Chapter
Sixteen
The address Carver had given Cayden was a warehouse down by the piers. It wasn’t as tall as Tex’s, but it was easily three times as wide. Lee had dropped him off down the road so that Carver’s people didn’t see Cayden being dropped off. If Cayden was right in his assumption about Massey, then it also wouldn’t help for Carver’s people to see Cayden with one of Massey’s men. Massey might think Lee dead, but Carver believed Lee to be one of Massey’s. Unlike when Cayden had taken Lee up to Carver’s penthouse, this time his presence would not be helpful. He was better here as a real cop than an undercover one.
The warehouse was set in a large fenced in concrete yard. With the barbed wire atop the fence and the number of cameras spread around, the sight would have reminded Cayden of jail if it hadn’t been for the gulf directly behind the building. He found some loose chains in the fence and was able to slip through.
He’d left the stolen baseball cap in Lee’s car. His cut was gone, but Cayden didn’t mind that. It might be part of Boost’s armor, but Cayden had grown to hate that damn thing over the past two months even more than he had when he’d been in jail. It hadn’t been armor. Armor presumed protection. All of it, the clothing, the earrings, the makeup, the hair, they weren’t protection. They were the metaphorical bag over his head, suffocating him.
Carver had three armed men out by the front gate. Supposedly they were waiting to open the gate when Cayden drove up with the Raiju. Their backs were to Cayden as he ran across the concrete drive to the warehouse. If anyone was actively watching the cameras, they would see him. Paul was monitoring him via the phone Cayden had stolen, and Paul had reprogrammed. The kid babbled some technical talk that Cayden had summarized to mean that, once Cayden was close enough to Carver’s network, Paul could get in too. Paul’s involvement wasn’t legal, meaning that Lee couldn’t use anything Paul found as evidence against Carver. That didn’t mean Cayden didn’t want Paul watching his back.
At least he’s safe behind his numerous computer screens, Cayden thought rather cynically as he picked open a side door of the warehouse. He was on the opposite side of the large bay doors where he suspected Carver was waiting for him. He wondered if Carver or any of his men were paying attention to the news to know about the chase and wreck.
He was checking for any alarms or sensors before he opened the door when a text message from Paul told him he was clear. Damn, the FBI was hitting the jackpot with that kid. If he was able to do this legally… Cayden was grateful his criminal days were soon going to be behind him.
Another message told him that Carver was with six of his men at the front of the warehouse by the closed bay doors.
Cayden pocketed the phone, resisting the urge to ask about Trixie. He knew that Captain Holloway had told her he was alive. He could only imagine her reaction when the man told her Cayden had chosen not to go back to the police station. He knew it was the right decision to end this, either by Carver resisting in handcuffs or willingly going with the police to give evidence against Massey, but he still felt guilty about leaving the captain to take the brunt of Trixie’s fury. She might end up killing the messenger.
He was ready to go home to her. Beyond ready. It hadn’t been fear for him that had gripped him when he’d seen the cop lights on the freeway. Taking down Carver was the right thing to do, but it had also been selfish on Cayden’s part. He’d left her to cleanse his soul, realizing too late that she was all the cleansing his soul had ever needed.
Cayden would make it up to her. Even if it took planting their entire backyard with red roses so he could present her with one every day for the rest of their lives. He might need to ask Mrs. Wynn for some gardening advice, as well as asking if she’d be willing to continue their cooking lessons. If she forgave him, that is. Trixie wasn’t the only person he had to make amends to, just the most important. He’d survive if no one else forgave him so long as he had Trixie at his side.
“…news says no body was recovered.”
Cayden stopped at the end of the hallway. He peeked around the side to see a large room at least two stories tall. There were wooden crates in one corner, shelves with various guns and ammunition, and a series of cars and motorcycles lined up in a row. He couldn’t see the makes and models because they were all covered by black or beige tarps. Like Carver was getting ready to move or be gone for a while.
Six MC members and Carver were converged around the front by the large bay door. It was closed, the large windows above the doors shining the dying sunlight down on them.
Before he brought attention to his presence, he quickly snapped pictures of the room and its items. He didn’t have to take the time to send them to Paul or Lee. Paul would see them and get them to Lee.
It certainly comes in handy to have your own personal IT rep in your back pocket, Cayden thought dryly.
Cayden took a moment to gather himself before he straightened his back, tipped his chin up, and strode into the open area of the warehouse. “Seems news of my death has been greatly exaggerated.”
There were shouts of surprise at his entrance, but no one was happy to see him. Not even Carver. It really hit home that he’d spent his late teens and early twenties with these people, but none of them actually cared about him. He wasn’t family, he wasn’t their brother. He was a means to an end. They used him for his skills, they might enjoy his company, but he was just a pawn to all of them. It was all about power and money. Mind, other than Bucky whom he would always have a soft spot for, Cayden couldn’t say he cared for any of them either.
Movement from the corner of his eye had Cayden spying the sixth man with Carver for the first time, and his heart sank. It was Bucky. The young man stood off to the side in his baggy clothes with his bright hair pulled back out of his face. Worse, Cayden could see the handle of a gun sticking out of the front of his pants.
How many times had Cayden told Bucky not to carry a gun? Told him that there were so many other ways to protect himself without a weapon… Cayden resisted shaking his head at the youth’s recklessness.
Carver came forward, drawing Cayden’s attention away from Bucky’s glare. “Where’s my bike, Boost?”
“At the bottom of the gulf.” No point in denying it. They were already talking about the news announcements regarding the chase.
Carver scowled. “I know that. I want to know why. That motorcycle was going to make me millions at auction.”
“I didn’t have a choice. It was me or the bike, and the bike certainly wasn’t getting here without me.” Cayden crossed his arms over his chest. “I need to talk to you.” His eyes roamed over his former club brothers in the room before adding, “Alone.”
Carver’s eyes narrowed. Without looking behind him, he ordered, “Out.”
At his single word, four of the club brothers exited through the door to outside. The two who stayed were Carver’s VP, Slick, who crossed his massive arms over his chest and planted his feet, and Bucky, who frankly looked bored. Since Carver didn’t order them out, Cayden assumed Carver didn’t care about their conversation being overheard by witnesses. While he didn’t like that Bucky was one of those witnesses, Cayden had come to the conclusion that the young man needed to learn that he was responsible for his own actions. Cayden would not always be there to take the fall for him.
“The heist was a set up,” Cayden said before Carver could inquire. “Police were on me the second I hit the freeway.”
“Then you messed up.” Carver looked ready to punch something. Probably Cayden. “I knew you were out of the game too long.”
Cayden snorted indignantly. He also didn’t like the smug look on Bucky’s face. “I didn’t mess up, and even if I did, they were there too fast. They already had a roadblock set up. No way they had time to do that if I was the one who alerted them.”
Carver’s upper lip twitched. “Are you honestly suggesting that we have a rat in our midst?”
Cayden shook his head honestly, because he wasn’t. “No, I don’t think it was one of yours. There were only a few of your men who actually knew what was going on. You and I were the only ones who knew what I was getting tonight. Even if they knew about the auction, they didn’t know about the Raiju.” He paused before adding, “But there was one man who knew about the auction and knew you were after that bike. He has the connections and the smarts to realize what you were up to.”
He wasn’t going to say the name. Carver had to reach the conclusion on his own.
“Massey,” he snarled out. “That double-crossing piece of shit.” His eyes quickly glanced around the room. “He’ll be here soon if he’s not already on his way. No way he would just take the Raiju. If he’s coming after me, he’s going to take it all.”
Cayden had no desire to get caught up in or to start a turf war. “I don’t think so. If I’d been any less of a driver, the cops would have me in custody and the motorcycle impounded. I think he planned on getting to it that way. I don’t think he plans on coming here.”
“Oh, I think I just might.”
Cayden’s stomach sank at the voice behind him. He didn’t recognize the speaker by his voice but by his words. It could only be one man.
Gavin Massey and at least a dozen thugs filled the room. They quickly surrounded Cayden, Carver, Bucky, and Slick. The VP made to reach for his gun, but stopped when he realized how woefully outnumbered he was. He slowly held up his hands, showing they were empty.
Bucky, whom Cayden could see out of the corner of his eye, was standing frozen and hadn’t even made to reach for his weapon. Cayden could only be grateful for that. Fear crept into his veins for the young man. He shouldn’t have been here.
Gavin Massey was not what Cayden had envisioned in his head. He had expected an older Caucasian man in a tailored suit. The jokester in him even gave Massey a Yosemite Sam mustache that he could twirl while doing his evil deeds.
The man in front of Cayden was African American with long dreadlocks held back in a messy bun like Trixie wore. He was younger than Cayden expected, maybe early forties. There was no facial hair on his face, but he did have a long scar running down his left cheek. His teeth shone brightly against his dark complexion as he smiled. Massey was dressed in dark jeans, sneakers, and a beige sweater.
He looked…casual.
He did not look like a man who was preparing a hostile criminal enterprise takeover or, Cayden swallowed nervously, even murder. Cayden inched himself closer to Bucky. He didn’t like how the young man was simply standing there. If all hell broke loose, he hoped Bucky would run to the door behind him. There was only one of Massey’s men between Bucky and his exit.
Carver stepped forward, though still keeping distance between Massey and himself. “What the fuck, Massey? I’ve always been straight with you. I’ve never crossed into your territory. What the fuck is this about?”
“This isn’t about territory, Carver. It’s about respect. You overstepped.”
Carver’s jaw ticked. “I offered you a seat at the auction.”
That got him a raise of an invisible eyebrow. “A seat?” Massey shook his head. “No, I should have been made a partner. I have given you plenty over the years and you think you’re going to make a dime off of me because you have a man who can boost even the un-boostable?”
Cayden felt himself stiffen as Massey’s amber eyes landed on him. He froze, not wanting to draw attention to himself or Bucky. Those eyes held such greed, like the world owed him everything and he planned to take it all. There was no remorse or fear behind those eyes, just pure gluttony. For one single second, Cayden understood Lee’s hatred of this man beyond Marco’s murder. Carver might be many things, and Cayden certainly was no angel, but it was Massey who was true evil.
“Of course, it might be exaggerating your man’s talents some. Are you aware, Carver, that your man has been feeding information about you to the local cops for months? In fact, the motorcycle he was bringing you tonight wasn’t even the real one. It was a manufactured failure that the company handed him the keys to.” Cold sweat dripped down Cayden’s back at the damning words. How the fuck had Massey known any of that? Shit, shit shit… He really hoped the cops were listening and hadn’t decided to take a bathroom break right then. He needed the cavalry to know he was in trouble. Where were they? Why hadn’t they come in as soon as Massey had? “You’re lucky my man in the department was able to give me so much information, Carver, or you would have brought me down along with yourself.”
Double shit. Massey had a cop in his pocket. Probably more than one, though he’d only referenced the singular.
While Carver looked murderous at Massey’s damning words, it was Bucky who spoke. “Boost?” His voice was laced with uncertainty, sadness, and accusation at Cayden, and all Cayden could think about was just how young Bucky looked in that moment.
The hurt in Bucky’s voice was like a slice upon his soul. The young man was standing only a few feet behind him. Still, Cayden met Bucky’s eyes unapologetically. He’d done what he had to do, and he doubted he’d ever be able to get Bucky to understand that. “I told you I was out.”
Before Bucky could respond, Massey spoke up again. “Your man set you up, Carver. You should be thanking me.” Massey took something small and black out of his pocket. “They won’t be able to hear a thing we’ve said. Your man’s been wired from the get-go. Likely recording every one of your meetings.”
Shit, shit, shit… That explained why the cops weren’t barging in. Cayden needed to figure out another way to get their attention.
Massey gestured to his men to start packing up the items on Carver’s shelves and in the crates. They were going to need to take a lot of trips or Massey was going to need a lot more men if he planned on emptying Carver out completely. “You’ve gotten careless, Carver. They were planning on raiding you today. I figured since you were going to lose your product anyway, I’d take it off your hands and get a good price for it. Better with me than in police storage. At least with me, it’d be put to better use.”
Carver’s face turned nasty. His eyes never left Cayden even as Massey talked to him. “You’re dead. How could you do this to me? I protected you! I took you in! I made you who you are!”
“I made me who I am,” Cayden shouted back at him. “You are nothing more than a black stain on my soul and I was happy to be rid of you and this life.”
“Oh, I’m sure your girlfriend had something to do with your decision.” Cayden whipped himself around to face Massey. He wasn’t fool enough to attack the man, but how he wanted to. How dare he talk about Trixie? Massey wasn’t fazed at all by Cayden’s ire. “She’s a pretty thing. Sassy. I might pay her a visit too when I’m done here.”
Fury ran through him. Logic told him that Trixie was protected. Even if Cayden died today, Lee wouldn’t let anything happen to his sister. She was currently in the police precinct surrounded by cops. Massey’s reach was powerful, but he couldn’t get to her in the center of a police station.
But logic was not playing a part in Cayden’s decision making right then.
Fury running through his veins, he took a step towards Massey. His hands were fisted, though he couldn’t quite say what his intention had been in advancing. The man to Massey’s right immediately raised his gun. Cayden froze. At least his brain was willing to acknowledge danger, if not logic.
It was silly. He was staring down the barrel of a gun. He knew all the man had to do was squeeze the trigger and Cayden was dead. No way around it. Unless the man was the world’s worst shot, he wasn’t missing.
But fear didn’t grip Cayden in that moment. Rather than the metal of the gun, Cayden saw the wicked gleam of Trixie’s eyes the first time she went down on him. She’d been so timid, but her enthusiasm had taken over and made up for her lack of technique. He saw Trixie standing, fully clothed, in the shop’s bay with grease smeared across her nose. He could hear her laugh as if she was standing right there in front of him. He remembered the first time he’d heard that magical sound, eavesdropping on her conversation with Mrs. Wynn.
Trixie…
Cayden’s only regret was their future together. His heart grew heavy as he realized he’d never get to build a home with her, never get to see her face as he got down on one knee to ask her to marry him, never get to see their children be born and then in a blink go off to college, never get to grow old with her… Their future had been right there.
They’d never even gotten to spend their first holiday season together. Instead, she’d likely spend Christmas Day at his funeral.
He knew she’d be cared for. She had the Wynns, Jeff, Joey, her employees, and Lee to support her. He wondered if Trixie would have worn a white dress on their wedding day or if she would have worn her coveralls because she knew just how much her wearing those turned him on. He hoped she’d always have grease under her fingernails.
There was a small crack followed by a sharp thud.
For a moment, no one moved. And then the man who’d lifted his gun towards Cayden fell backwards.
Cayden stared wide-eyed at the man who had a small red hole in the center of his forehead. Who had shot him? Cayden turned, half expecting to see Carver or his man with their gun raised. But neither did. Nor did Bucky. His eye caught something in the sunlight, lifting his gaze to the window above the bay door.
There was a single, perfectly round hole in the glass. What the fuck?
The shock of the initial shot wore off, and all hell broke loose. Massey’s men reached for their weapons. Two more holes appeared in the glass, and two more men dropped.
Without thinking, Cayden rushed Bucky, tackling his young friend to the floor. Bucky had been in the process of getting his gun out of his pants. Cayden had seen the fear and uncertainty in his eyes just before their bodies collided. The gun went skidding across the concrete floor.
They had been standing in the middle of an open floor space. He could do nothing but hold himself over Bucky and cover his young friend’s head with his own body. Bullets sounded, glass shattered, shots rang out, and then the loud crash of the bay door exploding. Cayden gripped Bucky tighter. There was a flash of light and a loud bang, followed by muffled shouted orders for weapons to be lowered and hands to be raised.
Cayden stayed where he was. He kept Bucky covered, hoping they were mistaken as dead if they continued to just lay there on the floor. His ears were ringing too loudly to make out much. The flash of light had blinded him anyway, but he still kept his eyes clamped closed. He had the sudden image of a bug getting trampled by a stampede. He really hoped that wasn’t a prophetic thought.
The feel of a rough hand on his shoulder shook him.
Cayden startled himself out of his position on the floor. He looked frantically up into Lee’s too stoic gaze. “Shit, man, doesn’t anything faze you? It’s not like there was a firefight or anything in here.”
Lee sat back on his feet, giving Cayden room to sit up. Rather than answer Cayden’s question, he asked one of his own. “You good?”
Cayden did a quick assessment and then nodded. “I’ll need a change of underwear, but I’m good.” Lee didn’t laugh or smile at Cayden’s joke but then he hadn’t really expected him to. He quickly reached for Bucky on the floor. The young man had tears in his eyes, but Cayden couldn’t see any blood. “Are you okay?”
Before Bucky could answer, a police officer came over and forced Bucky to his feet. His hands were zip tied behind his back before Cayden could say, “Wait, stop!”
Lee was the one who stepped forward. He stood up, far too gracefully for Cayden’s liking. There was a part of him that grew jealous when he saw Lee move like that. It was proof that the former Marine was in complete control of his body. He said something to the officer, who nodded, and started to lead Bucky away.
“Wait!” Cayden forced himself to stand, wincing as his right knee protested. Well, he’d gladly take a bruise over a bullet. He turned to Lee. “He didn’t do anything. He never shot his gun.”
“We still need to take him in, Cayden. I told the officer to bring him to Holloway’s office.”
Cayden bit his lip. “I know he hasn’t been making the best decisions, but he hasn’t had an easy life either. He doesn’t belong in jail.”
Lee raised an eyebrow before lowering it. “I’ll put in a good word for him. Maybe we’ll be able to just get him probation or a lighter sentence for any information.”
Cayden glanced around at the hectic scene. The floor was coated with shell casings. Surprisingly, for all the chaos, there were only five bodies. The remaining gangbangers and MC members were being zip tied and lined up by the door on their knees. He saw that Carver was one of them. Slick, the BPMC’s VP, was one of the bodies to Cayden’s right.
“I’m sorry,” he said to Lee. This whole thing had turned into a bloody mess. Cayden didn’t see how this outcome could help anyone. “Massey came in and had this device. It blocked my wire.”
Lee snorted. “It did, but not your phone. Paul got it all.”
“Everything?” Holy fuck! He certainly owed Paul. That kid and his computer… Cayden was beyond impressed. “Carver’s confession and Massey’s involvement?”
Lee nodded.
Cayden looked at the men being lined up at the door by the police officers. He didn’t see any dreadlocks. He quickly looked at the bodies again. None there either. “Massey?”
Lee’s nostrils flared. Cayden supposed that was the best sort of acknowledgement of Lee’s inner anger he was ever going to get. “He got away when we breached.”
Cayden let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry, man.” Then he remembered. Shit, he can’t believe he hadn’t said it first. “Trixie. Massey threatened her—”
“Massey is now, officially, one of the most wanted men in the city.” Cayden looked around Lee to see Captain Holloway stride into the warehouse like it was a mansion he owned. “He’s going to be going underground or trying to escape. Let me deal with Massey. You, Mr. Russo, have more important things to deal with. I can only contain her for so long. If you don’t want her coming in here,” Holloway gestured to the bodies, “I suggest you get out there. I’m pretty sure your young lady is preparing to take on the entire SWAT team to get back here to you.”
Cayden took several steps towards the door and then paused. He blinked, his brow furrowing. Then he turned around to face Lee. The man still stood there with his arms crossed, his face just as stoic as ever. It was the rifle slung across his back that had made Cayden pause. He hadn’t noticed that at first.
He recalled the shot that had saved his life. And then the two that had immediately followed afterward. The large window was facing northwest away from the water. The concrete yard surrounding the warehouse was wide and touched on three of its four sides. Cayden didn’t even know where the nearest building was that could have gotten any sniper the height he would have needed to take those shots. Wherever it was, it wasn’t close.
Lee met his eyes and raised a single eyebrow. He didn’t expect Cayden’s gratitude any more than he expected an acknowledgement of what he’d done. For a moment, all Cayden could think was damn with a sense of awe surrounding the thought.
He turned to go, his legs suddenly feeling sluggish.
“Cayden.” His feet froze. He shifted once more to turn towards where Lee and the captain stood. Lee moved his arms from across his chest to rest his hands on his hips. There was nothing threatening about how he looked at Cayden or spoke to him, and yet Cayden knew it was no less a warning. “Treat her right.”
The reminder of Trixie washed over him, breaking him of the shock of what had transpired. He gave her brother a smile. “I plan to.”
The sun was nearly set by the time he’d exited the warehouse. The lot was lit up with large stadium lights the police had set up to continue working unhindered.
All he saw was a blur of black hair before she flung herself into his arms. The aromas of her coconut bath wash, motor oil, grease, and something metallic hit him hard, and he breathed it in like a drowning man’s first breath of air. He heard her tears, knew they were a mixture of fear and relief, but he’d be damned if he could form a single word or thought right then.
Finally, he was able to pull her face away from him enough to claim her lips. She clung to him, completely uncaring about their audience. There might have been some cat calls, some applause… Cayden had no idea.
It was over. He didn’t know what his involvement in closing Lee’s case would need to be. He’d probably have to testify. They likely had to get his accounting of what had happened. But all of that could wait. All of it needed to wait.
When his lungs started protesting beyond what he could ignore, Cayden broke their kiss but kept his hold on her. Her forehead rested against his. She was completely wrapped around him, and he loved it.
“Let’s go home.”
Trixie nodded. “My apartment is cleaner—”
But Cayden shook his head. “Home, baby. I need to go home.”
“It’s not even decorated for Christmas. There’s no tree, no lights. I didn’t—”
He stopped her with a kiss this time. “Don’t care, Trix. It’s home. We can decorate later, make our own Christmas later. I just want to go home.”
She smiled up at him. “Then let’s go.”
