Chapter 20
-:- CHAOS -:-
Wings, Graham and Tank are bickering about where to go next.
There are way too many assholes that were mixed up with this bullshit Tizwald was involved in.
I know politicians can be liars, but to be involved in thefts of the kind we are uncovering is just not our thing to get involved in.
I need to contact Pres because I reckon this would best be uncovered by the FBI.
Stepping away from Wings who is arguing with Graham, I make the call to Axel.
“Pres, there is way too much shit going on with this Tizwald crap. We are heading out now to take out another one or two assholes, but there is a fuck of a lot that needs looking into. I think we’d be better off letting Forest or Aaron contact one of their FBI buddies. ”
I hear Axel sigh before he responds. “Okay, I’ll get Forest to contact you, but don’t get into trouble. If we are involving the Feds, then we need to keep our noses clean. Don’t give them anything they can come at you for.”
“We are heading to take out one or two assholes, then we’ll call it quits. Any news on Victoria?”
Axel chuckles, “Oh yeah. Those four have taken out the sniper that murdered Bethy, plus Tizwald and four of his bodyguards. Winter and Star went on a terminator hunt I’m sure, but Jack is with them. Oh, and apparently Meat has met up with them. Now isn’t that a surprise!”
“Shit, that means they could get up to all sorts of things,” rubbing the back of my neck while I consider how much trouble he can get them into.
“I’ve spoken with Jack, and he told me Meat and Star have left them, so it’s only Winter, Victoria and himself at this point.”
“Okay, Pres, I’m going to try contacting Victoria again. So far she has answered no calls.”
Chuckling, Axel tells me she has her phone switched off. Specs has been trying to contact or track them through their phones. All three have them switched off so nobody can call them out for their bullshit.
“Target isn’t worried about Winter, Chaos. He said no matter what is thrown at them she can handle it,” Axel tells me, to keep me calm I’m sure, but I’m thinking it may not be working. “Chaos, Winter will contact Target if she needs help. Can you guess where they are heading next?”
“No, there are too many involved in this money laundering scheme they have going. I reckon they have cartel or mafia links, and that’s why I would rather we back off.” I rub my neck again, feeling the tension coiling.
“Leave it with me, Chaos. I’ll speak with Forest and I’ll call you as soon as I have news. DO…NOT… and I mean do not, get caught doing shit. I don’t want any of us ending up being arrested.”
“You know we have Graham with us, don’t you?” I ask.
“Do you? No, I didn’t know,” Axel chuckles. “That could make it interesting. I wonder if Nell knows? Or did they sneak out when she had her back turned.”
“I haven’t asked, but I will now that you’ve mentioned it.” Looking up, I can see Graham, Tank, and Richie. Graham is excited. Tank and Richie however are standing cool as you like. I know under all that calm are two lethal men who will do whatever is needed, when it’s needed.
“Do you think we should head back, or eliminate the ones we are after that are near our current position?”
“If you are near and can do what’s needed without getting caught or leaving any evidence then okay, but I want you back here in the next three days.
Oh, Target said don’t worry about your hours at the range, he’s got it covered.
He has, however, given Winter a deadline as he’s working with her clients as well as his own.
Leon is working with your clients, but he’s built up a nice following himself so you need to get back to work.
” Axel, I know is giving us space, but I need to get to my woman and get her back home.
Cutting the call, I walk back and sit next to Dice.
“Axel is giving us a little time to get the job done and back to the club. Colton, Sting and Brag, you three take Philipson. Wings, Clay and Reuse, you three go after Stockdale. Dice and I will go after Winter, Victoria and Jack. Graham, you take your two with you and take out Scarrow and Anderson.”
Graham replies, “Hey, I was going to meet up with Victoria.”
“No, you are not. I’m going after my woman, and you stay the fuck away from her.”
“Oh, it’s like that is it?” Graham smirks. Tank and Richie are watching the heated conversation with more than a small amount of interest. They also have shit-eating grins on their faces.
“Yeah, it’s like that. Stay the fuck away from my woman or I’ll do a deal with Nell to feed you to Jaws.”
Graham laughs, “Oh, yeah, I’m sure my sister will do that!”
“Yeah, I would if you cause too much trouble...”
We all spin around and see Nell standing on one side, hands on her hips and giving Graham a deadly look. Stepping forward, she doesn’t have time to say anything more before Graham is on her, picking her up and swirling her around, laughing like an idiot all the while.
We quickly get into our group, Nell joining Graham's. Receiving nods from everyone, we split up and head out on our allocated missions. It’s quiet in the truck with only myself and Dice, but if I’m being honest, it’s nice after the mayhem that Graham and Wings seem to cause.
They have both been well-behaved so far at least, but you can feel the eruption that is about to happen.
“You know they are probably going to do something that could get them caught don’t you? Unless Nell keeps them under the thumb,” Dice asks.
Chuckling I reply, “Yeah, more than likely, but we are not involved so we are for once doing good. I’m surprised Nell has turned up.”
Dice laughs, “Yeah, so am I, but we all know she loves the chaos as much as Graham. She just goes about it in a less noisy and obvious way. As for trouble, we’ll see Chaos, we’ll see...”
I’m the driver for the first half of the journey.
Dice has had a nap for around two hours, so is now awake and checking his phone.
“I’ve had a message from Target. He said you are not responding,” Dice laughs.
“Probably not realizing you are too busy at the moment. Anyway, he said not to worry about work, and not to worry about Winter, Victoria and Jack. They are waiting to get into Sterndale’s house. They are going in after dark.”
“Fuckin’ hell, Dice. Take over at the next truck stop, and I’ll grab us some water and snacks. Then I’ll sleep for a while. We need to catch up with them before they go inside his place.”
Dice looks at me, “Do you know this Sterndale character?”
“I know who he is. I’ve heard through brothers that I keep in contact with that they’ve had issues with him. It seems he likes to mess with veterans. Well, this veteran is going to beat his ass if Winter doesn’t do it first.”
“Okay, let’s do this, Chaos. You may need to live up to your name!”
“Don’t give a fuck about that, Dice. If it means watching my woman’s back, then I will do whatever is needed.”
“Do you think Victoria will do a runner?”
My shoulders moved in a shrug, followed by a frown as the idea struck me that I would pursue and get her back if she left. “If she does, then she does. But you know I’ll catch her. It could be fun having a chase though.”
“Chaos, we have a white van following. Turn into whatever we hit next. I noticed them earlier and thought nothing of it, but they seem to have been behind us a long time.”
“You got your weapon handy?”
Dice takes out his Smith & Wesson M&P, which is a military and police weapon. He has had this weapon since I met him. He gives it a small, nearly loving stroke before taking out a Beretta. “I’m armed and ready,” Dice smirks and looks like he is ready to go to war if needed.
Pulling into the next truck stop, I drive the truck behind a big-rig.
It will give us cover if we need it. Dice is out of the truck and disappears before I’ve cut the engine.
I take my time, check my Bowie knife is in my waistband, and slowly climb out of the truck.
I’m going to make out that there is a problem with the back wheel.
It will give me a vantage point without being out in the open.
I see the white van pull into the stop and park a little further away.
What makes me grin is the back doors open and three men get out.
All dressed in hoodies and jeans. The driver and passenger get out, stretch their arms, which I’m sure is to give the impression they are relieved to be out of the van after a long drive.
Two of us and five of them. Not bad odds in my book. All five head my way and I get behind the wheels of the rig's trailer as they get closer. Knowing they can’t see me, I slip under the trailer and come out behind them. Hearing one of them mention Sterndale’s name, it’s clear who they work for.
When they see the empty truck, they all look towards the buildings. Not a very smart move on their part. Stepping closer, I’m on top of the rear two before they sense me and slam their heads together as hard as I can. Hearing a sickening crunch, I may well have just killed those two in one move.
Spinning to face me, two of the other three step forward and take a fighting stance. The third seems to have a little more savvy and looks around for Dice. This would be a good time for him to make an appearance, I have to say.
Paying attention to the two facing me, one has his fists balled and looks nervous as though this is a new experience for him.
The other looks comfortable and relaxed, which tells me this isn’t his first rodeo.
Spinning on my left leg, I lash out with my right, and nervous guy gets my foot to the side of his head.
He joins his two friends on the gravel of the lot.
Facing the fourth who I hope is my last opponent, as I’m still expecting Dice to make an appearance for the fifth guy, I see he has a wicked-looking Ka-Bar knife in his right hand.
Pulling out my own Bowie, I grin when I see the hesitation show in his eyes.
He wasn’t expecting that and my blade is easily half as long again as his Ka-Bar blade.
Two shots ring out from above me, and although not loud, I wasn’t expecting them. Seeing that I’m now standing alone, I look up and see Dice atop the big-rig trailer.
“Put that fucking sword away and stop playing Zorro. We need to be back on the road. Always playing fucking games when we need to be cracking on,” Dice says as he shakes his head and then disappears yet again.
Slipping my Bowie away, I start to drag the dead or unconscious bodies to the back of the trailer when their white van pulls up.
Opening the rear doors, Dice helps me lift and throw each one into the back.
Each time he checks for any sign of life, and if he finds one, he quickly snaps their neck and gives a quick nod to himself.
“Don’t want any witnesses, do we?” He winks at me and throws the van keys in the air, catches them, and grabs the rear doors.
Slamming the doors shut, he takes the van to the remotest part of the parking lot, locks it up and tosses the keys into some undergrowth as he walks back.
Now we are back on the road, he first cleans his Smith and Wesson, then his Beretta. Happy with his work, he turns and looks at me as though this was just a ride in the country.
“What? I take care of my weapons, and they take care of me. In fact, they took care of you, too. Why were you playing with them? You know we’re on a tight schedule.” Leaning back, he closes his eyes in mock sleep before I can give him any abuse.
An hour later we’re driving on a dirt track on the edge of Sterndale’s land. As we approach a small wooded area, Dice grunts and points into the shadows of the trees. Knowing what to look for, I see the outline of a vehicle.
Parking the truck Dice and I stealthily check out Winter’s truck. I look at Dice, “Yeah, we need to move our butts. They are already inside.”
As we turn to enter the enormous grounds we both stop dead in our tracks when Winter, Victoria and Jack nearly walk into us.
We all stop and look at each other before Victoria rushes forward and jumps into my arms. I, of course, catch her and kiss her just as hard as she is kissing me.
Her legs are around my waist and if not that we are in a dangerous position right now, I’d fuck her up against the truck.