I was hoping that was the case when I pulled up at Candy and Leigha’s apartment, but unfortunately, neither of them had seen him since the night before at the club. I messaged Rafe, and after hearing that Country wasn’t with the girls, he told me to go back to the storage lot and check in with Ada and Gladys to see if they’d heard from him. I was on my way there when I drove by the park behind Frankie’s place. I didn’t think much about it until something drew my attention over to a group of boys. Again, I didn’t think a lot about it ‘til I spotted Frankie’s son, Corry. He was with two other kids around his age, and they were huddled up with a local dealer. The two boys he was with were wearing hoodies over their heads, but Corry wasn’t doing a damn thing to cover himself from any onlookers.
I needed to get to the storage lot, so I was just gonna leave it. I figured Corry was old enough to handle things on his own, but then I spotted a cop sitting around the corner. Fearing Corry might find himself in trouble again, I turned back and pulled into a parking spot across the street. I got off my bike and started walking towards the group of boys. As soon as Corry spotted me coming his way, his eyes grew wide with panic. He was freaking out but did his best to hide it as he shoved his hands in his pocket and slowly ambled towards me. Forcing a smile, he held up his hand and said, “Hey, Widow. What are you doing here?”
“I was about to ask you the same.”
“Ah, I was just catching up with some of my friends.” He tried to play it cool as he shrugged and said, “You know, killing time and all that.”
“I see.” I glanced back over where he and his friends had been standing and wasn’t surprised to see that they’d moved to a more secluded spot a few yards away. “Looks like your friends are up to no good.”
“Nah. We’re just hanging out. No big deal.”
I didn’t have time nor the patience to put up with Corry and his bullshit. I needed to get going, so asked him, “Talking to a dealer something you usually do when you’re hanging out?”
Corry’s eyes dropped to the ground. “We were just looking to blow off some steam.”
“You think that’s a good idea?”
“I was thinking about it.” He gave me a half-shrug. “Had to go to my dad’s this weekend, and it blew. He was in a mood all freakin’ weekend. On my ass about everything.”
“Your mom know where you are?”
“She thinks I’m with Dad.”
This whole thing was getting worse by the fucking minute. “Your dad know you’re here?”
“Nah. He thinks I’m at Sean’s basketball practice. I told him I wanted to go, so he dropped us off at the school.” He kicked a rock with his tennis shoe as he said, “I went in one door and out the other, and Dad didn’t have a clue. He was already long gone, so I came here and met up with my friends.”
“Probably not the best idea.”
“You’re right. It was stupid.” Corry grimaced as he said, “Already promised Mom I wouldn’t do this shit again. I guess I really am just a fuck up.”
“Not a fuck up. Just a kid who’s trying to figure shit out. But this right here...” I motioned my head towards his buddies as I said, “This isn’t the way to go.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I think it’s time to get you home. Come on. I’ll give you a ride.”
When Corry looked across the street and saw my Harley, his mouth dropped open. “You’re taking me on your bike?”
“Yeah. That cool with you?”
“Heck yeah.”
When he darted across the street, I shook my head and muttered, “Damn. Your mother is gonna have my ass and yours over this.”
I walked over to him and grabbed a spare helmet from my saddlebag. Once he had it on, I got him settled behind me and gave him the rundown on how to hold on. I was about to start the engine when my burner started to ring. I grabbed it out of my pocket and answered, “You got Widow.”
“Hey, man. We found him.”
I would’ve thought it was good news, but something about the tone in Lynch’s voice told me it was anything but good. “He alright?”
“They fucked him up good, brother.”
“Who?”
“Got no idea.” My blood ran cold as I listened to him say, “We found him behind one of the dumpsters at Stilettos. It’s bad, brother. Really bad, but I’m hoping we got to him in time.”
“Where is he now?”
“At the clubhouse with Doc. He’s doing what he can to work on him.”