Page 43 of Trip

“I don’t know. But they’ve been shouting about how Jake owed them and they’re here to collect what’s owed. I’m so scared. What if the kids come home? Oh, God wh—”

Pound snatched the phone from his grasp. Trip wanted to protest but arguing would only make things worse.

“Sweetheart.” Pound spoke softly. “I need you to calm down. Where are you and where are they?”

Everything was happening in what seemed like slow motion. Granite had slipped out and gotten his phone, dialed someone—Trip assumed it was the Travelers—and held it out next to Trip’s phone. The room was silent except for Meri and Pound.

“I’m-I’m in my closet and they sound like they’re on the stairs. The kids’ bus is due any second. They can’t walk in the house now. What do I do?”

“Shhh, babe. I need you to be as quiet as possible. We have someone calling the kids right now and help is on the way.”

Fuck, this is bad.

Granite had been worried and rightfully so.

“Come out, come out wherever you are.” The sinister voice that drifted through the phone froze Trip’s heart. They were close and his sister was a sitting duck.

All the brothers had their phones now and were typing or walking out with it to their ear.

“Sweetheart, listen. I’ve got you. Believe me, I’ll—” Pound’s words were cut off by Meri’s scream and then the connection went dead.

“FUCK,” Pound cursed and threw Trip’s phone against the wall.

He turned to the president of the Phantoms. “This wouldn’t have happened if you’d kept her here after Christmas. My family would be safe.”

His family. What the fuck?

“I’ll let that slide because I know you’re upset but remember who you’re talking to, brother. Besides, we are not in the business of holding people against their will. I thought it would keep and I was wrong. I’ll beat myself up about it later because it’s ultimately my responsibility to keep this family safe, but for now, we need to get her back.”

Granite turned toward Trip. “I’m sorry. If you want to call for a no-confidence vote, you’d be within your rights to do so, but I ask that you wait until we get Meri back.”

Trip gave a quick nod. He didn’t blame Granite, but it bothered him that Pound was in such a state over his sister. She was family to club through him, not Pound.

“Veep, you wanna explain yourself to me? What’s with you and my sister? I don’t remember giving you the all-clear.”

“She may be your sister, but she’s my fucking woman, so you can have your pound of flesh if you want, but that won’t change a damn thing.”

Trip released JJ and got in Pound’s face. “You fuck around with my sister behind my back, and you think all you owe is a pound of flesh? That’s not how this works, brother.” Trip spat the last word at him.

“I’ve never touched her, but I will as long as she wants me to, and not you or anyone else in the room will stop me.”

“So, you’re calling her your woman and she don’t even know it? Damn, veep, you do have a death wish. As soon as she’s safely back home, she’ll kick you to the curb for me, then I’ll take my pound.”

“You’re welcome to try.”

“Okay, put your dicks and tape measures away. We have important shit to do. The Travelers are on their way. Not sure what happened to the man they had on her, but they’re grabbing a cage and meeting the kids. They’ll pack them up, secure the scene and get them to Vegas. Looks like the war came to our doorstep, and we’re gonna win it.”

THE END

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