Reaper (Jagged Saints MC #1)

Chapter 5

5

REAPER

O ur convoy races toward whatever storm Sandy sees coming.She rides point with me, her movements so in sync with mine it's like the last five years never happened.Except they did, and now I know why.

Federal agent. The words still taste like ash in my mouth, warring with the memory of her lips against mine this morning.But watching her navigate these back roads with military precision, I can't deny the truth that was always there.Sandy Mitchell was never meant for the sidelines.

"Three bikes coming up fast," Tank's voice crackles through the comms."No patches visible."

"Kings' scouts," Sandy responds immediately."They're testing our route."

I signal the convoy to tighten formation as three dark shapes appear in my mirrors.Sandy drops back slightly, covering our six with the kind of tactical awareness that should've tipped me off years ago.

The scouts shadow us for ten miles before peeling off.Something about their retreat sets my teeth on edge.

"They're herding us," Sandy says through our private channel."Pushing us toward something."

"Trap?"

"Most likely." She pulls even with me at a stop sign."We need to split up. Draw them out."

The tactical part of my brain agrees with her assessment.The part that just got her back wants to keep her close where I can protect her.

"Your crew with Tank, heading north." I make the call before emotion can override logic."My crew with me, cutting east.Force them to divide their resources."

She nods once, already signaling her people.The convoy splits smoothly, like we've drilled this a hundred times.I watch her lead her group toward the mountains, that familiar ache in my chest warring with pride.

"You sure about this?" Timer pulls up beside me as we take the eastern route."Splitting up with Kings in the wind?"

"No choice." I gun my engine, leading my crew through a series of turns designed to lose any tail."But she knows what she's doing."

"Yeah, that's what worries me." Timer's voice carries years of wisdom."Treasurer or not, that girl's still carrying your mark.Makes her a target."

He's right. I haven't told the crew about Sandy's revelation earlier yet, but Sandy being a fed doesn't change the fact that she still wears my old shirts under that cut.Still has my ring on a chain around her neck--I felt it this morning when things got heated.And if my guys can sense it, the Kings will too.And they will not hesitate to hurt me through her.

Two hours of tactical riding brings us to an abandoned gas station near the Colorado border.I signal for a rest stop, knowing we need to refuel before whatever's coming.

My burner buzzes as I'm checking the crew's bikes.Sandy's code name flashes on the screen.

R

Kings took the bait. Moving into position.Watch your six.

Another text follows immediately.

R

Be careful. Please.

Something in my chest loosens at those two words.Her concern for me is real.

I'm typing a response when engines roar in the distance.Lots of engines.

"Incoming!" Doc shouts from his lookout position."At least fifteen bikes, coming in hot!"

"Defense positions!" I bark into the comm."Timer, get those supplies secure.Doc, you're on exit strategy.Everyone else, prepare to move on my mark."

The Kings appear like demons out of the desert haze, their bikes kicking up dust clouds that turn the sun blood-red.I count twenty riders, all armed, all carrying the kind of artillery that means business.

"Quite the welcoming party." Big Mike's voice carries across the lot as they surround us."Though I gotta say, I expected both crews."

"Just passing through." I keep my tone easy despite the adrenaline humming through my veins."No trouble needed."

"See, that's where you're wrong." He dismounts, hand resting casually on his sidearm."Trouble found you the moment you let that federal bitch into your convoy."

Ice fills my veins. My crew tenses around me, confusion and disbelief rippling through our ranks.Timer's sharp intake of breath tells me he heard it too.

"Don't know what you're talking about." But my hand inches toward my weapon, mind racing to process this revelation."Devil's Wings run their own business."

"That what you think?" Big Mike's grin is all teeth as he circles closer."Your pretty little treasurer's been playing us all.Setting up a nice federal sting on our weapons shipment.Guess she fooled you too, Road Captain."

Tank edges his bike forward, positioning himself at my three o'clock.I can feel the questions radiating off him, but he keeps his mouth shut.Good man.

"Sounds like paranoia talking." I shift my stance, buying time while scanning for options.We're outgunned, surrounded, and my mind keeps spinning back to Sandy.Federal agent. The words hit different now that everyone knows."Why don't we discuss this like reasonable men?"

"Nothing reasonable about a fed whore infiltrating our ranks." Big Mike spits, hand tightening on his weapon."But don't worry. We'll make it quick.For old time's sake."

The first shot cracks across the lot before he finishes speaking.Doc goes down with a grunt, clutching his shoulder.Timer dives for cover as bullets start flying.

"Kill them all!" Big Mike roars."But save the Road Captain. He watches his crew die first."

I duck behind an ancient gas pump, mind racing.Twenty armed Kings versus my eight brothers.Sandy's nowhere in sight. If she really is a fed, she's probably long gone, mission blown.

Then I hear it. The distinctive rumble of bikes approaching fast.Lots of them.

"Incoming!" Timer shouts from his position behind an overturned picnic table."North ridge!"

My heart stops as Sandy's familiar silhouette appears against the setting sun.But she's not alone. Her crew fans out behind her, moving with military precision as they take tactical positions around the lot.

"Federal agents!" Her voice rings out clear and strong."Drop your weapons!"

All hell breaks loose.

The Kings scatter, caught between my crew and Sandy's tactical team.I use the chaos to tackle Big Mike, driving him into the dirt before he can get a shot off.His gun skitters away as we grapple, his size advantage nearly putting me on my back until a boot connects with his temple.

"Need a hand?" Sandy stands over us, looking deadly and beautiful in tactical gear that definitely wasn't under her cut earlier.A badge glints at her hip as she covers Big Mike with her sidearm.

"Thought you'd run." I grab zip ties from my pocket, securing Big Mike's wrists.

"Not this time." She helps me up, then spins to drop another King with a perfect leg sweep."Though we should probably talk about this later."

"Ya think?" Tank's voice drips sarcasm as he appears beside us, bleeding from a graze on his arm."Like maybe explain why the Wings' treasurer is packing federal credentials?"

"Later," I bark, shoving him down as bullets whiz overhead."Right now, we fight."

And fight we do. My crew may be shocked by Sandy's revelation, but they're professionals.We fall into formation around her tactical team, providing cover as they systematically take down the Kings.

Sandy moves like a force of nature.She drops three Kings in quick succession, her shots finding legs and shoulders with surgical accuracy.No kill shots. Even now, she's playing by fed rules.

"Clear!" Her team calls out positions as they secure the scene."All targets contained!"

When the dust settles, twenty Kings lie zip-tied and groaning.Doc's already patching up the wounded, his own injury apparently minor.And my crew...my crew stands in a loose circle, staring at Sandy with expressions ranging from betrayal to grudging respect.

"So," Timer breaks the silence, dabbing blood from a split lip."Federal agent, huh?"

"Seven years undercover." Sandy holsters her weapon but doesn't step closer.Smart girl. "Started officially with the Wings right after I left the Saints."

"You only left the Saints five years ago," Tank points out with an edge to his voice." You were spying on us?"

"She left to protect us." The words come out before I can stop them."They wanted her to inform on the Saints.On my dad's operation. She chose to walk away instead."

Understanding dawns in Timer's eyes."The ring throwing incident."

"Yeah." Sandy's hand goes to the chain around her neck."Not my finest moment. But I'd just brokered a deal to get sights off you guys." Her eyes dart to me.So I needed a performance that would allow me to make a clean cut."

"But you're a fed now." Tank's voice carries an edge."Working against crews like us."

"I've always been a Fed," Sandyadmits."Working against crews that traffic military weapons to terrorist cells." She meets his gazesteadily."The Kings aren't just running guns,Tank.They're arming people who want to watch this countryburn."

Sirens wail in the distance. Her team starts processing prisoners with efficientprecision.

"We need to move." I check my crew, assessinginjuries."Before this becomesofficial."

"Go." Sandy nods toward our bikes. "I'll handle the paperwork."

"And then?"

"And then I've got one more operation in Georgia." She steps closer, close enough that only I hear her nextwords."Could use a good Road Captain to help plan theroute."

I study her face, seeing past the federal agent to the woman I've loved since we wereteenagers."Might know someonequalified. I'll have to talk it over with Ranch first though."

"Yeah?" That familiar smile plays on herlips."What's hisrate?"

"Full disclosure." I tap the chain holding myring."No more secrets. No morerunning."

"Counter offer." She rises on tiptoes, brushing a kiss across my mouth that makes Tank groan and Timerwhistle."Full partnership. I keep my badge, you keep your club, and we figure out the resttogether."

I pretend to consider it as my crew mountsup."Throw in winner picks the hoteltonight?"

"Hope you've got deep pockets, Road Captain." She steps back, already shifting into agent mode as more sirensapproach."Because I've got expensivetaste."

"Worth every penny." I swing onto my bike, signaling the crew to moveout."See you in Georgia, AgentMitchell."

Her laugh follows us onto the highway, bright and fierce andfree.I lost her before because I couldn't see past my ownpride to go ask questions.Now she's back, more badass than ever, and finally free to be exactly who she was meant tobe.

My Sandy. My agent. My future wife, if I have anything to say aboutit.

First, though, we've got to survive whatever's waiting inGeorgia.And convince my crew that having a fed in the family might not be the worst thing in theworld.

But that's a problem fortomorrow.Tonight, I plan to make up for five years of lost time with the woman who owns mysoul.

And maybe replace that chain with the ring it carries, right where it alwaysbelonged.