Page 51 of The Convict

Despite how dangerous it is, I want to go. I haven’t been with my brothers in years and I miss them. I miss giving them shit and prepping to go on rides and taking our choppers out. I can’t do that, but I can see them and talk to them.

“Yeah, man. But how will I get there?”

Zeke waves me away. “Prez got a new blacked out SUV about a year ago. We’ve had people tied up in the back of that thing, driving in broad daylight and no one knew.” He smiles like that bit of information is the best thing he’s ever told someone.

Finn cuts in, trying to insert a bit of logic. “That’s fine and all, but what about the cops? I’m sure they’re watching the clubhouse, right?”

Shane sits forward. “My contact inside the precinct says they’ve been off the clubhouse since they got the report about Florida. Since the new sighting is further away, they don’t think you’re there either. I made sure they couldn’t get a warrant to tap the phones or add cameras in the clubhouse and we do frequent sweeps for bugs.” He grins. “They have a report of you being in New York. There are credible photos and multiple sightings.”

“How is that possible?” Finn asks.

“Just look.” Shane grabs the remote from the table and turns it on. We only have to wait a few minutes before a report of me comes up on the screen.

Back to the breaking news we reported earlier. New York authorities say there have been more than three credible sightings of Raxel James and Finnegan Coombs. As we reported last week, the man who was reported as Raxel James, one Venice Beem, was indeed a wanted man, but only for traffic violations and having an active bench warrant.

It’s theorized that James is trying to cross the border into Canada, where there are hundreds of acres of woodland into which he can disappear. Authorities have locked down the border, sending agents there in case James tries to cross over in the next few days.

Hostage Finnegan Coombs looks to be in good health, though we can’t make out if he’s been physically harmed or not. His mother—

Finn reaches for the remote and turns the television off. We sit for a moment, before he takes a shuddering breath. “How did they get those pictures?”

Shane shrugs, looking pleased with himself. “I know a guy that’s good at photoshop.”

I scoff. “That’s not just good. That’s brilliant.” You can’t tell they aren’t real photos of me. The tattoo on my neck is grainy, but prominent enough to be an identifying mark. The visible ones on the back of my hands make an appearance as well. Even the green tips of Finn’s hair are visible. They’re good.

After leaning against my arm, Finn looks up at me, a question in his eyes. Cupping his cheek, I ask, “What do you think?”

“It’ll be good for you to see your brothers before you leave. Who knows when you’ll see them again?”

I nod, knowing he’s right.

Turning to my best friend, I see his eyes dance between me and Finn, a smile bright on his face. “Okay, we’re in.”

“Perfect,” Zeke says, grinning mischievously and rubbing his hands together. “It’ll be like the good old days.”

My definition of the good old days is me and Zeke sharing a hangaround while everyone else was partying and getting fucked up.

Shane sits back, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Zeke will drive that same blacked out SUV to a small airport strip in Texas to get you to your flight out of the country. It’ll be about a ten hour drive. The drive will take place during the night so you can avoid heavy traffic. Then your flight will take you—” he stops talking, cutting his eyes to Finn— “to your final destination.”

I’m glad Finn doesn’t take offense. I trust him, but I know he doesn’t want to know about my plans for after I leave the country.

Something unpleasant settles in my chest that I can’t immediately name. Shane drones on and on about flight plans and what happens when I land, but I’m only half listening. I need to figure out what this unsettling feeling is in my chest.

It hits me like a freight train and I have to take a deep breath at the realization. And feel like a fool and scared at the same time. I can’t be falling for him. I can’t. He’s my captive. A few weeks ago, I would have said it was because he’s a man, but that barely registers on my radar right now.

It’s the fact that I kidnapped him and promised to let him go. Now I want to take that promise back. I want to hold him hostage and take him with me to Cuba, force him to live happily by my side until the end of our days.

Just as Finn likes to say, I’m certifiable.

“Got that?” Shane asks, breaking me out of my reckless thoughts.

“Got it,” I lie. “When is the party?”

In his usual animated way, Zeke goes on and on about everything he set up and how it’s a private affair and I don’t have to worry about anyone finding out I’m there. I nod in the right places, but my mind is a million miles away.

I’ve never been in love. Never wanted to be. Love is an inconvenience that can get you locked up or killed. I can’t go back to prison. Finn has that power over me. I know he won’t use it, but he has it. I don’t know how to handle that.

“So,” Zeke says, looking at Finn. “Can you take a look at a few cars when you come through? Our mechanic took a spill and he’s laid up in the hospital for the next few days. His specialty isn’t cars anyway.”

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