Predators MC: Stand Off Part 20

"Don't worry about Lonnie. You deserve the promotion. You're the most reliable worker the bank has; you remain cool when the clients get angry; and your cash drawer is always spot on. You will make a great vice president. I'll begin your training this afternoon. In a month, you'll know as much as I do."

Gianna stood up, holding her hand out. "Thank you, Casey. I haven't said anything, and I'd like to keep this personal, but the extra money will come in handy. My mom is getting older and is having a hard time working full-time. With the raise, I can help her out until she retires."

Casey went around her desk, taking Gianna's hand and tugging her close for a swift hug. "We'll all benefit from you taking the job. You're a valuable employee to the bank."

Gianna gave her a watery smile as she paused before opening the door. "What about Lonnie? I... don't want him to find out from the grapevine."

"Send him in. I'll break the news to him."

"Thanks again, Casey."

She went to get herself a cup of coffee. When she returned, Lonnie was sitting in the chair Gianna had vacated.

"Gianna said you wanted to see me. Have you made a decision about the new vice president?"

Lonnie had told everyone in the bank he had applied for the position when the previous vice president had quit to stay at home with her new child.

Casey closed her door, setting her coffee cup down on the desk. "Yes, I have. I offered the job to Gianna, and she accepted."

Anger flooded his face as he stared at her in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding, right? I've worked my a.s.s off for that promotion."

"Yes you have, and it's been a waste of time. Not only are you not becoming vice president, but you're fired. Clean your locker out and leave the bank. Jack will escort you." Casey motioned her head toward the security guard who stood outside her gla.s.s office.

"You can't fire me!"

"Why can't I fire you?"

"You know d.a.m.n well why."

"Because you're paid by the Predators? Because you think, since I'm seeing Max, that your job was safe after you let Jackal into the safe-deposit box area?" Casey mocked his stunned expression. "I didn't need to do much investigating to figure out who did it, Lonnie. Only one person is constantly hanging around my office and knew where I kept that key. You were the only one with access to the vault besides me."

"They won't let you fire me." Lonnie's anger had turned to smugness.

"I've got news for you: the Predators don't tell me what to do. You need to leave now, and I won't be giving you a reference."

"You f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h, I'll be back at work tomorrow, and I'll get that promotion, too. You're the one who's going to be out on your f.u.c.king a.s.s."

Casey didn't reply as she opened the door for Jack. Lonnie threw her an angry glare as he left. The other employees were shocked to watch Lonnie escorted off the property. Casey didn't answer any of the questions directed her way from the ones wanting the gossip first. She worked through her day normally as if she hadn't fired someone and her boyfriend wasn't locked up behind bars.

She'd been furious at Max when she had answered her cell phone to hear a recording that the call was coming from the jailhouse. Max's voice coming over the line explaining that he had beaten up Maxie's teenage crush had infuriated her.

"Are you crazy? He's a kid!"

"What if he had raped her that day? What if you hadn't been there, and a pervert s.n.a.t.c.hed her from the bus stop? Anything could have happened. He talked her into leaving school. The punk even sent her a picture of himself. He's f.u.c.king lucky I didn't kill him."

"You know these conversations are recorded, don't you?" Casey snapped at him. "How long are you going to be in jail?"

"Until this afternoon. I'm waiting for Creed, Ice's lawyer, to post bond."

"How bad did you hurt him?"

"Nothing that won't heal in a week or two. I have to go, but I didn't want you waiting up for me. See you Monday."

He hung up before she could tell him goodbye, and he had been calling her all morning. She hadn't answered, not because she was angry at him for beating up Fisher-she thought he deserved it-but because she knew she was going to fire Lonnie and that he was connected to the Predators. She had been afraid she would break and tell him what she was going to do, and he would try to talk her out of doing it.

Lonnie deserved to be fired. She didn't feel the least bit guilty for it. With his ties to the Predators, it would place him with too much power. He would be able to provide all kinds of illegal services for them, and Casey wasn't going to stand back and watch it happen by turning a blind eye.

She sighed. Max was going to be furious, and they hadn't been together for several days. She missed having him in her bed. It was too big and lonely without him. When she left Queen City, she would leave the bed behind, just like everything else.

Max tapped his knuckles on the desk. "Hurry up."

As soon as the papers were placed in front of him for his signature, he signed them then was given his wallet and cell phone. His lawyer took the paperwork from him as they walked outside into the hot day.

"Try to stay out of trouble," Creed advised. "At least until I can get these charges dropped. Did you have to kick his a.s.s in front of so many witnesses?"

"I lost my temper."

"If I can't find something on his parents or him, you're going to do some time, Max."

"You'll find out something. You always do," Max said indifferently. If he went to jail for a few months, it was worth it.

"Ice will fire me if I don't. I'll call you when I find out the court date," Creed said, going to his car. "I'll drop you off at the clubhouse."

Max got in the front seat. He was halfway to the clubhouse when his phone rang.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Where are you?"

Max instantly recognized KC's voice.

"On the way back to the clubhouse. Why?"

"You still seeing that chick from the bank?"

"Yes."

"The Bandits are hitting the bank at closing time today."

"You couldn't have given us more warning?" Max yelled into the phone.

"They didn't tell us until an hour ago when X told us to get our weapons ready. I have to go; they're waiting on me. I'll do what I can to protect her."

"Hurry the f.u.c.k up," Max screamed at the lawyer.

Creed stepped on the gas, going through a red light. As soon as he stopped in the parking lot, Max jumped out of the car.

Jackal opened the door as he drew close.

"KC called. The Bandits are going to hit the bank at closing time." Max looked at the clock behind the bar.

While the brothers went for their weapons, Max ran to his bedroom, tearing up the floorboard to pull out his.

Max heard Jackal yelling directions to the brothers then the sounds of the bikes being started. He ran out the club door, getting on his bike. Then Ice led the men out of the parking lot, their weapons hidden behind their jackets. He sped past the brothers, down the busy road, weaving through the heavy traffic.

Max knew the Predators were going to stop the Bandits because they were pulling off a job without their permission, but he only had one purpose, and that was to make sure Casey wasn't hurt. He owed her for taking care of Maxie. Max refused to acknowledge to himself that wasn't the only reason, despite the fact that his heart was pumping with fear for the woman he had been f.u.c.king for the last two months.

The Predators hadn't forgiven her-they never would-but Max owed her his own personal debt, and he always paid his dues.

The bank looked eerily quiet when they pulled into the parking lot behind it. Max got off his bike, striding toward the building.

"f.u.c.k! Max, get back here," Ice yelled.

He didn't slow. Casey was inside that bank, and no one was going to stop him from getting to her. Jackal and Fade came running up behind him, trying to catch his arms.

"Are you f.u.c.king crazy? You're going to get yourself killed!" Jackal snarled.

"Go back. I'm going inside." Max went to the front of the bank and saw the cars out front; however, there was no sign of anyone coming or leaving the bank.

He stepped forward to push the door open, expecting it to be locked, yet the door easily flew open. Max wanted to pull his gun out, but if nothing was going down, he would be creating mayhem.

No one was sitting at the front desk as he came around the corner to find his suspicions were proven correct. The bank employees were on the floor. The Bandits had been too f.u.c.king stupid to place someone at the door. They were standing over the employees and customers with guns pointed at them.

A chill ran through him when he saw they weren't wearing masks. It was a clear sign they planned to take out everyone inside.

"X, we have company!" one of the gunman yelled to the leader of the group who had Casey on her knees in front of her office.

"s.h.i.t! I told you to watch the door, Rafe!"

"I was until this b.i.t.c.h took off running." One gunman pushed an attractive black woman toward the rest of the hostages on the floor.

Max found several guns pointed at him.

"I needed to make a deposit, but I guess I won't now. Don't want any of you f.u.c.kers taking my money." Max's snide voice had X leaving Casey, moving toward him.

"We have a smart-a.s.s who wants to die!" The barrel of a gun was pushed into his face.

"Don't want to die, just want to keep my money." Max was used to playing stupid. He had learned, the dumber someone thought he was, the more they underestimated him.

"Those two behind you want to make a deposit, too?" X asked sarcastically.

"f.u.c.k no. They were going to make a withdrawal." Max groaned inwardly. He had thought Jackal and Fade had broken off when he had entered the building.

"Rafe, lock the f.u.c.king door. You three, over there." He motioned them toward Casey, which suited Max.

He went to Casey, dropping down to his knees beside her. Jackal and Fade dropped down on her other side without being told.

"I told you the Predators would show up." One man dressed in an expensive suit came from behind the counter.

"Lonnie, don't do-" Casey began.

X raised his gun, slamming it into the side of her face and knocking her into Jackal, who put an arm around her to support her weight.

"Shut the f.u.c.k up! When I want to hear your f.u.c.king voice, I'll tell you."

Max wanted to take Casey from Jackal but didn't want to show X she meant something to him. She had a cut next to her eye which began to ooze blood.

"Did you get the vault open?"

"It's on a timer." Lonnie glanced down at his watch. "It will open in another fifteen minutes."

"Get them tied," X ordered.

While the men began zip-tying the employees and customers, X went behind their backs.

"I'll take care of it, X. You keep them covered." KC stood after zip-tying a man who was lying on the floor.

KC went behind them, and Max felt him wrap the plastic cord around his wrist, leaving enough s.p.a.ce that, if he was careful, he could wiggle his hands free. He then moved behind Jackal and Fade, tying each of them. When he went to tie Casey's wrists, X stopped him.

"Leave her hands free. We're going to need her palm print."

"Cop is pulling up outside!" Rafe yelled from the doorway.

"Unlock the door and let him get inside the door before you take him down. If anyone opens their mouth, I'll put a bullet in their head," X warned.

Max couldn't see the doorway from his position, but he heard the scuffle that was taking place. The police officer was shoved toward the lobby by Rafe with a gun at the back of his head.

"Get his weapon, KC." X kept his gun trained on them as KC took the cop's weapon and tied his hands behind his back.

"Bring him here." X motioned KC to place him beside Max. The officer was thrown to the floor. "I'm going to give you one chance to go home tonight. Call the station and tell them the bank is clear. If not, you're going to be leaving in a body bag. You get me?"

"Yes." The officer was young, and his shaky voice didn't inspire confidence that he would be able to keep his head when all h.e.l.l broke loose.

The officer pushed a b.u.t.ton on his shoulder. "Officer McDaniel reporting. Checked on the silent alarm. It was a code eight. All's clear. Going on my dinner break."

A voice answered back, giving him a code. X pressed the gun tighter to his temple.

"Code four."

"Rafe?" X questioned.

"He told them it was a false alarm and that he's okay."

"Smart move." X removed the gun from his temple. "Get his hands tied."

KC tied his hands then moved back to watch the others lying on the floor.