by A. J. Wynter
Once on the roof, they headed toward the side of the building that faced the road toward the Brass Monkey, “Actually, it will work. If he comes from the road, we may be able to snipe him.”
“And what about Darla? We taking her out too?”
Jasper shook his head, “Not if we can help it. No reason to, but if she ends up a casualty, so be it. Just make sure we don’t hit Lauren.”
Georgie nodded and broke out the binoculars. He looked for clear lines, “I don’t know, Jas. We’re pretty high up here. Hold on. Someone is down there.”
Jasper moved toward Georgie and pulled the binoculars from him, “That’s Lauren! And that’s Misty! What the fuck? I thought Darla had Lauren?” They looked at each other in disbelief. “Georgie, call Lauren. I don’t like this.”
Georgie grabbed his phone and started dialing. Once the phone was ringing, he passed the phone to Jasper. Jasper took it, and as soon as he heard her voice, he spoke fast, “Lauren! Where are you? Please do not tell me that you’re walking into the Triumph right now.”
Lauren stopped moving and looked around, “Jasper, where are you? I’ve been worried sick. Peter is dead! I thought you were dead too, or close to it! Where are you?”
Jasper clenched his fist, “Lauren, I need you to get out of here. When this is all over, I’ll come find you, but I’m fine. You need to go now, before they use you to get to me, and now you even have Misty with you – you both need to go now!”
“No. I’ve been waiting to see you. I’m not leaving without you, Jasper.”
Jasper scowled toward Georgie, but he knew Lauren was stubborn, “Ok. Be at the front.” Then he headed back to the freight elevator, after taking a gun with him.
“What the fuck are you doing? This thing is already so screwed up!” Georgie yelled.
Jasper held out a hand to him, as if to say, “Keep calm.” He would only be a minute, but the clock was ticking, and they had no time for this. He’d grab Lauren, kiss her, tell her he was fine, and send her and Misty off to safety. That was the plan.
***
“So, I’ve decided you’ll stay here when I go to the meeting with Mauriello.” Whitey was getting dressed to leave.
“Whitey, I need to go with you. He’s expecting both of us. It’s part of the deal.” Darla tried to keep her cool with this sudden news. “Besides, he sent a text. He doesn’t want to meet at the back road. He said he wants to meet on the roof, and he said the two of us to only come, and we can bring two men.”
“Oh, he said all that?” Whitey looked at her suspiciously.
Darla nodded, then rose to help him with his leather jacket. As she put it on his broad shoulders, she let her hands roam his body, feeling it. “He did. This will go fine. Just let me be there so he doesn’t get suspicious. I know how to take care of myself. Let me help.”
He didn’t trust her. She was acting strange.
“Let me see the texts and the phone number they came from.”
Darla nodded and went to retrieve the phone. Luckily, she was smart enough to change the phone number to Marta’s, a number Whitey didn’t know. There was the text, with everything she said it stated. When Whitey checked the number, he saw it was one he didn’t recognize, and while he knew it was possible it was a fake, he didn’t have the time to smoke out Darla’s lies. So he did the next best thing. He called the number.
A man answered in a gruff tone, “Don’t you fucking call me again. Be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there, and bring me what you owe me.” Then the line went dead.
Whitey handed the phone back, and Darla secretly thanked Marta and her husband for covering the line. She smiled to Whitey as if nothing was unusual.
“Ok then, let’s head out, but once we get there, you make sure you stay out of the way, Darla. Oh, and we’ll be bringing more than two men.”
CHAPTER 33
The elevator doors opened, and Jasper rushed out and right into Lauren’s waiting arms. He cupped his hand to the back of her head and held her face to his while his lips pressed hard against hers. After kissing her, he placed both his hands on her head and pressed his forehead to hers.
“Are you ok? What are you doing here?” Misty stood a few steps back, trying desperately not to look heartbroken.
“We came to save you. Lucas recorded Whitey extorting him for the money, and refusing to give the deed to Lucas for Lorenzo Mauriello. We sent a copy of the evidence to Darla and Whitey, demanding they leave you alone. Darla called and said we should meet here. She also said Peter’s dead, and you would soon be dead, too, if we didn’t come here right away.”
“I’m fine, baby. You came to save me, huh?” Jasper grinned and kissed her hard, his arms wrapping around her tightly and pulling her into him.
When they broke the kiss, he saw Misty, standing and watching. Lauren followed his gaze and released the hug while smiling at Misty. Misty had helped Lauren, and she was helping Jasper. Lauren wanted to give Misty her moment with Jasper. She stepped back and motioned for Misty to go to him.
“Hi, Jasper. You got a special girl here, willing to take on the world for you.” Misty smiled, but it was bittersweet.
“C’mere, Misty.” Jasper grabbed her and hugged her tight. He pressed his lips to her cheek, and whispered in her ear, “Misty, I will always love you. Thank you for all you’ve done to help me and Lauren.” She pulled back from the hug enough to press a nostalgic kiss on his lips.
“Now, as happy as I am to see both of you ladies.” He smiled between the two of them, “You need to get the fuck out of here, right now.” He smiled as he said it, and grabbed both women again in a tight hug, one in each arm. “Misty, I want you to take Lauren to your uncle’s and show him the video footage. Make sure he knows the whole story, and get him to let me off the hook for Lucas’ murder.”
“But, Jasper, he thinks you killed all those guards.” Misty looked worried as she spoke.
“I didn’t kill them. Whitey hired two guards that no one knew. They were the ones that killed everyone. They did it, and once all this business with Whitey is done, I’ll come see your uncle, and I’ll tell him exactly what happened. Georgie can also tell him what happened. We’ll make everything right. I promise. Now, go.” He patted Misty on her firm bottom to send her on her way, then grabbed Lauren. Pulling her to him, he kissed her softly again.
“I need you to stay safe. When this is all over, we’re going to run away together. Promise me.”
“I promise.”
***
While Jasper made his way back up to the roof, Lauren and Misty got into the car. Before they could start the engine, Misty grabbed Lauren’s arm. The unmistakable roar of motorcycles rumbled in the distance.
“Get down!”
Shit!”
Lauren and Misty ducked down in to the wells of the front seat, holding their breath and waiting for the bikes to pass them. As far as they could tell, they weren’t discovered. When Misty poked her head up, she assessed how many bikes there were.
“This is weird. There’s only two guys on bikes and a car. Where are all the other bikers?”
“That’s Darla’s car.” The car stopped, and sure enough Whitey and Darla got out of the car. They both looked calm and collected. Lauren pulled out her cell phone, however, the light illuminated in the car, and Misty hissed at her.
“Shut that off!” She swatted at the phone, then peeked out the window.
Lauren turned the phone down to dim the light, “Did they notice it?”
“No, I don’t think so, but we need to get out of here.”
Lauren texted Georgie: Darla, Whitey and 4 bikers here now.
“They are going in the building now. Darla, Whitey, and two of the bikers. The other two are staying here. How are we gonna get out of here?” Misty said, her voice trembling.
Lauren slithered back up in the seat, “Get ready.”
Misty slouched back into her seat, her eyes glued to the bikers that were now dismounting
their bikes and unloading their guns.
“Go now! Go!”
Lauren turned on the engine and pressed the pedal to the metal as she skidded out and took off. The bikers were startled when the car came to life and pulled up their guns preparing to fire, but Lauren had driven that car out of there like a race car driver.
One of the bikers texted up to Big Stu, who was with Whitey. He frowned when he saw the text. Whitey looked at him, “What … what’s the problem?”
Big Stu frowned, “Two women just skidded out of the parking lot. Didn’t even see a car down there. Guys said the lights were out, but they took off. They don’t know who they were.”
“Probably just kids fooling around. Clearly it’s nothing for us to worry about since they took off. Girls smoking weed or something.” Darla chimed in.
Whitey laid his eyes on Darla, “Yeah. Kids fooling around.” Something stunk to him. “Anyone lay eyes on Mauriello or his guys yet?”
Darla checked her phone, “No. Nothing yet, but he’ll be here.”
Whitey glared at Darla, distrustfully again.
***
Georgie looked at his phone, “We got company. You ready?”
Jasper nodded and quickly looked out at the back road, toward the Brass Monkey.
“He’s got guys all along the perimeter. I’m not sure how we’re going to get out of here once this is all done.”
Georgie nodded and tucked his phone in his pocket, “That’s a problem we’ll solve later. Get yourself hidden.”
Both men ran to their pre-designated areas and waited.
Darla’s phone buzzed just before they reached the roof. Whitey looked over, “Who’s that?”
Darla stared at the phone and huffed, “Interesting. The police just arrested Jasper Connor for the murders of the four guards. They found him back at Lucas Jackson’s house. Probably looking for Misty.” She tucked the phone back into her jacket pocket as the elevator doors opened and stepped between them.
Whitey watched her walk ahead of him, “Isn’t that convenient?” Then he nodded to Big Stu and Beatle, so they would step out of the elevator next. They did, and since no one shot Darla or the two bikers, Whitey followed. “Seems we’re the first ones here to the party. Darla, what’s going on?”
His intuition was telling him this was a fucked up situation, and somehow Darla had something to do with it.
Darla stood in the center of the rooftop between two oversized air conditioning units. As she turned to face Whitey, who was flanked by his two biker thugs, she pulled her hand from her pocket. She was holding a gun directly at Whitey.
“Mauriello is not coming Whitey.”
“Do you seriously think you’re fooling anyone, you dumb bitch? I’m Whitey Smith. You think you’re gonna take me down after all I’ve done for you? Put the gun down and get Mauriello on the phone. Enough bullshit Darla. Better yet, boys, grab her, get the phone, then throw her off the building. I’m done with her.”
The two bikers reluctantly took a step toward Darla who pointed the gun at each of them. Jasper and Georgie took that as their cue to emerge from behind the air-conditioning units, and they pointed their guns at Big Stu and Beatle.
“Hello, boys.” Georgie said.
“Hello, Whitey.” Jasper echoed. “I believe we have some unfinished business.”
“Oh, you little liar, Darla! Jasper Conner arrested, just as we’re going into elevator? That was actually a very nice touch. Where’s Mauriello? Was that all bullshit, too?”
Darla kept her hand steady, with the gun pointed at Whitey, “No, actually. Mauriello did intend on meeting you, except I called the meeting off. I’m cutting a new deal with Mauriello, and you’re not part of it.”
“Darla, baby. I’m not sure that you fully understand what you’re doing here. You may think you’ve got some upper hand because you’ve got a gun in it, but once we’re done with this little drama, I’m going to kill you – myself, with my bare hands.” Whitey’s tone was calm as he took a step closer to her.
Jasper and Georgie kept the guns and their eyes on both Big Stu and Beatle. Big Stu and Beatle didn’t dare move. Not yet.
“Don’t take another step closer, Whitey. I’m done with your bullshit. For years, I’ve felt indebted to you, but that’s over! I’m not your whore. I’m not your servant. It’s over, Whitey.”
Whitey put his hands up as he took another step closer to her, “Oh but that’s exactly what you are. You owe me your life, Darla. If it wasn’t for me and my ‘bullshit’, you’d be in a prison somewhere or dead by lethal injection. Have you forgotten?”
“It was self-defense, and then you murdered that man to take the fall. I didn’t ask you to do that.”
“You absolutely asked me to do that. You called me. Not your daddy. Not your mommy. And definitely not some hot shot lawyer. You called me to clean up your mess, and that’s what I did for you. This is how you show your gratitude?” He was a step closer now, and Darla’s heart was pounding in her chest. She knew he was in striking distance and, like a cobra, Whitey Smith leaped forward to grab the gun,
but Darla was quicker and she pulled the trigger.
BAM!
Whitey stumbled back with a bullet in the belly. His hands were pressed over the wound, blood pouring from between his fingers. He laughed as he looked up into her face from his bent over position, “You did it. You bitch. You actually pulled the trigger.”
With one shot off, Darla now held the gun confidently.
“I got away with murder once, you sonofabitch, and I can do it again.” Then she shot him in the head twice.
“Holy shit! Holy shit!” Beatle was freaking out.
Big Stu just grimaced. Rarely did his pulse lift over 80. He inhaled sharply and looked over at Jasper, “Well, what do you want to do Jas?” Whitey was dead, so Big Stu and Beatle were probably next.
Jasper lowered the gun and looked at Darla, “Well?”
Darla’s chest was heaving as she breathed deeply. She was partially relieved, and partially distraught. She did love Whitey, but things had just gotten so out of hand; but she had a plan.
She looked up at Jasper, then to Big Stu and Beatle.
“Here’s what’s going to happen next … Big Stu, you’re the new president of the club. Take Whitey’s cut, get Beatle, and get out of here. Take the two guys downstairs with you. Congratulations, now, go rule the world. You will tell the club that the meeting was cancelled and Whitey’s fucking the shit out of me up on the roof while he looks over his kingdom. No one will doubt that. Cocky asshole.” She kicked Whitey’s body. “Big Stu, Beatle, do you understand?” She waved the gun at them, and they both nodded.
“Darla, you don’t gotta worry about us. No one is coming after you for this. Whitey was bringing too much heat on the club anyway. You did us a favor.” He went over to Whitey’s body and started to remove the cutte. Darla moved a good distance away.
Without taking her eyes off Big Stu, she spoke to Jasper now, “Jasper, you and I have some unfinished business.”
“No, shit.”
“Lauren has a video that confirms Whitey had motive to kill Lucas Jackson. I will take care of the courts, and get all the motions and appeals in order to get the judgment reversed, but I’ll be doing that remotely. Right now, I need to get out of here.”
“I know about the footage. I already sent Lauren to see the Chief.”
“Good. I’ll reach out to the sheriff as well.”
She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped off the gun thoroughly. Then she flung it over the opposite side of the building and watched it fly.
“Now … we’re all free to go.”
THE END.
ALSO BY A.J. WYNTER
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The Boardroom: Cassidy (Coming March 2018)
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