“No you’re fuckin’ not.” Heart’s glaring at me. “You’re gonna keep well away from any action.”
Devil raises his eyebrow at Heart, then addresses me. “You will be. You’re the liaison with the sheriff’s team. You’ll be attending meetings, setting it up, and feeding the plans back to Drummer.” He sends a look of apology toward the president. “Sheriff wouldn’t go so far as to allow a biker in on that, but Marcia, he’ll accept.”
I’m happy with that. Overjoyed to be included, but, “I want to be there. At the auction.”
“And you will. But you’ll stay in the background with Mouse, providing information.”
I sit back and fold my arms. A raid is something I’ve been trained for, and I’m not happy sitting on the sidelines while my man puts his life on the line. That he’ll volunteer, I’m already certain. There’s no point arguing now. The only female among these misogynistic overprotective men is not going to be given a fair hearing.
“What exactly is the plan, Devil? We wait until we know the location, surround it…?”
Devil gives another of his twisted grins. “Once we know the location, we’ll get into position. First thing will be to take out the guards on the outside. That will have to be done quickly and cleanly. Ryan and Seth are both ex-SAS, like your SEALs, and will take that on. They won’t see them coming. Then we wait on the information from your man, Lady, and Sean. We want everyone focused on the auction, and not who’s sneaking inside.” He suddenly sits forward. “I want all the sick bastards. The organisers, people who’ve watched over the kids, and all the sick buggers who wanted to buy them. We round up every bloody one of them.”
“Round up? Or kill?” Blade’s still speaking for his brothers.
Devil shrugs. “I don’t much care, but the feds will want someone left to question. This probably won’t the first time this group will have done something like this. There may still be people in the background they’ll need to catch up with.”
For a moment, no one person can be heard. There are many different conversations going on in the room. The one I hear most clearly is taking place beside me.
“You sure you want to do this, Lady? Don’t like you putting yourself at risk.” Joker’s speaking quietly, and I wouldn’t catch his words were I not so close.
“Of course I fuckin’ do, Brother. And I’ll have you watching my back.”
A range of expressions are crossing Drummer’s face—pride in his men, worry they might not all come back, and disgust that he’s been caught up in this. It’s not too much different from being in a detective’s briefing with a lieutenant concerned about what he’s leading his men into.
When the furore dies down, the prez nods toward Mouse. “Don’t think anyone needs any further incentive, but do you want to tell us the fuckin’ rest?”
The computer nerd looks down at his laptop, and then his eyes rise over the top. “There’s a fuckin’ catalogue for the auction, so buyers can be prepared with their bids. There are fifteen items listed for sale.”
I frown. “There’s only thirteen missing children. Are they expecting to take more?”
Mouse continues as though I hadn’t interrupted. “All items are fully described. I’ve matched thirteen of them to the kids that are missing. There are two descriptions in addition with crosses against them.”
That gives us a lead, we can tell people to keep kids who match safe.
“One’s a fifteen-year-old teenager who’s apparently already been broken in, the other listed as a three to four-year-old girl.”
You could hear a pin drop in the silence. Then Slick and Paladin are on their feet, and Heart’s pushed back his chair.
“What the fuck? Jayden?”
“Not Amy. Fuck. They’re not getting their hands on Amy.”
“Sit down and shut the fuck up!” Drummer’s on his feet, his voice shouting over their protests.
That’s why Archer was interested in Jayden Greenway. I knew he was mixed up in something bad. And Amy. My eyes go to Heart, and my heart bleeds for him.
“No one,” Drummer states each word slowly and clearly. “No one is getting their hands on Jayden or Amy. They’ll be guarded all the time and not allowed off the compound.”
“What if I take Jayden away?” Paladin asks.
“You’re not taking her fuckin’ anywhere,” Slick roars back.
“No one’s going anywhere,” Drummer, still standing, states firmly. “That auction will go ahead with two empty places. There’s no way anyone’s getting close to those girls.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Heart…
I feel sick, bile rising into my throat as Mouse finishes his update. As my eyes meet Marc’s, I see horror in her eyes. The room feels too hot, and my hands start sweating. My heart’s beating so fast I feel it thumping in my chest. No one, especially these sick bastards, are getting their hands on my daughter.
I hardly hear Devil as he starts speaking again. “From the reports that I’ve read—particularly yours, Marcia—I think their chance has passed.” I see Marc’s mouth drop open as she must be wondering how Devil has gotten hold of and absorbed so much information in such a short time. He’s still speaking to her. “I agree with your summation that there was something extremely suspicious that Archer prematurely reported Jayden as missing.”
Marc frowns. “But that was a year ago.”
“Leads me to believe this isn’t the first time this has gone on. Maybe not with kids missing from Tucson, they may have been taken from somewhere else. And of course, they tried to take Amy at the same time.”
“You think they’re going to try again?” Wraith’s asking the questions Slick, Paladin, and I are too stunned to voice.
Devil raises his shoulders. “Can’t say. We can’t be certain what the crosses mean. But time’s getting on if they’re going to include them. Drummer and I both feel they’re sufficiently protected here, on the compound. The crosses might mean they’re no longer available, or, the other option we can’t completely take off the table, is that they take interested bids on the night and provide the goods at a later date.”
Again I glance at Marc, she’s biting her lip. But Devil’s words have made me feel slightly easier. “You’re saying, if we take this group out we can ensure the girls will be safe?”
“That’s what I hope, Heart. As long as we get all the ringleaders and can shut this thing down.”
“I still want to take Jayden away.” Paladin’s glowering at Slick. “I don’t want to risk anything happening to her again.”
As Slick starts to growl, Drum holds up his hand. “It’s an option to consider, Slick. Paladin could transfer to another chapter. Hellfire, for instance, would keep him in line. He’s got kids of his own.”
Slick considers the prez, then gives a slow nod. “Don’t know what Ella would have to say, but I’ll think about it. As long as the asshole can keep her safe, that’s what’s important.”
“We’ll park that for now. No one’s going anywhere until this thing’s finished.” Prez studies all our faces. “Now, it’s a fuck of a lot to take in. We’re proposing entering a fight we’ve no real part of, except for the tenuous link to two of our kids. We need to take a vote on this. Devil, you got anything more to say?” Devil’s head moves side to side, and Drummer nods. “Okay. We’re voting to go along with Devil’s plan and stand up alongside the feds and the pigs.” His lips curve slightly as he says the latter, as if he can’t quite believe what he’s putting to the vote.
I’ll be voting aye with no hesitation. I have to do what I can to reduce the risk to my daughter. My eyes catch Slick’s and know it will be an easy decision for him too.
I realise the voting’s started. Wraith’s given his affirmative, and Blade’s looking confused, but then adds his agreement. One by one we vote around the table—except for Devil and Marc, who, not being members, stay silent.
At last I’m writing in the decision book, not quite knowing what I’m recording, but I scribble suffic
ient sentences to sum up this bizarre meeting.
Then we’re dismissed, and there’s only one place I’m going to be—beside my daughter and my old lady.
A couple of hours later, while topics we discussed in church are still whirling around in my head, I’m sitting and watching my girls. Marc’s sitting on the floor, playing with Amy. They’re dressing fucking Barbie dolls. Grunt’s in there as well, trying to steal the clothes. Even with all the shit going around, the normality of the scene brings a smile to my lips. I can’t lose this. Any of this. Losing Crystal darn near killed me. Losing my daughter, or my new woman would destroy me and I’d never recover. My smile fades.
Glancing up, Marc gets to her feet. A quick peek behind shows Amy’s engrossed, so she raises her eyes to meet mine. “It could be old news, Heart. They might have forgotten about Amy. Have you heard from her grandmother lately?”
“Susie Clyde’s dead.” I’m surprised she doesn’t already know. “Died of an overdose or some bad shit.”
She huffs in a breath and puts her hands on her hips, her eyes searching my face, then surprises me. “Couldn’t have happened to a better person.” She glances back down at Amy and, without missing a beat, checks in. “You alright there, sweetheart?” As Amy nods without looking up, I’m thinking what a good mother Marc makes. She does it so naturally, doesn’t even know she’s doing it. And with that Glock no one’s taken back off her yet, I know she’d protect my daughter with her life.
“My gut feel is that they are no longer after Amy. They can’t use the grandmother, so would need to take her by force. They wouldn’t stand a chance getting onto the compound.”
“They listed her as a three to four-year-old. Why would they do that? She’s four now…”
“Perhaps they never knew her exact age. Doubt Clyde kept any note of her birthday. She was probably spaced out at the time.”
“We can’t afford to be complacent.” I shiver as I recall the name Susie had dropped. Alonso Herrera. We still have no idea whether the new head, Javier, is on board with his plans, but the less Herreras left breathing, the happier I’ll be.
“I agree.” She taps the gun at her belt. “Either you or I will be with Amy at all times, Heart.” She pauses to grin. “I reckon Paladin’s got Jayden covered.”
“What worries me, Marc,” I pause, thinking how I would never had had this type of discussion with Crystal, “is that Jayden and Amy are the ones who got away. Or in Jayden’s case. Thank fuck they never got close to Amy.”
“You think it could be some sort of grudge?” Her eyes narrow. “You could be right, these are sick fucks we’re dealing with. Only thing I can see is to go through with the plan. Take all of them out and remove the risk to the girls.”
Knowing she’s right, I curl my hand around her neck, pulling her to me, and take her lips. Fuck, how did I get so lucky to find this woman? There can be no doubt in my mind that Crystal led her to me. She’s fucking perfect.
It’s torturous waiting for the next few days to be over. Drummer keeps calling us together, going over the plans again and again. As soon as we know the location, we’ll be saddled up and riding. Slick and Viper will be staying with Fergus and Jekyll at the compound, just in case anyone comes for the girls, but we’re mostly agreed, if they haven’t taken them by the time of the auction, it’s unlikely they’ll choose that night to pounce. They’ll be more about getting the dollars in for the victims they’ve already got. I’m torn between wanting to protect Amy and being close by in case my woman decides to become a hero—in her role as liaison between us and the police, there’s no way anyone can make her stay behind. In the end, I’m persuaded that Amy will be safe enough here, and decide I’d rather be there with my brothers in case Marc needs me.
It’s when we’re discussing needing the crash truck along in case any of us are wounded that I realise just what I’m heading into, and that not all of us might be coming back.
Devil’s colleagues from Grade A Security arrive, Seth and Ryan, tough ex-service men who I can immediately relate to. They’re given a couple of the rooms at the back of the clubhouse to use, which they seem to find sufficient. Serious men, Ryan in particular is a man of few words, but what he says is always pertinent to the situation. They spend most of their time pouring over the information provided by Mouse, and by Nessa, who’d arrived with them. Mouse quickly made room for her in his cave after greeting her like an old friend.
And it’s her who’s currently walking across the clubroom, making the journey between kitchen and Mouse’s retreat yet again. “Hey, Nessa, isn’t it?” Blade eyes up the redhead as she emerges carrying refills of coffee.
She glances over in passing and grins. “I’m taken,” she says drily, making us laugh.
“Your man doing okay?” I frown. Sean, her husband, is staying in an upmarket hotel in Phoenix, and like Lady, will be the first to put his head on the line. Sean’s building up his backstory by acting out his role as a successful businessman with money to burn.
“He’s living it up and drinking champagne from what I can hear.” Nessa purses her lips.
“He’ll be fine, Nessa.” Ryan, her colleague, has obviously been listening to the conversation. He points his index finger toward the enforcer. “Unlike you, Blade, if you hit on his woman.” He glances over at his colleague and cheekily adds, “His pregnant woman.”
A brief moment of relief as chuckles and congratulations echo around, and then the now blushing but very happy looking Nessa’s disappeared once again.
“What d’yall think?” Lady strolls in, modelling his custom-made suit, hastily put together by a tailor whose eyes lit up with the money he was offered to do a quick job. A professional haircut courtesy of Carmen, and I hardly recognise my brother.
“Wouldn’t have known you,” Peg calls out. “Just remember to keep your mouth shut.”
Yeah, we’d tried to give him a lesson in how to clean up his language, and when that failed, instructions to remain dumb unless absolutely necessary in order to maintain the image as a representative of a sheikh. Lady’s colourful language is hard to curb, but on looks I reckon he’ll pass.
Marc flops down into the seat beside me, Hyde hovering behind. She looks tired, and I’m worried for both her and our babies. Surely so much stress can’t be good at this time.
“How did it go?” She’s been to yet another meeting down at the precinct, Hyde close behind just like the days before we got together.
“Garza and Reynolds still aren’t talking.”
Grimacing, I realise that was probably a hard meeting to have. It’s not the first time she’s been involved in interrogating her former partner and boss, and even on the other side of the table, they’re still acting as though they’ve got the upper hand.
Her eyes narrow. “Sheriff himself was in the main meeting today.” As much as I wish she didn’t have to be involved, I’m proud as fuck as how she’s holding her own, and particularly when she told me they pressed her about Satan’s Devils involvement in the Herrera killings last year, the one that Archer got caught up in. She’d kept her mouth zipped tight, pleading ignorance. She’s on our side, no one now has any doubt about that.
Tired though she is, after a quick kiss she’s on her feet again. “I’ve got the paperwork confirming we’re working with the cops tomorrow, and there won’t be blowback for anything that goes down. I need to give it to Drummer.” As she goes off to find him, there’s laughter and smiles at the strange thought we’ll be fighting alongside law enforcement, but the amusement fades quickly, as the seriousness of the situation catches up with us. What we’re heading into will be dangerous. Probably we’ll be going up against the Herreras, but it could be the cartel. Or both.
That last night before the auction, I make love to my old lady. There’s not any other word for it. We don’t fuck, instead taking our time learning each other’s bodies, climaxing together, and then falling asleep in each other’s arms. I hold her so tightly, thinking the universe would
n’t be so cruel as to take her away from me. It would kill me for certain.
A few months ago I felt I had nothing to live for and would readily have given up my life. Now that’s all changed. I’ve got my daughter, my woman, and two babies on the way. I’ll be taking no risks tomorrow, my recklessness has left me. I want to come back, for all of them.
That final day it’s subdued in the clubhouse. Weapons are cleaned and checked, ammunition stored safely away. Blades are sharpened. Devil is at one table along with Seth and Ryan, who’re now keeping to themselves. Not because of any aloofness, but because their sole focus is on the task ahead. They will be the first to move in. Their job is to take out the guards, silently taking them unawares. Knifes will be their weapons of choice, or their bare hands.
Drummer walks in, pausing to exchange a few words with Devil, then comes over. Some brothers are drinking beers, others abstaining to keep a clear head for the night ahead. Prez leans his back against the bar and surveys the room, his eyes landing on each man in turn.
Mouse appears out of his cave, stretching his arms up high then rolling his head on his shoulders.
Drummer beckons him over. “Any news yet?”
“Nah, nothing.”
“Should have heard something by now. Any chance it’s not going ahead?”
“No need to worry yet, Prez. They’ll leave it right to the last minute. Just enough time for people to get there, and not enough to involve the feds.”
Except, thanks to Mouse, the feds already know.
“They’re cutting it close,” Drummer grumbles.
The door that Mouse just exited through opens, and a woman’s head pops out. “Mouse, I’ve got something.”
As Nessa disappears back into the room, Mouse is there like a flash, Drummer and Devil hot on his tail. Only seconds later, they both come back.
“Right.” Drummer’s waving a piece of paper in the air. “Got it.”
A phone dings and Lady waves his. “Got a text, Prez.” They compare notes. Then Lady stands and brushes off his smart suit. As I’m turning back to my old lady, out of the corner of my eye I see Joker hugging Lady to him, holding him a fraction of a second longer than I would have expected. The pair had transferred from Vegas together. I suppose that forms a special bond.
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