Page 61 of You for Her (The Edge of Retaliation 2)
“I understand what you’re saying,” I decide to throw in, before Tatum pounces on Ethan. “I feel the same way. The whole drive here, I thought why are we helping this man, when he has caused nothing but problems? But then I remembered who I am. You know who I am, Ethan? Not a person that leaves another person behind. Chase might be that person, and he might not deserve our help, but I’m not that person. Neither are you.”
Ethan stares at me, and then exhales and mutters, “I’m taking a walk.”
He disappears from the group. Tatum glares at him as he walks away. Garrett stands with his arms crossed and Tanner studies me, like he’s seeing me in a whole new light. His eyes are soft and welcoming, his body language welcoming instead of defensive.
“When am I doing this, then?” Jo asks, crossing her arms. “We’re running out of time.”
She’s right, we are.
“Shower up, get changed, and then we’ll go over the plan again,” Tatum says, nodding at her. “We’ll get settled and then go over it so we’re all on the same page.”
I nod, and then follow Jo into the room we’re sharing. Once we’re inside, I turn to her and say, “Are you sure about this, Jo?”
“Not really,” she admits, “but it’s the only plan we have. You are right, we can’t leave him there. Someone has to do something, that someone is me.”
“You could get hurt.”
“I could,” she agrees, “but Tatum assured me he’s going to be waiting, and if I don’t come out in a certain amount of time, he’s going to come in, no matter what. I believe him. I have to trust that you will all take care of me.”
“I will go in guns blazing for you, Jo,” I say to her.
She smiles and hugs me, and then we proceed to shower and get changed. Once we’re done, we meet everyone at Tatum’s room and sit down as he goes over the plan.
“All we need to know is who is in there, what weapons they’ve got lying around, how many entrances and exits there are, and if Chase is in there. Once you’ve got what you need, you get out and we will go in. I’ll organize weapons, we’ll be swift.”
“Wait, weapons?” I say, my eyes widening. “You’re going to …”
“Leave what we’re going to do up to us,” Tanner says, his voice gruff. “Those men are the reason Celia is dead. They will suffer.”
I give him a hurt look, and then glance away. He’s going to take someone else’s life to make himself feel better? How is that going to work out in the long run? When cops come after him, or more people from the group seek revenge. He’s making the situation so much bigger than it needs to be.
“You’re angry,” Tanner says, obviously directing his question to me.
I look to him. “I think you’re making a mistake. I think hurting someone else to make yourself feel better is opening a whole new world of problems. We want to get out of here clean, not even filthier than we already are.”
“Then what would you propose we do?” Tanner snaps, crossing his arms.
“Call the cops, Tanner. Have them deal with it.”
“The cops will do fuck all.”
“Actually,” Garrett says, standing. He doesn’t say a great deal, but whatever has him excited, is enough to get his voice roaring to life. “I have an idea. I know people, won’t say how, run drugs and guns. We get Jo to plant those drugs and guns, then we call the cops, they’re all goin’ to go down, big time. You can guarantee that they’re already on the cops’ radar, this would be all it would take for them to get put away.”
“Even better if I’m still in there,” Jo says, nodding. “Yes, it’s perfect. If they’ve got Chase, and me, and then cops come in. It’s going to be kidnapping as well as all the other charges.”
“It’s risky.” Tatum rubs his chin, narrowing his eyes. “But it’s better than the idea we had. How are you going to get your hands on that many drugs and guns, and how the fuck are we goin’ to get them in there?”
Garrett pulls out his phone. “Let me make a few calls.”
“Still doesn’t cover how we’re gettin’ that shit in there,” Tatum points out again.
“I can hide some of it on my body, and I can carry a backpack.” Jo shrugs. “I’m sure we can get enough on me to plant in the place.”
“This is fuckin’ crazy,” Tanner barks, standing up. “No fuckin’ drug runner is goin’ to give us that many drugs to plant on someone, nor are they goin’ to risk their reputation when there are cops involved. You’re all wastin’ fuckin’ time.”
“I know where he keeps the drugs,” Garrett says. “Nobody said anything about askin’.”
