King of Tides (The Immortal Iron Brothers #3)

Chapter 5

Triggered

I ’ve been trying for weeks to trigger one of those visions again—that’s the only thing I can think to call them. I haven’t had one since the one in the shower at the gym. The problem is, I’m not entirely sure what triggered them in the first place.

If only I could figure it out and use it to prove to my commander once and for all that we should have a task force on Candido Ricci and his organization. I have no idea how everyone is so blind to this guy and his family. I didn’t know he was my father the very first time I ran into him, but I did know he was more than a businessman. That was clear as day to me even then.

I had been seventeen at the time. Back then, Mack used to hold illegal fights at the gym. All types of seedy characters would make their way through the doors of Hydra and a lot more went on than fights and betting.

It was how Mack made sure to keep the lights on. At the time, he had three of us runaways to look after. In those days, Hydra was where the nightlife was. He didn’t much like us kids around all of that. Especially not me. Eddy and Carson loved to sneak downstairs from the apartment we lived in over the gym.

That particular night, Eddy had dared me to join them as they snuck to watch one of our favorite fighters in a match. I took the dare and ended up in the middle of Candido extorting that same fighter—trying to get him to throw the fight. Candido and his men had threatened to place a duffel full of coke in his locker to frame him. One of his men caught me watching in shock and brought attention to me.

To this day, I can’t remember the face of the guy who stepped in to save me. I can remember the cut he wore, nothing else. It was an Immortal Iron Brothers cut—something I only remembered after running into my neighbor for the first time.

Since running into him, a few things about that night have come back to me. I remember the guy being upset because Candido wanted to off me. They argued about making me forget if they weren’t going to kill me. The biker had been upset about both options.

While I can’t remember what the biker looked like. I never forgot that Candido Ricci was an asshole and an evil man. Whatever the biker did, he didn’t erase what I had learned about Ricci.

That’s what made me become a cop. I remembered his evil ways and wanted him to pay for what he did to that fighter and what he tried to do to me. I have seen Candido for the man he is since that night.

The problem is no one else does. People sing his praises all the time. I know better and have been trying to get my commander to see what I know deep down inside. If we were to dig into the Riccis, we would find so much more.

“Hey, you going for a swim or are you just going to investigate the water? What crimes did it commit?” Eddy taunts, pulling me from my thoughts.

I place my hands on my hips and frown as I turn to look up at him. He has a smile on his handsome face. Eddy was Mack’s last stray but he’s the oldest out of the three of us.

“Shouldn’t you be flying a plane somewhere? I thought you were going to Fiji or something.”

He releases a short laugh and shakes his head. “That was two months ago. At least you care enough to know I’m a pilot.”

“I care, you know I care,” I say and scowl.

He opens his arms and waves me over to him. I go to move into his embrace. He engulfs me in his big, strong arms.

I still remember the day I allowed him to hug me for the first time. I had been upset about a fight I had with some girls at school. It wasn’t actually a fight. They tried to jump me and failed.

I had broken down and cried after I whipped their asses and made it home, where I could lick my wounds. I hadn’t done anything to any of them. One of them had been a friend, or so I thought.

Eddy had just been the first to find me. I was vulnerable in the moment, and he took me by surprise when he hugged me. It was foreign at the time, but something I needed. We’ve had a bond ever since.

“I know you care in your own way,” he says into the top of my hair as he towers over me. “Mack’s worried about you. He feels like you’ve been pushing everyone away more than usual. What did I tell you about that shit?

“We’re your family. I know you can handle yourself, but we’re always here to protect and support you. You don’t have to be alone, Billy.”

“I’m fine. You guys can stop worrying about me.”

“We will always worry about you. You’re our little sister and Mack’s little girl. Besides, I get it. I know where we come from and how important it is to do things on our own.” He pulls away and looks me in the eyes. “We just need you to remember that you have people who care. Don’t let the job consume you, sis.

“It’s okay to keep up with us and know where the fuck we are. Fiji?” he snorts and shakes his head.

“I know you were in London. I just don’t want you thinking too much of yourself,” I say with a smile.

“You’re the only woman who hasn’t had a crush on me and demands to cling to me. It’s why I love to see this face.”

“Ew, you’re my brother and that’s totally gross.”

“Not your brother by blood and Carson has known you longer than I have.”

I shrug. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know he’s crazy about you. Yet you keep shutting him down.”

I roll my eyes. “You guys are upset that I’m shutting y’all out as family? Could you imagine what it’s like dating me? I’m doing him a favor, trust me.”

Eddy places a hand over his belly and laughs. I punch him in the shoulder. With a smile, he wraps the crook of his arm around my head and tugs me in.

“Come on. I want some tacos. Let’s hit our spot.”

“So you’re in town for a few days then?”

“Shut up. That happened one time.”

“One time you’re never going to forget. I’m sure no one who was on that flight ever will.”

“Be quiet before I make you treat me.”

“You wouldn’t,” I mock gasp. “Trying to take my little cop salary with all that money you make. I’m telling Papi if you do.”

***

Dinner with Eddy was fun as always. However, I still need to clear my head and figure some things out. So here I am, back at the gym. Mack put this pool in when I was around nine.

I’m a good swimmer and love to swim to work out my thoughts. Tonight, that’s exactly what I plan to do. Swim until my thoughts are clear.

I dive into the water and push forward then begin to stroke. I slice through the water as if that will allow me to slice through my frustration and thoughts.

As I swim, my mind goes to my neighbor. Why can’t I connect his gang to Candido? I know it was an Iron Brother who saved me. I remember the cut. However, I can’t get a solid lead that connects me to something I can use.

The Immortal Iron Brothers come up cleaner than Ricci does. It’s like they don’t exist. I swear, I’ve been running in circles.

Suddenly, I get this feeling in my stomach. I stop stroking and halt. When I look before me, it’s like a sheet of ice has formed in front of me.

I reach out a hand to see if I can touch the surface. I’m not crazy. There is a panel of ice in the water that came out of nowhere. It’s like an underwater mirror.

I blink a few times as I swim in place and stare at the barrier. That’s when images begin to form as if the ice were a TV. I ball my fist as Candido comes into view.

It’s that night all over again. However, the biker in this frame has his back to me. I still can’t see his face. He’s a blond, that much I can tell.

He’s no small guy either. The way he fills out that cut feels so familiar to me. If only he would turn so I could see his face.

Who are you?

I think the words and he does turn as if he heard them. I’m met with blue eyes I know well. It’s him, my neighbor.

There’s no way he’s the one who saved me that night. That was thirteen years ago. From the image before me, he hasn’t aged a day. My neighbor doesn’t look older than thirty or so. Exactly the same age as the guy in the image before me looks.

How could this be? How do these visions work? As my mind reels with questions, the vision changes.

It takes a few seconds for me to realize I’m looking at the docks. I’m looking at one of the warehouses. The image before me moves as if a drone is flying, catching the footage.

Candido comes into view. A woman is on her knees before him with her hands tied behind her back. I grind my teeth, wanting to strangle this motherfucker.

I still can’t believe this asshole is my father. Fucking piece of shit. I narrow my eyes and look at the woman. She looks young. As I look closer, I notice she’s working her hands out of the zip ties on her wrists.

A grin comes to my lips. Hopefully, she’ll be able to take this asshole and his men. She pauses as Ricci says something to her.

I become frustrated because I can’t hear. Then suddenly, as if someone has unmuted the vision. I can hear everything.

“What did you say to me?” The young woman hisses.

“I said where’s your fucking boss, bitch?”

“Trust me, you don’t want to know where he is. How dare you come in here like you run this place. Do you know what they will do to you?”

“Who, the Iron Brothers? Sweetheart, I own those biker fucks. They ain’t gonna do shit. Now answer the fucking question.”

“I’m not answering shit. What do you want with Amadeus anyway?” She bites out.

“You think I don’t know you all are some type of freaks? Everyone connected to that club is. That’s where you all come in handy to my business.

“I have a friend who needs distribution and transport. I’m going to get a nice kickback from the deal, but first, I need to have an understanding with your boss.”

“Let me guess? Whatever you’re up to is something the brothers want nothing to do with.”

“Smart girl. The problem is they’re only obligated to be loyal to me. I can’t force them to do anything for a family outside of mine.”

“You have no honor or loyalty. Amadeus will never work for you.”

“You let me be the judge of that. Stop wasting my time. My little girl’s engagement party is tomorrow night. I need this deal done by then. So where the fuck is he?”

“Shove it up your ass, human. I can smell your fear. You know he’s going to kill you, and if he doesn’t, one of the brothers will.”

“In that case. Since I’ve told you way too much, I can leave you as a warning,” Candido says and pulls a gun.

He aims it at her head and pulls the trigger. I lift my hand to cover my mouth as my eyes go wide.

A bright light appears and the ice shatters before my eyes. I push up to break through the surface of the water and gasp in a breath.

I shake my head and punch the water, biting out a curse. So the Iron Brothers are connected to Ricci. I have a million thoughts running through my head.

I try to remember everything I saw so I can find that warehouse and gather evidence of the crime. Then I pause and knit my brows. That wasn’t the present or the past.

Candido said his daughter’s engagement party is tomorrow. Ray told us about her engagement party last week. It’s not for another month.

“Oh my God, I have time to save her,” I say and begin to swim to climb out of the pool.