Page 42 of Motown
“On my way, baby.Gotta let you go so I can concentrate on getting to you quick,” he says gently.Just hearing his voice calms me down.
“Be safe,” I return and let him go.
“Get Ruth out of here, Joe,” Tacitus says.I start to move with them.“Sorry, Tessa, you stay with me.”
“But—”
“You’re my responsibility,” Tacitus interrupts.
“I’m fine,” Ruth speaks up.She grips my hand tightly.“We’ll wait for Motown together.”
You know when Motown arrives because it sounds like a herd of wild elephants crashing through the bar, calling my name.
“I’m here!”I cry out, and run out of the room.I see him coming toward me.I leap into his arms.He engulfs me with his massive arms and kisses the top of my head.
“I love this, baby, but I have to go give Tacitus a hand.”He guides me to the back room, where he sees Ruth.She isn’t the same gruff, no-nonsense, tough old gal she usually is.She looks scared and tired, and much smaller than her usual Amazon self.
Motown then looks down at the man still on the ground with Tacitus aiming a gun to his head.Faster than I’ve ever seen him move before, Motown lifts the man off the floor by the neck and slams him against the wall, slowly choking the life out of him.
“You did this to a woman who’s like a mother to me?”Motown says.Obviously, the bad guy can’t speak, or breathe, for that matter, but that doesn’t stop Motown from carrying on.“What did you want, huh?Were you trying to get to my woman?That’s fucked up!”
“Motown, put him down,” Hawk orders.Motown hesitates.“Now!”
“Please, honey,” I beg, tugging on his arm.I don’t want to visit Motown in a prison cell.
Motown drops his hand, and the man crumples to the floor.He no sooner hits the ground than Hawk picks up his phone and calls the police.
Motown
Two in the morning…
We should all be asleep, but the entire club is too wired to go to bed.After the police arrived and we all gave our statements, we brought Ruth back to the compound with us.
The way it all played out, the feds arrived and saw the drugs and Bronson’s men and quickly arrested them for trafficking.They all pointed the finger at Bronson, who is currently sitting in the underground cell we have below the compound.The feds can go chasing Bronson if they like, but they won’t even find pieces of him by the time we’re done.
With all the information that was leaked by Orion from the Pride, a full-fledged investigation is being launched into the local police departments to weed out the dirty cops.Five have already been picked up for questioning.
Neither Tessa’s house nor her shop was torched tonight, thanks to the good people of the town.They stopped letting fear run their lives and took a stand.The firebugs were caught by Ned and Craig Mathers.They are two brothers who have an accounting firm in town.Etain has gotten to know them well since she’s been working on getting her accounting degree and has been in touch with them for advice.
“Look what you did, Tessa.You started something,” I say.
“What did I do?”
“Babe, this town was being terrorized by Bronson and his crew.You stood up for yourself and inspired others to do the same.”
Tessa scans the room.“The Redemption Riders cleaned up this town.Not me.”She shakes her head.
“We only helped.”Hawk answers, “But the real courage came from all those who decided to do something about it.”
Chapter22
Mysterious Disappearance
Tessa
“The FBI is still searching for Bronson Sunderland.A warrant for his arrest in relation to drug trafficking charges and several other violations has been issued.Sunderland is known to be a Realtor and land developer, but after a thorough investigation, he has been connected to several crimes, which also include bribing local police,” the announcer from the evening news drones on.“He’s thought to have fled the country.Any word as to his whereabouts would be appreciated.Please call the number on your screen if you have any information.”
Motown and I are sitting on my couch, in my home, relaxing for the first time in weeks.I find the news of Bronson still being on the loose disturbing and look up at Motown, who doesn’t seem in the least concerned.
