Page 51 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

“Hey Tyler, you okay?” I start the conversation off with a little chatter, didn't want to get straight to the point.

“Yeah, all good my end man, how about you?” Tyler is a couple of years younger than me, always a good kid, good family.

“Yeah, not too bad,” I let my tone trail off for a moment.

“What can I do ya for?” he asks, and I hear the sound of his pen tapping on the desk.

“Well, I need a favor... and I know it is a lot to ask but if it wasn't important...”

“Sure thing dude, what do you need?”

“I need Conrad's phone.”

The line falls silent for a moment, my heart bangs in my chest.

“Be at the office for five o’clock.”

“You got it.”

“See ya, Pace!” and before I can respond, he puts the phone down.

I turn my attention to the cell door and fight with my inner thoughts. I shouldn't go down there but at the same time I feel the rage simmering deep inside of me that I'm not sure I can keep contained.

Riggs is meant to be coming back this afternoon and we're going to question him together, but time is ticking and the longer I sit, the more antsy I get.

Agitation nips at the base of my neck and my fingers drum on my desk.

My email pinging has me turning my head as I see a new email sitting there. Scooting over I narrow my gaze and look at the sender’s address.

It is random numbers and letters.

It piques my interest but still puts me on edge.

The subject reads:

I THINK YOU SHOULD SEE THIS

“The fuck,” I mutter under my breath. I hover the mouse over the email and inhale sharply, dragging the air into my lungs and then I hold it as I open it.

It's a video attachment.

I don't hesitate and click onto it within a split second.

It takes a moment to load and it's grainy as fuck but I think I can make out what it is.

There are four people.

No one is speaking and after a moment or two, the camera focuses, and the image becomes clearer.

“So, we agree, we hit the ranches and once we've run them out, your guys will move in and take the land?”

I know that voice in an instant.

Marty.

Fucking snake .

“Yeah, that's right,” now that voice, I have no idea. He is tall, a little rounded and his voice sounds like he is from out of town. A soft orange glow from his fingers and I realise he is smoking.

“I don't think this is a good idea, the Riveras are not going to be run off their ranch.” Conrad's voice is the next one I hear and my blood boils.

“Fuck the Riveras,” Luke snarls and Marty chuckles.

“They'll kill you,” Conrad's voice is hard like stone and a sense of pride blooms in my chest.

“They can give it a go, I've got an army ready to take down the Riveras, don't you worry about that Conrad.” The man I don't know says and my fist balls.

“Remember Conrad, I will kill Sunny then pick your family off one by one if you do not get us in there like we asked.”

Get them in where?

“We've already done the The Old Dusty Boot, next it's the ranch, then I’ll pluck their houses and finish off with the sheriff and then finally, that badge will be mine.”

“Fuckers,” I growl.

“It was easy enough to wipe Jorge out, he was the glue that held that family together, next will be Orla, then Riggs...”

“Let me put the bullet between his eyes,” Luke bounces on the spot and I see Conrad look across to where the video is being recorded, the camera zooms in, and I see Conrad give him a soft nod. If you weren’t looking for it, you would have missed it.

“I want out,” Conrad says with a trembling voice.

“You want out?” Marty toes him and Luke is behind Marty in seconds.

“Yeah, I won't let you get near Sunny, my family or the Riveras. You want the land? They won't give it to you, so you think it is acceptable to take it from them, murdering them...”

My blood runs cold and that's when I see Marty snap, his fists pummel into Conrad’s face and he falls to the ground, shielding his head and face. Bile creeps up my throat, my closed fist in front of my lips as I watch it all unfold.

Luke and Marty beat him with their fists and feet till he barely has a pulse.He doesn't put up a fight, just takes it and my fucking heart breaks.Marty and Luke step back, glancing at each other as Conrad just lays there.

“We stick to the plan, first the ranch, then we will take the rest out one by one...” the stranger says as he walks over to where Conrad is and tosses his cigarette onto him.“Finish him,” he orders Luke, giving him a squeeze on the shoulder before he and Marty begin to walk away.

And that's when I watch our friend die.

Another one strikes off the list.

All because they want the land.

What a fucked up and sad existence I have found myself in.

Where greed takes precedence over a life.

I close out of the email and reach for the trash can next to my desk and before I can try and stop it, I throw the contents of my stomach up.

Once I have calmed myself down, my trembling hand reaches for my phone and I dial Riggs’ number.

“Yeah,” he sighs down the phone.

“I need you at the office, just been sent something,” I swallow down the thickness that coats my throat as I cut the phone off and toss it to the side.

Riggs is storming through the door ten minutes later. All it took was one look and he knew just how bad this must be.

“Show me,” he walks around the back of my desk, placing his hand on the surface and leans down so his eyes are level with the screen.

I inhale heavily and my shaky hands move the cursor back over the video link but this time, I don't look. I can't go through that again.

“Well fuck...” Riggs stands slowly and casts his eyes to the floor and I know he has seen my sick filled trash can. His eyes burn into the side of my head. “You good?” and I nod, closing my eyes for a second.

“It was just a lot,” I admit, and I feel Riggs' hand on my shoulder as he gives it a gentle squeeze.

“I know,” Riggs' voice is low and I find myself looking up to my big brother for just a moment. “We've got that asshole now though,” he turns to look at the cell. “Weasel,” he hisses, and I scoff a laugh.

“Weasel?”

“First thing I could think of,” he smirks, looking down at me.

I sigh.

“Shall we?” I glance over at the door that leads you to where Luke is.

“Yes,” Riggs gives me one last squeeze on my shoulder before he steps back and waits for me to join him.

“No point in questioning him now, right?” I ask and I see the wicked glint in his eye.

“Nope, get that video over to the judge, we need to move in before they do. Only problem is we have no idea when they're planning to storm the ranch.”

I sigh.

“It won't be long, I need to get the suits business card from Buck, give those cunts a call,” I shake my head.

“One step at a time baby bro, come,” he nods as he pushes the code into the lock and the door clicks.“And honestly,” he says with a heavy sigh, “I think the call will be pointless.”

I know he is right, my chest heavy.

I follow him down to the cell and see Luke sitting there looking a little worse for wear, half asleep, head hanging.

“Wakey wakey,” Riggs' loud, deep voice booms around the cell block, echoing from the walls and his hands bang against the window which causes Luke to jump, eyes bloodshot and wide.

“Fuck you,” Luke growls, pushing to his feet and walking up towards the window.

“The gigs up my friend,” I say with venom lacing my tone, my upper lip curling.

“How's that?” Luke's eyes bounce between mine and Riggs.

“We know everything. ”

He blinks a couple of times and then laughs.

“Bullshit.”

“That's the difference with our small town and where you have lived in la la land,” Riggs licks his lip, fisting his hands into his pockets.

“We're respected around here, people know who we are, people know how our family have been wronged...” he pauses and scoffs a laugh, “but you?

No one knows who you are here, no one respects you and they certainly didn't from what I hear from people back in LA.” Luke's smile slips for just a second.

“That's the problem Luke, you wanted to be somebody, wanted to make a name for yourself...” Riggs swings his head slowly to look at me.

“And the only name you're going to make for yourself is the one that will be ringing around our town...” I inhale heavily as his eyes lock on mine.

“Oh yeah, and what's that?” Cockiness coats his tone and I am so desperate to punch him.

“Murderer.”

Luke's face pales and I watch the way his throat bobs.

“The video has been sent to the judge, you won't be leaving here anytime soon so I would get comfortable if I was you.”

Riggs salutes him off his temple as we begin to walk away.

“Hey, wait! Riggs, please...” and Riggs steps falter and I raise my brow. He whistles through his teeth and then walks back towards Luke.

“What?” his tone is curt.

“They're coming for you all... I never wanted to get involved in this but I did because I was desperate for something other than what I had... but don't let them win...”

Riggs looks at me as I begin to walk down to stand by his side.

“When are they coming?”

Luke is hesitant for a moment, his eyes trailing between me and Riggs.

“Sunday, dusk.”

Riggs gives a heavy nod and begins to march away and I know I didn't have to, but I tilt my head and thank Luke.

He didn't have to say anything.

But he did.

And he'll never know how much he has just helped us.