The drive felt like it was taking hours. I texted Manic, telling him to meet us at the parking lot across from the aquarium. It was only when I saw Ink pacing next to his Harley that I realized things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.
“Ink, you need to calm down.” I got out of the SUV and approached him. “I don’t want trouble from you.”
Ink bit his lower lip, his eyes nothing but wild orbs of turbulent anger. “I’m going to kill him, Granite. I swear to God.”
“No, you won’t. Not until we have Alyx.” I forced myself right up to him, looking him square in the eye. “Do not make me send you away. If that’s Slither waiting for us, you will keep a handle on yourself until we find Alyx. Do you understand me?”
Ink placed both hands on his head, growling like a fucking animal. I could practically feel the rage radiating from him, his entire body shaking with adrenaline. “You know what he did to her, man.”
“Yeah, I do. And believe me, I want this fucker dead as much as you do. But right now, our first priority is getting Alyx back safe and alive. You got that?”
Ink kicked at the asphalt, arms still in the air as he clutched the sides of his head. His nostrils flared, his mouth pulled in a taut line, and the vein in his neck going apeshit.
He sucked his lips into his mouth, stepping right up to me, his face inches from mine. “Remember your promise, man.”
“I do.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “You will get your revenge, Ink. But not today. Now, give me your gun.”
“What?” He stared at me, wild-eyed.
“Give me your gun.” I held out my palm. “Now.”
Ink snorted, his eyes wide and face red. “If not today, then when?”
“We don’t even know if it’s him, man. So calm the fuck down, and give me your gun.”
Manic and Onyx flanked me, and Ink looked from me to them before finally placing his gun in my hand. “Not today, then,” he sneered, but I knew not to make the mistake of trusting he’d be able to keep his cool. But I couldn’t chance it by going in another man short since we were already down by one with Dutch being injured.
I tucked Ink’s gun in the back of my jeans and pulled my cut over it. “No one does shit until we find out where Alyx is. Understood?” No one responded, so I glared over my shoulder. “Understood?”
Two ‘yups’ followed, but I didn’t press Ink to voice his understanding of my clear orders.
Harrison stepped in beside us, and I frowned while simply saying, “No.” There was no argument or debate. I didn’t care how long he’d been on our payroll, no cop would ever be allowed close to inside club business.
The streets were buzzing even when it was close to nightfall. Around here, most people only came out at night like fucking vampires. It was a smart move using a public place to meet. We might be savages, but killing innocent people wasn’t exactly our forte.
We stopped in front of the entrance, the place humming with people talking and children laughing. Talk about collateral damage if things got out of control.
“Eyes open,” I said to the guys standing around me.
I glanced at my wristwatch, and it was thirty minutes, exactly. “This better not be bullshit.” I turned in every direction, impatience getting the better of me as I pulled my hand through my hair.
“Well, well, well. I see you’re one short.”
My eyes closed when I heard his voice behind me. For some reason, a part of me really fucking hoped it wouldn’t be him, but it was stupid of me thinking the universe wouldn’t use this situation to throw yet another ‘fuck you’ at my face.
“Slither.” I turned to face him, purposely stepping in front of Ink. “Where is Alyx?”
He smirked like the filthy demon he was, holding up his hands. “What? No welcoming gestures?”
“Where is she?”
Dressed in a pair of jeans, gray shirt, and black baseball cap, it made him less conspicuous among the crowd. His crew who stood scattered behind him was also not so noticeable to anyone else, but I noticed them, just like he noticed the guys behind me.
He leaned his head to the side, placing his fist in the palm of his other hand. “I know where you girl is.”
“Good. Then you can tell me.”
He snickered. “You of all people know everything has a price tag.”