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Shockingly, Prez pulls out an old-fashioned map, with a path drawn in thick red marker. With a thick finger, he points to it. “Here’s the path they’ll take. We need to stop them somewhere along this route, but Rax needs to disappear. He can’t escape. He has to be declared dead and hope no one from the states recognizes him. If someone does and reports him to the authorities, the Cuban government won’t be inclined to send him back.”
Shane stands up, studying the map, anger gone. “Here,” he says, pointing to a large river. “We can use this. See how it goes down into the dam here?” We all look at what he’s pointing at—we all try anyway. Some people have to push others out of the way to get a gander. When we’ve all seen where he’s referring, he continues. “Is there some way to get them in the water without it being suspicious?”
We all sit and think, but none of us have anything. If it’s the middle of the night, there won’t be enough traffic to cause an accident. I’m sure someone may come up with a clever idea, but it’s late. I’ve been driving for hours and I’m dead on my feet.
Prez sees me nodding and claps his hands once. “Alright, motherfuckers. We can discuss it tomorrow. Think hard on how to get our enforcer out.” He looks at Zeke who raises an eyebrow at him. “Come on, bitch, you know who I mean. You’re not locked up.”
Zeke huffs but smiles at Prez. When I weave on my feet, Zeke wraps an arm around my waist. “Come on before you fall over. I have Rax’s room ready for you. No one has been in there.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. That’s great. It’s been months since I smelled Rax, since I felt his presence around me.
I almost collapse into his bed, curling up on his pillow. “Here,” Zeke says, handing me Rax’s cut. I do cry this time as my trembling fingers grasp at it. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you sleeping with it. Try not to get snot on it. He’ll beat my ass.”
After a brief chuckle, I curl around Rax’s cut and drop off to sleep.
A few days go by and we’re no closer to figuring out how to get Rax out. I feel like the answer is so simple, but it’s eluding all of us. I walk around with a constant feeling of dread, thinking that we pushed Rax too far and he won’t wait for us to get him out. Prez promised that his guy is making sure Rax doesn’t hurt himself, but he can’t keep eyes on him twenty-four seven.
We really fucked him up, I know it. I’m sure it’ll be hard to get his trust back, even with us telling him what our plan was, but I’m willing to work at it. I’ll do whatever he needs me to do because I want to be with him for the rest of my days.
While I’m waiting to figure out what the fuck to do, I work on cars. That helps clear my mind and teaching the guys how to take care of their cars and change their oil and regular maintenance shit, I feel fulfilled. I feel useful. Until I get Rax back, being with his brothers is the next best thing.
“Damn, man,” Jace says, leaning over my shoulder. “I never would have thought a twink would know his way around an engine.”
Scoffing, I shake my head with a smile as I rub my hands on an oil cloth. “Because bears like you do. If I’m not mistaken, I told you exactly what to do with your minivan and you fucked off my instructions.”
He ducks his head, looking contrite. “Am I still a bear if I’m straight?”
Barking a laugh, I throw the cloth at him. “Go away, weirdo.”
Jace pats me on the back, going to sit beside his old lady who waves at me. I wave back, glad that I fit in just a little with the old ladies, even though I don’t plan to stay and make friends.
Prez told me the country he’s sending Rax is Cuba, where he has family, his cousin the one that sold him the house Rax showed me. For the past few months, Prez has been teaching me Spanish, wanting me and Rax to be comfortable around his people. I’m learning eagerly, wanting to not be the American that wanted the country he was in to work around him. I won’t be a Cuban, but I’m willing to learn about the country and people I’ll soon be calling my home.
“Finn!” Zeke calls from the door and waves me in. I trot over, eyebrow raised. “Me and Prez need to talk to you.”
That doesn’t sound good. I follow behind Zeke, feeling like I got called to the principal’s office. When I step inside, I see only the ranking members inside. I gulp but move over to stand near the back. That doesn’t seem to matter because all eyes follow me.
Prez clears his throat and all eyes snap to him. Thank God. “This isn’t something we typically do, so take this as a sign of extreme respect.” I nod, though I don’t know what he’s talking about. “You did us a service by willingly risking your freedom for our enforcer. Shut the fuck up, Zeke,” he says without looking over at the actual enforcer. Zeke snickers. “Zeke told me you wanted to know when we found Sam.”
My eyes bulge. “You found him? Where?”
The bike mechanic, Pete, limps forward, his leg not one hundred percent after the accident. “Smart motherfucker didn’t even leave town. He’s been underground, literally. His late grandmother had a basement in her house that’s on the market. He’s been hiding out in it, waiting for things to blow over or for the house to sell. One of our guys happened to see Sam sneaking in one night when our guy was trying to sneak out of some married lady’s house. Infidelity for the win.” A light chuckle breaks out amongst us. “So, we know where he is. We’ll wait ‘til sundown and drag him out.”
My hands start to shake. I run one through my short hair, having grown used to the cut now. No more brushing for almost thirty minutes every morning.
Prez eyes me. “Can you handle it?”
“Huh?”
“You want to be there, right?”
“Of course,” I say quickly, voice squeaking.
A ghost of a smile graces his face. “Good. We’ll bring him back here tonight. If you want a piece of the action, all you have to do is ask.”
I nod, not sure if I do or don’t. “What will happen to him?”
Pete smiles. “We have a ritual when we deal with traitors. We haven’t had to use it more than ten years.”
