“Di Oro is still out there. He should stay far away from me until we get the bastard.”
“You’re not going to get him, Dehaney,” I told him. “I’m going to get him, and I’m going to make him suffer. Now tell me why the hell he’s been going after Jamie?”
“The Di Oro brothers moved here from up north,” he answered. “Santiago and Pedro Di Oro, although I believe there is at least one more brother. Their family is well known for bookmaking, money laundering, and extortion. Shortly before they moved here, we got intel from the Feds that there might be trouble as the brothers were looking to expand their business here in Smoky Vale. They’ve lost much of their political clout back in Michigan so they’re searching for new territory. We’ve been investigating them, trying to find out what they’re up to here. We placed a mole in their business, but they don’t readily trust even their own, so we’ve had nothing concrete on them.”
“So you’re telling me Jamie was almost killed over nothing? Because it seems like you don’t have anything on these brothers.”
“Wait here.”
He disappeared from the kitchen and returned shortly after with a manila folder, which he dropped on the table before me. “Open it.”
I flipped it open and found a photo of a good-looking young man who seemed close to Jamie and Joel’s age. There were dates beside his name. I flipped the page and found other photographs—two females and three males. They were all awfully young, the youngest seeming to still be in her early teens.
“Those are from the missing persons reports that we’ve had to deal with in the last month,” Dehaney stated. “Gun-related crimes, drugs, and murders are common here in Smoky Vale. Abduction isn’t. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that so many have gone missing since the brothers’ arrival. The matter has become even more urgent since the mayor’s son was kidnapped a couple of days ago. We paid the Di Oros a visit.”
“The day before the attempt on Jamie’s life,” I mused aloud.
“Right. I’m guessing they didn’t like that we got so close.”
I flipped back to the first photo, which was stamped with the most recent date. “The mayor’s son?”
“Yes, and this is secret. The mayor doesn’t want the city to know his son has been kidnapped. We’ve been waiting for a ransom, but none’s come forward.”
“Then they’re not being held as hostages.” I frowned at Mason. “Sex trafficking?”
“That’s my guess.”
I closed the file and pushed it toward Mason. “After what they’ve tried to do to Jamie, I’m taking them out, Mason.”
“We still need to find out what happened to these people and how we can get them back.”
“We have ways of making them talk,” I replied, then frowned at him. “You’re aware that I’m not doing this by the books? Aren’t you going to question my methods and ethics?”
“Ethics be damned when they tried to kill my son,” Dehaney said bitterly. “There are criminals, and then there are scums of the kind of variety as the Di Oro brothers. Those don’t deserve a chance to plead their case.”
No doubt I was in the first category, and at some other point, we would probably have even argued about it, but we had one purpose. Why not work together?
The Di Oro brothers had crossed the line when they fucked around two of the three worst motherfuckers in Smoky Vale. Dehaney might have converted to the side of the law that legally used firearms, but that didn’t make him any less a product of the Bloodlets club.
For years he had forgotten what had made him tick, but I felt that the attempt on Jamie’s life had aligned us on the same path once more. Now there was just one final thing.
“Tomorrow, you’re going to see your son,” I told him. “And you’re going to apologize for being one gigantic ass, or I’ll tell him everything. Everything.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jamie
“It’s about time I get out of this place,” Libby remarked as she sat on the bed, waiting for her grandson to pick her up. I chuckled at her impatience, using the curling iron I had insisted Grimm bring me yesterday to style her white hair in ringlets around her face. I’d already done her makeup, just as I had promised her I would. She’d insisted on not leaving the hospital looking like roadkill, and I’d been adamant that she would look flawless on her way out.
“You just ensure you take your meds on time when you’re home,” I told her. “I’ll be calling to check up on you.”
She smiled and patted my thigh. “God bless you, sweetheart. You should have been the grandson I wanted and not that imbecile that’s on his way to pick me up. You mark my words how late he will be getting here.”
“If he doesn’t arrive on time, I’ll have Grimm drop you home when he gets here to pick me up.”
“I would love to get another glimpse of your partner again, Jamie,” she said on a girlish giggle. “He is so handsome and dangerous but a gentleman. I see the way he looks at you. No wonder you’re so in love with the man.”
I blushed and laughed. “He is wonderful.”
“Ah, you don’t ever want to let a man like that go, darling.”
“Don’t I know it. I should be ashamed to say I’ve been after him for so long, and now that he’s mine, I don’t intend to ever let him go.”
“Good boy. Now, what about those horrible monsters who tried to kill you?” she asked, her voice laced with concern. “Are the police any closer to apprehending them?”
“I’ve heard from the officer investigating the case,” I replied, inhaling deeply. “Di Oro is out on bail, but there’s a hearing next week.”
“Good. The bastard should rot in jail for daring to hurt a sweet boy like you.”
I smiled and listened to her prattle on while I finished up her hair. I unplugged the curling iron when Dr. Collier entered the room. He stared from Libby to me and back to the senior citizen.
“Why, Miss Jibbison, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Libby beamed at the compliment. “Too late, Doc. You had your chance and ignored me all my stay here. I’m afraid I’ve already reeled in my net, and you’re not in it.”
Dr. Collier laughed, something he did more of recently, and I couldn’t stop staring at him, wondering at the difference in him. He smiled more and was less snappish.
“Hmm, would that be because of the budding romance I hear is happening two doors down?”
To my surprise, Libby’s face turned red. I didn’t even know she could blush. The old woman had no filter and spoke freely.
“That’s nothing but gossip, Doctor.”
But was it?
“Libby, you’ve been holding out on me,” I said, stepping aside as Dr. Collier did his routine checks—the last she would receive before he would sign her papers for her to be released from the hospital. He’d already done the same to me earlier, and I was now waiting on Grimm to get here so I could go home.
“I don’t kiss and tell.” Libby cackled. “It was one hell of a kiss in Room 203, though.”
Dr. Collier chuckled. “I’m just grateful you didn’t give poor Walter a heart attack.”
“Well, I didn’t want to kill him,” Libby replied. “Just get his heart racing a little.”
I watched Dr. Collier as he worked, feeling melancholy about my internship. I wanted to beg him to get my position back, but after everything and the recent assault, I doubted he would want me around. So much for Grimm working on that angle. Not that I could blame him. There were some things not even he could influence.
“Well, you checked out fine,” Dr. Collier told Libby. “I’ll pay you a home visit at the end of the month to check in on your progress.”
And that was one of the reasons I liked the man. Even when he was all professional and didn’t crack a smile, the man cared for his patients and went the extra mile to ensure they were fine. I couldn’t see a lot of doctors doing home visits after all the hours they already had to put in at the hospital.
Dr. Collie
r left, and I remained with Libby, entertaining her while we waited on her grandson to pick her up. A message came in to my phone at the same time a knock sounded on the door. Grimm texted that he was on his way and he had a surprise for me. I tapped out a message to Grimm.
“You’re late,” Libby chastised the newcomer who had entered the room.
“I’m sorry, Gran. I got caught up in traffic.”
I knew that voice! I glanced up. All the blood drained from my face when I recognized him.
“You!”
Slim, the man who had assaulted me the day Grimm and I had had sex for the first time, stood inside the room. I could never forget that face, the feel of his hand connecting with my cheek or his fingers intruding where they didn’t belong.
This was the gay great-grandson Libby had spoken of?
“You know my grandson?” Libby asked me.
“Not that well,” I answered, inching away from Slim. “We’ve had an unfortunate run-in.”
“It was all a misunderstanding,” he said quickly. “But it’s all water under the bridge now. We’ve all moved on.”
Have we? I wasn’t certain anyone could ever move on from being assaulted. I sure as hell hadn’t. It wasn’t something I thought about every day, but seeing his face brought it all back, of how close he had come to violating me.
“I should go back to my room,” I said, forcing a smile for Libby’s benefit. “I’ll call and check up on you.”
I didn’t wait for her response but hurried out of her room and along the corridor back to my wing. I didn’t feel better until I was back inside my room. With a groan, I went over to the bed and lay down, feeling dizzy. Libby had always spoken of her grandson being a worthless piece of shit, and now I knew why.
I took out my phone and rang Grimm, who answered promptly. “We’re on our way, Half-Way.”
“Slim’s here,” I blurted out.
“What?”
“That guy you kicked out of the club because he was trying to force himself onto me,” I explained. “He’s Libby’s grandson. The one she’s always talking about. I was with her just now, and he came by to pick her up.”
“Don’t leave your room. We’re almost there.”
“Please hurry.”
I ended the call and cradled the phone to my chest. I didn’t expect Slim to try anything. We were in a hospital after all, but I couldn’t feel at ease until Grimm arrived.
A knock sounded on the door, and my heart rate intensified. I glanced around, frantically searching for something to use as a weapon.
“Surprise!”
I blinked several times as I took in the sight of Joel, who entered the hospital room with a big grin on his face.
“Joel, what are you doing here?” I cried out, jumping off the bed and rushing to hug him.
“I caught a flight out this morning,” he explained, stepping back to peruse me. “You don’t look like someone who nearly died two days ago.”
I snorted. “Is there a specific way to look after you just died?”
“Definitely not as good as you do,” he said with a laugh. “Where’s my dad?”
“On his way, and he’s going to be livid,” I told him. “Didn’t he tell you not to come?”
“My best friend gets into trouble, you bet your ass I’m not staying away.” He frowned at me. “What’s wrong? You seem jumpy.”
“There’s a—” I was cut off by a knock on the door, and this time I was just positive it was him.
“I’ll explain after.” I grabbed Joel’s hand and tugged him toward the bathroom door. “You have to stay inside. Don’t come out for whatever reason, please. Grimm will be here soon.”
“But what—”
“Please, Joel.”
I gave him one final shove into the bathroom and pulled the door shut just as Slim poked his head around the door to the hallway. He glanced around, frowning at me.
“Are you alone?” he asked.
“Yes, but Grimm’s almost here,” I replied in warning.
He smiled, opening the door wider, and entered, then closed the door behind him. “You don’t have to look so frightened. I told Gran what happened between us, and she insisted I stop by to apologize, that’s all.”
“Okay.” I nodded, moving away from the bathroom door to avoid drawing attention to the fact that I wasn’t alone. “Apology accepted. You can go now.”
“No, that’s not a proper apology,” he remarked. “I was a rude piece of shit who thought he could force you to have sex with him. That’s unforgivable.” He held up the hand Grimm had pierced with his knife and stared at it. “Every time I have to look at this hand, I remember what happened. I remember how Grimm chose you over one of his own brothers.”
I swallowed hard at the shift in his tone. All pretenses aside now, his eyes were full of malice. “You tried to force me,” I said.
“You were begging for it, going about the kitchen ass naked. You were begging to be fucked, and all I wanted was to be the one to do it.” He pulled a gun out from the inside of his jacket and pointed it at me.
I raised my hands and closed my eyes. “Please don’t shoot me.”
His laughter forced me to open them. “You are worth more to me alive than dead. I have a few friends who are very interested in the chief’s son.”
The bathroom door flew open, and Joel stormed out. “You’re not taking him.”
Slim shifted the gun toward Joel, and my knees went weak. “And who’s going to stop me? You?”
“Don’t hurt him,” I said, moving forward. “He’s not the one you want. I’ll come with you if you leave him alone.”
“I’m not letting you go with him!” Joel insisted.
“Listen,” I told him. “Grimm can’t lose us both. Just please do what I say and stay here.”
“No, Jamie, I can’t.”
“Back into the bathroom.” Slim waved the gun at Joel. “I don’t have time for this shit.”
“Go!” I shouted at Joel. “Please, go. Tell Grimm I’ll always love him.”
Joel shook his head, his face white with terror. “You tell him yourself.”
Slim released the hammer, and afraid he would really shoot Joel, I shoved Joel back into the bathroom.
“Place the chair under the door,” he told me. “The only reason your little friend’s alive is that shooting him will be too loud and we’d never make it out of here. The Di Oros are more interested in you than I am in killing Grimm’s heir. Get moving!”
I grabbed the chair and positioned it under the door, effectively trapping Joel inside. I placed a hand on the door, knowing he would be okay. A little traumatized maybe from walking in on this, but at least he would be unharmed. I needed him to stay alive so Grimm could know who was responsible. If I was going to die, then I would take them all down with me.
The nudge of the gun’s muzzle hitting my spine pulled me out of my thoughts. “Now listen carefully how we’re going to get out of here,” he told me. “If you make one wrong move, if you make eye contact with anyone, I’ll shoot you in the fucking spine. Then I’ll come back for that old fool and put a bullet through her goddamn brain. You behave, and you all get to live to see another day.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Grimm
“Damn it, Joel.” I gripped my son’s shoulders as he sat on the hospital bed, crying. “Now’s not the time to fall apart. Every minute Jamie is missing, it gives them more of an advantage. Pull yourself together and tell us what happened.”
Behind me, Dehaney was pacing. A member from the hospital security team was also present. We had arrived five minutes ago and found a frightened nurse and the security guard in Jamie’s room releasing Joel from the bathroom. I couldn’t even be mad with him for disobeying my orders and flying to Smoky Vale despite me telling him to stay put in Boston. My whole focus was on getting Jamie back.
“Some guy barged in here,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Jamie seemed to know him. He was talking about a hand that y
ou damaged, Dad. I think he might have tried to force himself on Jamie at some point.”
Slim. When Jamie had called to inform me Slim was at the hospital, I’d hoped the slimy fucker had more sense than to get anywhere close to Jamie. Apparently, I gave him more credit than I should have.
“What the hell is he talking about?” Dehaney snapped.
I ignored him and focused on Joel. “What else happened? Did he say anything that could give us a clue where he took Jamie?”
Joel shook his head. “No, I don’t know. I don’t remember him mentioning anywhere.”
I shook him a little, frustrated at us not getting anywhere. “Come on, son. Think. Anything?”
“I can’t—wait, he did mention someone being interested in Jamie as the chief’s son.”
I released him, my blood running cold. So that was it. Slim had gone from the Grimm Reapers to working with the Di Oro brothers. He didn’t know it, but he’d just signed his death certificate by snatching Jamie.
This time I would wipe them all out. Jamie wouldn’t be safe as long as a Di Oro breathed. Slim was as good as dead too. If he thought his hand was bad, he would be in for a rude awakening.
“Shouldn’t we call the police to handle this?” the security guard asked. He’d been watching me warily, eyeing my cut ever since we’d entered the room.
“I’m the fucking police,” Dehaney snapped at him, then turned to me. “We need to find Jamie before they hurt him.”
“I know where to begin.”
Twenty minutes later, we were back at the clubhouse, all the men gathered for an emergency church meeting with the exception of the twins, who still had eyes on the Di Oro brothers. I knew their exact location, but I’d informed the twins not to give away their position. I needed to see Jamie first to confirm where they were holding him. As much as I wanted to move in on the Di Oro brothers now, Jamie was my priority.
“Are you sure you want to be in on this, Dehaney?” I asked the brooding cop, who was pacing the mess hall. “Whatever we get in, you won’t be able to extricate yourself from this mess. I promise you that we won’t be doing anything legal.”
Biker Daddy (The Grimm Tales of Smoky Vale Book 1) Page 29
