Page 27 of One (The Towns Syndicate #2)

Boogie

I climbed the stairs two at a time, anger pumping through my veins. Ally wouldn’t be mad at me forever. Once she was no longer in danger, she would be free to go back to Christmas Town to rule like the fucking queen she was.

Then once she settled down, we would figure something out, and she would forgive us. This had to be done. It was the only way to make sure she was safe.

I walked back into Mars’ command center, across from the haunted house in a discreet building that looked like an old house. People usually thought it was just a prop, but it housed all of Mars’ security shit, along with some of our weapons.

When I walked in, he was still in the same place we had left him. He had ten screens up, with various different things on each screen, as he typed incredibly fast.

“Anything yet?” I snapped.

“It’s only been forty-five minutes,” Mars murmured.

“That should?—”

“I told you, at least two hours.” He continued to type like I wasn’t even here.

“This has?—”

“I know.” Mars stopped talking to look at me. “I’m doing everything as quickly as I can, and when I have anything that is useful, I promise you will be the first to hear it.”

He knew Ally was locked away, even if he didn’t like it, and he knew the urgency we had to catch this person.

I nodded, not knowing what to say. Mars went back to typing as I exited the room.

King was leaning against the wall with one foot propped up against it, smoking a cigarette.

It had been years since he had kicked the habit.

I wanted him to feel guilty, but I wasn’t going to kid myself. King was a big boy.

“I’m going to go see Oskar, see if he knows anything,” he said, blowing out smoke.

I tried not to wrinkle my nose at the foul smell. “I’m going to head to Christmas Town and do my own digging.”

“What are you telling Arthur?” King finally looked at me.

“Ally’s head injury was more severe, she needs another day or two,” I said, as we walked to our bikes side-by-side.

King nodded. I waited to hear him say don’t do this, or make sure this is ok, or think carefully about what you’re doing, or even be careful, but they never came. King was an over-thinker; he planned most things to a T and for him not to tell me anything felt odd. Did I ruin us too?

You’re only good for one thing.

“I’ll see you later,” King said, walking back to the haunted house.

Was he going back to Ally? I had the key, but I’m sure if he wanted to, he could get her out.

“King!” I yelled and he turned back to me.

I jogged to him, but I didn’t know what to say. I was prepared for the fallout with Ally, and maybe a little arguing with King, but this—this felt like I had fractured us. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

“What, Boogie?”

“I—” I took a deep breath. “You should send Roman to Valentine Town to see if he can pick up any information there.”

“That’s a good idea,” he said, turning around.

I wanted to yell for his attention, maybe even stab him as he walked away from me, smoking another cigarette. This was just temporary. We would kill this fucker and then everything would go back to normal. I said that over and over until I almost believed it.

“How bad are her injuries?” Arthur said as I walked through Christmas Town.

He was able to have it up and running in a day. Nothing looked out of place, and I weaved in and out of all the happy people, I could almost believe it hadn’t happened.

“Her concussion is worse and her ribs seem to be giving her a problem too,” I said, heading back towards the compound. “Falling off of the bike, and getting shot at really fucked her up.”

The happiness around me was making me feel murdery, and I needed to reign that in before some random Joe disappeared by accident.

“Are we sure she wouldn’t be better here?” he asked again.

I turned around to look at him. That was the second time he asked the same question. I was starting to get suspicious as to why he was so adamant about her coming back. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“She runs Christmas Town,” Arthur said immediately. “This is her home and?—”

“That has been breached,” I interrupted him.

“We’ve already taken care of that, and I've secured two men that Maverick had vetted already,” he said with a glare. “I think?—”

“Look, you think you’re tough shit here, and that you have her trust, but you allowed this to happen by not being prepared, so if you want to continue with this shit attitude, be my fucking guest.” I pulled a knife out, backing him into a wall.

“Ally might be pissed, but I have no problem gutting you, and making it look like you were taken out.”

Arthur finally had the common sense to look afraid.

“You’re right,” he sighed. “I’m tired and stressed about this entire situation. I just want her home safe, and I want her to know I can do this. That she can do this.”

He let his head hang. I studied him, wanting to believe whatever he was doing, but until we figured out who the fuck attacked my girl, everyone was on my shit list.

“Help me find the asshole who did this to her, and we can bring her home,” I said, backing away.

He nodded. “I’ve been looking for Lance.”

“Why do you think it’s him? What proof do you have?” I asked as he rolled his shoulder, and walked into the kitchen.

“Not much, but he is still missing,” he said, pouring two cups of coffee.

“Could he have been kidnapped? Has anything been sent, like a letter or calls?” I grabbed one of the cups, grateful for the caffeine.

He shook his head.

“What about his room, anything taken?” I stirred my coffee.

“His clothes and things are still in there, even his car is here,” Arthur replied.

“That doesn’t make sense. Why would he leave his car?” I took a sip of my coffee as we sat down.

“The raid didn’t go as planned, he left in a hurry,” Arthur said, pulling out a file. “I found a few things in his file that seem suspicious.”

“I vetted him, Arthur, nothing in his file was suspicious,” I said, taking the file from him.

“I didn’t think so either, until we got attacked at that burger joint Ally likes so much,” Arthur sighed.

“At first, I thought maybe we were being followed, but then I found out Ally had messaged him. That's when I dug a little deeper and found out his last job wasn’t real, and he’s been dark the last four years. ”

“How the hell did you find that out? Charles recommended him,” I snapped.

“Charles has been dead for six months,” Arthur said, showing me a death certificate, and a photo that was a little grainy, but it looked like Charles.

“Fuck,” I said throwing the photo on the table. “Ok, so we need to find out where the hell he was for the last four years, to see where he might be hiding.”

“That's what I've been trying to do, but the day of the attack we were also supposed to make a deal with Shepard,” Arthur said, leaning forward. “He cancelled at the last minute and now wants to do a pick-up later today.”

“You think he might have helped Lance?” I leaned back in my chair.

“What a coincidence that this happens on days that have something to do with Shepard,” Arthur shrugged.

“Shepard is playing a thug in a Cowboy world, I don’t think he would do this, but set up the deal for this afternoon,” I said, getting up. “I’m going to go look around and then I’ll be in Ally’s office.

“Would it be wise to deal with just us?” Arthur looked hesitant.

“It will be fine, Shepard and I go way back,” I said, trying not to look worried. “Let me know what time you set up.”

I walked out of the kitchen and sent Mars a text.

Me: I need at least ten men here this afternoon in full gear, if we can get more the better, but at least ten.

I put my phone away, walking to Ally’s room to pack her a bag since she was staying with us a little longer. Her scent made me long for her as I gathered books for her and other things I thought she might need. Once her bag was packed, I looked around the compound until I found Lance’s room.

Something about him wasn’t sitting right with me. I vetted him and I didn’t half-ass my vetting. How the hell would he be able to plant himself so quickly after we killed Kris? His room was relatively clean, and a small t-shirt was under his pillow.

It was a vintage Gremlins shirt, and I knew exactly whose it was.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I dialed Maverick, knowing she might not answer, but it was worth a shot.

It went straight to voicemail, and I debated texting her, but decided against it.

They should be done with their hit soon, and hopefully she could find me some answers.

Arthur found me and told me Shepard would be here in a few hours, and I relayed the message to Mars.

I had known Shepard for a few years. He usually stayed in his own lane, and from what Winchester had told me last time, he knew Ally was ours and he wouldn’t fuck with us or the triplets.

Shepard might be cocky, but he wasn’t stupid.

Ally ran Christmas Town well, everything was labeled, her color-coded notes made me laugh and miss her. My chest ached more and more as the day went on. I had to take a break from her office, from that damn picture she had of us taped to her wall.

It reminded me that I was an asshole who had her in my basement and my Little Doll was going to give me hell when I went back home to her. The town was running efficiently without her, and just as I was getting impatient, Arthur told me Shepard was on his way.

Shepard rolled up in some big-ass truck with only a few people and another car. The moment he saw me, the look of fear on his face almost made me laugh. I had a mask with Noelle’s emblem on it but I don’t think Shepard would ever forget King or me.

“Have I offended Noelle so much that she sent you in her place?” Shepard looked around.

“No, you've pissed me off enough that I won’t put up with your bullshit,” I said walking to him. “Maybe next time, King can join us.”

“It was all a misunderstanding.” Shepard clenched his jaw.

“You’re lucky she agreed to another meeting,” I said, waving over Arthur. “I would not have been so lenient."

“Well, I hear she is a gracious leader, and I am grateful,” he said, walking up to the table Arthur had laid out. “If it wouldn’t bother her too much, I would love to extend my gratitude.”

“She is rather busy at the moment brokering a huge deal,” Arthur said smoothly.

“Well, please extend my apologies, and I hope she accepts my gift,” Shepard said, waving to one of his men.

He brought over a suitcase and opened it. Inside were four small knives, and a gun in the same dark blood red.

“For my foolish behavior.” Shepardpassed the case to me.

“Not bad, Shepard,” I said, picking the gun up and then a knife. “This is a good start to saying sorry.”

“Does she like dogs? Shepard asked.

“I don’t know, but I’m thinking she’s going to need one,” I said, an idea forming in my head as I worked on my apology when she got out of my basement. She wasn’t going to make it easy, and I wanted to be prepared.