Page 27 of Drake

Storm stands close to me and intently listens as I hold the phone out. “We don’t have any business, Josh. I made that pretty clear,” I add, my voice taking on a ferociousness that would scare even the wildest lions.

“No, you said we didn’t have any more business. I never agreed to that. But right now, I think I have more leverage than I ever dreamed of. You see, Lacy came to visit me at Chuck’s bar -- or what used to be Chuck’s bar before you and your brothers destroyed my family,” Josh seethes.

“Shut the fuck up, now!” I demand. I’m screaming into the phone and everyone in the bar, and I am sure Hollow’s Cove, can hear me.

“Just calm down. Lacy is fine, for now,” Josh adds.

“What do you want?” I ask, knowing that Josh has Lacy for a reason.

“I want what every businessman wants. I want money, but it seems you don’t have the type of money I desire. That was evident when you jumped at the chance to work for me. So, I can’t blackmail you with that. So, I had to really think hard. What would absolutely destroy the Ravens? Then, she found me and just found herself right in my lap. Lacy. If you want to see your precious Lacy again, you will follow my orders carefully. You took everything away from me and my family, so I am taking away the one thing that matters most to you,” Josh snaps.

All I see is a blind rage as I feel like I am no longer in my own body. I’m numb, heated with so much anger and turmoil, my body can’t react. If he touches her-- I will kill him with my bare hands.

“Drake,” Ryder yells to me, but I waved him off.

“I’ll give you whatever you want,” I say, my voice shaking. “My bar. The Clubhouse. Everything I have,” I cry out.

And, I mean it. The Twisted Kingdom Clubhouse and Bar means the world to me and I have spent my entire life being part of this club, working in the bar, and having a family here. But, for Lacy, I would give it all away without another thought.

I have only cried twice in my entire life: the day my mother passed and the day my dad asked me to take care of my brothers before he died too. Now, as tears fill my eyes, I realize that I am going to make that three times I’ve cried. The thought of Lacy being scared and alone somewhere with a monster like Josh, sends so much raw emotion through me, I just don’t know how to handle myself right now. I began pacing, not sure if I should just run out the doors and scream until I find her. Or, if I should continue on with this game Josh wants to play over the phone.

“Well, I have what you want. Let’s make this fun,” Josh says. “You have until midnight tonight to find your precious Lacy, or you will never see her again,” Josh states, before hanging up the phone.

Storm grabs my arm and I see the shock and horror written all over his face as he looks at me. Ryder appears back at my side, but he is shaking and out of breath. “Drake, Axel is on his way with Ivy. He’s been trying to call you. Ivy found a note from Lacy. You need to read it,” Ryder says.

As I stand in shock, I faintly hear Storm filling Ryder in on what just happened. Soon, Axel comes rushing through the door with a crying Ivy trailing behind him. Aspen shows up with Remy close behind. They are all crying and asking questions, but I don’t hear a word they are all saying. The bar is filled with noise, but I only hear a humming noise.

“Drake, what do you want us to do? Just give us the word,” Axel asks, as Ivy stands clutching a letter in her hands.

I turn to them and open my mouth, but words evade me. I look at everyone surrounding me, all are ready and willing to do whatever I need. But, I don’t know what to tell them. Instead, I take the note out of Ivy’s shaking hands. It takes a moment for my eyes to focus on the writing, but once they do, I can’t believe what I am reading.

Ivy,

As you are reading this, I am making possibly the stupidest decision of my life. I thought about texting you this, but that would have ruined my plans. I found Josh outside of Chuck’s old bar. I asked him to meet with me today. I am going to talk to him about what he did to Drake and the guys. I will record my conversation and take it to the police. I know I promised Drake I would stay out of this, but I can’t watch the man I lovebe in such pain. I saw how conflicted he was and it tore me into pieces. Once you read this, I am hopefully standing with you while you tell me how stupid I was. If not, I am at Chuck’s old bar. Come find me. Just let Drake know I am truly sorry for going against my word, but tell him I love him more than the world itself.

Love,

Lacy

I crumble the note in my hands until it is barely visible. Ivy watches with wide eyes and the other girls hold onto her.

“Drake, I called Axel as soon as I found this. I told her to stay out of this trouble, but you know Lacy. She is so damn stubborn,” she wails, shaking her head as tears race down her cheeks.

Ivy is right. Lacy is so damn stubborn. But she put herself in danger for me. I am so fucking mad at her for being so careless. But, at the same time, I love her more than words can express. I knew it sounded too good to be true when she promised to back down. My girl never backs down. Hell, that’s how she got me. But now, I’ve got to go find her. If it’s the last thing I do, I will find Lacy and Josh will be destroyed. Once and for all.

Chapter 24

Lacy

Darkness surrounds me and it’s so hot, I can barely breathe. I’ve been blindfolded and I have no idea where I am, but all I do know is, when I woke up, my body ached and my mouth was dry. My hands and feet are bound together and I am sitting on a very uncomfortable chair.

To my surprise, I was alive. I honestly thought Josh and his goons were going to kill me. When he caused me to blackout, I thought I would never wake up again. That my life was over. Inever got to tell Drake I loved him again-- that thought would haunt me forever.

But now, I’m awake and alive. Where, I have no idea.

I can hear the faint sounds of water dripping somewhere and the air is stale and musty. It’s hot, so unbelievably hot, so I must be inside somewhere with no air conditioning.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps approaching and Josh’s voice breaks through the silence around me.

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