"Dude, what the f.u.c.k?" Anthony barked, pushing past me as he entered the house.

I rolled my eyes, not really ready to deal with his s.h.i.t, but we needed the manpower.

"What the h.e.l.l is going on, son?" Pop asked as he gave me a quick hug.

"Let's talk in the kitchen." I waited as they filed in one by one before I entered behind them. Then I grabbed the note off the counter and slid it in the middle of the table.

James grabbed the note, scanning over it.

"What's that?" Joe asked, sliding into a chair.

"What is this s.h.i.t?" James growled, holding up the piece of paper and shaking it. "I call bulls.h.i.t."

"It is. I woke to find this note," I said, s.n.a.t.c.hing the paper. "Angel said she was leaving. When I texted her, I got a reply, but not one I was expecting."

"Yeah, there's no way she'd leave and go back to her s.h.i.tty life." James bit his lip, knowing he'd already said too much.

I jumped in quickly, bringing everyone back to the topic at hand. "The text said they wanted one million dollars or they'd kill her and come after me."

"What the f.u.c.k!" Joe roared, slamming his hand on the table. The table jumped, falling back to the floor with a thud.

"Do you know who?" Anthony asked, sitting forward and dropping the att.i.tude.

"No f.u.c.king clue. We need to find someone to track her phone. See if they can get a location. We need to run down a list of suspects and figure out how we're going to get her back."

"How long?" James asked, thinking like a cop and not in shock about the situation.

"Forty-eight hours." I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache building in my skull.

"Not enough time," Joe mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger.

"No, buddy. We got this s.h.i.t," James said, tipping his chin to me. "We need someone who can access her phone records ASAP."

"Flash?" I offered, grimacing as I spoke. He was a sore spot for both James and me.

James winced, his eyes coming to mine with a cold stare. "Little f.u.c.ker," James muttered, swiping his hand across his face to m.u.f.fle his words.

"I always hated that little p.r.i.c.k," Joe agreed, knowing full well what James had said.

"I don't trust him," Mike stated firmly with his lips set in a thin line.

Pop stood and leaned over the table, placing his knuckles flat against the surface. "Boys, it doesn't matter if you like someone. If they're useful, then you have no choice but to bury the hatchet."

Everyone quietly thought about my father's words, knowing he'd spoken the truth. For my sake-and Angel's-we had to go against our personal feelings and use any means necessary, even if that meant Flash.

"Pop's right. He's our only hope to get information from her phone and possibly find her location." I pushed back from the table, the sound of the legs sc.r.a.ping against the floor ringing in my ears. "James, can you call him and get him on point?" I stared at James, waiting for him to protest. I knew the Izzy-Flash situation of the past was still stuck in his craw.

"Only for you, Thomas. Only for you."

"Doesn't matter why. Just do it."

With that, he got up from the table, dialing his phone as he walked into the living room. "Flash." James's voice grew quiet as he moved out of earshot.

"What do we do first?" Mike asked, leaning forward and clasping his hands together.

I could see his muscles flex and relax as he sat there. He was pumping himself up, ready and needing a fight. He'd been out of the ring too long and missed the greatest joy of his life-besides his girl. Fighting was in his blood.

"Here's what we're going to do..." I laid out the plan, going over each step and different scenarios. A lot would depend on where, who had her, and what their true motives were.

On the surface, it seemed as if they were out for some quick cash, but it might have been a ploy. Maybe they wanted to weed me out and use me as an offering to the MC. There were more possibilities-probably dozens I couldn't even imagine.

Much of the operation lay in Flash's hands. He was our starting point, and everything would radiate and develop from his intel. As we were talking through our plans and determining the weapons at our disposal, James came back in the room and tossed his phone on the table.

"He said give him twenty." He collapsed in a chair, stretching out his legs and rolling his neck.

Not only was he tied to Flash because of Izzy, but Rebel's death was something the three of us had dealt with together. We were all culpable and guilty of that crime. I wasn't sorry that he'd died, but seeing Flash and having the three of us together would bring up old wounds of the night we'd killed a man in cold blood.

Shaking off my thoughts, I looked at James, waiting for him to return my stare. "Good. He'll come through for us."

James nodded, crossing his arms over his chest and taking a deep breath.

"James, what about calling Bobby?"

"What about him?" he asked, looking down at his arms. His lips were almost in a frown, as if he were pouting about Flash. Maybe it was the remorse he felt about Rebel.

Even when you knew it'd been the only option you'd had, knowing that you'd killed another human being left a feeling of guilt. Rebel had been a complete piece of s.h.i.t, but as a DEA agent, you vow to serve and protect. If we hadn't finished him, he would've come after Izzy and James, and I would have also been in his crosshairs. It was the only way it could have ended.

"We need him to do some digging. I need to know everything there is to know about Angel. All of her connections. And I want information on her crack-wh.o.r.e mother."

"Think she's involved?" James asked, bringing his eyes back to mine, a look of disbelief written on his face.

"She's a b.i.t.c.h who would do anything for money. She may not be responsible for her abduction, but she played a role. I'd bet my life on it."

Anger began to boil inside me. I had known she was a c.u.n.t when I'd met her. The way she'd tried to attach herself to any member with a d.i.c.k who wasn't taken by an old lady... She didn't want to be a club wh.o.r.e. She wanted her place in the MC, but no one took her up on the chance. Roxy and I developing a relationship had to have p.i.s.sed her off after she'd remained a sidepiece for years.

"Who wants coffee?" Pop asked, breaking the tension in the room.

We were on edge-James and I more than the others. But it was clear that testosterone and p.i.s.sed-off male were floating in the air.

"I got it, Pop," Joe said. "Sit and relax with the guys. We know you can't make coffee worth s.h.i.t anyway."

"Some things are best left to your ma." He laughed as he sat, throwing his hands in the air as an apology of sorts.

James's phone began to play "I f.u.c.king Hate You" by G.o.dsmack as it danced across the table. After quickly grabbing it to stop the words from continuing, he snapped, "You better have some f.u.c.kin' news."

He glared at me while he listened to Flash, tapping his fingers on the table. He needed to get over his bulls.h.i.t with him. I didn't care if he'd slept with my sister or not, and neither should he. James had won; Izzy was his and his alone. Flash could never say the same.

"Got it," James said as the table quietly waited to hear the news. "What else?" He rolled his eyes, slamming his fist on the table. "G.o.dd.a.m.n f.u.c.kin' social media. Stay by your phone, and I'll call you back if we need more."

"What did he say?" I asked before he could end the call.

Setting his phone down, he sighed. "Flash did some digging. First off, he found that she'd used her Facebook app on her phone. He found her page and she wrote a status update a couple of days ago. Thomas, her location was turned on. It has to be how they found her."

"G.o.d d.a.m.n it," I said, raking my fingers through my hair and pulling at the roots. I hadn't even thought about her phone being tracked. Why had I been so f.u.c.king stupid? I should've checked her phone. "What else?" I asked, angrier with myself than with anyone else, especially Angel.

"The location was down the road from here. She must have been in the car when she updated her status. It didn't show the exact location of your house, but it was in the general vicinity. Anyway, he was able to trace her phone to a tower near Orlando. He's working on getting a more exact location, but it's going to take time."

"Just get it done. We have nothing without a location. I'd rather catch them by surprise than have to show up at a drop-off location on their terms."

"I'll call him and make sure he pushes the s.h.i.t through as quickly as possible." James called Flash back. "Thomas said to get on their backs about the location. Do whatever you have to in order to get the information ASAP."

Then he stood, walked to the sink, and stared out the window. "We don't give a f.u.c.k about that. Make it happen any way you can," he barked before hanging up the phone and turning around to rest his a.s.s against the counter. "It's done. We'll know something in the next twenty-four hours."

"Good. James and I need to call Bobby, our old boss at the DEA, and get more information." I looked around the table, taking in the angry expressions of my family. "I want each of you to think long and hard before you decide to go with us to rescue her. It's dangerous and risky. The ladies won't be happy about it. Even though I have bulletproof vests, any of us could die."

"I'm in, brother," Mike responded quickly, nodding his head as he stroked his chin.

"Me too," Anthony chimed in, sitting back in his chair, calm and relaxed.

"Joe," I said before he could reply. "You have a baby on the way. I don't think it's a good idea for you to be there. You have the most to lose."

"f.u.c.k that s.h.i.t, Thomas. I'm there. If you're in trouble, it affects us all. You'd do the same for me. Baby or not, I'm there for my family. Suzy will understand." His stare was steely and serious. I knew that once he'd set his mind to something, there was no way in h.e.l.l I'd be able to change it.

"Right." I turned toward my pop as he looked around the table. "Pop, Ma will be so p.i.s.sed if you come with us. I think you should-"

He put his hand up. "If my boys are going, then I'm going. No one can stop me, especially your mother. I'm the one who taught you boys everything you know. Plus, I'd be going freaking crazy sitting at home when I knew s.h.i.t was going down and you were all in danger."

"Pop-"

"Not another word, Thomas. I'm coming with you."

I sighed, dragging my hands down my face as I blew out a breath. If I didn't die in hail of bullets, my mother might finish me off for involving him.

"I'll send a text when I have more details or when you need to come back. For now, go home and act as normal as possible. I don't want the girls in a panic."

"Uh, dude," Mike grumbled, raising his index finger.

"What?" I snapped.

"The girls already know. I mean, what the f.u.c.k did you expect? It's Monday morning and you summoned us here. They know something is up. I can't lie to Mia."

"Don't tell them that Angel's been kidnapped. Make something else up."

"Your stories better match," Anthony blurted, pushing the chair up and standing. "You know they're going to talk to each other. One slip-up and you're all history."

"f.u.c.k," James hissed, kicking the floor with his foot. "They've probably already done a party line by now."

"Just tell them that I thought someone broke into my house and I needed help checking it out."

"You think they're going to buy that crock of s.h.i.t?" Anthony asked, shaking his head.

"Why not?"

"Bro, you seriously underestimate the ladies. They're slick and smart. Nothing gets by them," he replied, picking at his nails as he smirked.

"Your lady problems get by them." I sat back and smiled, seeing his eyes shooting to mine.

Everyone around the table turned to him with a look of shock, especially my father.

"Traitor," Anthony snarled, glaring at me and looking like he wanted to lunge across the table.

Pop put his hand on Anthony's shoulder. "You have some explaining to do, son."

"Coffee?" I asked, a small smile on my face because I knew I'd thrown Anthony under the bus. I'd outed him and his dirty little secret. I didn't know exactly what it was, but I knew it involved a woman who had him by the b.a.l.l.s.

"Nah. I better get home to Suzy. She's probably starving by now." Joe stood, squeezing Pop's shoulder before holding his hand out to me. "Call me anytime, day or night, and I'll be here."

"Thanks, Joe."

"I better get home and washed up," Mike said. "I have to be at the clinic in a couple of hours to help. Wait up for me, Joe. I'll walk out with you." He followed Joe into the foyer with a quick wave and a nod.

"I'm out." Anthony stood, staring down at Pop. "Ready to go, old man? I'll take you home."

The "old man" turned to Anthony, his head tilted and his eyes sharp, and stared at him. "You need to watch yourself, son."

"Sorry, Pop."

"I can't wait to get home and tell your ma that you have a girlfriend," Pop said, holding Anthony on the shoulder as they walked out the door.

"You wouldn't."

"Ain't so old anymore, am I?" Pop asked, closing the door.

"Want a cup?" I asked James, knowing he wasn't a morning person, much like myself.

"Please. I'll call Bobby and have him do a background check and dig into Angel's past. We need to isolate any potential problems and determine which ones are credible threats."

"I'll pour, you call." Standing by the coffee pot, I stared outside and wondered where she was.

Had they hurt her? Was she in pain? Had they killed her? The thought of that made me want to hurl, my stomach clenching tightly in a knot from thinking I'd never touch her again.

"Bobby," James said, pulling me from my thoughts as I grabbed the pot and poured him a cup. "I'm putting you on speakerphone." I placed the coffee in front of him as he said, "Bobby, we have a problem."

Chapter 20.