“She’s okay,” I hear him say through the door. I suspect to Levi or Star. And for the first time in so long, I don’t care who is on the other side of the door waiting to check up on me. I feel more relaxed, calm. My heart rate begins to return to a normal level and I stand at the mirror, bracing the counter and looking at my refection.
“This game is over. I’m back.” I say to my reflection and begin to wash my face. The cool water feels good against my hot skin. My body slowly relaxes and I continue on with a routine that used to be something I did daily on autopilot, without second thought. I towel my face off and slowly start to apply makeup. Twenty minutes goes by in the blink of an eye, and I look and feel so much better.
I run a brush through my hair and pile it on top of my head in a messy bun, and exit the bathroom with one thing in mind… taking control of the situation and finding Lyric before anything happens to her.
“It’s not Vince.” Chrome confirms as I walk into the room. “He hasn’t moved from the motel. He hasn’t made a phone call. He isn’t making any moves yet. Whoever did this has no connections to him. At least from what we can see. He could very well be working with someone and be laying low because he knows we are watching him.” He continues.
“Anything is possible right now.” Judge says.
“I don’t like the sound of that. I’m giving everyone forty-eight hours to get her back here. That’s it. And if she isn’t back. You answer to me.” I eyeball the men as I bark orders at them. It feels good to take charge of the situation and start throwing out timeframes and demands. I needed this and I sure as fuck hope they can get her back within the next forty eight hours because if they don’t… I have no fuckin’ clue what the hell I am going to do.
“When did the Seven James we all know and love return with a vengeance?” Star asks with a smile.
“When someone decided to fuck with my family again.”
My phone ringing grabs my attention and I leisurely stroll across the room to grab it. It’s been ten hours since Lyric was taken. The boys searched her house and the surrounding area in hopes of finding something, but have come up with a series of dead ends. I’m trying to relax, but each report of no news is angering me.
“Seven James-Parker,” I answer the phone.
“Funny you decided to say Parker this time around. I never pegged you for actually rolling over and taking a man’s name. How anti-feminist of you, Seven.” The voice on the other end is unfamiliar. A man with a thick New York accent and a hint of rasp.
“And you would be?” I give the attitude right back as I put the phone on speaker for the surrounding men to hear. Chrome pays close attention while Levi silently curses the lack of phone number on the caller ID.
“I would be the man who has your little sister. You know, the James bastard child. And if you ever want to see her again, you better be very nice to me,” the man says.
He expects me to be nice? Yeah. Okay.
“You want me to be nice after you kidnapped my sister? From the sound of it, I almost thought you knew me. Clearly, I was wrong.” I want to laugh, but I bite my tongue for Lyric’s sake.
“Oh, Seven. I know you extremely well. In fact, we have done business together on several occasions since James passed away. I can’t believe he was foolish enough to leave you everything. You must really suck a good cock.” The man laughs, clearly amused by his not so funny joke.
“James left me everything because I’m ten times the businessman you could ever be. But how rich of you to bring up a dead man. You really are a piece of work.” I try to give it back to him while mentally scanning everyone I’ve worked with over the years. “Get me ALL my merger files,” I whisper to Levi while I continue to play cat and mouse with the mystery man.
“If that is what you want to tell yourself, whatever. Here is how this is going to work, Seven. I’m going to give you a time and place to meet. You are going to bring me three million dollars in unmarked bills and if you fail to meet my demands, I’m gonna toss your sister off Niagara Falls.” The man laughs again, an ugly booming laugh that leads to a coughing fit.
“Smoke another one,” I say without thinking.
“I wouldn’t be throwing out insults Miss James. I hold all the power right now.” It clicks. He is on a power trip, but those words remind me of someone from the past. Someone I shared a boardroom with on several occasions before James let him go shortly after he was diagnosed. I won’t let on though. I want him to think he has a little bit of power.
“Understood.”
“I will call back in six hours with further instructions,” and the line goes dead.
“Kenneth Jack.” I say without missing a beat. I stride through the house until I finally reach my office and go to town on my computer pulling anything and everything from any of the deals I worked with him.
“Who is he?” Levi and Chrome ask at the same time.
“He was supposed to be CEO of White-Woods Global, but about two years before James died he wrote him off completely. Cut him off and I never knew why. FUCK JAMES! I wish you would have fuckin’ told me what the hell happened!” I yell towards the ceiling of the house as if he could hear me or answer me from his pearly white gates.
“How did you know it was him?” Levi questions.
“The way he said Miss James. I could never forget that that fucker’s voice.” I cut him off and find all the information I have. “Chrome, get Ryker and Judge on the US side of the falls. He isn’t going to cross into Canada and make this an international thing.”
Chrome nods and walks from the room with his phone in his hand.
My heart slams against my chest as the power and control settles in my bones. It feels amazing to finally be myself again. Taking charge of the situation and calling the shots to everyone in the room. But something is missing.
I turn around and see Paisley cradling Willow and I realize that is exactly what it is. For a couple hours I almost forgot that I had a newborn baby. My adrenaline almost made me completely forget I had two little people who depend on me to be their mother no matter what is going on in our crazy adult lives. Now, I would just finally have to learn how to balance Seven James the badass and Seven James-Parker the loving wife and mother. But I can tell you one thing… it was the next thing on my list of shit to do.
Ryker
Present
My mind is all over the fuckin’ place as Judge and I cruise upstate on the highway. Since Journey left, I’ve wracked my brain wondering why she never gave as much as I did. Fuck, I sound like such a cunt. I need to do something, or better yet… someone to get that bitch out of my mind. I should have listened when Diesel told me the bitch was nothin’ but trouble.
The more miles that pass, the less I think of her. It is better off that way anyway. I don’t wanna get involved with the little sister of Prez’s old lady. It just ain’t right and it will only lead to more problems than Journey would ever be worth. She’s better off with River anyway. Both of them are fucked in the head.
Judge blasts by me and signals for the next exit. His cut flaps in the wind and I’m relieved we can finally take a break. My ass has been numb since Syracuse. I silently curse all this bullshit going down. I don’t need or want to deal with it right now. I guess any distraction from Journey is a positive. We pull off the highway and into a small gas station right off of the exit. The roar of the engines die and we both eye each other wondering what the next step is.
“I’m gonna take a piss. Get with Chrome for an update.” Judge says like he actually runs the show here. Fucker is getting on my last nerve with all the orders he keeps throwing around. He doesn’t understand how much time I’ve put in with the Renegades. No way is he going to waltz in and take over my chance at the VP position. No fuckin’ way.
I pull my phone out and call Chrome, which I would have done without that shitbag telling me to either way. The phone rings a couple times before he growls into the phone.
“No calls yet. Still waiting
. Where you at?” Chrome asks.
“About forty five minutes outside of Niagara.”
“When you get there, I have you set up at Red Coach Inn on Buffalo Avenue.” Chrome says. “You know where that is right? We’ve stayed there before.”
“You think I’m some kinda fool? Yeah I know where it is.” I snap. My nerves gettin’ the best of me.
“Don’t let this shit with Journey make you catch an attitude with me.” Chrome says with a stern voice and I realize my fuck up. I know I shouldn’t take any of my bullshit out on him but the more I think about Judge nosing in on my shit, the more I forget about Journey altogether.
“It ain’t Journey, Prez. It’s this fuckin’ brown noser you sent me up here with.” I know I can be honest with Chrome. He ain’t gonna look down on me for that.
“He ain’t takin’ your spot. Stop gettin’ all territorial like a fuckin’ mutt.”
I let out a chuckle as Judge walks out of the gas station.
“I’ll call and check in on you when we hit the hotel. We should have an update by then,” I say before disconnecting the call.
“Still no update?” Judge asks and I just nod. “The fuck Ryker? You’ve had a shitty attitude with me since I got here. You got somethin’ you wanna say?” He catches me off guard. I didn’t realize I’d been so obvious.
“Yeah. I don’t like your attitude, and don’t think you’re gonna transfer into our club and think you can just climb up the ranks without puttin’ in your time.” I kick my leg over my bike and reach for the ignition when Judge starts talking.
“I ain’t gunnin’ for shit.”
“If I wanted that comeback, I would’ve wiped it off your fuckin’ chin.” I give it back to him and kick my engine on to block out whatever he has to say. Before he can turn over his engine, I am pulling out of the parking lot and heading for the highway. He can have fun coming to chase me.
“Sit tight boys. I am going to be up there shortly. Levi ain’t letting Seven leave the house so he is gonna ride up with me in the truck.” Great, Chrome is bringing the fuckin’ suit. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my time with Levi because it makes me forget the fucked up life I live. It gives me the chance to daydream about being a CEO or some shit. Not a scumbag biker.
“So you just want us to sit tight until you get here?” I question Chrome making sure I have the instructions right.
“Yeah. Get somethin’ to eat and settle in for a little bit of rest. I think we might need it. We are trying to get a track on the cell phone the calls are coming from, but we are only getting general area pings. This guy is smart.”
My stomach growls and I realize it’s been probably a day since I’ve had anything more than a bottle of beer. Judge sits across the room thumbing through his cell phone and I feel bad for being a dick. There isn’t any room within the club for bullshit and I won’t be that guy who starts some kind of petty rivalry with a brother over choices Chrome is gonna make.
“Sorry about earlier, dude.” I say against my better judgment.
“It’s cool, dude. You got shit goin’ on. I know.” He shrugs his shoulders like it’s nothing.
“What’s up with you and Seven?” I ask. They’ve known each other and haven’t hidden it, but I guess most things about her intrigue me. I have a respect for her I’ve never had for any other woman. Shit, she is kinda badass. I just hate how much power she has over everyone. I’m not the kinda dude who thinks women should be in that position. I’m old fashioned. Traditional, per say.
“Ha. It’s complicated,” he says.
“So I’m guessing you don’t know about my colorful past?” I laugh thinking about the shit Diesel and I did all that time ago. Every once and a while, I actually miss the relationship we had. I never thought he would have been where he is today. But then again, those Blooms are like crack. You just can never get enough. Chrome said so himself.
“Naw. Don’t care either. But I’ll tell you about her. She was my Domme.” He puts his phone down on the bed and turns his attention to me.
“Your what?”
“My Domme. She was a dominatrix. Don’t you know that’s how she met Levi? She was his Domme too,” he says.
“What the fuck does that mean?” I am confused. I know what a Dominatrix is, but I guess I never looked at Seven like that. Or even wanted to know that much about her. It certainly makes me look at her differently. But, it explains her control issues.
“I like a woman to dominate me. Its a sex kink.” He shrugs. “Everyone has shit they like. I’m sure you do too,” he laughs.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that. Diesel and I used to have a strange relationship where we tag teamed chicks together all the time. I guess lines were crossed over time. Shit… I’ve never told anyone that.” I scrub my hands across my face and try and hide my embarrassment. The only person who knows that about us is Paisley. Then again the way those women gossip, I am sure everyone in the town knows by now.
“Whatever dude. We all have shit we are into. Not many guys wanna admit they let a woman be in control of anything, let alone the bedroom. Can you imagine the kinda reputation I would end up with?” Judge admits.
“You’d be labeled a bitch.”
“Exactly. And you’d be labeled a homo.” he comes back at me.
“Which is exactly why this convo stays in this room.” I try to threaten him.
“No worries, brother. I won’t be opening my mouth. I’m tryin’ to make friends here, not enemies.”
“So Seven’s fuckin’ wild in bed huh?” I can’t help myself. I have to ask.
“Dude, you don’t even fuckin’ know. I only had her once, but Jesus fuckin’ Christ, I wish I could have had her again, and again. Levi is one fuckin’ lucky dude.” We both burst out in laughter.
The next couple hours fly by in the blink of an eye while we bullshit about bitches we’ve fucked, planning bitches we wanna fuck, and shit we’ve gotten into in the past. Club bullshit. Shit from before either of us joined the club, and why we ended up where we are today. Dude has a colorful story, but it’s pretty typical of most of us. Single mom with a son she can’t control and a deadbeat father who wants nothing to do with the bastard.
Our lives aren’t beautiful or glamorous. They are dirty and fucked up. We live the nightmares people live in fear of. We live on the edge of the law wondering when it will finally catch up with us or who will bury us before that happens. But it’s the outlaw life we chose. It was a choice we all made and I wouldn’t fuckin’ take it back. Not ever.
Levi
Present
Chrome and I are probably an hour outside of Niagara when Seven’s cell phone rings in my lap. Before we left the house, I traded phones with her because I knew the kidnapper would be calling her.
“Yeah.” I answer the phone and put it on speaker so Chrome can listen in.
“Did Miss James lose her balls already?” The vaguely familiar voice rings through the line. “I didn’t think she would ever let you take care of anything for her, Levi. She doesn’t exactly treat you like an equal in your marriage.” He laughs, only trying to get under my skin and I’m not gonna let it happen. Seven would have been screaming by now, but I have quite a bit more self-control than she ever will.
“She isn’t up for dealing with this right now. She just had a fucking baby.” I reply.
“She isn’t up for finding her sister? That is a shame. I thought they were building a beautiful relationship together. What a shame though. She can never let anyone in enough to actually have a normal human relationship.” He taunts.
“Get to the point. We are waiting for your instructions.” I say, without realizing I used the word we. Fuck. Thankfully the prick on the other end doesn’t pick up on my slip. He is probably too busy counting the money he doesn’t have yet.
“Cave of the Winds at dusk. Come alone with my money,” the man says before the line goes dead again. His money, now that is funny.
The voice continues to ring in my ears.
He sounds familiar, but the name isn’t anything I could ever put my finger on. Kenneth Jack isn’t anyone I’ve done business with, but he spoke like a long lost friend. I am good with names but even better with faces. For some reason I continue to draw a blank on this guy.
“You know him?” Chrome asks.
“Nope, not a fuckin’ clue.”
“You think this guy is dangerous?” Chrome asks again, like I might actually have an answer for him.
“I really hope not, dude. I don’t know how I would go back to Woodstock and tell Seven something happened to Lyric without her flipping out for good. We’ve had enough shit happen already. I just want all the bullshit to be over.” Is it too much to ask for?
My chest tightens and I worry about everything that is going to happen in the next couple hours. Its bullshit, all fucking bullshit. One day we will be able to have a normal life.
As the truck rolls down the main strip of Niagara Falls, I eye all the people walking up and down the street. I am one for people watching, always have been, but that is when I notice a familiar face. That same busty bimbo businesswoman, Veronica Reed. The same whore who tried to interview for Seven’s CEO position is strolling down the street. She is laughing like she doesn’t have a care in the world as her body leans against a tall man. I can’t see his face as we slowly drive past them. His dark hair is cut short but his face is turned in the opposite direction.
“That’s that bitch, the one from the interview,” I say to Chrome as I point in their direction. Maybe I am just seeing things? Maybe it really isn’t her? But, I swear I would never forget her face.
“You sure?” Chrome asks as he looks for a place to pull the truck over.
“I couldn’t forget that bitch’s face.” I reply. “But I don’t know why the fuck she would be up here. Everything we had on her has a Bronx address, so that doesn’t make much sense.” I hate it when shit just doesn’t add up.
His (Hers #5) Page 12
