Chapter Twenty Three

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“Did you find anything?”

Julian looked up from where he sat. His legs propped on the arm of the chair, laptop in hands as his fingers worked the touchpad.

“No. Still looking.”

Andy paced the floor. His fist clenching and unclenching with every heavy step. It was almost six hours since they kidnapped Annie and Reon. Gregg’s betrayal bugged him to the core.

“Explain this from the beginning. You knew Gregg a long time, right?”

“Yes, he’s one of my best friends.”

“And you never suspected him?”

“No, he did nothing to raise my suspicions. I reached out to him when I received the second note. Hell, Gregg found Annie. I had no clue where she’d been living. I didn’t even know I had a son.”

“Seems to me he was trying to help you.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying since we met. Gregg wouldn’t betray me like that.”

“How would you explain what happened with the bomb and him fleeing the scene with the money?”

“I don’t know.” Andy gritted his teeth. “I honestly don’t know.”

“Something doesn’t add up,” Julian said. “Why would Gregg go through so much to get money from you? And a hundred million at that. Phew! That’s a lot of cash.”

“Forget the amount,” Andy spat. “Why would he help me? Why did he encourage me to lie low? Why not tell me to hand over the money to him?”

“That would have been a stupid move.” Julian shrugged.

“Then why kidnapped my family? He got what he wanted. Kidnapping Annie and Reon make little sense. He could be halfway to South America for all we know.”

“Let’s hope that’s not his plan. We need to find him to find your family.”

“What about his wife?” Andy asked.

“I sent Louie to her place. Maybe she could tell us something we don’t know.”

“Louie?”

“One man that survived.”

“Where is Vane?”

“Out, trying to track Gregg,” Julian sighed, “he’s long gone.”

Andy didn’t reply. Maybe Gregg would walk through the door any moment from now claiming he went after bastards, but Andy knew that was only wishful thoughts.

Gregg had betrayed him and his team.

They were all out of options. Men were lying half dead in hospitals. Some were deep in freezers housed at the morgue awaiting postmortem. The handful that remained including himself and Julian were all bleary-eyed. Lost. Plotting revenge? He wanted to drive his fist through a wall.

Andy roughly dragged his hand over his face. His eyes stung; he couldn’t say if it was upcoming tears or blind rage. And God knows he felt like a raging bull.

He felt for his phone in his pocket. Why no call from the kidnappers? He wondered. After discovering the discarded phone in the bedroom, he kept it close. He’d charged it and placed the volume on high.

“Did you check his phone records? Maybe he’s been in contact with his accomplices all this while. Right under our noses,” Andy spat. The words tasted bitter in his mouth.

“I’m running through them right this moment. Nothing stands out. Oh, wait.”

“What?” Andy rushed over to Julian. “Did you find anything?”

“Look, this number and the name,” Julian pointed at the screen, “most of his outgoing calls are to this person.”

“Son of a bitch!” Andy roared.

******

“You made the right choice.” He laughed hard and deep.

“Where is my wife?” Gregg screamed. “I did what you wanted. I brought the money to you.”

“Yes, to all the above. You did what I wanted. Well, if I might say so.”

“I want to see my wife,” Gregg urged.

“Tsk tsk. Not so fast, friend.”

“I’m not your friend. I severed that relationship a long time ago you bastard.”

The man inhaled deep and long. “Did you smell that?” he asked his bodyguards without removing his eyes from Gregg.

“Yes, Boss,” they chorused.

“Desperation. And what’s that?” He moved his hand as if calling the air. “Guilt.”

Gregg grumbled but said nothing.

“I know what you did, Gregg. Ah, the scent of betrayal so thick right now I can taste the sugar-coated part.”

“Give. Me. My. Wife!”

“The screams of your men. The look on Andy’s face. That’s the best part yet,” he continued.

“I’ll kill you!”

“Nope,” the man wriggled his finger in Gregg’s face. “I’ll tell my men to put a bullet between your eyes before your mind process your first step.”

“Now, where was I... ah, got it! Do you know how many of your men lost their lives because you cared so much for a woman? Their lives didn’t matter to you. Do you know why?” The man shoved his hand into his pockets then moved closer to Gregg. “Pussy always wins,” he whispered in his ears.

Gregg growled low in his throat. His teeth gnashing. Rage bled into his eyes and his fist clenched hard enough for his nails to dig into his palms.

He jerked back. “Now, no need to for snapping. I love my face if you must know.” He signaled for his men to back off. “You knew what I said was the truth. Why are you angry?”

“I’ll gouge your eyes out and feed them to you. You will pay for this. Even if it is my last breath; you’ll die a painful death.” Gregg vowed.

“I did nothing wrong,” he dabbed the corners of his eyes, “thanks for the laugh. I’ll give it to you though, you almost made my legs buckle in fright.” He belted out a laugh. “Not.”

“It was all your doing. I give you a choice and you betray your men and Andy.”

“You had my wife. You threatened to kill her if I didn’t bring the money to you. I had no other choice,” Gregg shouted.

“You did, but... Pussy always win. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Andy did the same,” he gestured to the duffle bags of cash in the corner, “all that money just to fack one pussy for the rest of his life. You and Andy are pathetic fackers.”

The man signaled for the men. “Beat some sense into this stupid motherfacker. My throat’s dried up. I need a beer.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Now I’ll leave you, Gregg, maybe when they’re done with you I’ll consider letting you see your wife. I have a woman and child waiting for me to grace them with my presence.”

“You son of a bitch!” Gregg screamed and launched for him. “You said you’ll leave them alone!” Gregg rained wild punches down on the man, but before he could land more they dragged him away.

A sledgehammer in the form of a meaty fist slammed into his stomach and he doubled over, coughing up blood.

“Are you okay, boss? Do you want me to put a bullet between his eyes?”

“No,” he spat out a mouthful of blood. He ran his tongue over his teeth. The Facker had loosened a few of his teeth. “Fack!”

“Take me to Miss Rayanna Price,” he barked. We have a lot of catching up to do. She’ll be happy to see me. He smiled wide.

“Yes, she’ll have the shock of her life.” God, but betrayal is the sweetest thing ever when you’re the one doing the betraying.

He thought money would end his hatred towards Andy, but it fueled his thirst for his blood. Maybe he’ll start with his son: Reon. Nope. That wouldn’t do; he’ll take the thing that means everything to him: Rayanna Price.

“Where is my beer!” he hollered. He tried to stay serious but the huge smile on his face wouldn’t budge.

Nothing feels better than taking something important from your most hated enemy.

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