23. Journey
CHAPTER 23
JOURNEY
One day at a fucking time.
“How’d they get close enough to the clubhouse to plant that bomb?”
Poker isn’t the only one who wants answers. We’ve been in church for a half hour, and most of it’s been spent voicing our rage and shock at this morning’s attack. It takes balls to do what the Wingless Angels did, and they’re showing their ability to be a true threat.
We all stare at the remnants we managed to gather and spread out on the table. Tracer’s been studying it and inputting data into his laptop, hoping to figure out more about its creator.
“Blain was on duty at the gate last night,” Crow states. “I’ve got Python questioning him in the Nightmare Room. I’m guessing he drank too much and passed out, but we’ve gotta rule out that he’s a mole for those fuckers.”
“He’s done prospecting, though, right, Pres?” Fudge asks.
“Damn straight. I can’t have that kinda laziness in my club.”
“While Python deals with Blain, the rest of us need to figure out our next move,” I snarl. “Stone and his boys have been quiet for a while, but that’s all changed. We fight fire with fire.”
“No matter what we decide to do, we’re gonna need Addi’s help,” Ghost says. “If we’re gonna get to him, we need an inside man… or woman.”
“He’s right,” Crow agrees. “All in favor of me inviting Addi to the table, thump twice.”
As soon as the vote passes, Crow instructs Fudge to go get Addi. The two of them return a few minutes later, and it’s clear Addi’s surprised to be included.
“I knew this day would come,” she says excitedly. “Whaddya need from me?”
“Slow your roll, Ace,” Crow says with a chuckle. “Have a seat.”
Any guest permitted within these four walls during church knows that you sit at the opposite end of the table as the president. That’s just how it goes. But not Addi. She strolls right up to me, grabs my arm to yank me to my feet, and sits down in my place.
“You’re lucky he loves you so much,” I mutter. “Crow’d have my ass if I did to you what I’d do to anyone else right now.”
Rather than be intimidated, Addi rolls her eyes. “You don’t scare me.”
I open my mouth to set her straight, but one glare from Crow has me moving to Python’s empty chair and sitting.
“Smart,” Crow quips. “Now, let’s get to work. We’ve identified as many of the Wingless Angels as we can, and taking them all out is a matter of a coordinated effort. I’ve already texted Shuffle from Limitless Throttle, and they’ll help with that. What I can’t figure out is how to get to Stone.”
“Now I get it,” Addi says. “You need me to do that, don’t you?”
“Unless I subject one of my men to a prison sentence, yeah.”
“It’s not gonna be easy,” she informs us. “And whatever you want me to do, it can’t happen overnight. Not if we want to stay under the radar.”
“Any thoughts on how to make it work?” Ghost asks. “I’m thinking a prison transport somewhere is our best bet, but not sure if you wanna go down that road or not.”
“I’ll check and see if he’s got any court appearances coming up, although I doubt it since he already used his last appeal.”
“Are there other options for a transport?” I ask. “Is that something you can make happen?”
“You know as well as I do that it takes a lot of coordination for a transport, but I’m sure I can make it happen. It’s just gonna take time, like I said.”
“What time frame are we looking at?” I ask. “A few days, a week at most?”
“Try a month, at least,” she counters. “I don’t work at the prison, so it’s not like I have direct access. I can pull it off, but I still have to operate within certain limits.”
“That’s not good enough,” I snap. “A lot can happen in a month.”
“Yeah, it can,” she agrees. “Which is why you all need to do whatever it is that you do and leave me to what I do.”
“Thanks, Ace,” Crow says. “If you can start on that tomorrow during your shift, that’d be great.”
“You’re welcome.”
Addi doesn’t need to be told when she’s being dismissed. She’s good at picking up clues. After she leaves, I return to my chair.
“That killed you, didn’t it?” Screamer taunts.
“Fuck yes, it did,” I huff out. “This is my spot.”
“Grow up,” Crow snaps. “Back to business.”
“Let’s say Addi can get things arranged,” Tracer begins. “How’re we gonna get Stone from the transport vehicle?”
It takes an hour, but we come up with a solid plan. Once that’s complete, Crow gets Shuffle on the phone, and a unified effort is organized for the Wingless Angels on the outside of a jail cell.
“Church dismissed,” Crow says once all votes are complete, and he’s confident we’ve done all we can.
Tracer, Crow, and I remain in the room once the others leave.
“Bro, give us a minute?” I say to Tracer. “I need to discuss something with Pres.”
“Yep.” Tracer moves to the door. “Don’t touch any of that shit. I wanna keep studying it.”
“We won’t,” I assure him.
As soon as the door closes, Crow faces me. “What’s up?”
“Wren’s gonna ask me what our plan is.”
“Probably, but it’s club business. You know the rules.”
“I do, Crow, and I’m still asking you to bend them a little in this case.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Think about it,” I begin. “Wren has multiple personalities. What if one of them takes over and hears something they shouldn’t or gets the sense that I’m lying? I can’t do that to her.”
“Jesus, that’s a lot to digest,” he mutters.
“Tell me about it.” I chuckle, but there’s little humor behind it. “I’m trying to do right by her, and that means doing right by every part of her. I can’t lie. I won’t.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’ve made it clear you’ve got no problem leaving the club.”
I rear back as if he punched me. “Do you think that’s what I want?” I demand. “Because it’s not. This is my home, and you all are my family. But Wren matters, and when it comes right down to it, I’d survive without the club, but I won’t without her.”
“I get it, I really do,” he says. “It’s how I feel about Addison. Thank fuck she never asked me to choose.”
“Wren isn’t either.”
“I know.”
“So, can you bend the rules, just this once?”
Crow heaves a sigh. “Yeah. You can fill her in. But make it very clear that the information doesn’t leave her mouth. And do the same with each of her alters if you have to.”
“I will… all thirteen of them.”
“Thirteen?”
“Yep.”
“Shit. You already had my respect, J, but you’ve got it in spades now. I don’t know how you’re gonna do this.”
“Same way you make it work with Addi. One day at a fucking time.”