Chapter 16 #2
I nodded, relief and gratitude taking away the heavy weight that’d been riding on my shoulders since Glitch’s newest email had come through.
Or maybe that heaviness was gone because Ruck was back and had taken over the mantle of leadership once more.
I could step up when needed but I didn’t like being in charge.
“We need to dig into this group more,” Ruck decided. “Figure out who, and what, we’re dealing with. Much as we can anyway. Then we’ll make a plan to address Carrick. To find your brother.”
Rue gave him a grateful look.
“This should be fun,” Relay said, his shoulders relaxing at the prospect of the violence just around the corner.
“We’re going to need to make some changes,” Ruck added, looking at all of us. “I’m not having you assholes spread all over this city if we’re going to be under constant attack.” His gaze settled on Bolo. “We need those apartments done. How long?”
“With these amateurs working on them? Year.”
“How long for professionals?”
Bolo snorted. “Depends on who you hire. Good contractor with a big crew? Assuming we bypass the normal permitting process and just get shit done, couple weeks? We’re going to pay out the ass though.”
Flir groaned, the first sound he’d made since finding out about Norman.
He didn’t like parting with money any more than the prospect of us dirtying up the clubhouse.
He was a different sort of man. That was kind of who we collected though.
The types who didn’t fit into regular society. It was why we’d bonded together.
“Any chance you can get your father and brother over here?” Ruck asked, ignoring Flir.
Bolo’s brows shot up. “They’re family. So…yeah. Dad’ll move mountains to take care of it.”
Relay muttered under his breath. He and Flir were both grumbling now, though for different reasons.
“We’ll pay. See if they can get it done.
And soon. Carrick’s going to realize two of his men are missing and shit’s going to hit the fan.
I need all of you here before that happens.
Including you two,” he added, looking between the women.
“Everyone’s staying here at the clubhouse where I can keep an eye on you. ”
Rue opened her mouth to argue, but I stepped closer and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, pulling her into my body and tucking her close. It was enough to shut her up.
“What do you need from us?” I asked.
“It’s going to be all hands on deck,” he said, looking around.
“Most of you are going to be doing recon, picking up munitions from allies for us to stock pile, researching who the fuck we’re about to go up against.” He looked, face grim.
“Flir. I need you to get ready to furnish this place top to bottom once it’s finished. ”
Our treasurer nodded but we could all see he was already adding up prices in his mind.
“Merc, Hype, and Code will help you,” Ruck added.
Code opened his mouth to complain but Hype reached over and smacked him upside the head. Code wisely shut his pie hole without saying a word.
“Bolo.”
Our enforcer focused on Ruck.
“Need you to run interference on your family,” Ruck said with a meaningful look in Relay’s direction.
“Not me you need to worry about, Prez,” Relay growled. “You think Bolo’s bad? You’re inviting two more of him here.”
Bolo grinned. “I’ll do what I can, but he’s not wrong. You’ve met my father.”
“Pretty sure he’s not your father,” Ruck muttered.
“What’re you saying about my mama?” Bolo asked, a scowl settling over his face.
“No, I just mean he’s too fucking immature to be an adult,” Ruck clarified. “Pretty sure Mercy’s baby is already acting more responsibly than your father and brother.”
Bolo chuckled, potential insult to his mama forgiven. “We’re plenty responsible.”
Relay snorted.
“Like you’re any better,” Kilo told him with an arched brow.
“Relatively,” Relay admitted.
“This is all so-” Rue broke off as I gently jostled her with my arm. It was enough to have her glaring up at me.
“Like they said, Light, we’d be doing this either way.
” The reason we were getting involved was absolutely because of her, but she wasn’t used to people rallying for her.
So I’d let her believe the main reason was to clean up the streets.
That was a happy after effect, however, she didn’t need to know that. “This is happening,” I added.
She blew out a breath and nodded. Then she looked around at my family. “Thank you…for all of this.”
Ruck just nodded at her. “Bolo, get your family on this as soon as you can. OD, take the rest of these fuckers and use them where you need them until we have more of a lead to go on. Ask Glitch to keep me up to date. I’ll reassign manpower as needed.
” He rolled his neck, stretching out tense muscles.
“I don’t give a fuck who these people are, they’re about to regret the decisions they’ve made. ”
My brothers’ chuckles filled the room. Mission planning happened to be a specialty of Ruck’s. And his follow through was even better. Our crew wasn’t new to the concept of going to war. And that was exactly what we’d be doing.