REAPER'S KISS(29)

“Prez, what’s going on?”

“Your information is adding up fast,” Sid said.

“Meaning what?”

“That night. The attack. I get it now. The murder thing doesn’t make much sense. But if Arnie was there…”

“Just hold on,” Sid said. “The money we took was from a big name. Bigger than I expected. But we can handle it, Jace. Here’s the thing though… I had eyes out there looking. And those eyes stumbled across something.”

“What’s that?”

“Frank.”

“Frank,” I said. “The driver of the car. The one that cruised by my house and then attacked the prospects.”

“Exactly.”

“What about?”

“He’s dead,” Sid said.

My eyes went wide. “Whoa. Really? Who did it?”

“That’s the shit part, Jace. I didn’t order it. I don’t know who the f*ck did it.”

My heart sank a little. I stood up. I spotted my jeans on the floor. I tucked the phone to my shoulder and started to strip down. I knew the end of this call would result in me booking to the clubhouse to figure this mess out.

“So this was a random hit on Frank?” I asked.

“No,” Sid said. “Someone running with Frank did it.”

I looked to the doorway and saw Ava standing there, her phone in her hand. She had tears in her eyes. She looked shaken up. I put up a finger and turned around.

“Prez, what do you think is happening right now?”

“It’s time to press Ava some more,” Sid said. “I’m sorry. One of my guys told me that her father and Frank were together. Recently. Now Frank is dead and Jake is missing. And the other name in this… Glen… shit, Jace, I don’t even want to go down that road.”

“One thing at a time then,” I said, not sure if I wasn’t talking to Sid or myself.

“First thing, get your ass here. Bring Ava too. We need more answers. By any means necessary.”

Sid hung up on me. I felt my body filling with rage.

Slowly, I turned, not wanting to face Ava, but I had no choice.

“Sweetie,” I whispered. “Listen to me…”

“Jace,” she cut in. She wiped a tear off her cheek. “My father is in the hospital… he had a heart attack…”





chapter twenty-four


(ava)



NOW



I held my father’s hand. Machines beeped. Nurses were checking vitals. Jace stood behind me, giving me space, but still honoring his word to protect me. He told me that Uncle Frank had been shot and killed. I felt like everything I knew was completely falling apart. I felt empty and worse yet, when Dad turned his head and looked at me with his weak eyes, I knew more was about to get dumped on me.

His lips quivered. “Ava…”

“What happened?” I asked him.

“I’ll leave you be,” the nurse said. “If you need anything, Jake, you press that button there.” The nurse pointed, smiled, and left the room.

“Where were your heart pills?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Oh, Ava. There were never any heart pills.”

“What?”

“The pills did this to me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Drugs. That’s what was in the bottle. I had different kinds of drugs, Ava. Frank got me hooked a long time ago. I’m so sorry. I let your mother down with it all. She tried for years to clean me up but I couldn’t do it. It was my relief. I could take breaks though, Ava, and I did. I took breaks. That’s how Frank pulled me into it all. The drugs. The gambling. It was the only way to keep my debts satisfied and try to save the store. I wanted to keep it all for your mother and you. But it never worked out. Frank had me… he had me on a leash…”

Dad started to break down.

I took my hand from his.

Behind me, I felt Jace touch my back. His lips then at my ear. “I’ll leave the room.”

“No,” I said. “You’re staying, Jace. We’re all in this.”

I felt a surge go through me. I was going to stand tall and take control of my life.

Right here. Right now.

“He had you on a leash?” I asked Dad.

“Yes. Me and several other people. It was what he did best. Luring us in and keeping us hooked and happy. I’m so sorry, Ava.”

“Frank was murdered,” I said. “Did you do it?”

“No,” Dad said. “No… I didn’t… I would never…”

“You knew about it?” I asked.

“Yeah. I saw it happen. I was hiding. I was in a warehouse just outside Bishop. That’s where Frank wanted me to meet him. He was planning another attack.” Dad looked at Jace. “He wanted revenge on you guys bad. You did something to him. He tried to blame me. That time at the store… he was high and trying to collect from everyone he controlled. I had nothing to give him though except the cash in the register.”

“I can’t speak for my club,” Jace said. “Speak to your daughter.”

“Dad, who killed Frank?” I asked. “If you were there… you could help Jace’s club. We could stop this.”