Page 102 of Bronco

“I’ve heard about it,” I say, wondering where this is going. “It made the nightly news over a year ago.”

“I’ve done a little research myself trying to figure this out, and I can only come back to organized crime. The Olgettis also have ties to the Mancini family, but it looks like they’re not taking over anytime soon. Bratva rules Chicago now, but underworld crime is still at an all-time high.”

“My sister is involved in organized crime?” I can’t even get the words out without stammering.

“I’m sorry to say that it’s looking likely. My guess is she borrowed money and she can’t pay it back. That could definitely explain her absence, and why she’s keeping her daughter safe and you out of the whole mess.”

“How much money was it?”

“Fifty grand.”

I swallow hard. That’s a lot of money. “Okay, but can we find Erica?”

“I tracked her cell phone but I had no luck. She did use her card at a motel in Baton Rouge, and that’s where I think she still is.”

“If you can track her, won’t these Olgetti people be able to, too?”

“It’s unlikely they have the kind of resources I have, so I think we’re safe to say she’s on the run, and rather than putting you and Olive in danger, she’s taking matters into her own hands.”

I shake my head. “This is insane. I don’t even know what she needed money for?—”

“She owed a lot in back rent, and other bills that were paid shortly thereafter. The debt was piling up.”

“She never said anything,” my voice is barely a whisper. “She could’ve told me, I would’ve helped.”

Fury races through me. This isn’t what sisters do. We’re supposed to help each other out, not borrow money from shady dealers who probably want to kill her.

“I know this must be a shock, but I’m guessing this is what we’re dealing with.”

“So where do we go from here?” My eyes are still closed, I’ve no idea where to turn. My trust and faith is all with her.

“We’re still trying to find out more about the Olgettis. If we can settle that debt on Erica’s behalf, then she’ll be in the clear, with interest and whatever else she’s agreed to, the sum could be a lot more.”

I start to pace. “I don’t have that much money,” I tell her. “I could rustle up some funds, but not that much in a short space of time.”

“We’ll talk to Cash, maybe make a payment plan to the MC if he agrees to get her out of trouble. I can talk to Luna and Tag.”

Luna and Tag?I know they live in a prestigious area of New Orleans, but I’m not asking them for money. Tag made eyebrows rise when he bought the house Luna was living in for $1.9million dollars just to keep her safe. She thought her parents had bought it and was living there paying them rent. The rent money — which would never cover the repayments — was going to Tag.

I don’t know what the likelihood is of them or Cash doing shit, but at the end of the day it’s not the MC’s issue that Erica got herself into this mess. “I doubt Cash will agree. Why would he? And I can’t ask Luna or Tag for money. I can find another way.”

“I know this is hard, Amber, but your sister-in-law is in trouble. Enough to dump her kid and take off,” Star reminds me. “The MC is a family, and we don’t abandon our families. If her mess puts you and Olive in danger, then it’s an MC issue. It seems like a reasonable enough explanation to Cash, not that I’m sure he’ll be thrilled about it, but it would get the Olgettis off Erica’s back.”

“I’ll have to think about it. I need to talk to Bronco.” I can feel the tears building up. This is all too much. I have no clue why Erica would ever keep something like this from me. It’s completely out of character.

“I understand. I’ll be back in touch when I find anything else. In the meantime, sit tight. Rock and Jett are digging up security footage of the hotel. When I called them this morning, she already checked out.”

“So we should head to Baton Rouge?” I’m grappling for something. Baton Rouge is a big place, and it would be like finding a needle in a haystack, but somehow being closer to Erica makes me feel like finding her would be a real possibility.

“We can’t right now.”

“Why not?”

“Talk to Bronco. The club is about to go into lockdown.”

“Lockdown over this?” Panic rises in my voice.

“Not over this, over something else. The details are sketchy. Cash has called a club meeting in the next hour.”

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