Page 48 of Archer (Dirty Misfits MC 3)
“Is this true, Kyle?” I asked as I stared the boy down in front of me.
But Porter answered my question before he did. “It’s true. Some of the blood has already coagulated on the floor. They’ve been here a while.”
I paused. “Uh, thanks Porter?”
Porter chuckled. “Hey, what can I say? I listen, unlike some of you suckers.”
Then, Tanner said what we were all thinking. “Fall guys.”
Kyle’s eyes widened. “Wait, what!?”
I rolled my eyes. “The guy you talked to? Chops? He’s set you up to be fall guys for this grand master plan. That’s why these assholes are already dead. You’ve trampled around in their blood, leaving footprints like idiots, and your hair will be all over the crime scene. You were never supposed to make it out of the wharf. So, the more you tell us, the more we can help. So, talk.”
Brody rattled off behind me. “We’ve been taking orders from this guy named Chops. He met us in the alley, like Kyle said, and he’s the one that’s been contacting us and telling us what to do. There’s been weeks of shit we’ve had to do in preparation for this. Everything from staking out the wharf and telling him what we see all the way down to skipping classes at school and meeting him for coffee. It’s been a hell of a ride, and we just want off.”
Brooks stepped up to the plate. “Well, then today’s your fucking lucky day.”
I slipped out of the security guard hut and ripped the hair net off my head. I hated these fucking things, but they kept shit clean, just like Cole said they would. I looked around to make sure no one was perched and watching us, but as I started my way back into the hut, my phone vibrated against my thigh.
And when I pulled it out, I saw it was Josie calling.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as I picked up.
“Archer, something’s happened. I can’t find Cole, he isn’t responding, and Chops ripped—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down, beautiful. Take some breaths.”
Tanner rushed out to my side and slid close so he could hear the phone call, too.
“I don’t know where Cole is. I said the code word and he hasn’t responded. Chops forced me into a private dance and almost—he—well, he almost—”
Tanner spoke because I simply couldn’t. “Josie, it’s Tanner. Where are you right now?”
I heard the tears in her voice. “I’m in an abandoned room on the office hallway. The guys are looking for me. I jammed my heel into Chops’ ball sack when he tried to force himself on me and he’s bleeding. I don’t know how bad the damage is.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m fucking proud of you, Josie. Good for you.”
“Where’s Cole?” she asked as tears clouded her voice.
“Listen to me, are you listening?” I asked.
I looked over at Tanner and he nodded his head. “I’m heading back to the club right now. I’m going to come find you. Stay put and keep me updated if you move. I’ll figure out what’s going on with Cole and I’ll get you out of there.”
Tanner jogged off to inform the guys of what was happening as Josie cried to me over the phone. I wrapped up the phone call quickly and blew her a kiss through the receiver before I turned around and saw Brooks wave his hand at me, telling me to head on out. I made a break for the front gate, climbing over it as if it were nothing before I dropped down onto my feet.
And after running five blocks up the road from the wharf, I flagged down the first cab I could find.
Hoping, and praying, that no one found Josie before I did.
Twenty-Two
Josie
There was commotion up and down the hallway, and I kept my tears as muted as I could. Never in my life had I been so scared, and I knew that if I was caught they’d kill me on the spot. Hell, Chops already knew that I wore a wig, and if I couldn't find a way to play that off I’d be up shit creek without a damn paddle.
Then again, I was already up shit creek.
“Cole, if you can hear me, please say something. Anything,” I whispered.
I pulled my earpiece out to check and make sure the damned thing was even on. I flipped the little switch a couple of times before I slipped it back into my ear and tried saying his name again. I used our code word. I cleared my throat. I did anything that I thought might catch his attention.
But there was only silence on his end of the line.
“Shit, shit, shit, shit,” I hissed.
After about fifteen minutes, the footsteps rushing up and down the hallway slowed to nothingness. I crept out of the musty closet in the abandoned room and pressed my ear against the wall, wondering if it was possible to hear someone standing outside. I didn’t hear anyone panting for air, or walking around, or even sighing as they stood there being bored out of their minds.
