“When he leaves, maybe we can set up something for him in Ybor and trap him there,” answers TJ.
“Buy the people in Channelside some time to get to Ola or even have the zombies get Sal,” says Phil.
I’m intrigued by what TJ and Phil are saying about Ybor and having Sal and his goons get trapped there.
“But how do we do it? And how do we know he’ll even go back there?” I ask.
“What if we use Brad for that?” asks Phil.
Brad and everyone look at Phil with an interested expression.
“Just hear me out. Brad goes back to Channelside and says that he went to Ybor and he saw something there and that Sal needs to check it out,” says Phil.
“What would I say?” asks Brad.
“Come up with something, say you saw the Colombians and they were making progress on taking over Ybor, or something like that,” answers Phil.
“Does Brad have to go back to Channelside to do it though?” I ask.
Everyone looks at me and I ask, “Can Brad just radio them to come to Ybor without having him go back into Channelside?”
“I guess he could, but we want to make sure Sal and his goons leave Channelside,” answers Phil.
“I think either could work,” says TJ.
“But won’t the people that beat Brad up wonder why he came back to Channelside?” asks Jon.
“I’m willing to take that risk,” answers Brad.
I look at Phil and TJ and wait for them to weigh in on the idea of Brad going back to Channelside.
“It would be better to have someone inside Channelside that we can communicate with though,” says Phil.
“What about Bakari’s people?” asks Jon.
“We don’t have access to them, and I’m sure Brad is eager to get this moving,” answers Phil.
“What do you think TJ?” I ask.
TJ looks at Brad and asks, “Are you up for it?”
Brad nods his head and answers, “Yes, I’m actually eager to get this going. Waiting and wondering about what might be going on is driving me nuts.”
“But how do we know we can trust you? How do we know this isn’t part of your plan?” asks Matt to Brad.
Brad looks at Matt and answers, “Are you serious? My plan was to get beaten up and dropped off here?”
“What do you think about it Ryan?” asks Matt.
I think about Matt’s question and answer, “What would any of you do, if you were Brad? Would you not do everything in your power to get your wife back?”
“But Ryan, he was ordered to kill you,” answers Jon.
“You going to kill me Brad?” I ask as I look directly at Brad.
“No, I can’t do that,” answers Brad.
“But desperate men, do desperate things,” says Phil to Brad.
“I already talked with Brad and Brad knows that he may not get his wife back, even if he killed me,” I say.
“Is that true?” asks Phil to Brad.
“Yeah, my hands were tied and that’s what Sal ordered me to do. I told him that I wouldn’t even attempt to kill Ryan and then he took my wife and said that I had to do it to get Ola back,” answers Brad.
“But won’t they wonder why you are back at Channelside?” asks Matt.
“I don’t even know who attacked me,” answers Brad.
“Have you had any interactions with DK?” I ask Brad.
“Not really, he was at one meeting and I saw him with Sal and Jacob around Channelside like twice,” answers Brad.
“Do you know where Jacob is?” asks Phil to Brad.
“He hasn’t been around Channelside for a while,” answers Brad.
“So what did we decide about Brad? Is he going back to Channelside or not?” asks Matt.
I look around the room and answer, “I think we decided that Brad would go back to Channelside and tell Sal about going to Ybor.”
“And we are going to World of Trade to meet with DK in three days?” asks TJ.
“Yeah that’s right,” I answer.
“What vehicle can I have?” asks Brad.
“We’ll give you one of our beat up cars,” answers Phil and then Phil and Brad exit Shaun’s house.
“You okay with this Ryan? You okay with finding out that Brad was ordered to kill you?” asks Matt to me as I sit with Jon, Matt, and TJ in Shaun’s living room.
“As good as anyone can be, I guess,” I answer.
“Them wanting you dead means that you are a threat to them and that you’re doing big things around here,” says Jon.
“I have to get back to the Reservation,” says TJ.
“I’m going to check on Kylie,” says Matt as he stands up from the sofa.
“Wait up, I’m leaving as well,” says Jon to Matt and Matt and Jon exit Shaun’s house.
I exit Shaun’s house with TJ and TJ says, “You guys should come to the Reservation. It’s nice there, I’m sure they have an empty house or two for you guys.”
“Maybe down the road, but I can’t leave this place yet,” I reply to TJ.
“I’ll be in touch with you guys, and I’ll see you in three days,” says TJ.
I shake TJ’s right hand and then TJ gets into his jeep and exits Citrus Oaks.
I see Phil and Brad looking at a car that is parked down the street.
I walk over to Phil and Brad and Brad gets into the driver seat of the car that Phil gave him.
Brad looks at me and says, “I’m sorry for all the trouble Ryan.”
“It’s not your fault,” I reply.
“I know, but I just wish it didn’t come to this. Everything with Sal and Ola and all the craziness,” says Brad.
“I wonder how things would have been if The Captain was still around?” asks Phil.
“Maybe worse, maybe better, but
