Chapter 2
Loose Ends
LaSalle
We pull up to the empty lot, looking down on the development our intel has led us to. Everyone hops out of the SUVs we’ve arrived in to have a look below. This was something Misha could have done on his own.
However, we all have a vested interest in the outcome of what happens here. That’s why Logan, Uri, and I have joined this excursion and why all the O’Brien brothers have come along as well.
Czar whistles. “Will you take a look at that?”
Taking out my goggles, I look down around the unfinished development and grunt. As we were told, there is plenty of activity happening after hours. No doubt running drugs and making forbidden deals.
Direct disrespect to the Alliance and the rules we’ve set. However, that’s not what places a sour taste in my mouth. It’s the fact that this development looks too familiar.
As if someone has taken a page from our very own playbook. We might not have our hands in trafficking humans and dealing in drugs, but we still have businesses that earn that require us to clean our money in case someone ever decides they want to challenge us. What can I say?
Old habits die hard. It’s better to be safe than sorry. I have not fooled myself into thinking there won’t be pushback from somewhere from time to time.
Those who think they are smarter than they truly are. Rules are meant to be broken. Someone will be foolish enough to try.
“Da, I see. Unbelievable,” Misha snorts.
I pull a sour face. Trevor Monroe has finished two developments like this one for us. It’s the reason we wanted the partnership with him.
Our illegal businesses are washed through the luxury complexes without us ever having to touch drugs or business that brings bad karma with it. This place might not have as large a footprint, but it’s definitely a carbon copy of our complexes. Jamie isn’t just a money guy.
He has great fresh ideas. The complexes like this one are among his solutions for cash flow and flying under the radar. Everything about them was done above board.
“Do you see this shit? I feel like this bitch is taunting me.” Jamie seethes.
“Net, she not taunting you. She actually show you sign of respect,” Misha says as we all stand lined up to take in the view.
“Da, he right. She mimics your smarts,” Vlad says.
“When I burn this shit down, we’ll see who has respect for who,” Jamie snarls.
“You burn; I find garbage with answers,” Misha replies and turns to head back into his SUV.
This shit is getting to everyone. We want it over with, and the O’Briens have a score to settle. The rage and lust for revenge are thick enough to taste in the air.
I turn to head back to my vehicle with Czar, Uri, and Micheal. Vlad and Alexei have joined Misha and Ronan as Brooklyn, Jamie, Dylan, and Logan hop back into their ride. We peel off and head down to the development below.
The sound of guns cocking and being loaded fills our SUV. I stick my ear comm in and sit back for the ride. I may have sat in my living room, playing with my kids a few hours ago, but now I’m ready for business.
Once at the construction gate of the development, we all climb back out of our vehicles, ready to get this shit over with. Dressed in all black, we move stealthily through the night. We all slip into the fencing surrounding the property and Logan begins to point for us to split up.
“Let’s do this,” Brooklyn murmurs loud enough for everyone to hear him through the comms then nods before he takes off with guns blazing.
All hell breaks loose as Jamie follows him, causing just as much chaos and destruction—and he’s the one they choose to toy with. Not smart at all. I look to Logan and shake my head.
“Meet ya on the other side,” Logan grunts then takes off after his brother.
It starts to sound like the Fourth of July as gunfire goes off all around us. If you want to make a point, sometimes you have to be the one to kick in the doors. That’s what we are here for.
I’m not about to allow a threat to lurk and sneak up on me. I want this dealt with as much as everyone else. It’s been going on long enough.
The last two years have been grace given that never should have been and never would have been if certain parties weren’t so good at hiding away.
This is the first solid lead we have been able to secure, much to my own frustration.
This little network that’s still holding out hope needs to be crushed.
“We have incoming.” Czar’s voice comes through the earpiece.
I turn to see a few SUVs speeding our way. I tilt my head to the side. Oh good, that confirms a few things for me. My kill list has just grown.
Just as I thought, this was a setup. I have something for them though. I’m always prepared and a step ahead.
“Move in,” I say, giving the signal.
As our alpha team tears through this place, taking out the trash, the beta team begins to move in. A smile comes to my lips. This will be quick.
We had more than the three SUVs we rode in. Our muscle has grown over the years. I can’t help but laugh as I hear the excitement in Dean’s voice as she acknowledges my signal.
“We’ve got you covered,” she sings.
I glance back toward the SUVs that were speeding our way just in time to see our second team roll in, driving bulletproof Hummers. One Hummer runs one of the SUVs off the road and then our ladies hop out, firing at them.
I shift my focus as I don’t have to worry about any of that. Stepping out of the spot where I’m covered, I fire at the first target I see who’s aiming at Logan’s back. The asshole’s head explodes and his body drops.
I whistle to myself. This semi-auto rifle packs a punch and the slip and lack of recoil are sweet as fuck. Lovie is a master at what she does.
She has taken weapons I have hated and made them fall among my favorites. I snap out of admiring my firearm and keep moving for the structure we came to empty out. We were given a tip that we would find a few friends of our main target here.
That’s where my focus is. I want to gather them and see how useful they will be when the smoke settles.
As I get closer to the structure, I note Jamie has done just what he said. The building across from the one I’m entering is on fire. I continue to drop bodies as I move forward.
However, out of nowhere, I’m rammed into. A few shots go off before I can pull my finger from the trigger. I grunt as I hit the ground hard, the air knocked out of me.
I move swiftly, blocking the slash of this guy’s knife with my rifle as he tries to cut at my face. Taking my rifle, I slam it across his head, knocking him off balance. He falls back, but not enough to free me from beneath him.
With all my might, I push him off me and gain the upper hand. Pulling my own blade, I drive it into his throat. He falls lifeless instantly.
Before I can fully get to my feet and continue on my mission, another asshole comes charging at me. I’m ready this time. I grab him and fling him aside like a toddler.
Not having time for this, I then pull my Glock and place one in his head. After my shot goes off, I hear another close by. I look up to find my wife with a smoking gun as she looks beyond me.
I turn to see the dead body she just put down. Then I turn back to her and nod. She winks at me then darts away, guns blazing as she goes.
I head in the other direction and find Logan going to town on some poor bastard. The sound of Logan’s fists hitting flesh is enough to make me want to wince. But when Logan roars as he lifts the guy and slams him on his back, I can’t hold back the grimace as I shake my head.
The guy is probably already dead from the impact, if not lying there with a broken back. Yet that’s not good enough for Logan; he pulls his own Glock and pumps three shots into the sorry bastard at his feet.
We move forward together, clearing the space and finishing the job as the gunfire around us begins to die down. As the fires—yes, more than one now—continue to blaze, we all begin to head out.
“We have six. One should have answers,” Vlad calls through the comm.
“Good enough for me,” I murmur.
“See you guys at home,” Tasha sings into the comm.
I can’t help the smile that comes to my lips. This is why we are The Alliance; we have something every male out there wishes they had. Women who not only support us, but ride for us no matter what.
With a smile, I reply. “You ladies get home safe. Call if any of you run into any trouble.”
“Yes, boss,” Sim replies.
“Who would dare?” Dean scoffs.
She’s right; not many are willing to take on the Bellas. When we set them loose, it’s a problem no one wants. They are fierce and destructive—just the way we love them.
“Aye, I’ll be riding back with the lasses,” Ronan says.
“I’m heading home with my wife. I’ll see to it that this group gets home,” Micheal says.
“Thanks.”
With that, I turn to handle business, knowing my wife is in good hands.
As I walk back for my SUV, I catch Tasha getting into the driver’s seat as Dean hops in the back with Ronan and Val climbs in the front with my wife.
Micheal takes the wheel in the other Hummer as Sim, DJ, and Blair climb in with him.
“Czar, you drop the others off in the third Hummer before catching up with us,” I say as I note the last of the Bellas climbing into the third vehicle without a male among them.
“On it,” he says.
Tasha
“I’ll take four lemon cakes, one caramel crunch frap, two strawberry, and one java chip, please,” I say as I place our order at the drive-through.
Ronan sits in the seat behind me, chuckling and shaking his head. I look up into the rearview mirror at him. He lifts a brow at me.
“What?”
“Ach, this is what you all do after handling business? You have to be kidding me,” he says, trying not to laugh his ass off.
“I’m thirsty and I need a snack.”
“Stop acting like one of those isn’t for you,” Dean says as she rolls her eyes at her husband.
He shrugs. “When in Rome.”
“Just get me home. Onyx wants us at training at five a.m. I need at least three hours of sleep,” Val groans from the passenger seat beside me.
“Yet, yer all going to drink and eat this crap,” Ronan taunts.
“Why didn’t you go with the guys if you’re going to judge?” Val grumbles.
I know why, but I don’t say anything. All the men have become super protective after what happened. If Ronan hadn’t hopped in the vehicle with us, I’m sure my husband would have.
Our loss is one none of us will ever forget. It’s a reality that could belong to any of us. We’ll all be forever scarred.
“Ya all look tired. Someone should be around to watch yer backs. The lot of ye are mums. I feel better knowing ye got home.”
And there’s the truth. These men will forever be concerned about how we get home after any trip out of the house. We all have PTSD now.
Some of us more than others. No one is to blame. However, the truth is still a hard pill to swallow.
“Thank you, Ronan. That’s sweet of you, but you’re not going to ruin my one guilty pleasure for the night. Like you said, we’re moms. We deserve this,” I toss back at him.
“Aye. Fair enough.”
I turn on some music, and we all sit and bob our heads as we make it through the drive-through for our drinks.