Page 50 of Emani's Way

“What is your dad going to do about all this?”

“I have no idea.” Emani wipes her tears, and I wrap her in my arms once more.

Whatever Dr. Jackson decides to do, I know all hell is going to break loose.

***

The last thing I wanted to do was leave Emani, but when my dad called me in the middle of the night, I knew there was important business to handle. Once we found out who was behind the security breach, we had to play the waiting game to catch them. But now that we know for sure who it was, it’s time to handle business.

I show up at a place of some former clients of ours. It’s in the middle of nowhere, and I’m definitely out of my element. I pull up to a tall rot iron gate with two guys guarding it. Even if I didn’t know how dangerous these men were, you can tell with a glimpse.

“Maddox Reid. I’m here to see Bishop.”

The man nods, then barks out, “Shark! Open the gate!”

I drive through the gate and down a long driveway. It’s in the middle of the night, and there’s a full-fledged party going on. The loud rock music is blasting, and people are wandering around. I would be worried, but I know who we’re dealing with. The Hellhounds don’t take too kindly to snitches, and if these people are here, then they definitely know how to keep their mouths shut.

I drive around the back of the main building like my dad told me to, and I’m glad that I drove my F250 because the gravel would’ve been hell on my Porsche. I find a place to park and get out. I head to the side door and double knock. I only have to wait a few seconds before there’s a clicking sound, and the door swings open.

“Reid.”

“Big Country.” I nod. I only know a few of the Hellhound members, but I trust every single one of them.

I follow behind him until we’re walking down a dimly lit hallway. Suddenly, Big Country stops, places his hand against the wall, and a door that I didn’t initially see slides open.

“Well, that’s some futuristic shit right there,” I say, impressed.

I’m not surprised that the Hellhounds have such high-tech in their building. On the outside looking in one may not think there’s much to these men, but I know for a fact over half of them are millionaires.

I walk into a large room, and Ace, the Hellhounds enforcer, is beating the shit out of someone while a small group of men standing with their backs to me. Questions about stolen files come between the loud sounds of fists meeting flesh. When they notice my presence, they all turn, giving me a clear view of who Ace is beating the shit out of.Frank Bates.

“Just the welcome I like to see.” I walk toward the group with a smile on my face.

It does my heart good to see Frank’s snake ass tied to a chair, looking like he’s been fifty rounds with Mike Tyson in his prime.

“Yeah, for a security specialist, he wasn’t very aware of his surroundings,” Bishop, the Vice President of the Hellhounds, says.

“Maddox, you know me. I didn’t do this,” Frank coughs out, still denying the truth.

“Idoknow you. And I know you weren’t working alone.” I shake my head in disappointment.

“Let me let you in on a few things. Since you’ll be taking them to the grave.” My dad smirks while sizing up the asshole. “The Hellhounds MC doesn’t take snitching lightly. Now, they haven’t been clients of mine for quite some time since Bishop here left the DA’s office and started his practice, but I still have their files in my records. The same records you stole.”

“I-I didn’t steal anything. I’ve worked for y’all for years. I wouldn’t do that.” If Frank is looking for compassion, he has severely overestimated us.

“You’ve known us for years, so you should know as well as anybody that we don’t forgive betrayal. Did you think we wouldn’t figure it out?” I question.

Frank shakes his head, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

My dad throws the pictures at his feet, and his eyes go wide. There’s nothing left to say. Being photographed in compromising positions with your co-conspirator would leave nothing left to be said.

“Are you still confused about what we’re talking about?”

Before Frank can answer, the door opens, and muffle screams are heard. When I turn around, I’m not surprised to see my assistant, Lena, as well as my mother, Elizabeth, with their mouths taped shut and their hands bound behind their backs.

All three of them were in on stealing confidential files from our offices. Too bad their efforts were all futile. Nobody else can decipher our coded files because the only two people who know they are coded are me and my dad. They risked their lives for a jump drive full of bullshit.

After thoroughly investigating, we found out Elizabeth was paying Lena for her help. When I confronted Lena, she gave up everything she knew. She thought I would forgive her transgressions since she turned on her partners.Foolish.