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Ze nodded. “Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you remember that?” HD asked him.

“Because I was busy packing at the time and was only half paying him attention,” Ze admitted. “I didn’t think he meant he was going right then and there, ya know?”

“Ahh, I see,” HD said.

“His phone isn’t in Gurnee,” Snoopy said.

All of the men gathered around him and his computer.

“Where is it?” Ze asked.

“Its last transmission was on 47th street,” Snoopy said.

“I’m going now, text me the exact location,” Ze said, then turned to head for his motorcycle. His phone started ringing and he pulled it free from his pocket, but didn’t recognize the number. Still, he answered just in case. “Hello?”

“Mr. Esai?”

“Who wants to know?”

“My name is Vincent Moreno, and I’m calling to let you know that I have your brother,” the man said in a thick Italian-American accent.

“What the fuck? You hurt my brother and you’re a dead man,” Ze snapped.

Now, the others had gathered around Ze because they knew something was wrong.

“Let’s not go there, Mr. Esai. You see, I'm the victim here. Your brother stole from me. Now, normally, that’s not anything we take lightly. But I figured there’s a better way to get my money back from him. So, this is what’s going to happen. He works for me now until he pays off his debt. He does that, I let him live and return home. Everyone’s happy,” Vincent said.

“I want to speak to my brother, now,” Ze said.

“Sure.”

Ze listened as the phone was put on speaker. “Zin, you there? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, Ze, I’m here. They said they’d kill me if I don’t work for them,” Zindel said, his voice shaking with the fear he felt.

“Stay calm, I’m coming for you,” Ze said.

The phone was taken off speaker and Vincent returned. “Your brother is alive and fine right now, but there won’t be any grand rescue.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are? Do you know who I am?”

“Your brother played that card already. I know you're an enforcer for the Lords of Chaos MC. My family is aware of your little club. But I work for the Castiellos and normally, I terminate anyone who robs me, even if it’s of my time. Imagine how itchy my trigger finger is over being robbed of a hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. I’m sure you can understand and appreciate my patience concerning the matter. Lucky for your brother, he’s such a pretty little thing, I feel like I can make my money back and more by putting his sweet little mouth and ass to work in my brothel. So, that’s the deal,” Vincent said.

“I’m coming for my brother, motherfucker! And I’m going to fucking kill you!” Ze raged and Tiger snatched the phone from him and he fought to get it back, but Tiger held the phone away, putting it on mute just as Jimmy and Wolf entered the clubhouse.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Jimmy asked, seeing the state everyone was in.

“You’re going to get your fucking brother killed, is that what you want?” Tiger snapped.

“I’m going to save him with or without your help,” Ze declared.

“Let me talk to him to see what’s going on, okay?” Tiger said.

Ze cursed and punched the wall, but didn’t say anything, so Tiger took over the call.

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