Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
SNIPER
They try to hide things, but we always will figure them out.
Shadow and I make our way silently back to our bikes as we leave the old dilapidated barn. Since the last time we were here, the place is practically falling down. And the hidden vault is still empty and doesn’t look at all like it’s been used since. Which means this place is an official dead end.
When we reach where we’ve hidden our bikes off the dirt road, I look at Shadow and tell him what I’ve been thinking for the last few minutes. “Something’s off,” I say quietly, just in case someone is around that we can’t see or hear. “I don’t know what, but something is off about this place, even though it doesn’t look like it and we’ve already found that Dmitri was using it.”
“I know what you mean,” Shadow agrees softly, looking around carefully. “We keep coming back to this place, but I can’t figure out why. And we’ve searched all around for anything that would make sense, but nothing.”
It’s frustrating that we can’t seem to catch these assholes, and even now the impatience settles in my gut. I look around myself and then up into the trees. I see nothing that would indicate any kind of cameras or equipment, and nothing that would show that someone had been around either.
“Something I never noticed before,” Shadow suddenly remarks, making me look back at him. “It’s silent here. And I’m not talking right now, but any time we’ve been here since we found this place, it’s been silent. No birds, no crickets, no frogs, nothing. Even this late at night, and in this many trees.”
My senses sharpen as I listen and look around once again, assessing. “You’re right,” I finally answer. “What about any of the other places that we’ve searched?”
“Most of them have noise, except for the asylum place, but when Hulk and Twigs were out there last week, they said that it hadn’t looked like anything had changed there either, though it was hard to tell with the place being such a mess from the cops and everyone going through it. But they also said they didn’t see any fresh footprints or tire marks.”
I nod slowly, my brow creasing as I try to figure out why it would be like this in my head. “So what would make this place silent? I mean, I know we’re here, but wildlife and things still move around normally. Crickets and bugs don’t give a damn and just make all the noise they like.”
“Animals move away from danger if someone or something is about that they want to avoid,” Shadow agrees. “I wonder if Bowie or Frost noticed anything the last time they were here.” He pulls out his phone and shoots off a message. We wait for another couple of minutes until he gets an answer. “Bowie and Frost both said that they noticed it was very quiet, but figured it was because they rode up on their bikes. They were only around for an hour before they went to other areas to check out, so they figured it wasn’t enough time for the animals to feel safe again.”
“That makes sense, but still, doesn’t feel right.” I step back out on the road, looking at it and then follow the line of it all the way up to where the old barn is sitting, hidden amongst the trees. And the longer I stare at it, the bigger the feeling that something is off grows. I look around a little more, but I can’t figure it out.
“We’re probably overthinking it,” Shadow suggests. “I mean, we did just have ourselves almost blown up yesterday so we’re all on high alert and the need to see this done and over with.”
He has a point. “There are a couple of spots down past the clubhouse we haven’t looked at yet. I keep meaning to, but most activity has been in town or going out the other side of town that we haven’t paid attention to this side,” I point out as I straddle my bike.
“You think he would be that close?” Shadow also straddles his bike, sitting for a moment and watching me carefully.
“Anything is possible.” I shrug. “And honestly, it would be just like Dmitri and Dagger to cook up some kind of scheme that would have us looking stupid by having it right under our noses. He already used one of our outbuildings, and even though we searched all of them and the back of the property, we own so much that we can’t be everywhere at once and Dmitri, and now Vlad, probably know that.”
Shadow nods. “Yeah, that makes sense. Not to mention, if Dagger was involved in the selling or collecting of the drugs, he could slip there and back without being spotted. Especially with the jammer and knowing where Cryos put all the cameras and sensors.”
We head back down the dirt path, pulling out onto the road and head back toward the clubhouse. The darkness and few cars on the road make our bikes noticeable, but that’s fine with me. We’re not going for stealth. Not yet anyway. As we eventually pass the clubhouse, I nod at Theo is one the gate. He gives a quick salute before turning his gaze away.
Which of course makes me wonder how Thea is doing. And hoping no one has scared her off yet. I have no blinders on where she’s concerned. We slept together, both literally and figuratively but that doesn’t change anything between us. We have a lot of shit to talk and figure out. Though, knowing her, she’s definitely not going to make this easy.
Good thing I don’t mind a challenge.
When we finally reach our destination, I instantly know that people have been here. The tire tracks are everywhere, along with many footprints. But whether or not it’s Vlad’s men remains to be seen. I glance over at Shadow, who gives me a grim look. Clearly, he’s of the same mind. We start walking along, following along the edge of the trees, following the tracks and tire marks until we crest over a small ridge. We both get low to the ground, careful to stay concealed in the tall grass.
I narrow my eyes when I see nothing. The tire marks stop, and there are no buildings or anything that would indicate that anyone was operating out of this spot. Shadow and I both rise to our feet. “Maybe this is a meet-up spot,” Shadow suggests as we go over the ridge and down into the valley.
“Could be,” I agree, still looking around for any trace of anything that might give away what it’s being used for. “Or it could be a hangout spot for teenagers.”
“No trash or anything left behind though. And when kids do that, they normally leave plenty of evidence behind.”
He has a point. And there is definitely nothing like that around. When we reach where the tire tracks end, I stop to look around and get my bearings. It’s dark out, so we can’t make out much, but the moonlight at least lets me know where we are. No one can be seen from the road, and we’re also a few miles from where our club land ends.
It’s far too close for me to be comfortable with it.
I pull out my phone and call Cryos. “We need aerial views of the valley up the road from us. Heading east. We’ve found some tracks that indicate it’s used frequently. And I want to know who owns this,” I add when I hear him clicking away. “When we moved out here, it was still up for sale, but I didn’t see any kind of for sale sign.”
“I actually already looked into that area,” Cryos answers after a moment. “The land was bought by a man named David Moses two years ago. According to the deed, he was going to farm it, but when I looked into him, he’s in poor health and in his mid-seventies. No known connections to Vlad or Dmitri, and he is a farmer in the next county over, just over the line which is where this land borders, so it checks out on the purchase and use for it.”
“Or it could be that he bought it and Vlad or Dmitri are paying him to use it,” Shadow suggests grimly. “If he’s looking to retire, that kind of money would be tempting.”
“Check it out, Cryos,” I order.
“On it. And I’ve sent you the aerial photos to your phones. They were taken by satellite three days ago.”
I glance at the tire tracks. “Some of the tracks are fresher than that, but I can see a few that might be that old. We’ll have a look.” I hang up and pull them up, tilting my phone so Shadow can see.
The photos are clear enough, but they don’t show anything that would indicate someone being here. At least not at first glance. I enlarge the photos scanning as much of it as I can. “Wait,” Shadow says quickly, making me pause. “Go back a bit, right along the edge of the tree line.” Narrowing my eyes, I finally spot it.
There, just on the edge of the trees, is the bed of a truck, sticking out just far enough that I’m shocked that Shadow noticed it. It’s black in color, so it blends in with the thick trees. I zoom out to assess the area, and then I look around. “There,” I say after a moment, turning and heading toward it. Shadow follows, both of us quiet on our feet, eyes and ears peeled for anyone or anything that might be sneaking around out here.
When we reach the trees, I see the tire tracks start up again. Which means that whoever was driving in here, they didn’t want anyone to know that they were going this way and got rid of any that might have been here after they entered or exited. My stomach knots with anticipation.
I also realize that the truck’s path looks like it is about to run into a bunch of thick trees that no one would be able to drive through, especially not with the downed logs right ahead of and into them. But considering the drag marks on the ground around them both, it’s clear they have been moved, and recently. I glance at Shadow and he makes a quick hand signal that he’s going left, and I nod and indicate I’m good to go right.
I keep my eyes open for any signs of any kind of tripwires or cameras, but nothing stands out, especially not in the darkness. But my training kicks in as easily as it did when I was in the middle of the jungle looking for my target, and I get through slowly, carefully, and making very little sound. No point in alerting our presence. I can’t see Shadow on the other side, but I can sense him and know he’s doing the same.
I reach the edge of the thick trees and stop, listening and scanning carefully. I wish I had my night vision goggles. Still, the moon is full enough that I can see that the trees open up into a clearing and a small cabin sits.
I stay completely still, letting my senses take over. I don’t hear or smell anything, which would suggest that no one is around, but the woods are quiet. Deathly quiet. And if this place is being used by Vlad, then I have my doubts this place isn’t guarded.
Shadow and I stay still for another solid ten minutes, both of us knowing we don’t dare move in case anyone is watching. But nothing, and no movement inside the cabin. With slow precision, we make our way to the cabin. It’s a long and careful trek, but finally, I reach the side of the house, crouching near one of the small windows. Carefully, I peer inside, but the cabin is dark, and I don’t hear a sound. But there are no spiderwebs or dust on the sill which means that this place is being used regularly.
I make my way toward the front, pulling my gun from my back. I head up the front steps. When I reach the door, I carefully turn the knob and ease it open, backing out of the opening as I do. When nothing happens, I walk inside, flipping the switch just inside the door I feel along the wall.
I look around quickly, making sure that no one is hiding in the shadows, but the place is empty of people. But plenty full of plenty else. Furniture is around the large room, including a large table in the small kitchen area at the far end. A kitchen that is clearly not being used for food, considering all the bags, scales, and drug paraphernalia that are strewn all over it. Guns are laid out carefully in a row along the coffee table in front of the couch, and boxes and baggies with product already cut and packaged are packed along the wall near the front door.
“Looks like we found one of their hideouts,” I tell Shadow when he makes his way inside.
Shadow nods, his face grim. “And considering how well hidden this place is, and how well they camouflaged the roof, you wouldn’t be able to see it on aerial views easily.”
I take in the furniture again, and then the walls and the wooden look to them. “This place looks old enough that it might have been around for Bull to use,” I point out. “We need to get some pictures, see if we can find anything else around here, and then get back to the clubhouse to show Bullet. He might know about this place.”
Shadow nods. He pulls out his phone. “I’ll get the pictures. You see what else you can find.”
I get to work. I don’t care if they know we’ve been here because I have no doubt that Vlad and his men already do, and I make quick work of destroying what I can. This shit is going out of our territory, hitting our streets, and that can’t fucking happen. Ever.
I find nothing, no trap doors, or hidden rooms or compartments. But I have a feeling something is here. We just have to figure out how to open it or find it. And I also wouldn’t put it past whoever built this place to hide something close by but not in the cabin itself. It is far too obvious a place to hide something when you have all this land around you to use to your advantage.
When Shadow and I finally make our way out of the cabin, we don’t make any attempt to conceal ourselves this time. Instead, we walk briskly back to our bikes, and head back to the clubhouse. When we reach the gate, Theo lets us in, but holds up a hand for me to stop. I nod for Shadow to go on ahead and pull my bike over and look at Theo expectantly while he closes the gate.
“Just letting you know Thea is pissed,” Theo tells me grimly. “Oh, and one of the Misfits spilled the beans the club is dealing with the Russians. Not in detail, but she knows. And a few more of the Misfits weren’t too pleased with her and said some things that Viper stepped in to cut down, but you’re probably going to have one pissed off woman in your room when you get up there.”
Fuck.
“You got her things like I asked?” I question.
He gives me a wry smile. “Oh yeah, and that’s what started the whole thing. She was pissed that I got them and that she can’t leave. Actually, she cooled it down more than she normally would, and I think that was only because of everyone around listening. Otherwise, I’d probably already be on the ground bleeding.” But then he loses his smile and says seriously, “And she said as much which set off the Misfits. I overheard Viper as I was leaving once it all got settled telling her that she can’t do that. Especially not in front of another club. I hope that doesn’t get her in trouble. She’s out of her element here, and honestly, we talk like that to each other all the time. To her, it’s normal.”
“Nothing will happen to her,” I assure him calmly. “And I’ll explain things to her more clearly.” I pause and eye him for a moment. “You know, you’re far more calm about the fact that your sister is in my room than I figured you would be.”
Theo shrugs. “Look, I love my sister, and I can do the whole hurt her and we’ll have a problem speech if you want, but we both know that Thea can handle herself. When we were younger, I was a bit more overprotective, but I learned pretty quick that she didn’t need her brother protecting her. So unless she comes to me, I have no say in where or with whom she spends her time. And if you make her happy, then who am I to try and get in the way of that?”
I nod. “I don’t plan on hurting her, but I know that I’m going to have to work hard to get her to want to give the two of us a real shot. Can I count on your help if I need it?”
Theo shakes his head. “I’m not getting involved. I don’t care if that means I lose my chance at Prospecting either. You want her, you figure that out on your own, because I’m not going to get my ass shot by being stuck in the middle.”
I can’t help but smile. “Fair enough.” I have to respect him for being clear on his stance and not wanting to get involved. “I’ll see what I can do about settling things down for her. And you’re doing fine and settling in okay?”
Theo grins at me. “Honestly, I haven’t felt this good since I was in the Army. I don’t even care that it’s like I’m back being a young officer at the bottom of the totem pole. I actually have a friend who will be getting out soon and this might just be the kind of thing he would like too. I’d be able to vouch for him, and his background is in tactical planning, so it could be helpful.”
I nod. “We’re happy to have more Prospects and it’s a bonus if they are veterans. So let one of us know when he’s out.”
“Thanks. Oh, and I know I’m probably not supposed to know anything about what is going on with the Russians, and I still don’t but?—”
“No,” I interrupt, making him close his mouth with a snap. “The others know, and we normally wouldn’t tell you so soon until we’re sure that you’re going to stay and not run your mouth. But I think it’s safe to say you won’t do that at this point. Just know we’ll give you the information you need to know, but we expect you to keep that shit to yourself. Including from Eric and Thea.”
He nods. “Done. Though I don’t know how Thea isn’t going to push you for more information. She won’t be blabbing either, but if she’s here, she’s going to find out enough if she’s listening carefully.”
I take that warning as it’s meant. “I’ll handle it.”
Clearly happy with the resolution of that discussion, he turns away to go back to man the gate and I head up to the clubhouse. When I get there, I see Bullet and Arson talking with Shadow on the porch. I dismount my bike and walk up to join in on the conversation. “What do you think we should do?” Shadow questions Bullet.
“I say we head over there now and burn it to the ground,” Arson butts in with a smirk. “Show this Vlad asshole that we mean business.”
“Or we need to send out a few of the men that are good at finding hidey holes and hidden compartments,” I suggest drily. “In every spot we’ve visited so far that is connected to Vlad, there is always a hidden spot or compartment. I couldn’t find it, but I’m not as good at finding those kinds of things as some of the others.”
“We also didn’t get to explore the woods around and there could be more things hidden there as well,” Shadow adds. “And there is no way they don’t have that place under surveillance, so they probably have someone heading over there now to move shit.”
Bullet nods. “We need to get moving on this and fast. We especially want to make sure we have people there to watch them and see where they’re going or if they open that secret compartment or whatever. Because you’re right; they definitely will have something somewhere.”
“You lot are far too serious,” Arson jokes. “But fine, we can do that, but once we clear shit out, then we burn it. It’s time to show a serious message that you’re not fucking around anymore. It’s in a secluded part of the county, which means that we aren’t going to have innocents caught in the crossfire.”
I’m not about to draw attention to ourselves, but there is also something to be said at making sure Vlad realizes we’re not playing anymore.
“Shadow, find Bowie, Frost, and either Timber or Titan to go and have a look and see what they can find and report back on any movement.”
“Let me send one of my guys just in case you need some backup,” Arson suggests. Bullet nods. “I’ll get Dozer to go. He did a stint in the Army, so he’d at least know how to be quiet and not act too hotheaded.”
“Alright,” Shadow agrees. “Let him know to meet here in ten minutes.” Then he turns and heads inside.
“Keep me in the loop,” I tell Bullet, who nods. “I apparently need to speak to Thea. If you hear a shot, might just want to stay clear.”
“That little woman? You’re scared of her?” Arson snickers. “Brother, you lose your balls since the last time we saw each other? Sure, she’s got a sharp tongue, but unless that tongue can cut off your cock, I think you’re safe.”
“That is where you are wrong, Arson,” I say calmly as I head toward the door. “That little woman? She’s former Special Forces, which you would have heard clear enough in Church if you weren’t so pissed off at how we run our club, and she has dealt with the worst of the worst. She can kill you in your sleep and you’d never know. So I suggest you remember that, because that is one woman you won’t see coming if she doesn’t want you to.” Then I head inside, sure that my warning has landed.
And now it’s my turn to face her and hope that I don’t come out with too many scars. Though if it keeps her here, I’ll sport them for the rest of my life.