"You don't have to do this." "Yes." Loretta said firmly. "We do." Vince nodded, respected that.
At 7:45, a prospect drove Loretta and Evelyn to the Pine Crest Hotel in a nondescript sedan. Dropped them at the front entrance. Drove away. They walked through the revolving doors like they owned the place. The lobby was elegant.
Marble floors. Chandelier overhead. Soft music playing from hidden speakers. A few business travelers sat in leather chairs, reading papers, checking phones. Bobby Cain sat near the window.
Newspaper open. Eyes scanning the room. Loretta and Evelyn walked to the restaurant. Hostess greeted them with a smile. "Table for two?"
"Yes, please." Loretta said. "Near the window if you have it." They were seated. Menus provided.
Coffee poured. Ray Dalton sat three tables away. Alone. Eating scrambled eggs and reading something on his tablet. The restaurant was half full.
Morning crowd. Business people. Tourists. No one paying particular attention to two women having breakfast. Evelyn's hand shook as she picked up her coffee cup.
Loretta reached across the table. Squeezed her hand. "Breathe." Evelyn breathed. 10 minutes passed.
Nothing happened. 20 minutes. Still nothing. And then at 8:15, Wade Garrison walked into the restaurant. He was alone.
Tailored suit. Polished shoes. Looked like he belonged in this world of luxury hotels and expensive coffee. He saw them immediately. Smiled.
Walked to their table. Pulled out a chair. Sat down without being invited. "Ladies." He said pleasantly.
"What a coincidence." Loretta's voice was ice. "Mr. Garrison, I presume." "You presume correctly. And you must be Evelyn's mother.
I can see the resemblance." "You can see yourself out of this restaurant." Wade's smile never wavered. "I just wanted to talk. Surely that's not too much to ask."
Evelyn found her voice. "You sent men to drag me off the highway last night. That's not talking." "That was a misunderstanding. I was simply trying to arrange a meeting.
Things got out of hand." "Things will get more out of hand if you don't leave." Loretta said. Wade leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed. "Mrs. Sutton, I like you.
You've got spirit." "But you're protecting someone who owes me a debt." "And I always collect my debts." Ray's voice came through the earpiece. Calm.
Steady. "Boss, he's at their table. Want me to move?" Vince's voice. "Hold position.
Let it play out." Loretta met Wade's eyes. "My daughter owes you nothing. She defended herself against a man who broke into her home. That's not a debt.
That's justice." "Justice?" Wade repeated, tasted the word. "Interesting concept. In my world, justice is what you can enforce.
And right now, I can enforce quite a lot." He pulled out his phone. Showed them a photograph. Evelyn's breath caught. The photograph showed an elderly woman.
Late 60s. Gray hair. Kind face. Mrs. Emma Harbor. Loretta's next door neighbor.
"I believe you know this woman." Wade said conversationally. "Lives right next to you, Mrs. Sutton. Lovely lady. We had a very interesting conversation this morning."
Loretta's face went pale. Wade continued. "She's currently enjoying the hospitality of some friends of mine." "Comfortable. Safe."
"For now." Evelyn's voice shook with rage. "You son of a" "Language, Miss Sutton. We're in a nice establishment. Vince's voice in their ears.
We're moving. Stay calm. Wade pocketed his phone. Here's how this works. You have until noon today.
Evelyn comes with me. Voluntarily. We settle our business. And Mrs. Harper goes home unharmed. If you refuse or if your biker friends interfere, Mrs. Harper pays the price.
He stood, adjusted his tie. Noon. The old warehouse district on the east side of town. Building 17. Come alone, Evelyn, or don't come at all.
He walked away out of the restaurant, through the lobby, into a waiting car. Loretta and Evelyn sat frozen. Ray appeared at their table. We need to move, now. They stood, walked quickly but calmly toward the exit.
Bobby joined them in the lobby. Forming a protective formation. Outside Vince's motorcycle pulled up to the curb. Five more bikes behind him. Loretta and Evelyn climbed into a van that Ray had brought around.
Bobby drove. Ray rode shotgun. The motorcycles escorted them back to the clubhouse. Inside, Vince was already on the phone. Barking orders.
Calling in favors. Sheriff Brooks, Wade Garrison just kidnapped a civilian. Mrs. Emma Harper, 68 years old, lives on Maple Street. He listened, face darkening. I don't care if you can't prove it yet.
I'm telling you it happened. Check her house. You'll find signs of forced entry. He hung up. Turned to his assembled brothers.
Wade's got a hostage. He wants Evelyn at the warehouse district by noon. That gives us less than 4 hours. Jake looked up from his laptop. I've been running searches on the warehouse district.
Building 17 is an old textile factory. Three stories, multiple entry points, but it's isolated. No nearby buildings. Easy to spot anyone approaching. Perfect spot for an ambush, Ray said.
Vince nodded. He'll have men positioned, probably inside and on the rooftops. If Evelyn goes in alone, she won't come out. Evelyn stood. Then I go in?
But not alone. We go in together. He said come alone. He also said he'd let Mrs. Harper go. We both know that's a lie.
Loretta grabbed her daughter's arm. There has to be another way. But deep down she knew there wasn't. Vince looked at his brothers. At the women they'd sworn to protect.