Clive opened a map application on his phone, noting the location. “Robbie will have backup with him.”
Kade dragged a hand through his hair. “He’ll bring his VP and sergeant-at-arms. The others will wait outside with the bikes.”
Nesto stepped next to him. “I’ll be with you, bro. So will Thad.” He could imagine what was going through his friend’s mind. The same as what was going through his after all this time away. He knew Kade wanted to put that part of his life behind him. It wasn’t to be.
“We’ve got two hours to set this up. Let’s get started.” Clive pulled up a satellite image of Valley Repair on Kade’s computer. “Nesto, tell us about the layout.”
He walked up to the computer, pointing at each section. “Office on the right. Service bays on the left. Storage room and bathroom here and here. I noticed one exit to the back parking area. There may be one out of the office, as well.”
J.D. rested his hands on the desk, leaning forward to get a better view of the image. “Thorough, Nesto.”
“Yeah. I like to know where I’m having my bike fixed.”
Kade chuckled. “What Nesto means is he’s blatantly suspicious about new surroundings.”
“Lucky for us.” Clive changed the view to the front. “At six in the evening, I’d suspect the place to be closed. I’ve got to guess Satan’s Brethren has a connection to the place. Kade, Nesto, and Thad go inside at the same time as Robbie and his crew, and you go in armed. J.D. and I will park near the bikes, schmooze with the men Robbie leaves outside.”
J.D. stepped away, crossing his arms. “Anything else before we take off?”
“Any chance local law knows anything about what’s going down?” Nesto asked.
“If you’re asking if Johnson has given the sheriff a heads-up, not to my knowledge.” Clive looked at J.D.
“Something like this, it’s doubtful he’d bring others into it. Johnson wants this to fly under the radar. Can’t do that if you have local law involved.” J.D. shook his head. “I’d say no.”
Nesto felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and checked the screen. Paige again.
“Is it an emergency?” Kade stood next to him. “We need to go.”
He shook his head, sliding the phone back into his pocket. “No. Let’s go.”
Paige paced back and forth in the waiting area closest to Paul’s room. She knew what he told her about Javé’s man being inside Satan’s Brethren was important. Nesto needed to know, but her calls had gone to voicemail twice. After the second attempt, she’d called the office, learning he’d left with Kade, J.D., and Clive. Paige hoped he’d get the messages.
Sean walked into the waiting area, followed by Matt and Mitch. “How is he?” Sean asked, coming up to Paige.
She shook her head, seeing Matt take a seat next to her mother. “Truthfully, I don’t know. The wounds to his body will heal. I’m not sure about what’s going on inside his head.”
“Did he confirm it was Javé’s men?” Mitch asked.
“Yes. He told Clive and J.D. the same last night.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth.
Sean placed a hand on her shoulder. “What is it?”
“Paul told me something I think Nesto and Kade need to know. I’ve called Nesto, but he didn’t answer, and I don’t know if he’s listened to my messages.”
“Tell us,” Mitch said.
“Paul told me Javé has people inside law enforcement. The police, sheriff, and…” She swallowed, still not quite believing it.
“What?” Sean asked.
“Javé has a DEA agent on his payroll. The man is a member of Satan’s Brethren.”
Mitch mumbled a curse, grabbing his phone, hurrying outside. Looking around to be sure no one could hear him, he tapped Nesto’s number. When it went to voicemail, he called Kade. He left a message for each one. Call me right away. It’s important. He tried one more number.
“Pops, it’s Mitch.”
“What do you need, son?”
“Do you have any idea where Nesto and Kade are?”
Rafe exhaled. They’d made a conscious decision to keep what was going on within a small group of people—the five men who left to meet Robbie, plus Heath, Jace, and him.
“Why do you ask?”
“I’ll take that as a yes. Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but Paul Wallace told Paige something she believes is important. Nesto and Kade aren’t answering their phones. I’m hoping you can get a message to them.”
“Go ahead.” Rafe listened, taking notes until he dropped the pen on the desk. “I’ve got it, Mitch. Let me see if I can reach one of them.” Hanging up, he dialed Kade, praying his son answered.
“There it is.” Nesto nodded to the building a few yards ahead. “I don’t see any bikes.”
“I’m guessing they’re waiting for us to show up, then they’ll ride in, showing unity and a wall of force.” Kade leaned forward in the seat, sliding his Sig into the waistband of his pants at the small of his back. He glanced over his shoulder. “You ready, Thad?”
Thad slid his Sig into its holster. “I am now.”
“Go on in, Nesto. Park so the front of the truck is pointed toward the road. Stay inside until the Brethren get here.”
Nesto nodded, parking as Kade directed, leaving the engine running.
Thad looked around from the back seat. “Here they come.”
Within seconds, the deep rumble of motorcycles filled the air before a dozen bikes circled the truck and stopped. Kade recognized Robbie right away.
“Party’s on, boys.” Kade opened the door, climbing out. Nesto and Thad did the same. His gaze took in each of the riders, recognizing some. The VP and sergeant-at-arms were the same as when he was embedded in the club. Neither acknowledged him.
Moving forward, Kade halted as Robbie got off his bike. The next few seconds passed in the blink of an eye. Robbie stepped forward, pulled back his right arm, and nailed Kade in the jaw.
Nesto and Thad started to move.
“Not smart, boys.” The club VP held a gun pointed at Nesto. “Prez has some business to finish before we go inside and talk.”
As the words came out, Robbie kicked Kade twice in the chest, then once in the thigh, stopping when another truck pulled into the lot, stopping within feet of Robbie. Climbing out of the truck, Clive walked up to Robbie, glancing down at Kade.
“You don’t want to hear what our friend has to say, no skin off our teeth. We’ll take our boy and go.” Kneeling, Clive started to lift Kade.
“Leave him,” Robbie said through gritted teeth.
“No can do. He came here to warn you about a betrayal in your ranks. Oh yeah, and the fact your daughter has been targeted by one of your associated clubs. Frankly, I don’t give a damn about either.” Clive helped Kade stand, checking the injuries. “We’ll be seeing you boys.” Putting an arm around Kade’s waist, they started for the truck.
“What about Amber?”
Kade coughed, wincing in pain. “Stop, Clive. I’m good.”
He lowered his voice. “I know you are, man. This was all for show.” Clive stepped away, nodding to Nesto and Thad before returning to stand next to J.D.
Kade coughed again, holding an arm tight to his chest as he turned around. “Damn, Robbie. I think you broke some ribs.”
Robbie looked him over, snorting. “You’ll survive. He said you have information about Amber.”
“I do. Plus some other stuff I think you’ll find interesting.”
Robbie nodded. “Let’s go inside. I’m warning you, Kade. This better be worth it.”
Kade signaled Nesto and Thad, who followed them inside, along with Robbie’s two officers. Closing the door, Robbie turned toward Kade.
“Talk.”
It took several minutes for Kade to explain Javé’s threats to the MacLarens, the information the Sons’ president had about Amber, the intimidation, and the beating of Paul. Robbie didn’t interrupt, his features devoid of emotion. The only sign t
he threat to Amber bothered him was the way his hands fisted at his sides, tapping his thighs as Kade finished.
Nostrils flaring, Robbie took a step toward him. “What else? I know there’s more.”
Kade opened his mouth, closing it at a pounding on the door.
Robbie motioned for Nesto to open it, spotting Clive standing there with his phone in his hand.
“I’ve got news. It’s important.” He held it out, letting Nesto read the text message from Rafe. “You’ve got to get this to Kade.”
Taking the phone from Clive’s hand, Nesto closed the door, walking up to Kade, not taking his eyes off Robbie. “He’s got to see this. It has to do with the Brethren.” Robbie gave a tight nod.
Grabbing the phone, Kade read through it, his face neutral. Handing it back to Nesto, he approached Robbie.
“We have to talk in private.” Kade glanced behind him, locking gazes with the VP. “Just you and me.”
Robbie stared at him for a moment, then looked at his two men. “Wait outside with the others.”
Kade nodded at Nesto and Thad, silently telling them to do the same. The instant the door closed behind them, Robbie walked to a bench and sat down.
“Take a load off and tell me the rest.”
Thirty minutes later, after bouts of yelling, cursing, and pacing, the two settled down to carve out a plan.
“You’re a bastard, Kade. Using Amber to help me solve the MacLaren’s mess.”
“Never said I wasn’t.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“Didn’t think you would, Robbie. Right now, trusting me isn’t high on my list of priorities.”
Scrubbing a hand down his face, Robbie paced some more, then looked at Kade. “That sonofabitch.”
“You know who the mole is, don’t you?”
Kade couldn’t let Robbie kill the man who’d been undercover since before Kade was patched in to Satan’s Brethren. The man might be working both sides, but he deserved his say in front of Dennis Johnson. He’d earned that right.
“Yeah, I know. It’s club business. I’ll handle it.”
“Can’t let you do that, Robbie.”
“Unless you’ve got a damn good alternative in mind, I’ll take care of this my own way.”
Kade stood, wincing as he leaned against a workbench, crossing his arms. “You’re facing years in prison on various charges.”
Robbie barked out a laugh, holding his arms out. “Do you see me sitting in a jail cell?”
“Here’s the deal.” Kade proceeded to list a few choice bits of information the DEA already had, how it was weeks, maybe days before a major raid on the club. By the look in Robbie’s eyes, he could see the outlaw already knew all of it. The club had been under intense scrutiny for months, knowing it would all crash down on them soon.
“You go after Javé. Do whatever you have to do to a club who’s going behind your back, threatening your daughter, and establishing distribution outside the agreement you two carved out. Hell, destroy them for all I care. They’re no use to you now anyway. But I want the mole.”
“What do I get for all this Good Samaritan bull?”
“Reduced sentences to lesser charges. Help for your old ladies and kids while you’re in jail. A case of whiskey waiting for you the day you get out.”
“Hell, Kade. You always did know what was most important to me.” Shredding a hand through his hair, Robbie walked a few feet away, then spun back around, pointing a finger at Kade. “You get me all this in writing. When I see it, we’ll take care of your mess.”
“And the mole.”
“I’ll keep him alive for you. Beyond that, no promises.”
Kade walked up to him, getting within a couple inches of Robbie’s face. “You sure as hell will promise if you want to see a reduction in charges and time. Getting the man out of here is not negotiable.”
For a few strained moments, Robbie glared at Kade, his jaw hardening. Finally, he stuck out his hand. “You’d better not cross me on this. If you do, there will be no place you can hide.”
Chapter Twenty
“You promised what?” Dennis Johnson’s voice roared over the video conference call the following morning. Even hundreds of miles away, Kade leaned back in his chair.
“It’s all spelled out in the—”
“I know where it’s spelled out, Taylor. I’ve got it right in front of me.” Johnson flashed the paper in front of the screen.
“It’s MacLaren, sir.”
“I don’t give a damn what your last name is now, you are way out of line. And you aren’t even with the agency any longer.” Looking at his desk, Johnson mumbled, just loud enough for those in the conference room to hear. “For the love of all that’s holy, how do I get myself into such messes?”
“Sir?”
Johnson looked at the screen. “You got anything good to say, Agent Nelson?”
Clive got straight to the point. “Your man is compromised. Robbie knows who he is, and unless we agree to the terms Kade laid out, the agent will be skinned and buried somewhere in the desert. Then there’s the threat to the MacLarens and Javé’s connection to the cartels.”
“Possible connection, Agent Nelson. I’ve seen no hard proof.”
“It’s there, sir. Given enough time, we’ll find it.”
“And you, Agent Montalban. What is your take on this?”
“For what we’ll get from Robbie, it’s a good deal. He’ll crush Devil’s Sons, protect the MacLarens, and turn over your agent. My guess is he thinks he and his brothers are facing twenty or more years behind bars. Reduced charges would still get him ten to fifteen. They’ll be old and obsolete by the time they get out.”
“A younger group will take over,” Johnson replied.
J.D. held firm. “That’s always the case, sir.”
Johnson rubbed his chin, shaking his head. “I hesitate to ask, but I want your thoughts on this, ex-Agent Montgomery.”
“It’s good to see you again, sir.”
“Don’t try your bull on me, Thad.”
“Yes, sir.” He cleared his throat. “I agree with the others. If there’s a way to pull this off, it’d be a helluva deal. I’ll bet you’d get a commendation—”
“Save it, Montgomery. Salgado, I’m guessing you feel the same.”
“I do, sir, except for one detail.” Nesto could feel Kade’s gaze boring into him.
“Spit it out, Salgado.”
“I’d like to see Javé taken alive. There’s a good chance of getting him to talk, give up his contacts in the cartel.”
“What more could we offer Robbie to keep Javé alive? He’s going to want to cut the man’s head off.”
“Take one charge off the table.” Nesto held up his hand when Kade tried to interrupt.
Johnson pinched the bridge of his nose. “What would that be?”
“Prostitution. It’s worth next to nothing against the other charges, but it may sweeten the deal enough with Robbie that he’ll hand Javé over alive.”
The men watched Johnson’s image on the screen as he scribbled a few notes, then looked up.
“You all know if I agree to this, it could end my career.”
“Yes, sir,” Kade said as the others nodded.
Johnson tossed down his pen, leaning back in his chair. “It’ll be a helluva way to go out. All right, go with the plan with Salgado’s one change. I’ll have it in writing in a few minutes. And, gentlemen, I want Agent Joshua Beltran alive. That’s it. Keep me posted.”
The screen went blank to stunned silence. No one moved for several moments as each man accepted the final verdict.
“He’s with us,” Nesto mumbled.
“Hell yeah, he is.” Clive clasped him on the shoulder.
A few minutes later, Kade’s computer signaled the arrival of an email. A smile spread across his face when he opened the document, letting everyone read it.
Clive whistled. “It’s a done deal, gentlemen. Kade, do you want to call Robbie?”<
br />
“I’m on it.” Moving to the other end of the room, he tapped Robbie’s number. “It’s Kade. Got the okay. Meet in an hour, the same place as last night. You get the deal in writing, I leave with the mole.”
Paige couldn’t sit still, finding it impossible to concentrate on what Sean was saying about Serenity Resorts. Nesto had called late the night before, apologizing for not taking her calls, assuring her everything was all right.
They’d talked for twenty minutes before Nesto told her he wouldn’t be home. He and the other men were locking themselves in the office to finalize an agreement that could keep Javé away from them permanently.
Mitch had driven her and Brooke to the ranch house after work. Nesto told her they’d be spending the night with Annie and Heath. Paige didn’t like it, but he’d given her no choice.
“Hey.”
She spun toward the door at the sound of Nesto’s voice. Rushing to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding tight.
“I think she’s glad to see you.” Sean left the room, giving them a few minutes alone.
“I was so worried.” She kissed his neck, his jaw, his lips, assuring herself he was all right.
“I know, babe,” he breathed against her mouth. “We don’t have much time. We’re leaving in a few minutes for a meeting. If all goes well, we’ll be able to put the events of the past few weeks behind us.”
The lines of worry on her face relaxed a little. “You’re sure?”
“As certain as I can be until we’ve had the meeting.” Stepping away, he looked at the paperwork on the desk. “Any progress with Serenity?”
“How can you talk about Serenity at a time like this?”
He chuckled as he leaned against the table, slipping his arm around her waist, drawing her to him. “How’s Paul?”
“Doing better. Says he’s leaving for Canada as soon as the doctor releases him.”
Nesto’s brows lifted. “He’s still in the hospital?”
“He keeps slipping in and out of consciousness. He’ll be released by this weekend.”
The door opened again, Clive poking his head inside. “We’re ready.”
Nodding, Nesto kissed her. “I’ve got to go. I’ll find you as soon as I get back.”
Foolish Heart (MacLarens 0f Fire Mountain Contemporary Book 9) Page 18
