Page 33 of Guardian

“Have you arrested him on drug charges or something?” I inquired. “Was he stupid enough to tell you I’d pay his bail? I won’t. You can keep him.”

“He’s not in jail, ma’am. I’m sorry to tell you that his stupidity caught up with him. He’s dead. His body was found this morning in Lake Conception.”

“No, that can’t be right! He can swim. He’s a good swimmer, even when he’s doped up,” I argued.

“He wasn’t thrown in alive. No one can swim once their throat has been cut. I’m sorry if that knowledge is upsetting to you, but it’s my duty to tell you.”

“But the note said they’d take out the payment in flesh! They didn’t say anything about killing someone. They wanted money! If he’s dead, then he can’t get it for them.”

He hung his head and rubbed his eyes. “I don’t want to make this hard, but you apparently need an explanation in order to believe what I’m saying. They got their flesh. He was tortured before he was killed. Flesh was burned in some places and removed entirely in others. I assure you they had no reason to keep him alive or they would have. There was no money to find. He couldn’t give them information that didn’t exist.”

Chapter 19

“Come here, baby,” Isaid softly, seeing how white she’d turned and the vagueness that shone in her eyes. “I believe you. We’ll fix this. I promise.”

I wrapped Jemma tightly in my arms and said the words automatically even though I knew I was promising something that wasn’t a guarantee. If the cartel had Jackson there was a chance he was already dead to appease them for his father’s actions and to punish Jemma for simply being in Mitch’s life. Causing agonizing pain was a game to them. One more child’s death was nothing when they’d taken thousands due to drugs laced with poison or smuggling illegals in sweltering trucks where many died from suffocation.

“We have to find him right now! I don’t even know if he has his inhaler. If he’s scared or hurt he’ll need it to breathe. His asthma gets really bad when he’s upset. Even if they don’t touch him he could die. Don’t you see?”

I saw the situation too well. The cartel wouldn’t handle Jackson gently. They’d take anything he was carrying away from him, including the inhaler. If he didn’t give them the answers they wanted they’d withhold the medication when he began to wheeze just to see if he’d start talking. It didn’t really matter that he knew nothing about where Mitch might have stashed some of their money. This was no longer about money. It was about retribution. The more who paid with their lives the better they’d feel and the stronger the cartel would appear. This was all about being top dog and taking over territory. Jemma and Jackson were just caught up in a war between factions. They were collateral damage.

“You and I can’t find him by ourselves, mi cielo. We need the club’s backing. I’ve got to talk to Prime. I’m so sorry, but this will take some time. We have no idea what direction to turn, no clue about where Jackson’s been taken. In my heart I know you’re right. The cartel has him. We just have no proof and no confirmation from them,” I explained.

“Dear god! They haven’t asked for anything. I hadn’t realized until now that there was no ransom note, no demand for money. They aren’t planning on giving him back!” Jemma screamed.

Her knees gave way, and she started to fall. I lifted her and ordered Flame, “Get something from Doc to help her. I’m leaving you to watch over her while I talk to Prime.”

I laid her on the nearest sofa and watched as her eyes seemed to whirl inside her head. I was losing her to her terror. I prayed Doc could bring her back, keep her alive not only for Jackson but for me.

“Stay with me, baby,” I begged, holding her beautiful face in my hands and staring into her unfocused eyes with a challenge. I desperately needed her to fight for her sanity.

Flame returned with Doc. His face was grim when he saw how out of it Jemma was.

“I can’t do much for her, Sweet. The only thing that might help is a sedative. Knocking her out for a little while may give her body and brain time to recover from the shock. Flame can get a blanket or two to wrap her in. She must stay warm. Raise her feet onto a pillow. I’ve been told that helps with shock. Go do what must be done. We’ll stay with her. You can’t do anything for her while she’s asleep,” Doc told me.

“Don’t let anything happen to her,” I demanded.

“You know I’ll take good care of her,” he answered and motioned for me to leave.

Prime wasn’t at the bar. He was at the clubhouse dealing with some problems. I roared out of the parking lot and through the streets never hearing the squeal of brakes or the honking horns as I cut off other cars and caused a fender bender or two. I broke every traffic law known to man to get to Prime. Every minute counted while the cartel held Jackson. They weren’t known for keeping prisoners who became a liability, and his asthma made him one.

I didn’t knock at the office door. Politeness was more than I could handle. I stormed in, letting the door slam against the wall and make a hole in it.

Prime was on his feet in an instant. He held a gun pointed right at my head. I jerked and the shot he took missed me by an inch. It sank into the rich wood of the staircase behind me.

“Fuck! I could have killed you! You know better than to barge in like that, especially with the cartel causing trouble. I’m on edge as it is. The cops found another dead lowlife associated with them just an hour ago. They’re cleaning house, probably getting ready for the war with us,” he explained as he fell back into his chair and let the gun land on his desk.

“I don’t give a shit about the lowlifes they kill. Good riddance to them! There’s only one life I need to save, and you’re damn well gonna help me do it!” I yelled.

Prime’s eyes darkened. His smile went deadly. He’d reached his limit with the attitude I’d been giving him recently. Frankly, I didn’t give a fuck.

“I think you’d better get your ass out of my office, Sweet. I’ve tolerated enough of your personal issues lately. I’ve given you more leeway than I’ve ever given any member of the Sinners. The insubordination ends now. Go away and let me cool off before I say or do something I’ll regret.”

“Toss me out of the Sinners. Shoot me. I don’t give a shit! I’m not letting a kid die because I’m scared of my damn Pres! You got that? I’m not leaving!” I shrieked.

My pulse pounded against my throat. My face heated, and I felt my veins pop out as my fear mixed with anger.

“I thought we agreed Jackson and Jemma were safe,” Prime said through gritted teeth. “I can’t spare you to play body guard just so you can fuck her.”

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