I enter in the information on the first one, and nothing pops. That doesn’t mean it’s not a dirty weapon, it just means the serial number on it isn’t showing us anything. I look over my shoulder and see Mark still working on one of the larger semi-automatics. I check the second weapon.
I take a deep breath, enter in the information, and wait. It pops up being registered to an Air Force base in Atlanta, Georgia, and my heart stops.
“Hey, Cassano, this last one is jammed pretty bad. I’m going to grab my tools out of the front closet. I’ll be right back.”
I lift my chin at his exit, and take this as a sign from God. I grab my backpack, and pull out the rifle I brought, along with forged documents to go with it. I knew this day would come at some point, and I had this prepared already. It’s a random gun that was confiscated at a raid I worked about ten years ago. I switch out the weapons, dismantle Mackenzie’s, and drop it in my bag, putting it back where it was before Mark walks in. I thank God they don’t have cameras in this area of the building.
I’m deleting the search information on the computer just as Mark walks back in. I submit the weapon as the one found at the scene. Luckily for me, I was the one who entered in this gun ten years ago, so I can go back and change the catalogue.
I lean back in my chair and play it cool for the next hour as we finish with the weapons.
When I exit the building with my backpack over my shoulder, I breathe a sigh of relief. I just did the dirtiest thing an agent can do, and I never had a second of hesitation. There are some real pieces of shit out there in the world, but my Mackenzie isn’t one of them. She’s not a criminal. She is just a victim getting her own justice, and I can’t say I blame her.
I pull out my phone and call to make sure the Five Aces guys haven't come to yet. I find out one died and the other is still in surgery. I send another agent down to wait for any new news.
Next I send Mackenzie a text letting her know I’m on my way back to her place. After just a second my phone hits back with a message that reads ‘Unavailable’. Thinking something must be wrong with her phone, I pull up her number and hit call. When the voice comes on telling me the number I’m trying to reach has been disconnected or is no longer in service, I grip my phone so hard, it nearly cracks in two.
I pull up to the gate of the club and hit the code I’ve seen Mackenzie enter in a hundred times. The iron gates open up and I hit the gas. I fly down the driveway, and when I reach the house, I turn the wheel, and slam on the brakes, causing me to screech across the pavement.
All the brothers come flooding out of the house at the sound of my entrance, and I jump out of the car.
“Where the fuck is she!” I shout, looking over two of the brothers’ shoulders at Lucias standing in the back. He’s got his arms crossed over his chest, and his jaw is hard. He’s not going to tell me shit. Abe and Knox stand in front with their fists clenched, and both of them look ready for a fight.
Good.
I reach in my shirt and pull out Mackenzie’s dog tags. I grit my teeth and let my anger flow through me. “You see these. This means something to me, and it means something to you. Now someone tell me where the fuck she is.”
The guys look around to one another in surprise, but no one says anything.
I’ve haven’t lost my temper that often in my life. I’m usually a cool-headed guy, because I’ve been trained to be. But right now, my girl is gone and someone needs to start talking.
I look at Abe and take a three steps to him so we are nose to nose. I want the biggest motherfucker in here, and then I’m going to tear him limb from limb. I feel Knox slide up beside me, but I don’t give a shit. Let them all come at me, I’ll burn this goddamn place to ashes.
“Easy, Scribe,” Lucias calls, and Knox backs off. He’s not stopping me, but he’s not interfering either. I guess he isn’t worried about Abe taking me in a fight.
He should be.
Abe’s a big guy. He’s got scars down the side of his face, which make his road name, Savage, all the more menacing. None of this intimidates me because I’ve got more on the line than he does. I don’t stand to lose a friend if I can’t find Mackenzie, I stand to lose my soul.
I grab him by the cut and his eyes narrow.
“You tell me where she is, or I’ll start with you, and then take every one of your brothers after until I get some answers.”
He gives me a wicked smile, and it pisses me off. He goes to reach up and grab my hands, but I catch him off guard by pulling back and slamming my forehead against the bridge of his nose, hearing it crack.
“Fuck!” he yells, and staggers back. I’ve still got a hold of his cut, so he doesn’t get far. I let go with my right hand and give him an uppercut to the ribs, and at the same time feel his own fist come down on my face. I taste blood in my mouth, but it fuels my rage, and I keep going.