Page 5 of Sex & Cigarettes

“I’ll believe that when I have her at my side. We both know the minute I sign off for the tunnels Ainsley will be dead.”

“I’ll let you know if anything develops.”

The call ends and I go into my office to replay the security footage again from the stoplight. The day that bastard took my wife right out from under me. No matter how many times I watch the videos nothing new is revealed. Nothing changes. They still have her. I’d give this all up if I thought it’d save her and our unborn son. The truth is if I don’t take this bastard out before he puts me six feet under, the moment he’s through with me he’ll kill Ainsley and my son to end the line. Fuck if I’ll let that happen. There is only one way this will all end. A bullet in his head. I’ll bathe in that motherfucker’s blood.

I see Uno’s wife pull up at the gate. Her son, Ruger is in the backseat. I clear a tickle from the back of my throat at the sight and open the gate for her to pass. Fuck I miss Ainsley. Sure when I first married her I wasn’t sure we’d be anything more than a business transaction but once she opened herself to me gave me all that beauty in my life I was fuckin’ goner. So god damn gone for her. If anything happens to her, I’ll burn anyone and everything connected to Raul Hernandez to the ground.

I go in search of Petunia to get her in the travel carrier and find her sitting at the foot of the chair my wife normally usually sits and watches a movie. Scooping the dog up, I drop into the white round chair with too many damn pillows on it. Scratching behind her ears I tell her, “I’ll bring our girl home soon. Don’t worry. But for now, I gotta send you to stay with a friend. Be a good girl.” The animal stares up at me tilting her head sideways as though she understands and maybe she does.

“There you are,” Stephanie calls out, with Ruger balanced on her hip, sucking furiously on his pacifier.

“Thanks for doing this.”

“No problem. I’m just glad I can do something to feel useful. We’ll get her back.”

All I can do is nod.

I get Petunia in her carrier and strapped int back seat next to the baby.

“See you around, Steph. Take care of my girl.”

“Of course.” She starts the car and buckles her seatbelt. I close the back-passenger door and step back. Everyone said she was a ruthless bitch, but I think motherhood has changed her.

Now that Stephanie has taken the dog. I head to see Murphy. I’ve not been in the right frame of mind to question him. Uno made me promise to stay away until I could promise not to murder the fucker on sight.

I don’t blame him, but my VP was right. Had I gone to see him the minute I knew something happened to my wife he would be in a body bag next to Teagan no questions asked. I was counting on him to protect what’s mine and he let me down, but I let her down. My wife.

I broke my vow. I gave my word to protect her and now look. She’s at the mercy of my enemy. A man who holds no value in women or children. Who’d sell their flesh for pennies as long as it turns him a profit.

Rolling up to the clubhouse I find Murphy at the edge of the parking lot smoking a cigarette. Guess he ran out of toothpicks and patience. His skin is ashen in color...sick with guilt and grief.

“We’ll avenge her,” I promise him.

Giving me a tilt of his head, he stares down at his feet. “Shit don’t feel real. Them bastards were waiting to ambush us. Came out of fucking nowhere. It all happened so fast. Before I could react, they were dragging me off my bike and beating the fuck out of me.”

He’s not telling me anything I don’t know. I saw the footage. They left his ass for dead. If I didn’t trust him, he would be. If he’s playing me, he’s one hell of an actor and didn’t give a shit about Teagan or his daughter because if he did betray me...her days are numbered.

“I’m going to make this right, Prez. I should’ve fought harder.”

“No. This is on me. Ainsley is my wife. I should have been in the one driving her to the appointment. Get everyone ready. I’m going to storm that bastard’s gates. Fuck waiting.”

“I want that more than anyone, but we need to be strategic. He expects you to run in guns blazing running on emotions.”

“Point being.”

“So what’s the one thing he least expects?”

“For me to hang back and do nothing but we both know I can’t do that.”

“Be smart. Ainsley is pregnant. He won’t hurt her. He cares for her.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Just a hunch.”

I can’t go around making decisions on hunches. My cell phone rings. It’s my old man calling from Drag Creek.

“Talk to me.”

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