Page 26 of Bayou Knights
I don’t even know why I’m here. Or what Sawyer wants.
I feel hands on me, cuffing me to the bed. I try to struggle but I can’t break free. Rope is tied to my ankles, and I’m spread eagle on this bed. The man grins at me as another man enters.
“Oh goody,” the other one says. The first rips my shirt from my body and I try to move my hands to cover my chest but I can’t. The other pulls out a knife and cuts my jeans from me, leaving me in my bra and panties. I know what’s going to happen, but I don’t know why. What did I ever do?
I looked out for Lyra when we went to California. I loved my parents. I was a good kid. Wasn’t I?
My mind wanders as I watch one of the men straddle me. He unzips his pants and I feel him start to push inside as I start screaming no.
“Fuck,” he moans and that’s the last thing I hear before blacking out again.
* * *
Zion
Dixon has guys scoping out the land in Texas, while Bones is checking in with the guys in California. Tex was grazed by a bullet from whoever the asshole was that shot at him, but he’s good.
In all of this, we laid Horace to rest. The whole town showed up to pay their respects to this man. He was a nice man, with sarcasm to last a lifetime. It sucks he was caught up in all of this. I need to make it right.
To celebrate Horace, the town is holding a dinner at the Rec Center. Noah talked Gage into going, just to get him out of the house. He’s been staying with Bones until his grandma gets up here. Dixon has grown angrier by the day, though he keeps it in check, but she was supposed to already be here. He’s sent his guys to their house but no sign of her. He doesn’t know if she’s run off or was taken. Gage has us as his family to pull him through this.
My dreams have been filled with Plum. All I can see is her face, but she shows up and tells me something like I will find her. Every time she shows up, I wake up.
We have to be missing something.
My phone rings and I see it’s my son.
“Ziggy.”
“Dad, we’ve checked out all those addresses. Nothing. He did manage to get back into the house, it was trashed,” he says.
“If there is anything salvageable, pack it up and send it here. After that, you and Cupid make the drop and then head to Texas. Stetson and Trick will stay in California to keep watch on the sister’s house. Dixon will send some men down to help.” I only pray that the sister shows up, she’s probably the one that will lead us to Plum.
“Tell Gage hang in there, from me,” he hangs up.
I motion to another one of my men, Capone, to follow me. He can weasel his way into undergrounds, get dirty with the rats. I need him to do that starting in Cali. I also need Ranger, Army, and Jace.
“Yeah, prez,” Capone sneers. I like the guy but even he scares me.
“Grab Army, Ranger, and Jace, meet me in the meeting room,” I say and he nods.
“Can I join?” Dixon asks and I nod. I don’t want to keep him in the dark, Plum is his flesh and blood. I light up a cigarette and motion for the prospect to bring in glasses and a bottle of whiskey. I only pour a glass, but I need more. I feel like I need more.
I watch as the guys file in and take their seats, waiting for me to speak. I down my glass in one gulp and meet each of their eyes.
“Capone, I need you to use those street smarts in California. I think you know what I’m asking,” I say, and he nods.
“I’ll ride out tonight,” he murmurs. His voice is so deep and raspy that half the time you can’t really make out what he’s saying or he just doesn’t talk. He gets the job done, and that’s all I care about.
“Once you exhaust the rats there, move state to state. Someone knows something. If it’s money, someone will be talking about a wire. The land will have to still go through legal channels if she will sign it away.”
“Gotcha,” he nods.
“Take Rip with you,” I say, knowing he won’t mind Rip. They only talk to each other.
“Sure thing,” he leaves, and I turn to the others.
“I need you to get me blueprints,” I look at Jace.
