Page 12 of Toxic Biker

“Yeah, that shit’s not gonna fly with me,” I mutter and he immediately shuts up. “You need to tell me where Seth is, right the fuck now, before I head to your mansion and burn every goddamn thing you own to ash. Insurance or not, I bet your wife would be pissed to lose everything before she has a chance to have it shipped to wherever the hell you’re hiding out at.” I shake my head in disgust even though he can’t see me. I can’t believe he’s allowed this to happen to Seth and Lacey. I’m furious and doing everything within my power to hold my shit together for Lacey’s sake.

“Asher?” he asks after a beat and I grunt in return. “I thought your voice sounded familiar; it is you. What are you doing with Lacey? It’s uh, late there, isn’t it?”

“You have some serious nerve, you know that? What am I doing with Lacey? None of your fucking business for the most part, but I’ll tell you one thing. Right now, I’m doing your job. I’m protecting her from some psychopaths with a motherfucking death wish. Did you know they showed up to her apartment? Banging on her door, threatening her, and scaring her? What are you doing to help her?”

“Her mother’s kept me in the loop.”

“Has she now? Well, she better keep you fucking hidden with the way you’re behaving towards your own goddamn flesh and blood, because these assholes here aren’t going to be the only people you need to run from if you keep this bullshit up. You understand me?”

“It’s not what you think. I’m not to blame for this.”

“How do you figure? You’re not here, so I’m blaming you. A man I once thought was worth looking up to. My mistake.”

“I’m not the one who brought this client on, or let things go south. It was Seth. I tried to help him, hell, I even sent those creeps money attempting to get them to back off, but Seth messed up badly and I know they’re not pleased if they’re sending people out.”

“Not pleased? Yeah, that’s a far understatement. Lacey hasn’t been able to reach your son for a fucking week and now they’re coming after her. Sounds like they’ve been after you, and that you haven’t done enough.”

“Look, Asher, I’m sorry.”

“Your apology means dick to me; you owe it to your daughter and to your son.”

“I mean it. I-I can’t protect her without her listening to us. We tried to get her on a plane as soon as we left. She could be here with us now. I have the means to keep us hidden here.”

I hold back my scoff and respond, “Without telling her why. Can’t say I blame her wanting to hang back when she can’t find her own brother, or any information on him. A little insensitive, don’t cha think?”

“She’s with you now, does that mean she’s safe?”This. Guy.

“I would never let them touch her.”

“Good,” he sighs, and I swear I can hear his nod over the line as he reassures himself. “Anything you need, whatever I can do, you tell me and I’ll help. You need money, cars, anything, I can get you set up. If you and Lacey want to leave the country, I can arrange it as well.”

“And Seth?”

“I tried, Asher. He’s not the same person you’re used to, he’s become obsessed with whatever deal he’s struck. He was working on it constantly, always distracted and closing me out. None of us at the firm know what all he’s into. I can only guess how bad it is at this point. He’s in deep, these men…they’re, well they are tied to the cartels, the African warlords, and the Chinese mafia.”

“What the fuck?”

“You see why my hands are tied. I tried to get him away from them when I found out who the client was, then I tried to give them money, but Seth was in deep. He was trading for them, then I think he started doing drugs or something. He didn’t look right, always exhausted, closing himself up.”

“He’s a tweaker, a stoner? What?”

“I’m not sure what any of that means, but Seth was organizing meet ups with other high-profile clients and dipping his toes in God knows what. Drugs are the only thing I can think of as it’d bring him in more money. He was obsessed, said he found something that would change the game, and I knew then he was in too deep. I tried to get him away, to drop them as clients, but he just kept telling me he needed more time. When he told me they were demanding a meetup and there was a real possibility for danger, I knew it was time for us to go. I’ve been overdue for retirement for years now, so I threw in the towel and put the business in the kids’ names.”

El Pecado Cartel.

There’s no doubt in my mind about Seth’s fate. If he’s alive, I’ll be more surprised than I will be to learn he’s dead.

No matter what, I can’t tell Lacey the truth. Not until I know without a doubt that he’s never coming home. It’ll kill her inside and I don’t ever want to be the one to turn her heart dark.

Chapter 6

You'll never find a rainbow if you're looking down - Charlie Chaplin

Lacey

I don’t know what the guy making drinks behind the bar gave me last night, but it wasn’t plain old lemon-lime soda like I’d originally ordered. My guess is it had vodka or something in it and I should’ve been paying better attention. I was too distracted with everything going on that I sucked a few down while watching my brother’s co-worker being questioned by all the growling bikers last night and trying to listen in on the call with my father and Asher. Add it to all the drama of the day and the next thing I know…I’m waking up to an empty bed.

I’d had my elbows resting on the bar, sitting next to Asher, and thought I’d lay my head on my arms for just a minute, then boom! Here I am, waking up after sleeping the hardest I have in I don’t know how long. I’d almost wonder where I am with the unfamiliar dark sheets if it wasn’t for the delicious scent surrounding me belonging to Asher. I’ll never forget how he smells for the rest of my life, so waking up surrounded with his unintentional warmth has brought me a sense of calm. I needed it more than I realized to be able to somewhat rationally process everything that has recently occurred.

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