Glory

by Ana Jolene

  “By now, someone would have already taken Brennan’s place. Whether he’s in line with his predecessor, I don’t have a clue. But we can’t underestimate their numbers or their intentions. We did kill their leader in cold blood.”

  “It’s too risky and not a sure bet,” Knuckle concluded. “Who knows if the Phantoms have been in contact with them since Brennan’s death?” The prez glanced around the room at everyone. “Got any better ideas?”

  “They’ve got to be involved in the chopper racketeering,” Lucky said. “We could put a GPS on a few bikes and hope to hell it’s snatched up.”

  Knuckle glanced at me. “How are the funds?”

  As secretary and treasurer of the club, I was in charge of the club’s paperwork. It was my responsibility to collect club fees and pay the bills. “Everything is paid for, but with the recent loss of those bikes that had to be replaced and Neptune’s needing repair, it’s tight.”

  “Fuck,” Knuckle cursed. “So that’s a no-go. We can’t afford the GPS, nor can we just sit like fucking ducks waiting for someone to steal it.”

  The room got real silent as everyone thought of an alternate plan. I leaned in, resting my elbows on the table. It was impossible to track down the Phantoms. Their secrecy was how they got their name in the first place; they were ghosts. “How about we make them come to us?”

  “How?” Kitt asked.

  “They like hijacking our delivery trucks. Let’s make a batch that is guaranteed to lure them. That’ll give us the face to face we need.”

  “A setup?”

  “We can’t just hope he’ll be there,” Lucky countered. There was no question of who the he he was referring to. Everyone in the goddamn room knew I was looking for a face to face with Anthony Cavezza so that I could take out a piece of him.

  I shrugged. “It’s the best shot we’ve got. We’ll make a load big enough that they’ll think they hit the jackpot.”

  “I don’t know.” Beck shook his head. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

  Lucky’s voice displayed his skepticism. “I’m with Beck. It’s too risky.”

  “Too bad, kid,” Knuckle replied. “It’s the best plan we got. Hard enough to spot a ghost. It’ll be even tougher to catch one. Let’s set it up,” he said to the group. “I want the sweetest pile you can muster and then we’ll dangle it so that wherever they are, they’ll spot it.”

  Knuckle directed his next words to me. “Night of, I want you, Beck, Kitt, and Lucky to be ready to rock n’ roll.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He clapped a hand on my back. “Let’s light it up,” he said roughly before adjourning the meeting.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  True North

  Hastie

  The moon was out in its fully glory. And no, it wasn’t the one in the sky as it was only mid-afternoon. Lucky pulled up his jeans after having taken a piss on the side of the road. And now the sight of Lucky’s pale ass cheeks would be burned into my retinas forever. “Ahh,” he groaned as he approached me. “I feel so much better now.”

  “Glad we got that out of the way,” I muttered around a cigarette.

  He straddled his Harley and turned onto the road. “Hurry it up,” he called out. “We’ve only got a few more hours before dusk.”

  “Oh, now you’re in a rush?”

  “Relax, bro. You’ll get your hands around that bastard’s neck soon. Just a few more hours.” But first, we had to make sure that everything was ready for tonight.

  Lucky and I arrived in a rush of roaring engines and adrenaline, stepping up to the moving truck that held firearms and motorcycles. I approached the driver.

  You couldn’t tell Jim’s worth by his appearance. The middle-aged man smoked more than a chimney, had thinning hair, and a beer gut, but he’d proven his loyalty to the club numerous times in the past. Tonight, he’d drive our bait right into a jump zone and hopefully all this noise we were making would spread far enough where the Phantoms could hear it.

  Lucky was right. The setup was risky and could easily explode into pieces like a grenade but it was the best shot we had. That was why we were here to make sure tonight would go as smoothly as we could make it. I nodded in greeting to Jim. In return, he lifted two fingers in a salute. “Pop it,” I said as I turned towards the back of the trunk.

  Jim jumped down and slid the back open, revealing a dozen vulnerable motorcycles just waiting to be picked. I hopped up, running my fingers across the seats and chrome handlebars. A bad feeling crawled up my spine. This was wrong. It was akin to dangling an infant to lure a baby smuggler; it went against my morals.

  Lucky made his way to the front of the truck’s storage, opening the boxes that housed the guns. He whistled low as he pulled one out. “Almost a shame to use them as bait.”

  I snorted. The man had a model’s cheekbones and could have any woman he wanted, yet his eyes turned all soft for Beretta submachine guns. “How many we got in here?” I asked. “Think it’ll be enough?”

  Lucky set the weapon down and gave me a what do you think look.

  Yeah, I got it. The stash was more than enough. The question was, would the Phantoms recognize a setup when they saw one? All afternoon doubts were starting to fill my head as anxiety curled in my stomach like a live animal. Could we pull this off tonight?

  As we jumped out of the trunk bed and sealed it shut, Beck and Kitt were going over the route one last time. I grabbed the pack of my cigarettes, tapped one out, and lit it. “Does Jim know about all this?” I asked through a puff of smoke.

  Kitt nodded. “He should. Fucker knows he’ll die if he makes one mistake. We gotta make this look as legit as possible.”

  “Remember,” Beck said. “Keep your distance. The second they hear an engine they know isn’t theirs, the game’s up.”

  On paper, the plan was so simple Lucky could pull this off, but all of us knew that shit could stir in a second and throw us all off course.

  “Might be best if we split. One pair goes in first while the other follows behind.” Beck turned his words on me. “You stay. Kitt and I will follow.”

  I blew out smoke. “Fuck that. I follow.” I wanted to drive by and pump a stream of bullets into them. Nothing would give me more satisfaction than watching them drop like flies. “We don’t know yet if they’ll even come.”

  “Listen, man,” Beck’s tone turned serious. “I suggested it because if things get hairy, we’ll need someone to drive the cargo back.” Translation: If Jim didn’t survive, we needed someone to drive the truck.

  “Not me,” I said. Hell if I’d let Cavezza get away from me again.

  Beck shot me an annoyed look. “You’re the best driver we got.”

  Fuck that. “I said, not me.”

  Beck kissed his teeth and glanced away. When the sergeant at arms turned back to me, his eyes had darkened with anger and frustration. “You want to direct this shit, you go ahead. I’m just trying to make sure we don’t fucking die or lose our cargo. Just stick to the plan!”

  His anger unfazed me as my own frustration took over. I blew out smoke in a huff, flicking the cigarette butt away before I pushed off from the wall. “Plan is shit anyway,” I muttered.

  Beck got right up into my face, his temper snapping. “What did you say?”

  Enunciating so that he had no trouble hearing me, I repeated myself. “Your plan’s shit. If you think I’ll lay waiting for the motherfucker and his merry crew to just show up, you’re fucking out of your mind.” I drew close to him so that he’d realize I wasn’t playing around. “He personally targeted Indy. You don’t have an ol’ lady, but maybe one day you will and then you and I will see eye to eye.”

  “Don’t talk to me like I don’t have a clue,” Beck snarled. “I get it. You want blood. I promise you, brother, you’ll get it. But step back and control those goddamn emotions. I’m not your enemy in this.”

  From behind me, Lucky’s hand clamped down on my shoulder. “He’s right. Your emotions are too inv
olved. Go see Indy. You’re too wound up for this conversation. Come back later and we’ll settle this.”

  In retrospect, I realized that Beck was just doing his job as sergeant at arms. He was ensuring the safety and security of the club, but in my haze of anxiety and aggravation, I missed that important fact.

  I drew a hand through my hair and over my face. I was tense, true. The situation was shit and it didn’t help that my nerves were fried. Lucky squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. “Come back later. We’ll handle this.”

  In other words, I was being dismissed. And I knew why. I had to straighten out my emotions before it got me killed.

  Without a parting word, I strode to my Harley, strapped on my helmet, and stormed out of there. Jim lifted his hand in a wave, but I ignored it. I didn’t want to acknowledge him or the fact that if shit hit the fan tonight, I’d be responsible for his death. It was better to take no notice of it. To only focus on the one important thing that mattered—protecting Indy.

  * * *

  I found her at her home. She was writing in that stupid little book again. I’d come to resent the inanimate object like it was another person she was sharing her thoughts with. I made it a habit about asking her how she was feeling every day in hopes that she’d let me into that beautiful head of hers. So far, she was opening up to me more, but she still kept that notebook around. It made me wonder what kind of words she put in there that she couldn’t tell me.

  I stood in the doorway to her bedroom, just watching her write. She’d given me a key to her house so I let myself in, not wanting to disturb her if she decided to take a nap on her day off. Indy was scribbling frantically as if the words would run away if she didn’t put them down on paper quick enough.

  She finally noticed me and set her pen down, smiling as if she had a secret. “I didn’t hear you there.”

  I pushed off the door and moved towards her. “Didn’t want to disturb you.”

  She took one look at me before asking, “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong.” Jesus, was I really that transparent? “It’s tonight,” I said simply.

  I felt her body stiffen in my arms. “Tonight?”

  “Yeah, everything is set. Hopefully, by the time the sun rises tomorrow, we’ll be all done with this.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Do you really want to know?”

  Her brows furrowed and her lips pouted as she deliberated. “I hope you’ll be careful.”

  I’d take that as a “no” on the detailed description. It was better that she didn’t know the gory details. There was no need to traumatize her further. She had enough to deal with already. “So how are you doing today?” The smile she sported told me she anticipated the question. “Well?” I prompted when she didn’t respond right away.

  Indy rolled her eyes before sitting back on the bed, laying out that soft body. “I’m fine.” She patted the empty space beside her. I removed my boots and slid in, reveling in the feel of her warmth as she drew close beside me and rested her head on my shoulder. “I’ve just been feeling a little down lately.”

  I adjusted my head so I could see her better. “Depressed?”

  “No. Just anxious.” She snuggled closer against me. “I’m worried about you.”

  “Me? Baby, there’s nothing to worry about. Glory MC has it covered. I trust them.” Those were funny words to come out of me after the shit fit I threw down just half an hour ago. But there was truth in them, I realized.

  As far as I was concerned, there were only two types of people in the world: Those who were Glory MC and those who were not. Somehow, Indy had integrated herself into the folds of our club. We now considered her one of us. And when an enemy targeted anyone in the club, we all stood on guard to protect each other.

  “We’re going to keep you safe.” Glory MC wouldn’t allow any harm to come to her. She smiled at me and though it never reached her eyes, I knew that she believed me. It would be the same for me. I’d worry constantly about her even though I knew that she’d be in good hands with Glory MC around.

  In the span of a few heartbeats, Indy’s breathing grew shallow, her eyelids fluttered low, and her hand rested against my chest. I drew my own hand up to clasp it, bringing it up to my mouth to place a kiss there.

  There were so many possible outcomes for tonight. But in the end, whether or not tonight went successfully, the sun would be a blistering source of heat the next morning and I would always belong to Indy.

  That would never change.

  I forced my body to relax and moments later, I found myself drifting off even as Indy’s soft snores filled my ears.

  Later, when I woke to the sound of my phone chirping, I opened a text from Lucky. One word stared back at me: Showtime.

  In silence, I slid out from under Indy, moving slowly so not to wake her. She muttered something too soft for me to catch and as I bent down to put my boots back on, my eyes landed on her notebook.

  It was left open, her large flowing handwriting nearly taking up the entire span of the page. Before I could stop myself, I read the first paragraph.

  The world often tries to screw with your compass. It’s tough enough not to lose your true north. But I’ve found mine in Hastie. He is excitement and security all rolled into one. My adventure and my sanctuary. He is everything I need to be better.

  More words spanned the page, but I didn’t need to read on. What I had just read was enough to love her for a lifetime. Seeing those words, feeling the devotion in the swirling handwriting, enlivened me. Just moments ago, I had asked her to trust Glory MC. But I had never fully given her my own trust. This notebook had never been something to replace me. It was a confidant, a friend. It was better to purge the bad thoughts than keep them prisoned inside the mind. And if I wanted this thing between us to work, I had to believe in us more.

  Smiling, I laced up my boots and turned back to Indy. She was still fast asleep so I slipped out quietly, allowing her to dream. As I made my way down the stairs, my phone rang, disturbing the quiet peace of the house. “Yeah?”

  “Where are you?” Lucky asked.

  “Heading over now.”

  “Hurry it up. Got a head’s up on some activity.” His voice was filled with uncontained excitement. I knew what that meant: The Phantoms were on the move.

  “Coming,” I said before disconnecting the call.

  My hand had just touched the doorknob when the sound of Indy calling my name stalled me. Turning, I faced her and was hit by a sense of déjà vu.

  She was standing at the top of the stairs, staring down at me over the banister. It reminded me of the night of the storm when she couldn’t sleep and she had asked me to lie with her. I had made a decision that night to protect her, and tonight, I would be holding onto that promise.

  “Do you really have to do this?” Her wide amber eyes revealed her fear. But if she had to ask, then she didn’t truly understand what it meant to be Glory MC.

  It was a necessity. As long as Anthony Cavezza was out there, Indy would be in danger. The fear that consumed her in this moment was the exact reason why I had to go through with this. I wanted to erase that look from her face forever. Even if it meant I had to bloody my hands to do it.

  Indy

  My stomach churned like acid had been poured down my throat. All day this anxiety had plagued me, making me feel tense and on edge.

  “Yeah, I do,” Hastie said.

  I worried my bottom lip to prevent me from blurting out how crazy and dangerous this all was despite knowing that Hastie had gone through riskier operations than this. It didn’t stop my mind from conjuring up horrid possibilities though. What if someone got hurt? What if he got hurt? “But I—”

  “Do you love me?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Absolutely. My heart was his. There was no question.

  Hastie’s intense eyes held my gaze, more comforting than an embrace. “Do you trust me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then tru
st me to handle this. I want you safe, Indy. Nothing matters more than that.”

  He had a look in his eye that told me he’d do whatever was necessary to see this through and nothing I said would change his mind. I forced myself to take a deep breath and settle the riot in my stomach. When he was halfway down the driveway, I ran down the stairs, calling out his name at the doorway.

  Hastie stopped to turn around.

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  There was that smile I’d seen directed at me plenty of times. But it felt more profound. More precious this time. “Same, baby. Always.” I heard the depth of feeling in the singular word.

  Then he turned around again, swung a leg over his Harley, and ripped out of there like a beast was at his heels. I watched Hastie ride, transfixed until he was just a speck of black in the distance, no less comforted by his words.

  TWENTY-NINE

  Sweet Agony

  Hastie

  Surprisingly, Lucky didn’t say anything smartass when I parked my Harley next to the car he sat in. No matter how much mouth he gave others, the man was a soldier, efficient, and lethal when he needed to be. “Beck and Kitt are going to the hijack zone,” he said as he rolled down the window. “We’ll keep our distance until we know for sure that they are there.”

  “We can let them do the drive by.” Time with Indy had pulled me back from my roiling emotions. Made me get back into perspective.

  Lucky did a double take. “Wait, what? I thought you said—”

  “I know what I said. You were right. My emotions clogged my thinking. The original plan was perfect.”

  Lucky frowned before finally nodding. “All right, I’ll let them know to switch.” Pulling out his phone, he sent out a text. “They’ll be here in five minutes.” He slid out, leaving the pistol he held in the car for Beck and Kitt. As he walked over to his bike, he asked, “What changed your mind?”