Page 87 of It's Going to Be a Chrome Christmas
She hated the placating look Holloway gave her. It didnotcalm her down. “Trixie, you know as well as I do that Cayden’s not going to let this go. He’s going to finish what he started.”
“He’s going to get himself killed!”
“I will do everything in my power to not let that happen.” He stood up too. “Lee’snot going to let that happen. I have SWAT on standby too. We’ve got all of our bases covered.”
She didn’t like his confidence. Cayden had already dodged one bullet tonight. How many more real bullets were about to come his way?
She turned and vomited, not even making it to the trash can.
Chapter
Sixteen
The address Carver had given Cayden was a warehouse down by the piers. It wasn’t as tall as Tex’s, but it was easily three times as wide. Lee had dropped him off down the road so that Carver’s people didn’t see Cayden being dropped off. If Cayden was right in his assumption about Massey, then it also wouldn’t help for Carver’s people to see Cayden with one of Massey’s men. Massey might think Lee dead, but Carver believed Lee to be one of Massey’s. Unlike when Cayden had taken Lee up to Carver’s penthouse, this time his presence would not be helpful. He was better here as a real cop than an undercover one.
The warehouse was set in a large fenced in concrete yard. With the barbed wire atop the fence and the number of cameras spread around, the sight would have reminded Cayden of jail if it hadn’t been for the gulf directly behind the building. He found some loose chains in the fence and was able to slip through.
He’d left the stolen baseball cap in Lee’s car. His cut was gone, but Cayden didn’t mind that. It might be part of Boost’s armor, but Cayden had grown to hate that damn thing over the past two months even more than he had when he’d been in jail. It hadn’t beenarmor. Armor presumed protection. All of it, the clothing, the earrings, the makeup, the hair, they weren’tprotection. They were the metaphorical bag over his head, suffocating him.
Carver had three armed men out by the front gate. Supposedly they were waiting to open the gate when Cayden drove up with the Raiju. Their backs were to Cayden as he ran across the concrete drive to the warehouse. If anyone was actively watching the cameras, they would see him. Paul was monitoring him via the phone Cayden had stolen, and Paul had reprogrammed. The kid babbled some technical talk that Cayden had summarized to mean that, once Cayden was close enough to Carver’s network, Paul could get in too. Paul’s involvement wasn’t legal, meaning that Lee couldn’t use anything Paul found as evidence against Carver. That didn’t mean Cayden didn’t want Paul watching his back.
At least he’s safe behind his numerous computer screens, Cayden thought rather cynically as he picked open a side door of the warehouse. He was on the opposite side of the large bay doors where he suspected Carver was waiting for him. He wondered if Carver or any of his men were paying attention to the news to know about the chase and wreck.
He was checking for any alarms or sensors before he opened the door when a text message from Paul told him he was clear. Damn, the FBI was hitting the jackpot with that kid. If he was able to do this legally… Cayden was grateful his criminal days were soon going to be behind him.
Another message told him that Carver was with six of his men at the front of the warehouse by the closed bay doors.
Cayden pocketed the phone, resisting the urge to ask about Trixie. He knew that Captain Holloway had told her he was alive. He could only imagine her reaction when the man told her Cayden had chosen not to go back to the police station. He knew it was the right decision to end this, either by Carver resisting in handcuffs or willingly going with the police to give evidenceagainst Massey, but he still felt guilty about leaving the captain to take the brunt of Trixie’s fury. She might end up killing the messenger.
He was ready to go home to her. Beyond ready. It hadn’t been fear forhimthat had gripped him when he’d seen the cop lights on the freeway. Taking down Carver was the right thing to do, but it had also been selfish on Cayden’s part. He’d left her to cleanse his soul, realizing too late that she was all the cleansing his soul had ever needed.
Cayden would make it up to her. Even if it took planting their entire backyard with red roses so he could present her with one every day for the rest of their lives. He might need to ask Mrs. Wynn for some gardening advice, as well as asking if she’d be willing to continue their cooking lessons. If she forgave him, that is. Trixie wasn’t the only person he had to make amends to, just the most important. He’d survive if no one else forgave him so long as he had Trixie at his side.
“…news says no body was recovered.”
Cayden stopped at the end of the hallway. He peeked around the side to see a large room at least two stories tall. There were wooden crates in one corner, shelves with various guns and ammunition, and a series of cars and motorcycles lined up in a row. He couldn’t see the makes and models because they were all covered by black or beige tarps. Like Carver was getting ready to move or be gone for a while.
Six MC members and Carver were converged around the front by the large bay door. It was closed, the large windows above the doors shining the dying sunlight down on them.
Before he brought attention to his presence, he quickly snapped pictures of the room and its items. He didn’t have to take the time to send them to Paul or Lee. Paul would see them and get them to Lee.
It certainly comes in handy to have your own personal IT rep in your back pocket, Cayden thought dryly.
Cayden took a moment to gather himself before he straightened his back, tipped his chin up, and strode into the open area of the warehouse. “Seems news of my death has been greatly exaggerated.”
There were shouts of surprise at his entrance, but no one washappyto see him. Not even Carver. It really hit home that he’d spent his late teens and early twenties with these people, but none of them actually cared about him. He wasn’t family, he wasn’t their brother. He was a means to an end. They used him for his skills, they might enjoy his company, but he was just a pawn to all of them. It was all about power and money. Mind, other than Bucky whom he would always have a soft spot for, Cayden couldn’t say he cared for any of them either.
Movement from the corner of his eye had Cayden spying the sixth man with Carver for the first time, and his heart sank. It was Bucky. The young man stood off to the side in his baggy clothes with his bright hair pulled back out of his face. Worse, Cayden could see the handle of a gun sticking out of the front of his pants.
How many times had Cayden told Bucky not to carry a gun? Told him that there were so many other ways to protect himself without a weapon… Cayden resisted shaking his head at the youth’s recklessness.
Carver came forward, drawing Cayden’s attention away from Bucky’s glare. “Where’s my bike, Boost?”
“At the bottom of the gulf.” No point in denying it. They were already talking about the news announcements regarding the chase.
Carver scowled. “I know that. I want to knowwhy. That motorcycle was going to make memillionsat auction.”
“I didn’t have a choice. It was me or the bike, and the bike certainly wasn’t getting here without me.” Cayden crossed his arms over his chest. “I need to talk to you.” His eyes roamed over his former club brothers in the room before adding, “Alone.”
