Page 83 of Next Level
Sam and I are in a stare-off.
“Are we done here? I want to go,” Jared says to whoever is in the room.
“Okay. We good, Ray?” Wilkerson asks.
“Yeah, we’re good. Thank you again. I owe you,” I say aloud. Knowing I’m being recorded, I let everyone know that the Bastards will owe a marker to an officer of the law.
The phone goes dead. Sam has tears rolling down her face.
“Dad. You have to help him,” Sam pleads.
Using ‘Dad’ on me isn’t going to work.
“No.”
“Dad.”
I give her the ‘don’t test me’ look. The room is full of men who would kill for her, and she wants to save a boy who took her. She closes her eyes, and before she can say anything else, I say, “No,” one more time to finalize it, and she rushes out of the room crying.
The room is silent.
I sit down feeling lost and unsure of what to do. I’m always levelheaded and one step ahead of everything, but this isn’t club business; this is personal. I’m trying to wrap my head around it.
As always, Lazy’s the first to speak. “Don’t you think it would hit George the hardest if an Amato helps his only true son? Again, taking something away from him.”
I don’t answer him. Instead, I tell Dawg, “Get Joe and his crew here. We need a meeting as soon as possible.”
Everyone cleared the room, leaving me to think in peace.
I try to think about what my dad would do. Did he know the fucking deranged kid he left behind? Did he realize he had been giving money all these years to a drug addict? Had he even seen the kid, or was he just giving money out of guilt? Guilt that Letti died.
I’ve never been as upset with my father as I am now. I’ve always idolized him. Yeah, I didn’t like that he got his dick wet from time to time, but this. I can’t forgive him. I’m lost.
My cellphone rings, and I see it’s a blocked number. “Hello?”
“Mr. Amato? This is Agent Tellez. I think we need to talk.”
Motherfucker.
“Okay. Talk,” I reply.
“No. I need to see you in person. Come to your gate entrance in like twenty minutes.”
Shit. She’s close by.
“All right. I’ll be out there in twenty.” I end the call.
I think to myself,Well, this shit just keeps getting more interesting by the minute.
Twenty minutes later, I’m standing at the Royal Bastards front gate entrance, Dawg, Chewy, and Nut are with me. They’ve been giving me space since the call with Jared. I know we’ve all been in uncharted territory the past few weeks, with everything going on with Sam, but I never go off alone or without a plan. Usually, I’ve got everything worked out and a plan for various scenarios, but I’m always in complete control. Since finding out about Garrett, I feel like I’m not in control. This shit is personaland throwing me for a loop. I need to get it together, not just for my club but for my girls.
When I see an unmarked car roll down the road, I tell them to stay at the gate.
I walk down to meet the car and realize she’s alone.
Interesting. She’s got balls.Agent Tellez is one tough cookie to come alone.
I wait for her to open her car door, then greet her with a hello.
