Chapter Twenty-One

Jensen

I 've lost the guys, they went one way and I went the other, it happens a lot at parties and I quickly pull out my phone to let Cash and Luc know that I'm good and I'll let them know if I find anything. I don't bother waiting for a reply in case they tell me that we've got to stick together. I'm not really in the mood for that right now. We've been in the car for far too long, and I'm feeling twitchy.

Plus, I spent all day stalking Ryan and didn't get to hit him once.

I may be feeling the need to go off on my own, but I'm not stupid, and I'm very aware that we're here for a reason, which is why I keep an eye out for any of Billy's crew.

I hit the jackpot when I find them all standing in a secluded part of the garden and appearing to have a domestic. Fortunately, I have pretty good fucking hearing and have the uncanny ability to stay unnaturally still, so I manage to stay in the shadows and listen to them without them realizing that I'm there.

Glancing over the group, I realize that I've lucked out, and they're all there except for Billy, who we know is out of town.

"Come on guys, it's not that big of a deal," Boyd says, not even trying to keep his voice low.

"It wasn't at first, but that was before people started fucking dying," Lucky hisses in response.

"And before you started sampling the shit you sell," Luke adds, his eyes filled with worry and anger.

"Hey, I said that you could try some. I'll share," Boyd replies.

My eyebrows rise; the dude is completely fucking gone; he has no idea that his friends are being serious, and more than that, they're really fucking worried about him.

"I don't fucking want any of that shit and you shouldn't either, it's fucking bad for you," Luke hisses in response.

Boyd doesn't say anything, but I'm not sure whether that's because he's listening or because he's so far gone he doesn't have the capacity to respond.

Trip snorts in disgust, but I see the worry there too, "You need to stop, man, not just the drugs, which is fucking stupid considering it's killed and nearly killed multiple fucking people by this point, but you need to stop dealing too. This has gone too fucking far, and in a minute, there will be no fucking going back."

I watch as they all nod in agreement, even Evan, who has stayed silent and simply listened so far.

For a moment, I think that Boyd is going to listen, and I actually want him to; he's not a particularly bad guy; I mean, he's a dick, but there's nothing horrific about him, at least there didn't used to be. His response proves how far gone he actually is.

He laughs, the sound bitter, "Stop? Why the fuck would I stop. I'm earning more money than I could ever hope to earn legally, and I'm flying fucking high while doing it."

Lucky's eyes glow with anger, "But you're having a hand in killing people. We are many things, but we don't kill innocents, Boyd. You used to fucking know that."

Again Boyd scoffs, "I don't have a hand in killing anyone, I don't force them to take it, I just give them the opportunity."

"That's exactly what a drug dealer would say," Luke spits.

Boyd makes an angry noise, their words clearly getting to him, which is a good sign, as he throws his hands up into the air, "Fuck you guys, I'm out. I don't need this shit."

"Don't you dare sell that shit at my house," Lucky calls after him.

Boyd doesn't reply and just waves them off. I wait to see if any of them will follow him, but they don't, as the anger drains from their faces and leaves only worry and sadness behind. I feel for them I really do but right now, my interest is in Boyd, and so I stick to the shadows as I follow him away from his friends.

One silver lining that I've gleaned from that conversation is that at least we can be confident that Billy and the others aren't involved, in fact they are steadfastly against it. Of course, that doesn't mean that we can involve them in what's going on; Boyd is still their friend, and they would go against us for him every single time, just like I'd do the same for the guys. Still, it's good to know that we're not going to have to deal with all of them and the knock-on effect that would have; just Boyd is going to be bad enough.

I expect Boyd to go in the house and back to where the main party is, but he surprises me when he heads towards the cars instead. Staying in the shadows, I watch as he looks around to make sure that there's no one nearby and then takes out his phone.

Intrigued, I move closer so that I can hear him better.

"Has the shipment arrived?" He asks. After a brief pause, he adds, "Great, I know it wasn't the plan, but I'm coming to pick some up now; I'm at a party, and I feel like the drinks need a little more flavor."

What the fuck? I almost can't believe what I'm hearing. He's seriously talking about drugging people, innocent people that most likely don't want anything to do with drugs, and he's doing it just to piss off people who should be his friends. He is nothing like the Boyd that I know or I guess I should say, knew.

It suddenly occurs to me that this is a good opportunity, but I have to think quickly if I want it to work out and I'm going to get this to work in our favour.

If I simply follow him, then all he's going to do is lead me to this shipment, which I have a reasonably good idea about where it is. Knox made a point of telling me that we needed to get as much evidence as possible, and there's only one way to get that, or at least one way that appeals to me. I pull out my phone and send a text to the group chat, not bothering to read the messages that are there because I don't have the time.

Me: I'm going to get myself kidnapped. You fuckers better come for me. Don't forget to film it. Ninety-nine percent sure that I'm heading your way, Trick.

I put my phone in my pocket, there's no point waiting for a reply, they're going to argue with me like they always do when I tell them I'm going to get myself kidnapped before I actually do. To be honest, this is the first time I've told them before I've done it for a while. I kind of felt it was necessary this time though, especially since we're technically on high alert, and we're supposed to be checking in with each other regularly.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, but I ignore it as I stride confidently out from the shadows with a smile on my face and my hands in my pocket.

"Well, that didn't sound good, did it?" I say casually as I step directly in Boyd's eye-line.

He looks at me, slightly panicked, before he glances around and sees that I'm by myself and the others aren't with me.

"I really wish you hadn't heard that," he comments, "this is going to cause problems, but I can't have you telling anyone what you heard, especially those fucking friends of yours."

"Wow," I reply, genuinely shocked as I add, "so you're going to jump straight to murder? You're not even going to try to convince me not to say anything?"

Boyd shakes his head, his eyes darting all over the place, "There's no point. You wouldn't listen, we both know that, and all it would have done is prolonged this whole situation, and as you heard me say on the phone, I don't have the time to deal with that."

I shrug, "I suppose you make a good point. You do realize that I'm not going to just go with you without a fight, and you can't simply kill me here; there are too many possible witnesses; even in your drugged-up state, you must be aware of that."

After all, I have to make him believe that he's succeeded in kidnapping me in order to kill me, and I need him to kidnap me and take me somewhere where I can get him talking and giving me information because he thinks I won't be alive to tell anyone.

There is a method to my madness—at least this time. I will admit that sometimes it's a little bit questionable.