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Haze wouldn’t mind Winter hating him if it meant she’d be alive to do it.
If there was one thing he didn’t expect when he first met her, it was that he’d end up in the same car as the East Side, driving toward the North Side’s lair to find her. They’d have forever to hate each other. But right now, working together was their only chance to get her back.
When he decided to show up to Winter’s house, he didn’t know how much Kendrick knew about them, but now, it was clear that the answer to that question was nothing. He couldn’t believe that he was coming to them instead of working alone, but he knew he needed backup and couldn’t exactly turn to the West Side. They were already suspicious that he’d lost the fight on purpose.
“Let’s make this clear. As soon as we find her, you’re out of her life for good. You know that, right?” Kendrick spat, his eyes on the road.
“Assuming she’s still alive when we find her, then yes, I’ll hold up my end of the deal,” Haze said as an impenetrable silence filled the car.
He was right, and they knew it. She could be anywhere, suffering, agonizing. She could be dead by now.
Every cell in Haze Adams’s body told him to break something, but he held on by a thread.
“Don’t you dare say that. She’s still alive. She has to be,” Kendrick muttered.
He wished that Kendrick was right.
“I hope for your sake that you know what you’re doing,” Will huffed when they parked the car a couple houses away from the apartment complex Ian and his fighters hung out at.
Haze led the way, stepping out of the car with the unshakable thought that it was too easy. It didn’t feel right.
“Alex, you stay in the car in case we have to get out of there in a hurry. The rest of you, go look in the other apartments. I’ve got this. Text me if you find anything, and I’ll reach you if things get heated. Remember, at the first sign of complication, you jump in with the smoke bombs.” They nodded in agreement.
They quietly sneaked in through the back door of the old apartment complex Ian had claimed as the North Side’s spot and parted ways, leaving Haze to fend for himself. He took a sharp breath, knocking on the old apartment door loudly. The room immediately became quiet on the other side.
Footsteps. Then nothing.
“Who’s this?”
“Seriously? A wooden door? I could kick the door in right now. I thought you were more careful than that.”
“Yeah, well, few people know about this place. We’re not worried.” Ian unlocked the door and pushed it open, forcing a smile at the sight of Haze. “Come on in, partner.”
He stepped aside as Haze walked into the three-bedroom apartment where the smell of cigarettes, alcohol, and weed greeted him. Everywhere around him, Ian’s boys were drinking, smoking, or making out with escorts.
Some gangs were worse than others.
“Can I get you anything? A drink? A girl perhaps?”
Simultaneously, two girls wearing lingerie looked up.
“No, I’m good. I won’t be long.”
“You’re the boss.” He paused, motioning for Haze to sit at the poker table placed in the center of the room. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” Ian brought a joint to his lips, sinking into his seat.
“Just looking for a chat.”
“About what, my friend?”
“I wanted to congratulate you on the East Side girl’s kidnapping. Kendrick and his guys are a wreck right now.”
“Oh, I’m flattered, man.”
Haze dived his hand into his pocket, ready to press Send on the prewritten message. If Ian was responsible, the East Side would be there in a couple of minutes.
“But I can’t take credit for something I didn’t do.” Ian took a sip of his drink.
God damn it, Haze thought, removing his hand from his pocket.
