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SEVEN

“ Y ou don’t understand.” Rooks curled his hands into a fist. “I just helped him set up the accounts.”

“Okay, then why didn’t you tell us that from the start?”

“You were asking about a code. I don’t know anything about a code.”

“They’re Russian.” Goose shrugged. “Maybe there was a mix up in communication or something.”

“There wasn’t a mix-up. He knew damn well what they were wanting!”

Tension had filled the bar with the kind of thick, suffocating pressure that settled deep in your bones and refused to let go. I’d already gone a round with Rooks, and as I sat there glaring at him, I had to resist the urge to go after him again, especially when he kept feeding us a line of bullshit no one believed.

“We’re not getting anywhere with this.” Grim looked over to me as he said, “We need to set up an exchange, and we need to do it now.”

Before I could respond, Prez stepped back into the bar and motioned for me and the others to step into the hall. Once we were gathered around, Preacher looked to me as he said, “Just got off the phone with Cotton.”

“And?”

“These guys aren’t your typical mafia. They come from old money and have deep pockets. Real deep. They don’t do shit by the book. They run some dope, but not the hard stuff and a few weapons here and there. But nothing over the top.”

“So, what were they doing with Tallie’s father?”

“He was helping them buy up properties along the river. They’ve been using them as fronts for their drug and weapon distribution, but Sergei’s ultimate goal is to build a high dollar, water-front casino with all the bells and whistles.”

“That’s the last thing we need around here.”

“You’re telling me,” Preacher scoffed. “But he’s got his head set on it, and Tallie’s father was doing everything he could to make it happen.”

“They’ve pushed a lot of people out of their homes and businesses to make room for this plan of theirs.” He paused, his gaze locking onto mine. “And things seemed to be going their way, so it makes no sense for Sergei to kill him.”

“Then, who the fuck killed him?”

“Good question. If it were my guess, I’d say he pissed off the wrong person. But I don’t think it’s the Russians.”

“So, what now?”

“We need to be smart about it. Volkovs aren’t the type you just storm in on unless you want a full-blown war. If they want the brother, we’re giving them the brother.”

As we started back into the bar, Grim leaned over to Preacher and said, “I’ll take him.”

“Not unless I’m with you.” I cocked my brow as I looked at him with disdain. “He might not come back, but I’ll get him there. The question is where the fuck am I taking him?”

“They’ve got properties all over the city.” Shep shook his head. “No way to know where they’ve taken her.”

We’d barely sat down when the back door creaked open, and seconds later, I heard a small, uncertain voice call my name. “Holt?”

I turned, and my stomach dropped when I saw Ford standing in the doorway with Casey and Toby. His little face was tight with worry as he stood there searching the room. He was clutching the sleeve of his hoodie in one hand while the other was balled into a nervous fist.

Damn.

I was moving before I even thought about it. I weaved through the brothers, and once I reached him, I crouched in front of him, trying my best to hide my panic. “Hey, buddy. What are you doing here?”

He tried to put on a brave front as he asked, “Where is she?”

The kid might as well have punched me straight in the gut.

I had no answer.

None whatsoever, and I hated myself for it.

“Tallie promised to be back by noon, and he got worried,” Casey grimaced as she explained, “I’m sorry, but he kept insisting to see you.”

“You don’t have to apologize. If he wants me, he gets me.” I placed my hand on Ford’s shoulder as I said, “I know you’re worried, but everything’s gonna be okay.”

“She said she’d be back,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “She should be back.”

“I know. And she will be. I’ll make sure of it.”

Ford’s little fingers twisted tighter around his sleeve, and it was all I could do to fight the urge to pick him up and hug him as I made promises I wasn’t sure I could keep. I had been so focused on finding Tallie, I hadn’t thought about Ford. I should have known he’d be worried when she didn’t show. He searched my face, and whatever he saw there must’ve been enough because, after a long second, he finally nodded.

“That’s my boy.” I stood and turned to Casey. “Why don’t you take the boys down to the family room and let them hang out for a bit?”

“Sure,” Casey answered.

I looked to Ford and asked, “That good with you?”

Ford was hesitant to leave, but eventually, he nodded and followed Casey and Toby down the hall. It was rough watching him go. The kid had already gotten to me, and there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him. And that included bringing his mother back. Hell, I’d burn down the entire city if I had to.

Once he was gone, I stood and rushed towards the back door. I charged out of the bar and ignored the voices calling after me as I stormed out. We’d been sitting here trying to figure out our next move and trying to get information from Cotton and Rooks. It was a waste of fucking time. The answer had been right under our noses the whole damn time. The second the realization hit me, I didn’t think. I just moved.

The second I reached the playroom, I threw open the door so hard it banged against the wall. The driver jolted to attention. His eyes were wide with terror as he struggled against his restraints. He was a wiry bastard, mid-fifties with graying hair and a nose that looked like it had been broken more than once. He reeked of sweat and fear, and I fucking thrived on it. “No. No more.”

I grabbed the cattle prod and pressed it against his throat as I roared, “Where did they take the girl?”

“I know not.”

I squeezed harder. “Wrong answer.”

I pressed the button, and his body jerked against the ties as the current pulsed through his jaw. His face turned red, and his eyes bulged like a damn fish out of water. I gave him a second, then growled, “Where were you supposed to take her!”

“To da boss,” he stammered.

“And where is the fucking boss?” When he didn’t immediately answer, I slammed my fist into his gut, and his chest heaved. “I’m getting tired of the bullshit, man. Real fucking tired. Don’t make me break out the sheers.”

He looked from me to Grim, who was now standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, watching. Waiting. Ready to step in and do whatever I couldn’t.

“Da house,” the driver finally gasped. “Boss is at da house.”

“That’s more like it.” I dropped the prod as I pushed. “Where’s the house?”

“Rahling Road.”

“What’s the number?”

“I know not. I just drive.”

“Shep can get the number,” Grim interjected.

I nodded, then followed Grim back to the bar. As soon as we walked in, I made my way over to Rooks and demanded, “I need the address to the house.”

“I know the area, but I’m not sure about the exact address. I’d need Dad’s ledger to find out for sure.”

“We got no ledger.”

“I don’t know what to tell ya.” Rooks shrugged. “I can’t do much without that ledger or having access to Dad’s computer.”

“Well, today’s your lucky day.” Shep stood and pushed his laptop across the table as he said, “There’s your access.”

Rooks looked down at Shep’s laptop, and after studying it a moment, he looked back at Shep and asked, “You did this?”

“With a little help from your sister.”

“But how?”

“The how doesn’t matter,” I snapped. “Goddamn it! Find the fucking address, so we can go get Tallie!”

“Okay. Okay. Just give me a minute.” Rooks starts hammering away at the keyboard, and it wasn’t long before he announced, “29 Rahling Road.”

“About fucking time.” I grabbed Rooks by the arm and pulled him to his feet. “Let’s move.”

“Hold on.” Rooks gave me a look. “Before we go flying out of here, how did you know they wanted to see me?”

“Doesn’t fucking matter.”

“But it might.”

Grim stepped over and replied, “They left a message.”

“Where?”

“At your folks’ place.”

“Where at my folks’ place?”

“In the detective’s hand.” I snarled, “The one they shot in the fucking chest.”

“Yeah, of course they did.” Rooks let out a breath. “What did this message say?”

Grim scowled as he answered, “Send the brother.”

“What the fuck does any of this matter,” I growled. “They want you, and we’re taking you to them. End of story.”

“You might wanna rethink that.” Rooks let out a slow breath and rubbed his hands over his face like he was already nervous about what was coming. "The Volkovs are men who say what they mean and mean what they say. If they told you to send me, then that’s exactly what they expect. No more, no less."

"And you think we’re just gonna let you waltz in there alone?" I glared daggers at him. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

“You don’t have a choice.” Rooks turned his sharp gaze on me. "If they see any of you, this thing will go sideways fast. I know how they work. If I go in alone, we might actually have a shot at getting Tallie back. Otherwise, this will turn into a bloodbath. You can count on it.”

“Damn.” Knowing he was right, I blew out a breath and grumbled, “Fine, but we’re going to monitor every damn move you make."

“How are you gonna manage that?”

“You’ll wear a wire.”

Rooks cursed under his breath. "You don’t need?—"

"Yeah, we do,” I cut him off. “You might trust these guys to play by some code, but I don’t. You go in wired, we sit close, and if anything feels off, we move in. No arguments."

Rooks looked around at the brothers and sighed when he saw that we were all in agreement. Finally, he gave a nod and muttered, "Fine. But if they so much as get a whiff that you’re out there, we’re all screwed."

"Then don’t give them a reason to look or it’ll be the end for you and them. Cause come hell or high water, I’m getting my girl back. Count on it."