Page 15 of Holland
“Oh, I’m gonna accept that mission, and I’m going to get that intel quicker than either of you two losers. I can do this shit in my sleep, remember.” It was one of the few times Matt ever mentioned his time in the service. He didn’t like to talk about his time in, said there wasn’t anything to talk about. Somehow, I got the feeling he was full of shit, especially when he said shit like he just did.
“Fine, fine. Whatever dude as long as we get the intel. It’s not like being on the police force didn’t teach me a thing or two about assessing a situation and gathering intel. As long as we get Belladonna back I give zero fucks.” We left the rest of our group at the hotel, wanting to be as inconspicuous as possible when we scoped out the club. As soon as we walked through our hotel room, the rest of the group started piling in.
“I say we split up, half our crew stays here waiting for a signal, the other half will go with us to the club. Leave your cuts here, if we get caught, we don’t want this to blow back on the club. This asshole has connections and the less they know about us the better.” Bart’s plan made sense. I didn’t want the club to be on Lorenzo’s radar if this thing went sideways.
Over the next couple of hours whileas we waited for the club to open, we planned. First Matt and I would go in, hit the bar, check out the security detail. Then Bart would come in about thirty minutes later, followed by Tiny, Wrench, and Lugnut in thirty-minute increments. Reaper, Yankee, Bear, and Bull were to wait outside in the alley across the street for a signal if we needed help. I was hoping we wouldn’t need to call them in, if we did that meant shit went sideways.
The club was definitely a hot spot in Chicago because the line to get in was halfway around the block by the time we walked up. There was no telling what was on the other side of that door, and the anticipation was killing me minute by minute. My adrenaline was pumping by the time me and Matty got to the front door of the club. The bouncer asked for our ID’s, gave us a quick once over in our dark denim jeans and tight black t-shirts and ushered us in.
Music floated from the speakers set along the walls of the club. Not thumping bass, but more of a soulful R&B rhythm that was perfect for dancing. Matty and I wove our way through the crowd ‘til we reached one of the many bars.
“Did you see that bouncer? Dude had to be like 350-360 easy.” I nodded as I flagged down the bartender to get us some beers. We didn’t plan on drinking much of them, but we wanted to blend in as much as possible.
“Yeah, his mother was probably part gorilla or something because he was jacked. I wouldn’t want him coming to escort me out, that’s for damn sure.” After the bartender dropped off our beers, we both turned to scope out the place.
“Total of eight bouncers inside, four in uniform, four out. One at the door, two stationed near the DJ booth, and one by the restrooms all in uniforms. Then there is one at the end of this bar, pretending to drink his whiskey, one that’s on the dance floor pretending to dance, and two sitting at the table by the hallway trying to act inconspicuous.” Matty blended, swiveling his head to check out the bouncers and flirting with the women passing us in front us, seamlessly. It was scary how good he was at pinpointing where the enemy was, which made me wonder why he got out of the service.
“Alright let’s make a trip around the room; Bart should be inside in about ten minutes. I want to get a peek at what’s down that hallway over there. Think you can distract our two bouncers for a few seconds?” Matt made a noise in the back of his throat as if to say “seriously” before he sauntered off. He flipped me the bird as he walked backwards toward the dance floor.
I had no idea what his plan was until he went up to two women who were grinding against each other. From where I was standing it was clear they were already torqued and very interested in Matt. Their hands started to roam, but Matt subtly evaded their grasping touches while shaking his head. Then he bent his head in close to their ears before strutting back to where I was standing by the bar.
“Taken care of.” He said dusting off his hands like he’d just completed a job.
“Dude you’re a fucking genius, and if I was into guys, I’d kiss you right now. I was thinking maybe start a bar fight but getting those two to distract them is even better.” Matt clutched his hand to chest like he was offended.
“Really I didn’t earn a kiss Holly! I’m offended, I thought I’d at least get a peck from you.” I shoved him away from me as he made kissy faces at me. People near us were chuckling and cheering him on.
“Knock it off dumbass we don’t want to bring attention to ourselves. Remember to blend in, this is not blending in.” I seethe through my teeth at him.
“Relax Holls, the best way to blend in is to be ourselves. The more we avoid interaction with those around us the more suspicious we look. Take my word for it, I’ve done this a few times.” Matt flung his arm around my shoulders and steered me towards the bathrooms.
“Alright, I see your point. Where are we going? Aren’t we waiting on Bart to get in here before we move?” Instead of answering me, Matt continues to drag me towards the bathroom hallway, swaying slightly.
“Man, I don’t think I should have drunk that last beer.” His words slurred as we passed the bouncer stationed at the bathroom hallway. I wanted to roll my eyes, but instead I pretended to hold him up, like a good friend would do.
“I told you, you can’t hold your alcohol man, but you never listen.” Once we’re past the bouncer and inside the bathroom he pops up like a jack in the box.
“About damn time you two got in here.” Bart’s voice carries from a closed stall door. When had he gotten in the club?
“Yeah, well Einstein here wasn’t getting with the program. Didn’t you ever do undercover shit when you were on the force man? Blending in 101 is pretending to be like everyone else.” I heard a toilet flush and Bart strolled out of the stall rolling his shoulders like he was preparing for a fight.
“No, I never did undercover. My face was too recognizable around town, and the only crime they were interested in busting was what was going on at your club. I wasn’t likely to get that position, now was I?” I loved my friends, fuck they were my family, but sometimes I still felt like an outsider.
“Well, I can tell you this, Bella is here.” Bart’s declaration got our attention quick.
“Before I got through the door, I saw a car pull up down the alleyway, beside the club. I didn’t get a good look, but I saw a guy with the same build as Lorenzo get out of the car. He looked like he was dragging a woman beside him. She wasn’t using her legs so she’s either drugged or knocked unconscious.” She was here, in this building mere feet away from me, I mean us. Just the thought that she was helpless in their hands made me want to bust the whole fucking place up. But I knew we needed to play this right or all of us would be dead.
“We’re not leaving without her.” Both Matt and Bart nodded in agreement, but now we needed to figure out how to get her out without getting caught.
Chapter Twelve
Bella
You ever have one of those hangovers where you remember what you did, but you don’t remember how you got home. Yeah, well that’s what happened, only I’m not home. No instead, I’m in sick twisted fucknugget’s dungeon under his club or Lorenzo to everyone else. Like I remember being put in the car with him, I remember the drive across state lines, but how we got to the club, no fucking clue. My arms aren’t working, my mouth is dry as a desert, and my tongue feels like sandpaper. Right now, I could probably sand someone’s bureau for them with my fucking tongue and make them some cute shabby chic shit.
When I wake up, my head is pounding and I’m staring up at a concrete ceiling. I can hear the music wafting through, it’s not very loud. I can tell it’s his club, the same fucking club I turned him down in a month ago. I blink rapidly to adjust to the glaring lights on the ceiling. Listening closely, I don’t hear anyone in the room with me.
My arms and hands aren’t a hundred percent yet, but they help me get into the sitting position. Looking around the room, I see chains on the walls, shackles hanging from the ceiling in one corner, and what looks like wooden stocks. There was a drain set in the concrete where the floor sloped toward it. Surprise, surprise psycho asshole has a dungeon in the basement of his club. The couch I’m sitting on is plush soft leather, expensive shit, definitely not the knock off from IKEA.
