Page 16 of Nick

“No,” Hollis answers. “We’ll be going with you.”

Nodding at him, we head out. Hollis gets in Patrick’s truck with me while Travis follows in his SUV. They both follow me inside and upstairs. I grab a beer and order pizza for us.

After eating and watching sports, I tell them I’m showering and going to bed. “You can sleep out here or in Patrick’s room if you’re staying,” I say before going down the hall.

Shutting the door behind me, I grab a quick shower and then get in bed fully clothed, although they won’t know that cause they’ll only see a tshirt. I line my pockets with cash and the burner phone, then turn a movie on low.

After an hour, I hear one of them walk down the hall, so I pretend to be asleep. My door creaks open for a minute, then closes, and the person continues down the hall. Patricks’s door opens and closes a minute later. When I hear no other sounds, I grab the burner and ask Fawx to connect me to Cash. Cash joins the chat room about 15 minutes later.

cash: Glad u reached out. Caught movement of Mr. Fitzgerald’s men. They don’t have your girl yet. going to get her tonight. Mr. Fitzgerald himself is going with 4 others. He’s very interested in a girl named Summer. Wants to groom her to be his.

Nick; Any mention of Gabby?

cash: No, just Summer.

Shit. Fuck!

nick: How sure they don’t have anyone yet?

cash: 90%. Overheard talk. Artur just said they had her already to keep you in line. They will get her though. He always follows through.

nick: Fawx, you there?

fawx: Yes.

nick: It’s time. Send everything to the FBI now, multiple offices. Message Summer, tell her they’re coming tonight. Assume surveillance is already there. Cash, we’re leaving tonight. I’ll be there soon.

Fucking hell. The FBI better come through, and Z better keep Summer safe. I quietly get out of bed, grabbing some rope I bought at the truck stop from a dresser drawer and my knife from my boot. Looking outside, I don’t see anyone, so I creep across the hall and slip into Patrick’s room and see Travis sleeping on top of the covers. I use one hand to cover his mouth and the other to choke him. He quickly wakes, but his struggle is useless, and he’s soon passed out. I flip him over and tie his arms and legs, then take his keys and phone.

A knock on the door has me jumping against the wall as Hollis opens the door to stick his head inside. I slam the door in his face, then swing it open and put him in a chokehold too. He’s a big bastard, but not quite as tall as me. Once he’s out, I tie him up, empty his pockets, and drag both of them into Patrick’s closet.

There’re all kinds of shit in here that doesn’t belong in a closet. I find some chains, so I wrap the two of them up together back to back, then tear a shirt to gag them. Once they’re secure, I close the door and barricade them in, hoping it gives me enough time.

Running out to my truck, I speed back to the bar.

Chapter 13

I arrive at the bar, ignoring all speed limits, and message Cash to turn off the cameras. Once he gives me the all clear, I enter the hallway and unlock his door.

He’s still on the computer when I enter. “We need to go now.”

Nodding to me, he finishes typing and then drops several hard drives and a laptop into a backpack. He opens a door, talking in a low voice to whom I assume is his sister. I’ve never seen her, but he comes back out quickly with his arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Her long hair hangs over her down-turned face, so I can’t see her features. “Let’s go.”

We quickly exit the building and hop in the truck. I floor it out of the parking lot, heading for the nearest highway heading south. After a few hours without issue, I pull over into a repo yard and hot wire a car, leaving the truck there.

Both Cash and his sister have been quiet so far. I quickly stop for gas before continuing to speed south. “Want to tell me what you have in your backpack?” I ask.

“Copies of everything I sent Fawx, plus more.”

“Good. Your sister’s name?”

“Amy. Where are we headed?”

“South Carolina. I have FBI and local police contacts there. They will give you a fair shake. I can’t guarantee you’ll go free.”

“It’s better than being stuck there,” he mutters.