Accusing the town's mayor of kidnapping Emmett would be difficult to prove, but Kazimir knew he had to be involved. When they got back to Adrian's truck, Kazimir searched through Emmett's recent calls and wondered if that number that called might be Mayor Kaufman's.

"Where could we find this Mayor Kaufman?" Adrian asked.

"He's probably at his penthouse," Kazimir replied. "Offhand, I don't know the address but Emmett did."

"Would he risk bringing Emmett back to his own place though?" Jordy questioned. "His family would likely see him if he did that. I think he'd have him somewhere else, somewhere nobody else would find them."

"Like where?" Kazimir asked.

Jordy shrugged. "I don't know. Just a thought, considering how he's been careful with meeting Emmett so far. He'll want no traces left behind. He can't let this get out, how he's been fraternizing with a gangster."

"I could ask Adam," Adrian suggested. "Maybe he's gotten some calls from their residence before or someone there at the station might know."

While Adrian got a hold of his brother, Kazimir's worries only mounted with each passing minute. What could've happened to him? What made Mayor Kaufman turn on him? He'd paid Emmett for killing that pervert who worked at the nightclub, just like he wanted, so why turn on him now?

Unless, was someone else involved? Maybe Mayor Kaufman was a puppet in someone else's plan. But who could it be? That Jack guy? Emmett had been suspicious about him from the start and they knew he wasn't who he said he was. If so, what the hell did he want with Emmett?

As they drove through Viper Valley, passing little shops and carefree patrons hurrying to the fair downtown, Jordy gave Adam a call to see what he knew about their mayor. Or what information he could provide. While waiting for a response, Kazimir considered whether or not he should update the rebels on his findings.

Alfie would want to start a search immediately, but would things trace back to Adrian if he told them everything? He'd want to know how Kazimir came to know about what happened to Emmett and why he hadn't been staying at their hideout.

"Damn, he's not answering," Jordy said. "What do you wanna do now, Kaz?"

Kazimir rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I've been thinking about who else might be involved here. I don't think Mayor Kaufman's acting alone. He's got an accomplice, if not more than one. This could be a ploy against the Black Vipers to take him down once and for all."

"Yeah, I considered them being involved," Jordy replied. "I'm just not sure how Mayor Kaufman fits into their mess."

"Me neither. Mayor Kaufman's in the rebel's pocket, so I can't understand what the Black Vipers have to offer him. It makes no sense why he'd switch sides," Kazimir explained.

"What if he's being blackmailed?" Jordy suggested.

Kazimir frowned. "Huh?"

"It's possible that the leader of the Black Vipers has something dirty on Mayor Kaufman. And if so, they'd be able to make him do anything. Even use Emmett for random crimes of his desire," Jordy replied.

"I never considered that, but you might be right. It explains all those odd jobs Mayor Kaufman wanted Emmett to do for him. He builds up his trust, providing him with pay. All while someone else is in control."

Soon enough, Adrian was able to get a hold of his brother and find out where Mayor Kaufman lived. Kazimir gazed out the window, watching the decrepit building brush by in a blur. What would they ask him? Nerves squirmed in the pit of Kazimir's chest as he considered the possibilities of what he might have done to Emmett if they weren't careful.

Kazimir wasn't sure what to do once they reached the mayor's residence. He knew they couldn't barge in, making accusations. That would only force him to kill Emmett and bury the evidence. Each step up the lawn and to the man's porch had Kazimir on edge. He stuck close by Jordy's side, allowing Adrian to take the lead and ring the doorbell.

When a short, brunette woman opened the door, dread sunk in Kazimir's chest. He should've known the mayor wouldn't be at home. That had to be his wife, Kazimir thought. She probably had no idea what illegal things her husband's done, how many people he's put a hit on. She seemed quite confused, and Kazimir wasn't sure what Adrian told her.

"Well, she said he's away on business," Adrian said. "She didn't seem to be lying, but I think she's skeptical."

"What do we do now?" Kazimir asked. "This trip turned out to be a bust. We should've known he wouldn't lay low at his own place. Not with his wife and kids there."

Adrian rubbed his chin. "Let's see if the Kaufman's have any other properties nearby in their name. I'll get Adam on it."

They made a pit stop at the Wallflower diner for breakfast. While Kazimir tried to eat a little to get him through the rest of the day, his mind wouldn't stop spiraling with the endless possibilites of how Emmett was being tortured.

He no longer constantly kept checking his phone for texts and calls he'd never received since they found Emmett's phone, but he did keep an eye on peculiar texts and strange numbers on Emmett's phone. So far, he only had hundreds of missed calls from him and the rebels.

Adrian shoveled a mouthful of fluffy, maple pancakes in his mouth as he typed something on his phone. He dabbed at his mouth with a napkin, lying his phone down on the table. "Adam's looking into it for me now. Knows a guy who can look that shit up."

"That's great." Jordy reached over for his steaming cup of coffee, sparing Kazimir a glance. "Look, I'm sure Emmett's okay. You know how he is. It won't be easy for someone to take him down. He'll fight them every second of the way."

"Thanks, I appreciate that. I know you're not the biggest fan of Emmett, but I'm glad you're here trying to help," Kazimir told him.

"Anything for you, man."

"You said you think the Black Vipers are involved, right?" Adrian said. "Do you know where we might find them? Like, where are their hideouts? It's possible Emmett's being kept there."

"That's a good point. I don't know many places where they frequent," Kazimir admitted. "They try to keep that secretive, even from some of their members, but I know they hang out around the Viper Lounge a lot."

Adrian took a hearty sip of his coffee before saying, "We ought to check that Viper Lounge out. We could pose as clients and get close enough to whoever's running the place to see if Emmett's around there."

Kazimir nodded. "Okay, after we're done here we'll head over there. I'm not sure where they could keep him in a place like that though."

"Well, surely they've got a storage space in the club or maybe a basement," Adrian replied. "I could snoop around and do my best not to get caught while you guys keep the owner and any dealers lurking around busy. I know from what Adam's told me how places like that don't look too kindly on cops."

After breakfast, they set out to the Viper Lounge in hopes of finding some clues about Emmett's whereabouts. Kazimir knew they needed to tread carefully and not alert those gang members of their plans to sneak around their turf.

"Just stick close to my side," Adrian said. "Hopefully, they don't make a fuss."

"How do you expect this to work?" Kazimir asked.

"You two just keep everyone busy while I go search around, okay?" Adrian replied. "You got my number. Call me if shit hits the fan or you feel like you're in danger. There's no telling what these bastards are up to, but I doubt they'd shoot up their own club and people."

Kazimir gulped. "Um, are you sure? You do realize who we're dealing with here, right?"

"I'm with Kaz on this," Jordy said, stopping dead in his tracks. "We could be walking into a death trap here. We need to be rational. What happens if you get caught?"

Adrian shrugged. "I'm resourceful. Plus, I have my partner here to back me up." He motioned for Rocco to follow him.

"How will you get him inside?" Kazimir asked. "That bodyguard isn't gonna let him in."

Adrian grinned. "We're not coming in through the front entrance."

Kazimir and Jordy exchanged brief looks. What the hell's this guy up to? Kazimir wondered.

"Then how are you getting in?" Jordy asked, raising a brow.

"You just leave that to me. Y'all just get inside and make sure nobody notices me. Trust me," Adrian replied, closing his truck's door.

As Kazimir and Jordy made their way up to the club's entrance, they spotted the bodyguard at the door. He spared them a glance as they approached, prepared with their ID's. The burly man acknowledged them with a grunt and stamped the backs of both their hands before allowing them inside.

Not many people frequented the club during the day, but they had a few patrons up at the bar. They hadn't turned the strobe lights on yet and only some faint music poured from the speakers. Kazimir crossed the sticky floor, following close behind Jordy as they navigated around the empty tables and chairs.

"Want me to take the lead?" Kazimir lowered his voice, nudging Jordy's side. "Just to make it realistic. They might think you're undercover, but I'm sure they've seen me around with Emmett."

Jordy nodded. "Okay, but I'll stay right with ya."

Heart hammering in his chest, Kazimir took cautious steps toward the bar and beckoned one of the guys over. His hands shook on the table he rested them on, meeting the older man's gaze. He'd bought drugs off the street countless times before. There was no reason to chicken out now.

"Um, you've got some coke, yeah?" Kazimir asked, coughing into his sleeve before itching at the side of his neck.

"Ain't you with those rebels?" he asked, frowning.

"Yeah, but they're not getting back to me. I'm desperate. Told me to come back later but I can't wait that long. I really need something now," Kazimir explained.

The bartender's frown lines deepened. Kazimir rocketed on the bar stool, biting on a loose hangnail. What if he wouldn't sell them anything? What if they'd caught Adrian snooping around and planned to beat the hell out of them all? Or worse?

To Kazimir's surprise, the bartender gave him a price and he wasted no time handing the cash over. He took a moment in the back to fetch the supply, bringing him out a to-go box and sliding it across the table to him. Kazimir cracked the lid, noticing a pouch with white powder inside.

"Thank you," Kazimir stammered as he rose from his seat.

Before stepping back outside, Kazimir sent a text to Adrian, hoping he'd finished snooping around. If he even got in. Kazimir had his doubts about Adrian being able to get inside the place without alerting someone, but to his surprise, Adrian responded promptly.

Back out in the truck waiting for you slowpokes.

"He's out there waiting for us," Kazimir said, pocketing his phone. "Let's go."

"Already? Damn."

They made their way back out to Adrian's truck, where he waited for them. He already had the engine running.

"Thought I'd have to come get you guys myself," Adrian said.

"Did you find anything?" Kazimir asked.

"A guy back there told me about an old, abandoned factory they use," Adrian replied. "It's not too far from here, but out in the countryside. Not many people remember the place, apparently, because it closed almost twenty years ago."

"Is that where we're heading then?" Kazimir questioned.

"Not yet. I need to scope the place out by myself first. Just to make sure we don't walk into a trap," Adrian explained. "That guy looked like he was about to shit himself when Rocco came at him, but he might have lied to me regardless."

"Alright, after you've done that, then what do we do?"

"You'll let the police take control and rescue Emmett, if they're holding him there," Adrian said.

Kazimir froze. That hadn't been his intention at all. He wanted to break down the doors himself and save Emmett, not wait for the cops to intervene. He could be dead by then. They didn't have time to dawdle.

"Oh, and did you get the drugs, Kaz?" Adrian asked, coming to a stop at the red light.

"Uh, yeah. I got them." Kazimir held the to-go container in his lap.

"Let me see it," Adrian said, holding his hand out.

Kazimir opened the box and handed him the plastic bag of cocaine. Adrian propped open his door, confusing him further when he walked to the sidewalk. Only when Kazimir peeked out the window did he realize that Adrian dumped his cocaine down into the sewer drain.

The officer climbed back into his truck like nothing had happened.

"What the hell?" Kazimir asked. "Do you know how much that cost me? You just tossed it away!"

"That shit isn't good for you, and I'm not about to encourage drug use. Take however much you need." Adrian tossed his wallet back to him. "Don't even think about taking any of my cards either."

"I don't need your money." Kazimir groaned and tossed his wallet into the cupholder. "All I want to do is get Emmett back safely. No matter what it takes."

Adrian nodded, keeping his focus on the road. "I'll do everything I can to make that happen. You just need to trust me. Can you do that?"

Kazimir fiddled with his phone in his hands, contemplating what he should do next. Trusting Adrian would be the logical thing to do, but would Emmett just stand by while someone tortured him to death if the roles were reversed? Wouldn't he be out there, doing every goddamn thing he could to rescue him?

Cops didn't give a shit about them. While Adrian had been kind, Kazimir knew he needed to take matters into his own hands. He had to update the rebels on Emmett's potential whereabouts and go save him.