Page 75 of New Beginnings
Everyone in the room nodded.
“Good. Get your shit in order. I’ll let everyone know when shit’s a go. Church dismissed. Schizo, Hannibal, Zigzag, Kilo, and Tank hang back.”
They nodded in agreement, and one by one, the rest of the brothers quietly exited the room. I looked at Caesar. He was still pissed as fucked. But once shit settled down and whether things ended good or bad with me, he’d look back at this and realize I made the right decision to leave him behind. He was the only person who could lead this group and keep everyone in line. I trusted him with my life, but I would also trust him with the lives of my brothers and Rebel. I’d feel ten times better with what I was about to step into with him here.
“Can you handle everything here, Caesar?” I asked even though I knew he could. “I need you to take care of everyone including Siobhan and Rebel. I need you to make sure my baby girl has whatever she needs to make a good life with Demon and Kira if it doesn’t go the way, I hope. And I need you to look after Rebel.”
I just needed him to understand what I was asking of him and the gravity of this situation because I’d already made up in my mind that I wasn’t going to prison. I refused for my daughter to visit me behind bars for the rest of my life. I’d rather die than expose her to that. It might be crazy of me to think that way and putting her through the death of another parent seemed really selfish. But I think that would be what was best for her in the long run.
“You sound like you aren’t planning on coming back,” he said.
“Shit happens.” I shrugged. “I just need to know you’ve got my back.”
“Of course I’ve got your back. I’m not happy about being left out of this shit, but I got you.”
I nodded then turned my attention to my other brothers. “I’d prefer to take him at his house,” I said. “But I’ve probably fuckedup that chance already because I showed up there and his wife saw me.”
“Yeah, that wouldn’t be smart,” Hannibal said. “I suggest we tail him for about a week and determine what his routine is. Then decide from there.”
“I agree,” Caesar said. “We figure out his routine and note any deviations. If there are any changes, we need to tail him longer because he might think something’s up. We don’t want to be ambushed.”
I didn’t like the idea of waiting longer than a week, but Caesar was probably right. I wasn’t looking to die even though I’d made peace with Death a long time ago.
“Agreed,” I said. “I’d prefer to lure him somewhere. Get him out of his comfort zone.”
“That could work but we would have to use someone as bait,” Schizo said.
I felt Caesar’s eyes on me, and I knew what he was thinking.
“Nope,” I said, shaking my head before he even had a chance to say it. “I’m not putting her in that kind of danger, Caesar.”
“Rebel’s not some wallflower, J.D.,” he said. “I’ve known her a hell of a lot longer than you. And if anyone can handle it, she can.”
“And what happens if shit hits the fan?” I asked. “I can’t lose her too.”
I wouldn’t lose another woman I cared about because of my shit. He may have known her longer than me, but that didn’t mean shit to me. Her safety was one of my top priorities and I wanted her far away from this shit.
“I’m just saying,” Caesar said. “I think you should let her make that decision.”
“I’m with Caesar,” Zigzag said. “I don’t know Rebel well, but I think your girl can handle it. I think if you ask her, she’d agree to it.”
“Just because she’ll agree to it, doesn’t make it right for her to put her neck on the line,” I said. “She’s already been caught in the middle because of me. We do this without Rebel.”
“Then what do you suggest, Prez?” Kilo asked. “Because at this point the only options are to take him from his house or get him on the way between home and work which could open us up to a bunch of shit if we’re caught on any cameras or if anyone sees us.”
I let out a frustrated groan, my hands rubbing against my face. That was also true. I’d fucked up any chance to take him from his home because if we did that, we’d have to take the wife too. She’d already seen my face. And I don’t want to traumatize their kids either. With the other option we’d risk being caught on some camera if it was done between his home and work.
“We can protect her, J.D.,” Caesar said. “Rebel is the best option if you want this to go down where everyone makes it out without being killed or put in jail.”
“I agree,” Hannibal said. “We all want to make it out of this. Ask her and see if she agrees.”
“And you all think this is the best way to go?” I asked everyone even though I knew the answer.
They all nodded.
“Fuck!” I mumbled. “If she agrees to do this y’all have to promise me that she makes it out of this alive. That she doesn’t get hemmed up with me. If it’s me or her, you choose her.”
“She’s your Old Lady, I’ll die before I let anything happen to her,” Kilo said. “And I think I speak for all of us when I say that.”
