Ripple Effect

-25-

The light comes on and Anthony keeps his eyes closed, listening before opening them upon hearing his name being yelled out. 

Turning over he finds Spider looking down at him. "Is it time?" 

Spider nods, "Get dressed and meet us by the loading dock." 

"It's like black outside, why so early?" 

"The less you know, the better; now get your ass out of bed and let's go!" 

He sits up on the side of the bed and reaches for the jeans that he's been wearing for a week straight, suprised that they haven't walked away on their own yet and abandoned him. 

Pulling them on, he reaches for his boots and puts them on, tying the extra tight before standing up and fixing his zipper and belt. He grabs his jacket and gun before making a quick stop to use the facilities that he's pretty sure now have something dead residing in before walking through the darkness and over to the loading dock area. He finds Spider standing there along with a couple of the other men and a blacked out van. 

"Tony, you and G, get the girls and bring them here. Do not under any circumstance touch or hurt them. Understood?" 

Anthony nods. 

"Good. We need them in perfect shape for the preview this evening." 

"Where are we going?" 

"Manny will be giving you directions. The others won't be arriving until later on, so, the girls will be staying in a room under guard until it's time to make them look presentable for the viewings. You are to stay with them at all times." 

Anthony nods, "Understood." He turns and follows the big guy known only as G and they head towards the back of the warehouse where the girls are being held under lock and key. 

Grabbing the keys from the desk drawer, Anthony passes his gun over to G, "Watch my back." 

Anthony puts the key in the lock and turns to unlock it before opening the door and seeing the two girls curled up sleeping together. 

"RISE AND SHINE!"

Gabby opens her eyes just barely, "Dude, it's like the middle of the night, go away." 

Anthony kinda chuckles before responding, "You need to get up and dressed, we're on the move. 10 minutes and I'll be back, be ready, both of you." 

He shuts and locks the door. 

"You're really giving them 10 minutes?" G looks down on Anthony. 

"I am. Their lives are about to change and they deserve every last minute of normalcy and privacy; they aren't here by choice and rushing them is only going to make them more resistant and Spider said no damage to the merchandise." 

G nods, "You seem like a good guy, Tony; how in the hell did you get messed up with this crew?" 

"I met Spider when we were locked up together and saved his ass, so, when he offered me a paid gig on the outside I jumped on it. Didn't know until I get here what the job was and as soon as it's done I'm heading South of the border." 

G looks at the clock on the wall, "By my count it's been 8 minutes, should we check on them?" 

Anthony shakes his head, "Give them the extra two." 

"I'm gonna step out for quick leak, you good on your own?" 

Anthony nods, "Yeah man, not like they're going anywhere." 

As soon as G is out of sight, Anthony pulls his phone out and types a quick message hoping it goes through before he switches his screen over to a game.