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Chapter Twelve

I wake up to the sound of my brother destroying my kitchen if the loud banging sounds echoing down the hallway are anything to go off.

Faye didn’t come home last night, and I really don’t give a fuck where she slept at.

I had planned on telling her that she’s right.

We aren’t working. We need to end our marriage.

Neither of us want to be together. I’ve tried.

Given too many chances. But we don’t have any love for each other.

I don’t know if we ever did. Jessika has me questioning everything and realizing some harsh fucking truths.

I stumble into the bathroom to take a quick shower before I call church today.

I need to get everyone up to speed. Mainly Dirty.

I know my brother, and he’ll be ready to jump right back into action.

A lot of shit has changed since he went to prison.

He thought he was next in line to be Prez when our uncle stepped down, but had he not gone to prison he would have ran this club into the ground.

My brother cares about three things. Pussy.

Drugs. His bike. And not in that order. He’s selfish and only thinks about himself. Mainly his dick.

When I get out of the bathroom, he’s sitting at the counter feeding Henry pieces of his bacon. “Cute pussy.”

“Don’t give him that shit. He won’t want to eat his own food.”

“Whatever. You got any work I can do? I need to make some cash.”

“We’ll discuss it at church. But if you need some money, I can float you.”

“I’m going to need a place to stay.”

“One of the trailers is empty.”

“Which one? And it better not be Bugs’ old place.” He makes a disgusted shudder, going through the motions of scratching his skin as he sticks his tongue out.

“You look ridiculous and yeah, that’s the one, but I made his ass clean it when he moved in with that bitch he’s shackin’ up with.”

“Someone actually fucks that ugly bastard?”

I lift a shoulder. “There’s someone for everyone.” The someone for me is Jessika.

“Fuckin’ A, man. Must be. Did you ask if she’s his cousin?” He snickers.

“You’re a real sick fuck. Has anyone told you that lately?”

“My cellmate.” He grins and I shake my head.

“Did you make any coffee?”

“Isn’t that Faye’s job?”

“Not anymore.”

“You two having a lover’s quarrel or some shit?” He shoves a handful of bacon in his mouth, talking with his mouth full.

“I don’t know what we’re havin’.”

“What’d you do?”

“Why does it have to be me that’s done something?” I grab a new filter, measure out the coffee grounds, and start the pot.

“It’s the pretty little thing you brought from California, isn’t it? Tell me I’m wrong. That bitch.” He blows out an ear piercing whistle. “Damn, man. I’d like to tap that.”

“Thought you wanted to make some money?” I change the subject to get his focus off Jessika before I have to murder him.

“That’s what I’ve been saying. What you got for your big brother?”

“We’re the same age, dumbass.”

“Mom popped me out of her cooter first.”

“Why do you gotta say it like that?”

“Like what?”

“You make it sound like you were shot of a fuckin’ cannon or something.”

“Maybe I was.”

“And dropped on your head.” I grab a to go cup from the cabinet.

“Where’s mine?”

“You didn’t make me any bacon.” I flip him off and light up a cigarette.

“What’s this job?”

“Someone left a finger at Wet Willy’s. Find out who?”

“Did you call Fletcher?”

“Catfish did. I’m sure if the three of you put your shithead brains together, you can figure it out.”

I start out the door when he hollers, “You didn’t give me any money.”

I go for my credit card, forgetting I never got it back from Low. “Willow has my card. Guess you’ll have to go to Grannie Mags to get it.”

“Forget it,” he says in a huff.

I should tell him to suck it up and deal with it, but my brother is the type that creates a storm, then cries when it rains, so I give him what cash I’ve got on me.

Grannie Mags is still pissed off at him for going to jail.

She refused to visit him but stayed on my ass about making sure he had money on his books.

He’s just like our old man and it bothers her more than she lets on.

Our father was her greatest disappointment.

Her biggest heartbreak. Last we heard about him he was in Florida living with his latest sugar momma.

As I’m walking toward the clubhouse, my cell buzzes with a call from Big Daddy on one of his burners. “What’s up?”

“How’s she doing?”

“Good.”

“No problems?”

“Everything’s gone fine.”

“That fucker is in the wind. Gwynee wants to talk to her. She close?”

“I’m about to check in. Give me ten.”

Big Daddy hangs up, and I check the bar for Jess. I don’t see her hanging around and Swift doesn’t think he’s seen her come out of her room. I knock on the door, but there’s no response, so I let myself in.

The room is empty, but the clothes she bought while out with my sister are still here. I find Madz out back watching Dover and Shaggy clean up from last night.

“Where’s Jessika?”

“Oh.” she purses her lips. “She went into town with Gabbie.”

“Gabbie? What the fuck for?”

She taps her chin. “I’m not sure.”

“When did they leave?”

“A few hours ago.”

“You got her number?”

“No, but Kiki probably does.”

“Where the fuck is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“What the fuck do you know?” I raise my voice and she shrinks back. I don’t mean to take my anger out on Madz she just happens to be the closest target.

“I’m sorry. I can call Kiki.”

“Yeah. Do that. Now.”

Madz pulls her phone out of her back pocket, and I try not to lose my fucking cool any further than I already have as she makes the call.

Fuck. I should’ve just stayed in my room with her. Did she play me? Fuck me and wait for the perfect time to take off? Nah. That’s not her. But what do I really know about her?

“She’s texting me her number. Do you want to just call her on my phone, so it’ll be faster?”

“Call her,” I bark.

The stupid cunt doesn’t answer. Fuck me. I should have given Jessika a phone so I could track her ass.

“I can drive to town and see if I can spot Gabbie’s car.”

“Nah, sweets. I’ll get one of the guys on it. Thanks for your help.”

“If I can do anything else, let me know.”

There’s not a damn thing she can do for me unless she can magically teleport me to Jessika.

“Where the fuck is Gray?” I shout and my Uncle Hoss hands me a joint.

I light it up, pulling the smoke in deep. The smoke burns through my lungs but it does nothing to tamper my bad mood.

“Prez, Bugs has Gabbie. He’s bringing her in. Said she tried to run when he started following her. Stupid bitch ran her car into a ditch,” Caves informs me.

“Did she tell him where Jessika is?”

“No. She’s refusing to talk.”

She’ll change her tune when I start ripping her fingernails off. She’d shit her damn pants if I had an electric chair like Big Daddy’s.

This whore doesn’t want to test my patience.

Bugs and Caves tie Gabbie to the chair in the secret room we have in our garage for times such as this.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll start talking.”

“All I know is Jessika told me she wanted to check out some bookstore near the salon I go to. I told her to meet me back in my car, but she never showed up.”

“She’s lying,” Bugs says. “There was a bag from the bookstore in her car.”

“Give me the pliers,” I order Caves.

“Wh-what are you planning to do with those?” Her bottom lip trembles and her eyes glitter with unshed tears. I only hope she doesn’t piss herself.

“Maybe if I take a few fingernails or pull some teeth, you’ll remember the fuckin’ truth.

” I’m not going to hurt her. Torturing women isn’t my style, but she doesn’t know that.

I squeeze the handle and a tear rolls down her cheek.

“Your tears aren’t going to save you.” She won’t get any pity or sympathy from me or my men.

The dumb cunt knows all too damn well what happens to anyone who crosses us.

“I’m sorry, okay. Jessika asked me not to tell you, but she said she made a mistake coming here.

That she needed to talk to her husband to fix the mess she had made of things.

I begged her not to leave, but she wouldn’t listen.

She had me drop her off at the truck stop outside of Fayetteville.

She was planning to hitch a ride with one of the long haulers. ”

“She didn’t take anything with her.”

“I don’t know. She said she had some cash.”

The guys look at me and I don’t want to believe Gabbie, but why would she lie?

And if she’s lying, I’ll yank every tooth out of her head before gifting her ass to the cartel or the Lamb Society. Then she’ll learn how good she had it here and be begging for forgiveness that she won’t receive.