Page 95 of Devil’s Disciples

“What?” he asked with a laugh. “Need to knock off a piece?”

“Keychain. It’s at home.”

He glared. “Seriously?”

Embarrassed, I simply nodded. “Make it quick.”

He did a U-turn in the middle of the street, and began backtracking to the clubhouse. I shoved my hands deep into both front pockets, and then gave him an apologetic look. “Sorry, Brother.”

In ten minutes we were a block away. Normally, I’d have had him go down the alley, and into the parking garage. The black Dodge Charger parked along the curb caused me to change my mind.

I pointed toward the car. “Park in front of that Charger.”

“Looks like a cop car. You sure?”

“Positive.”

He parked in front of it. I leapt from the truck, walked to the front bumper of the car, and noticed no one was inside. After peering through the windshield and the side windows, I was convinced the car was empty. The doors were locked as could be expected.

I walked back to the truck, wondering the entire way if I was simply paranoid.

“What the fuck’s going on?” he asked as I got in the truck.

“Car’s been out here from time to time for about a month. Maybe longer.”

“Might live above the bar.”

“I doubt it. It’s here at weird times.”

“Wanna run up from here?” he asked.

“No. Hit the parking garage.”

He glared at me. “Just run up from here.”

“Parking. Garage.”

He put the truck in gear and stomped the gas pedal. “Okay motherfucker.”

Minutes later, much to Cash’s displeasure, we were on the elevator together. Me to get my keychain, and him to piss. When we left, Andy was still asleep. I feared she was still home, and wondered how Cash may react to her Sunday morning presence.

When we got to the door, I realized I didn’t have my keys. Frustrated that I hadn’t locked the place, I turned the unlocked handle and pushed the door open.

When the room came into view, I froze. Some cocksucker stood at the edge of kitchen with a pistol pointed at Andy’s head. Despite fifteen years of training for such an occasion, there was nothing I could do without putting her at risk.

My mind went from recognizing the threat to boiling over with anger. “What in the absolute fuck is going on?” I seethed.

“I’ll kill this bitch.” Facing me, he snatched her off the bar stool and put her in a chokehold.

You’re fucking with the wrong girl, motherfucker.

You are a dead man. Either way this goes, you die.

My jaw went tight. All I needed to do was clear my pistol from my holster. Hidden by the hem of my tee shirt, it was neatly tucked into the waist of my jeans, in a quick-draw holster. If I could get him to divert his eyes away from my waist, I’d drop the cocksucker where he stood.

“I fucking swear.” He pressed the pistol to the back of Andy’s head. “Don’t take another step, Baker.”

I needed one second. One extremely long second. That was all. With my heart in my throat, I prayed that he not move a muscle. If he did, the woman I loved would be a goner.