said the Russian guy, dressed in a suit.
He gave a violent push to the prisoner he was holding.
— "Do whatever you want with him. We don't need him anymore. "
He laughed out loud before disappearing behind the door. Mack had fallen to the ground. On all fours, he was trying to stand up. He purposely kept looking away from us. Ash got straight on his feet and started walking to him. I did the same, not knowing how to calm him down. Before I could reach them, he had grabbed Mack by the collar of his t-shirt. The fabric ripped as he lifted his friend in the air. Our blond friend was looking at us with bloodshot eyes. He was sweating, and his face was as white as a ghost. Ash pinned him the wall. Mack didn't resist. Maybe he just couldn't. He shot me a glance, as I walked to them. I stood right behind my father's friend, hoping my presence would stop him from doing something stupid.
— "Asshole…" he said between his teeth. "You betrayed the club! "
— "Ash, " moaned the blond guy. "I'm sorry, man. It's no
t what you think. They had me! "
He was pitiful. It was the only word that came to my mind as I watched how this proud Viking had turned into a human wreck. I couldn't believe how fast drugs had changed that man. Was it even possible? Things had happened so fast, way too fast for me to understand how we ended up there.
— "You betrayed us for this shit! " Ash screamed, pushing him harder against the wall.
— "Ash! " I said.
It was useless. I couldn’t temper his rage. I put a hand on his shoulder, hoping it would prevent him from making a stupid mistake.
— "They gave me cocaine…" Mack moaned again.
— "Oh really? We didn't notice it! " Said the dark-haired man angrily. "You like a ghost, idiot! "
Mack's back hit the wall one more time, and I feared he would faint.
— "You sold your brothers for a dose, but you did worse than that. You sacrificed Joe, you bastard! "
His voice echoed on the walls of our cell, and I wanted to disappear into the ground. Mack shot me a glance and started to cry uncontrollably.
— "You are responsible for what they’ve done to her, Mack. It's your fault! And we might not get out of here alive because of you! "
— "I am so sorry…" he pleaded.
Ash's hand tightened on Mack's collar. Their faces were only a few inches apart.
— "Tell me, Mack, why should I let you breathe? Tell me! "
I shivered. I blamed Mack for what had happened, but killing him wouldn't solve anything, and more importantly, it wouldn't erase the traumatic experience. I decided to intervene. I put my hand on the dark-haired man's shoulder.
— "Ash! " I shouted.
He ignored me. Then, he let Mack go, and the blond man fell to the floor, as if the weight of his shame and remorse was too heavy to bear.
— "You're an asshole, Mack. You're not part of our family anymore."
Mack looked away. With his eyes fixed on the floor and his sunken shoulders, he was a human wreck. I hated him, and I felt this feeling would last for the rest of my life.
I thought Ash had calmed down, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw his fist hit Mack's jaw. Then, there was another blow and a third one. Mack's face started to bleed. Instinctively, I screamed and put my hands to my mouth. Without a second thought, I grabbed Ash's arm to make him turn around and face me.
— "Stop, " I begged him.
His jaw was tightly clenched, but he finally relaxed a bit when my frozen fingers touched his badly shaven cheeks.
— "Ash, stop! I am begging you. " I whispered, holding my tears back.
His Adam's apple moved quickly. His eyes wandered before locking on mine.
Without a word, I dragged him to the far corner of the room, which had become my refuge. I couldn’t think straight anymore. I looked at Mack’s body. He was lying unconscious on the floor. He was probably still under the effect of the drugs. His face was badly beaten. I understood Ash’s reaction. His blows reflected the love he felt for his friends. Obviously, Ash considered me as one of these. When I grabbed his fingers, he shivered. Maybe I was too kind to this man who had betrayed me. I wanted to think he wasn’t all that bad. Silently, I started to pray for Mack to remain unconscious. I didn’t want to witness another fit of rage.
CHAPTER 4
Jerry
My hands were holding the handlebar tighter than usual. What was at stake was bigger than anything I had to deal with over the years. It had always been natural for me to stay calm, even in dangerous situations, but at that moment, my heart was about to explode. Feeling the wind blowing in my face, I took a deep breath, but it made my old lungs hurt.
I turned left on Hampfrey Road. The street was empty. Respectable people didn’t walk in this part of town after dark. Looking at the Monty Valley hills, I noticed that there were fewer and fewer streetlamps. I was getting closer to the meeting point. My police escort played its part: no sound could be heard, and I couldn’t see any lights in my side mirrors. Joe’s life was at stake. I wouldn’t tolerate one mistake. Despite the sheriff’s orders, I would lead my men, if I felt it was necessary. Nothing would prevent me from walking away with my daughter and Ash. I wouldn’t allow it.
In the darkness, I saw the crossroads before I got there. A big crossover was parked with its lights off. I turned off mine, and I slowed down. At first, I only saw three men, but I couldn’t be sure because the night was dark. There were two big guys and a short one. I parked next to them and talked to the one who was closer to me. I realized I knew him. He was the Kasabovs’ right-hand man. I had seen him before when I had to deal with them.
— "Welsh, " I said without thinking.
Who would stop in such a remote place to look at the scenery, surrounded by mobsters.?
— "I know who you are, " replied the short guy. "Get off your bike, " he ordered me.
I winced. I didn’t like his tone, so I decided to play with him.
— "You want me to leave my Dyna here? You’re kidding! It would be like saying that Jerry Welsh has been kidnapped right there! There’s only one bike like this one in town. And everybody knows it belongs to me. "
— "Shut up! " Said a big tall guy who was standing behind his mate.
Surprised, I obeyed. Still, I knew what I was doing. Playing along was my best option at that moment.
— "Get out, " he told me in a bossy tone.
Quietly, I got off my bike and removed my helmet, waiting for them to tell me what to do. One of the mobsters started to search me. As I expected, he took the Glock I had hidden in the back pocket of my jeans and the knife I was wearing in my belt. Then, he nodded and confirmed to his Russian friend that everything was OK.
— "Get in the car, " his right-hand man ordered me.
He seemed to enjoy playing the part of the boss when Dimitri was not around. He was so full of himself… One of the two giants hid my bike in the tall grass, a little bit further, while the second guy grabbed me by my leather jacket. Instantly, I slapped his hand away. My jacket was off-limits! I got in the back of the crossover, followed by one of the Russian. A few minutes later, the second bodyguard started the vehicle, and we took the direction of Pandemonium. We drove for fifteen minutes. The night was dark, and the deserted hills surrounded us. I kept my eyes on the road, checking out the direction the driver was taking. I knew the area like the back of my hand. My Harley had ridden all the roads in the county of Solano. As we were driving, I was so nervous that my throat was dry. I tried to relax. I would need to be able to think straight to make the right choice at the right moment. I had never believed in God or any religion. But for the first time, I was wondering. Maybe there was a superior force, and it would make sure that nothing bad would happen. My daughter couldn’t pay the price for our mistakes. She was innocent, and they had already hurt her so much…
Suddenly, I saw a building. Just thinking about this video made me sick to my stomach, and I felt the urge to kill them all. I tried to keep my calm. My only hope was that she was fine or at least not too badly hurt, after what she had been through. If she was lucky, Ash would be with her. He had been my most loyal friend throughout the years. But was he still alive? His big mouth might have got him into trouble. His temper could be as explosive as his artefacts. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I felt trapped in that vehicle and I was filled with doubt. It was time to face reality and take care of things.
Finally, the crossover stopped. The door opened, and I was pushed out. Almost immediately, I felt a barrel pressed on my ribs. Were things about to get serious? It looked like that. They made me walk to an abandoned building. It took me several minutes to recognize the place. It was the old sewage plant. It hadn’t been in use for more than a decade. They had built a new one in Vacaville. It was the perfect place to execute someone quietly.
We walked through the entrance door, and they ordered me to walk up the stairs. Then they pushed me, and I landed between two desks. Blinded by the neon lights, they dragged me to a nearby room. I
thought it might have been a meeting room. It was filled with many tables and chairs. Suddenly I froze. I knew that place. I had seen it in the video. I clenched my jaw so hard that I could hear my teeth grinding.
— "Walk! "
The second guy pushed me, so I would get the message loud and clear. In the distance, I saw a large window in front of which was standing a stubby guy facing the other way. His suit looked as expensive as my Harley. I immediately recognized him. He was Dimitri Kasabov. He called me out without turning around.
— "Jerry Welsh! "
— "Himself, " I replied proudly.
Wild Crows - 2. Revelation : english version Page 2
