Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Fang
Next to me, Ramon grunts, rubbing his injured leg.
The pain is evident on his face. I’d love to send him back to the van, but we can’t spare anyone to accompany him.
Not to mention, it’s a tad too late to turn back now.
He wanted in this fight, and now that he’s standing just feet away from the enemy’s camp, he’s locked into this fight.
“You good?” I ask.
“Never better.” Pulling the pill bottle from his pocket, he eyes the narcotic.
Knowing his mind is at war with weather to take another or grin and bear it, I ask, “How many you had so far?”
“Four.” Well, that’s not as bad as I was expecting. I’ve had four as well to dull the pain in my shoulder. “I’m debating if I need another, or if I should just pop some Ibuprofen and hope for the best.”
Since we are about to head into a fight for our lives, I’m going to go with narcotics.
With a rookie, I would no doubt make him stay his ass at the van.
But Ramon has been the Iron Devils’ enforcer since Sinner became the president.
I’ve seen him in combat and shoot while under the influence of pain medicine before. He knows what he can and cannot handle.
“I vote for the one that will kill the pain, but you know what’s best for you.”
“Yeah.” Twisting the cap, he shakes out a pill, dry swallowing.
Zero checks his clips then cuts his gaze toward us. “You two gonna kiss or you gonna strap up?”
I flip him the middle finger and Ramon says, “Kiss my ass.”
Although I’ve done this several times, I check all my weapons. Making sure I’m primed and ready. As I go through the motions, my heartrate slows. My mind sharpens and my muscles loosen. That old familiar calm takes over. All other worries slide to the backburner as the warrior within me unleashes.
My mind and body are laser focused on the task at hand.
Wolf is perching by the window, binoculars in hand, spying on the enemy across the way. Suddenly, he jumps off the rickety old box and waves his hands in the air. Everyone pauses what they’re doing to gather in a circle for instructions.
Wolf pulls his Glock from the holster. “It’s showtime. Most have dozed off. As far as I can tell, only two of them are awake. One is playing on his cell, and the other is pacing the front room.”
“Copy that.” Slipping my Glock from its holster, the cool metal is like a balm to my soul. It steadies me. The familiar weight grounding me. This is the life I was born into. It’s the life I was born for.
The grin that spreads on Rage’s face is full of vengeance.
Full of promise. We are not marching in there blind and hopeless.
We’re going in with eyes wide open and ready to get justice for our fallen brothers.
Rage slips his Karambit knife from the belt holster.
The blade of this knife is in the shape of a claw.
With a gun in one hand and the combat knife in the other, he says, “I hope they scream.”
“Me too.” I want the satisfaction of hearing their suffering.
To know that they are getting what they deserve.
Looking around at our team, each man is poised and silent, ready to attack.
These men are not ones to hesitate or question.
No, they are tough as steel and deadly as hell.
The Iron Devils are not to be messed with.
“What’s the game plan?” Sinner questions me.
He’s letting me run this show? I thought for sure that once he got back, he would be running things.
Maybe this is his way of letting me get the revenge I so desperately seek.
“Rage and Zeke flank left. Dash and Hitch flank right. Sinner, Ramon, Haze you three secure the back and wait for the signal. Zero and Wolf, you’re with me.
We’ll go straight through the front and open fire. ”
Since this is not our first rodeo, the team knows that once gunfire sounds, that’s everyone’s cue to charge.
Lifting a hand, I hold up three fingers. Then two. Finally, one. With my fist in the air, everyone stands frozen, waiting for me to open my hand and lower my arm halfway. Our signal to move.
Once the signal is given, the Iron Devils move silently through the night. Wolf, Zero, and I stand in the shadows until the others are in place. Using the binoculars, I spy on the Hollow Bones.
Inside, the only movement comes from the young man leaning against the wall sipping a bottle of beer. Everyone else appears to be asleep on the floor. There is one guy sitting on a rickety old barstool, head leaning against the wall and cell phone resting on his thigh.
When the young idiot pushes off the wall and steps into the other room, I motion for my guys to move. As one, we race across the road. Our boots silently thumping against the dirt. Preferably, we want to barge in while the one on guard is out of sight. So far, so good.
Once we reach the door, I peer in the window.
When I see that the coast is still clear, I nod and Wolf carefully pushes the door open, hoping it doesn’t creak with the movement.
By some miracle, it doesn’t. This must be a regular meeting place for the Hollow Bones. It seems the hinges are well oiled.
We tiptoe into the large saloon, our footstep so light they make no sound.
Snores echo in the air around us as these men rest on the cold dusty floor.
In the other room, I hear the click, click, click of someone typing a text on their cell phone.
Praying that these are all the members in this building, and not any hiding in another room, I motion for Wolf to inch his way to the doorway.
As one we will open fire. Wolf will shoot the guy texting in the other room, while Zero and I start shooting the ones lying on the floor at our feet.
Lifting my weapon, I lock eyes with Wolf, then with Zero. Both are awaiting my signal. Turning my eyes back to the bodies on the ground, I nod, giving them the signal to open fire. At the sound of gunfire, Sinner and the rest of the Iron Devils burst in guns a blazing.
Flashes of light blast throughout the room with every gunshot. The noise is deafening to the naked ear. A few men slip their weapons out from their holsters. A redheaded kid, probably no older than twenty, takes aim from his position on the floor. His gaze laser-focused on Sinner.
I cannot let my uncle take a bullet. He’s taken many for this club, but I’ll be damned if he takes one under my charge. Kicking the redhead’s arm, the shot hits the ceiling. Taking advantage of his distraction, I aim and shoot. The bullet hitting square between the eyes.
Sinner cuts his gaze toward me, a grateful look on his face. He nods but says nothing, not that I would be able to hear a damn thing with all the noise. Out of the corner of my eye, I see an older man inching his way around the bar. He’s crouched low to keep out of sight.
As far as I can tell, he doesn’t know that I’ve spotted him.
Just as he lifts his arm, I fire. His eyes widen in shock.
Dropping his weapon, he touches the base of his throat.
When he pulls his hand away, it’s covered in crimson.
Gripping the countertop, he drops to one knee, opening his mouth to speak.
Instead of words, all that comes out is a gurgle.
Slowly I make my way to the dying man’s side, kicking his leg out from under him.
I watch with glee as he falls to his face, gasping for air that will never enter his lungs, thanks to the bullet hole in his neck.
With the toe of my boot, I shove him onto his back so I can look into his eyes when I give the final blow.
I recognize this man, he was there the day my brother was shot. Gave me a smirk as he mounted his bike and drove off. “Remember me?” Though words aren’t spoken, his eyes tell me all I need to know. He remembers. “An eye for an eye.” Standing over him, I take aim and shoot. “That’s for you, Vile.”
Today’s elimination is not enough to put my brother, or my father, at rest. But it’s a start.
The last gunfire rings in the air. I glance around and see everyone kicking weapons to the side and checking bodies.
Sticking my fingers in my ears, I shake them around to try and clear the cottony feeling in my eardrums.
Wolf and Ramon come back into the room, smiles on their faces. Ramon’s eyes have dark circles under them. A testament to his hard work amongst his painful injury. I wouldn’t blame him if he slept for the next couple of weeks. Lord knows I would. “The victory is ours,” Wolf shouts.
Ramon nods. “We just did a sweep of the area, all’s clear.”
Thank God. I’m ready to get home and crawl into my bed. Sleep sounds good right about now. Not to mention, I can’t wait to pick up where Winter and I left off. I am so glad this night is over. This war is not over, but at least we gained some ground tonight.
Our plan of action is to head back to the motel, get a few hours’ sleep, then head home.
Haze and Zero start gathering the Hollow Bones’ weapons.
Sinner pulls out his cell phone to call Dawg.
Our prospect will drive the van out here to load the weapons and anything useful left behind.
We’ll go through everything once we get back to the compound to determine what we’ll keep and what will be sold.
As we make the trek back to our bikes, I slip my cell phone out from my back pocket. Pulling up Winter’s number, I hover over her name. It’s late. She’s most likely asleep. Deciding not to wake her, I open the text icon instead.
Hey, baby. I know it’s late, but I wanted to let you know I’m on my way home.
Considering it’s about time for the sun to start peeking above the horizon, I don’t expect her to answer. So, when my phone buzzes, I’m a little surprised. It’s not a text from Winter. It’s a call from Snake.
Swiping my thumb across the screen, I answer the call. “Dude, sup?” I’m almost to my bike when he speaks, halting my steps with his words.
“I’m so sorry.” I don’t like the tone of his voice. He sounds panicked. Not the sound I want to hear from the man I entrusted Winter’s care to.
Gripping my cell phone tight, I take a deep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves. “What happened?”
“Winter is gone.” Snake sucks in air, like he’s in pain.
In the background I hear a woman. I think it might be Winter’s friend, Jelly. “What the hell are you doing?” There’s rustling and then her voice comes through the line. “Fang?”
All patience is lost. It went right out the window when Snake said that Winter was gone. “What the hell happened? Where’s Winter?”
“Hey,” Jelly’s tone grows stern. “Don’t yell at me, I’m not the one that pissed in your cheerios.”
Women don’t speak to me like that. Ever. The power that comes from being an Iron Devil demands respect. So, I’m taken aback by her tone. “Forgive me, I’m worried about Winter.” I pause long enough to reign in my anger. “Where is she?”