Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Fang
Engines roar our war cry as we race through the streets. Sinner rides the head of the line. Wolf and I ride behind our president. Normally it would be Wolf and Ramon since Wolf is the VP and Ramon is the enforcer. With Ramon’s gunshot wound, he is riding in the Van at the end of our formation.
Gripping the handlebars in a death grip, I do my best to put her out of my mind. I cannot be distracted on this mission. Being distracted will end in my death, and most likely several of my brothers. They need me to be laser focused. Not pining like a damn boy discovering puppy love.
Get your act together, Fang. Your family is depending on you.
The smell of gasoline and desert invades my senses.
We’re entering neutral territory between Iron Devils and Hollow Bones.
The space where our Prez has met with theirs.
War is right at our fingertips. I’m sure they are on the lookout for us.
They would be dumb not to be. You don’t attack another club’s territory and expect peace. That’s not how this works.
Raven hair and bright orange highlights is all I see as I follow in line on these dirt roads. The softness of her lips when she kissed me. That come-get-me look as she pressed herself against me. Silently begging for me to take her. To claim her.
Gritting my teeth, I shove thoughts of her to the back of my mind and focus on the road ahead.
I’m going to end up breaking that poor girl’s heart.
She doesn’t belong in my world. Winter is sweet, pure, and innocent.
I’m the exact opposite. My lifestyle is dangerous.
It’s nothing but leather, code, and blood.
Winter is the kind of woman who deserves a forever. All I can offer her is war and goodbyes.
When Sinner raises a fist, we slow and follow him to the edge of the woodlands. On his signal, we shut off our engines and silence our cell phones. The last thing we need is for our phones to go off while in the middle of sneaking up on the enemy.
Sinner dismounts his bike and pulls out a sheet of paper from the inside of his cut.
Once the van pulls to a stop, Ramon hops out, tossing back a pain pill.
Our Prez spreads the paper on the hood of the van.
“I spoke with my intel guy. He says the Hollow Bones have a camp just on the outskirts of this buffer zone. I drew a map based on what I found on the internet. It’s not much to go on, but there should be a warehouse northeast.” He points in that direction. “And an old ghost town northwest.”
I make a mental note of the hand drawn map, the little markers and roads.
“So, we don’t have a location, just the general out yonder somewhere?
” Sinner’s intel guy is a crackhead with rotting teeth who is willing to do or say anything to get his next fix.
I trust him about as much as a trust a rabid dog not to bite.
My uncle grunts. “If the intel is wrong, or we’re ambushed, I’ll be sure ol Jack gets what’s comin’ to him.”
“Any chance Ghost is out there?” I’m jonesing to get my hands on that bastard. Make him pay for all he’s done.
Sinner gives me a stern look. “If he is, we’re taking him alive.”
“But—”
“There are no buts.” Sinner points a finger in my face. “I want answers. You need answers. He’s coming with us alive.” Then slapping a hand on my shoulder, he nods toward northwest. “Fang, I’m sending you to do what you were born to do.”
Every member is silent as my uncle speaks. His word is law. We stand still and await our orders. For a long beat, Sinner stares at me. His eyes softening for a brief moment. He knows this could be the last time we see each other.
“Alright, everyone to my left goes with me. Everyone else will follow Fang’s lead.
Kill all the Hollow Bones except one. We need Ghost alive.
” There’s a chorus of agreement from every member.
Lastly, Sinner locks eyes with Ramon. “Ramon, you can hang back, keep a look out from the van. No one expects you to go running out there with a freshly wounded leg.”
Ramon shakes his head. We all know the answer. That man is loyal to a fault. There is no way in hell he will sit out on a war. “Appreciate it, Prez, but I’m good. I’m here to do my job.”
“Good.” Sinner motions for his crew to gather weapons. “You’re with me.”
“Sure thing.” Ramon limps toward the back of the van to load up.
Dawg takes his place behind the wheel. It’s his job as a prospect to stay and keep watch over our weapons and report in with any suspicious activity in the buffer zone. Wolf slings a rifle over his shoulder. “Let’s get them bastards.”
I nod. Wolf is a good man. As vice president, I fully expected Sinner to put him in charge of this crew. Knowing my uncle trusts me to lead this mission means the world to me. One day, in the distant future, I would love to run the club. This is a step in that direction.
Right as I’m getting ready to signal my team, I spot Ramon bracing himself on the side of the van. Sweat is starting to soak through his shirt, probably from the pain. “Hey, man, you good?”
Taking a deep breath, he nods. “Yeah, I’m good. Pain is a luxury none of us have time for.”
Well, that is something I can respect.
Ramon pushes off the van and limps toward Sinner and his crew.
Lifting my hand, I twirl my finger, signaling my team.
As I walk northwest, they follow close on my heels.
Each step we take is closer to revenge and justice.
Now that we are heading toward the enemy, my body buzzes with energy. Like a livewire in my veins.
For fall weather, it’s unnaturally hot today.
Sweat drips onto my collar as we march across the desert floor.
Nothing can be seen for miles. It’s a good thing the Iron Devils have a daily workout routine to stay in shape.
There’s no telling how many miles we’ll be walking to get to this camp.
Not to mention, we have an all-out war once we get there.
This lifestyle is not for the faint of heart.
Not a word is spoken. Each of us focusing on what’s to come.
The severity of the situation hangs over our heads like a dark cloud.
In the pit of my stomach, I feel it. This is the spot where the Hollow Bones are hiding out.
I reach for my cell phone to shoot Sinner a text but stop myself.
What if my gut is wrong. Asking him to change course would then result in the enemy escaping unscathed.
“What is it?” Wolf asks, his eyes tracking the movement of my hand.
“I’m probably wrong.” This is the first mission Sinner has allowed me to lead. I do not want to screw it up.
“Possibly.” He shrugs a shoulder. “What is it?”
I’m not some newbie who thinks he knows it all, and I don’t want to come across as such.
Not that I think Wolf would see me as such if I voice my gut feeling.
“I was going to shoot Sinner a text to change course.” Pointing to my stomach, I say, “I feel it right here, the Hollow Bones are camping out in the ghost town.”
Wolf nods. “Gut feelings are rarely wrong.” Turning his gaze back to the path ahead of us, he says, “But good call on not contacting Sinner. Those fools could have split in two directions anticipating our ambush.”
That right there is the second reason behind me not texting my uncle. Because if it were us camping out, we would be expecting them to attack, and we would plan accordingly.
Wolf and I slow our steps at the same time.
Out in the distance I see the abandoned town.
Like Sinner said, it’s a shell of a town.
A place where even ghosts refuse to go. We stick to the shadows of the woodlands.
Our feet landing softly on the ground as to not make noise.
The last thing we need is to give away our arrival.
Coming up to the back of a building, I inch my way around the side to view the main road.
Wolf is right behind me, and the others are following in line.
As I peer around the corner, I see a bunch of buildings that are in sad shape.
Several are missing windows, and most have doors barely hanging on the hinges.
The place looks deserted, with the exception of one building at the far end.
El Camino Saloon. There is a faint glow flickering from within.
I don’t spot movement in any of the other buildings.
Outside of El Camino, the place is a graveyard for a past life.
Motioning for everyone to retreat, we make our way back toward the shelter of the trees to discuss our plan of action.
“What’s the plan, Fang?” Wolf steps beside me with an inquisitive look.
Every eye is on me. Watching, waiting for instruction. “We stake the place out. Wolf, Dash, and Zeke, you take the east side of town. Rage and Hitch, you’re with me. We’ll cover the west side.” Everyone nods, dividing accordingly. “Come nightfall, we invade their camp. Tonight, we show no mercy.”
Fists punch the air above and we all open our mouths in a silent battle cry. The Iron Devils are ready to eliminate the threat and get justice for our fallen brothers. Victory is ours. I just pray it doesn’t cost us the lives of our own.
Wolf leads his men east, leaving Rage and Hitch to follow me.
We scope out the area, looking and listening for signs of life.
All is quiet. Not a sound to be heard. Entering through a back window of a dilapidated building across from El Camino, the stench of dirt and rotted wood invade my senses.
The dirt tickles the back of my throat, and it takes all I have to keep from coughing.
I can tell by the redness of their faces that the guys are struggling as much as I am.
Crouching behind the window, I pull out a pair of binoculars so I can see what’s happening across the road. At first, I don’t see any movement. The only indication that the building is, or was, occupied is the kerosene lantern sitting on the bar top.
I’m just about to hand the binoculars to Hitch when a shadow flits on the wall.
A second later a scrawny redhead strolls into view.
With a beer in hand, he perches on a ratty barstool that looks two seconds from crumbling to the ground.
After a few beats, six others join him. Each man sipping from a bottle. Seemingly unaware of our presence.
Damn, watching that makes me thirsty. Not necessarily for a beer, any cold beverage will do. I pass the binoculars to Hitch and tell the guys to stay and keep an eye on the Hollow Bones while I slip into another room to contact Sinner.
We have activity out here. You?
It doesn’t take long for him to reply.
Sinner:
Nada. We’ve swept the entire area, and nothin.
So far, no signs of Ghost. I counted seven men in an old saloon across the street.
As I’m waiting for Sinner’s reply, a text from Wolf comes through.
Wolf:
There are no signs of life out here on the east. Buildings are all void, one caved in as we were leaving.
Sounds like the Hollow Bones are all in El Camino. Either we are extremely lucky, or this is a trap. I send an update to Sinner.
Wolf said there is no signs of the HB on the east side of the town. This could very well be a trap.
Wolf:
I’m heading back. Ping me your location.
I do just that and give him instructions on where to enter to keep out of sight of the saloon. In the meantime, Sinner responds.
Sinner:
That’s a very real possibility. Stay on guard. We’re heading your way.
Just like I did with Wolf, I give Sinner the rundown on where we are in conjunction to the saloon. The night is growing darker by the minute. Time to attack is vastly approaching and personally, I cannot wait to kick some ass.
Tonight, I’m out for blood.
Tonight, we seek vengeance.