Page 106 of Gambit's Queen

Chapter 50

Gambit

One of the dancersat the club is doing her best to give me a lap dance. I’m more than a little distracted. Something feels off and I’m second guessing not sending one or more of the patched brothers with the ladies tonight. Willow insisted that she’s been to the place several times. They have their own security and all four of the prospects went along. While Cosmo had the most military training, Half-Pint and Pinky are Marines. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Our sweet, lovable Ito spent five years behind bars at a maximum-security prison.

My cell vibrated against my back pocket. I maneuvered around the dancer nearly in my lap and grabbed. Cosmo. My heart sank to my toes.

“Report.”

“Stormy’s missing.”

“What?” I yelled, standing up, causing the dancer to stumble and fall. I headed for the nearest entrance at full speed. The women were smart enough to move out of my way a few guys not so much. Without stopping, I shouldered my way through as Cosmo spoke.

“The club had a blackout. She was on stage when the lights went out. Two, maybe three minutes later the lights come back on, and she’s gone. We tore through the club. Made them shut down the show. Nobody in or out. She’s gone and so is our waiter. We need Blue.”

My entire world came crashing down around my ears. I did the only thing I could at the time to not completely lose my shit; I screamed. The primal yell startled several people in the parking lot.

I heard the door open as I ran towards my bike. I didn’t bother to tell Cosmo on my way. Papa caught up with me as I swung my leg over my bike. The way he looked at me asked without words.

“She’s gone.” The words ripped my heart out. It was all I got out before I popped the kickstand and fired up the bike. Seconds later I pulled onto the main road and opened the throttle. I didn’t have to ask my brothers if they were coming. I didn’t have to tell them either. The sound of bikes behind me let me know my brothers, as always, had my back.

We tore through the city arriving at the across town venue in half the time. I barely had the kickstand down and the ignition off before I was off the bike and headed inside. Red lights flashed, cops still arriving on scene. A uniform stopped me as I reached the door.

“You can’t go inside.”

“The fuck I can’t that’s my woman they took.”

The cop took a step back, hand on his gun. Several hands grabbed my shoulders. Much to my surprise, the cop relaxed.

“You’re detective Stones’ friend Gambit, right?”

“Yes.”

“Go on in man, but I can’t let everyone. Take three?”

“Pops, Blue, Triton.”

Pops was an easy decision. Nola’s inside and no doubt freaking out. He thought of Stormy as his child. And the man spent twenty-five years on the Baton Rouge Police force.

The cop’s face lit up like a kid at Christmas.

“You’re Chief Landry from the third.”

“Guilty as charged,” Pops said.

“Give me just a minute and I’ll escort you in. I want to make sure you get what you need.”

Pops gave him the nod. I heard Officer Mac, according to the tag over his left pocket, call for another officer.

“Jones, I need you to watch the front.”

Jones stepped up and Mac escorted us inside. The entire exchange took only a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity. I needed to know what the fuck was going on. And I needed to know it, right the fuck now. He led us inside to the detective on charge. Thank fuck it was Stone.

Stone gave us a nod. “Gambit, Chief.”

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