N9ne: The Tale of Kevin Clearwater (King, #9)(14)

“And to get it back before the troublesome trio knows it’s gone?” Pike asks.

“They know,” I say. I’ve spent years trying to prove myself to the three people who run this town. I was doing a good fucking job of it, too, until this motherfucker ruined everything I’ve worked so hard for.

“Duly noted. You don’t kill him. I don’t kill him, at least until you tell me to. Gotcha. Gun is loaded. Ready for battle.”

There’s a motorcycle approaching from behind us. I recognize the bike and the rider and immediately pull to the side of the road.

Pike and I get out as Bear pulls in behind us. We wait at the back of my truck as he gets off his bike. He’s shirtless, like always, wearing only his leather Lawless MC cut. The patch that says PRESIDENT on the front is the one that gives him the most respect. Both in the MC and in Logan’s Beach.

“Thought you could use some help since I heard you decided to only take your girlfriend here with you,” Bear says lighting a smoke.

“I know I should be offended, but that was actually pretty funny,” Pike says. “Well played, sir. Well played.”

“Could always use an extra gun,” I admit.

“You know, kid, you don’t gotta do this to prove shit to me or to your brother or to King. You’ve done that already. Many fucking times over. You’re good with the MC. You’re good with King. I don’t care what your brother thinks, to be honest, but I’m pretty sure you could cut him from throat to dick, and the fucker would still love you for it, since you helped save his wife’s life and all.”

“I know, but this was my decision. My play. I’m the one who needs to see it through. Make it right.”

“Fresh air, fresh blood? Sounds like a fucking Tuesday,” Bear says. “You two ready?”

I check my own gun and nod, feeling my adrenaline spike. It’s a high like no drug I’ve ever tried. I’m feeding off every quickened beat of my heart. Every surge of blood in my veins. “Fuck, yeah I’m ready.”

The house is a seven thousand square foot, modern mansion directly on the beach. I got a laptop trace a few minutes ago, so I know the fucker is here. I disarm the alarm from the outside in case he decides to press the emergency button when we arrive. All it takes is one quick snip of a wire. They really need to work on making security systems actually secure. A toddler could disarm these things with rounded play scissors.

Bear breaks the glass on the front door with a tool that renders the breaking silent. He turns the lock and we’re in. Since Bear is here now, Pike stays with the truck in case we need to get out in a hurry. Bear’s bike is parked under a tree in a vacant construction site a few lots down.

The house is silent except for the light sound of footsteps from upstairs. Back and forth, back and forth, as if someone is pacing…or in a hurry.

We make our way up the stairs as quietly as we can, guns drawn. Bear pushes open the door and we watch as Jared, dressed in a suit with his tie hanging haphazardly around his neck paces the room, packing all his belongings into several large suitcases. The door hits the wall and Jared looks up.

“Oh shit,” he says, making a run toward the bathroom. Bear is hot on his heels and drags him back into the room, throwing him on top of the full suitcases on the bed.

“Where’s the fucking money?” Bear demands while I search the room for a computer or laptop. Hacking used to be a hobby of mine, but now, it’s part of my life. If there’s money that he’s hiding, I’ll find it on his laptop. I could have done it from the comfort of my own home, but Jared has a closed-circuit server more secure than most black markets on the deep dark web.

“I…I have it. I’ll get it to you.” Jared cries with his hands in the air. He makes a move to sit up. Bear presses down on his chest with his foot, leaving a large boot mark on his white dress shirt.

“No computer up here,” I tell Bear.

“Search downstairs,” Bear says.

“Wait, my laptop. It’s in my safe. The money’s in there. In an offshore account. I swear,” Jared announces, his voice shaking with fear.

“It better be,” I warn.

“It is, I just got it back. I didn’t do anything. It was my girlfriend. She organized the entire thing. It was her idea. Not mine!”

“Way to take your punishment like a man. Blame your woman,” I growl. “Even if she did set this entire scam up, you just showed us what a fucking coward you are.”

Bear waves his gun and allows Jared to stand. Jared walks over to a painting, hanging above the dresser and pulls it down. There’s a large wet spot on the front of his pants. He literally pissed himself. Behind the painting is an in-wall safe. He cracks the code with shaking hands and opens the door. Jared reaches inside and feels around, but when he pulls his hand back out, it’s not a laptop he’s holding.

It’s a gun.

Jared doesn’t hesitate, firing two rounds at Bear, one hits him in the arm, knocking his gun out of his hand. The other lands in his thigh, sending a gush of blood surging out like the fountain in the front of this house.

Jared’s quick, but he’s not quick enough.

By the time he turns his gun on me, I’ve already fired off three rounds into his chest until he falls down dead. The gun drops to the wood floor with a hard echo.