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But that wasn’t the issue. I knew what was bothering Draven. “We’ll get it back.”
“Yeah? And what happens when we don’t? Because I don’t want to fucking explain why I lost the only proof we had about the Visalia Chief of Police’s corruption.”
This shit was personal. It went deep, and there was no way Devil would allow the leverage we needed to slip through our fingers. We needed that package back in our hands.
“I know. I feel you, Draven.” I only used his real name when we were alone. He’d earned his title as pres, and I set the example, giving Devil the respect owed to him. He earned it.
“Homer didn’t lie. Amelia has to have it. There’s no way she got rid of that information. It’s too valuable. He would have said how important the contents were and made her promise to hide them.”
“Yeah, maybe. There’s too much speculation to know for sure. I need to get my hands on that package, Raiden.”
“Then we put pressure on Amelia,” I suggested.
“We already took Henny. She’s like a daughter to Amelia.” He finished his smoke, snuffing the butt in the ashtray on his desk. “Forge did a little digging. Found out Henny used to be in the system. Had some shit foster parents and a short stint on the streets.”
“Damn.” I shook my head. “Sounds like she had it rough.”
“She did, but that’s not gonna help her right now.”
“No,” I agreed. “What’re you thinking?”
“We take some video. Make it look like we’re gonna hurt her if Amelia doesn’t start talking.”
“What do you suggest?” I asked, a queasy feeling bubbling deep in my gut. I didn’t like to hurt women. After what happened to my sister in high school, the thought of it made me sick.
Draven must have read the truth from my expression. “Not like that. I swear it, brother.”
Giving a nod, I rose, pacing the room as all the memories of the past tried to push to the forefront of my mind. I needed to focus my thoughts elsewhere before the pain and rage about Chrissy resurfaced. This time of year was the worst. Too close to the anniversary of her death.
My eyes squeezed shut, but I could still clearly see every detail. A broken lamp. Her blonde hair stained red. The cry of horror and rage spilling from my lips.
Blood. So much fucking blood.
“Raiden.” Draven’s voice reached me from far away, nearly muffled inside my head.
Looking down, I found my fists clenched, the knuckles on my left hand bloody.
What the fuck?
Directly in front of me, where I stood only a few paces away, a giant hole glared back where it had been punched through the drywall. A smear of my blood marred the dark blue surface, where it cracked open from the destruction.
Motherfucker.I blacked out again.
I HATED BEING CRAMPEDin tight spaces, but the worst was being closed into a small room where I had nowhere to go or escape my mind when the past decided to rear its ugly head. There was a reason I preferred the outdoors and the endless sky above, where no one could lock me in and hold me against my will. I promised myself long ago that I would never allow this to happen to me again, and I’d fight anyone who tried.
Except, I couldn’t fight this. Not really. I was taken as collateral, a reason to motivate Amelia and return the package those bikers kept talking about. Did she have it? I had no idea.
Amelia confided in me often but never about this. If Homer dropped something off to her, she never mentioned it. I didn’t want to think she could get mixed up in anything shady, but Amelia would do anything for Josie. What if she thought Josie was in danger?
With a sigh, I paced the room again, tired of the same gray walls and striped comforter. My stomach chose that moment to growl like a freaking wild animal in my belly, and I pushed in with my hand, pressing against my body like I used to do as a girl until the hunger pains faded.
These assholes thought they could get the best of me with a few skipped meals and drinking water from the bathroom. I snorted, shaking my head.Amateurs.I’d had far worse in foster care.
They didn’t have a fucking clue.
I heard a noise outside the bedroom door and spun around, leaning against the wall when the knob turned. The door swung open, revealing that Viking again. Raiden. That was his name.
“What the hell do you want?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest. “Come to see if I’m wallowing in misery and tears?”
