Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“There’s another question we need answered.”
“Oh?” Cotton turned his attention back to me. “And what’s that?”
“Why he had Q and Rooster picked up and questioned.” Cotton’s brows furrowed as he listened to me say, “He already knew everything he needed to know except one important thing.”
“They wanted to know who we are working with?”
“That’s right.” I motioned my hand over at the table full of files he’d made. “He has everything on us except that.”
“So, this is about the business and not some kind of sick revenge tactic?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. It’s definitely something to consider while we’re looking into him.”
“Agreed.” Cotton turned back to Stitch as he said, “Time to get our hands on that Ben kid. See what we can find out from him.”
“I’ll have his address within the hour.”
“I’ll call church first thing tomorrow. We can fill the boys in on everything then.” Cotton had a fatherly tone as he told us, “You boys do what you gotta do, but take the breaks you need to take. I need you both at your best.”
“You got it, Prez.”
“It’s late. I’m gonna go check in with Cass and the girls. If you find something or need me, you know where to find me.”
I nodded, then watched as Cotton and Stitch walked out of the room, leaving Big and me to get to work. I eased over to my desk and turned on my laptop as I asked, “So, where do we start?”
He didn’t answer.
He just sat there staring at a sheet of paper.
After several moments, he mumbled, “He’s been out there watching them. Josie... Davis... Beck. My woman. My family. It was my job to protect them, and I failed them.”
“You didn’t fail them. They’re here, and they’re safe.”
“Yeah, but that asshole’s been out there watching them.”
“It’s a background check, brother.”
“It’s more than that, and you know it.”
He was right. I knew the kind of effort that went into making those files. Hell, just thinking about the one he had on Elsie brought bile to my throat. I hated that he knew where she was every minute of the day. I hated that Elsie had been used to get closer to us even more.
But I couldn’t let myself think about that. Not now.
If I did, I’d completely lose it, and I’d be no good to anyone, including Elsie
For her, I would kill these assholes with my bare hands.
But I’d have to find them first, so I told Big, “He may have the information, but he hasn’t used it. At least, not yet. We need to get to him before he tries to do something stupid.”
“You’re right.” He tossed the papers down on the table, then wheeled around to his computer. “We need to find this Ben asshole.”
“Yeah, if we can get our hands on him, then Stitch will make him talk. Maybe then we can figure out exactly what we’re up against.”
We couldn’t be sure if he’d used his real name or not, so we pulled his picture from our security feed and ran it through our facial recognition software. It took a couple of tries, but eventually, we were able to ascertain that he was, in fact, Ben Bruton—David Bruton’s grandson. I had no idea why Bruton would get his own flesh and blood mixed up in this mess, but it was a decision he would soon regret.
It didn’t take long to locate both Ben’s permanent address and his campus address, but time was getting away from us. The sun was starting to rise, and it wouldn’t be long before everyone would be stirring. With the information in hand, Big stood and started for the door. “You take a break. I’ll get this to Stitch and Cotton.”
I nodded, but I had no intention of taking a break.
Bruton had reached out to me.
Not once, but twice. And he hadn’t said a fucking word to Cotton—the president of Satan’s Fury. That meant something, but I had no idea what. I figured he wanted to single me out, and if that was the case, I was about to return the favor. I would find the information the club needed to take him down and turn the tables on him.
I went back to the data I’d pulled from the Interpol server and started looking over Bruton’s old cases. I pinned the photographs to the wall, then listed all the names of the people involved and the alleged illegal activity that was being investigated.
I felt like I was grasping at straws,
But I knew in my gut that there was something here.
I just had to find the one singular piece that pulled it all together.
I sat back and just stared at each case, studying the faces and the crimes committed. At first, I couldn’t find a damn thing. There didn’t seem to be a single connection between the cases, but as I sat there studying all those faces, a pair of crystal blue eyes caught my attention.