Chapter 13
Viper
“What the hell is going on?”
As soon as I got out to my truck, I called Menace, hoping he’d fill me in on what the hell was happening at our storage lot.
Tension riddled his voice as he replied, “No fucking idea. I checked the cameras as soon as the alarm went off at the gate. Looks like ten, maybe fifteen guys are scattered throughout the lot and are breaking into one unit after the next.”
“Any idea who it is or what they’re looking for?”
“Too dark to tell, but these assholes seem pretty intent on finding whatever it is they’re searching for.”
“Damn.” We used the storage lot for one of our fronts and kept a single unit to store any goods that needed security.
The unit looked identical to all the rest—it even had what appeared to be a regular concrete floor, but with one click of a button, the locks would disengage and reveal a set of stairs that led to an underground shelter.
No one could get to our goods without the combination—no one. “What about Ada and Gladys?”
“They know to hang low. Don’t have to worry about them.”
“Not until one of those assholes tries to get inside the fucking house. Then, we’re gonna have a hell of a problem.”
“They try to get in that house, then they’ll have to deal with Ada and the end of her sawed-off, double-barrel shotgun.”
“I don’t want it to come to that.” I glanced over at the clock. “How long before you and the boys get there?”
“Three maybe four minutes.”
“Same. Meet me across the street at the old General.”
“You got it.”
I hung up, floored the accelerator, and raced towards the storage lot, having no idea what I’d find when I got there, but I had a feeling these guys weren’t just looking to make a quick buck by pillaging through the place.
When I pulled up, I was pleased that Menace and the others had followed my command and were waiting for me across the street from the lot. As I parked and got out, a misty rain started to settle over the parking lot, making it difficult to see.
I looked across the street, and my stomach twisted into an angry knot when I saw movement by one of the units. These assholes were still at it and about to pay a heavy consequence for fucking with us.
Shifting my gaze over to Ada’s, the place still looked secured, but there was no way of knowing how long that would be the case. “We need to move.”
“How do you wanna play this?” Shotgun asked.
As much as I would’ve liked a minute to consider my answer, I knew time wasn’t on our side. It was just as well. Battles like these were always messy and chaotic. Nothing ever went as planned, which made preparing for them almost impossible.
I didn’t mind.
I liked the thrill of the hunt—and giving assholes like these what they had coming.
The brothers quickly gathered around, and I could tell by the fierce look in their eyes they were more than ready for what lay ahead.
Like me, they had a thirst for revenge and were eager to get their hands on the assholes who’d come into our territory to fuck with us.
They each listened intently as I said, “Gonna need to play this safe. We got no idea who these guys are or what they’re looking for. ”
“They’re spread out all through the fucking lot,” Menace warned. “If we go through the main gate, they’ll see us coming.”
“He’s right,” Hawk suggested. “We should try cutting our way through the back fence.”
I nodded. “I was thinking the same.”
“I’ll grab the bolt cutters.” Shotgun turned and ran back to the SUV. A minute later, he returned with them in his hands and announced, “Ready when you are.”
With that, we quickly gathered our weapons and attached the silencers. The storage lot was in a remote area, and we were far enough away from the city or any onlookers to worry about someone hearing gunfire, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Once we’d put on our bullet-proof vests, I told them, “We don’t know what we’re gonna find over there, so be ready for anything.”
Like a pack of wolves moving in for the kill, we silently made our way across the street.
Our prospects were at the front, my officers in the middle, and I was in the rear.
My job was to watch over and protect the pack, keep them on the right path, and make sure no one was left behind—a task I did without question.
These men were my family, my responsibility, and I’d do whatever it took to get them through this unscathed.
Hawk and Shotgun led us toward the south side of the storage lot, then we all waited patiently as Shotgun used the bolt cutters to craft an opening big enough to crawl through the fence.
As soon as he was done, Hawk and Shotgun stepped through the hole and kept an eye out as the others followed suit. Staying a few steps behind, Lynch and I covered everyone else as they made their way through the gate.
I could feel the tension mount as we each stepped in line with the others, reached for our weapons, and prepared for the battle ahead.
I knew it’d be no small feat to get these assholes under control. They were spread throughout the storage lot, and if one of them spotted us moving in, all hell would ensue.
We were at the rear of the property, a slight distance away from where our unwanted guests were ransacking through our units, so it would take some quick maneuvering to locate a good position of attack.
As if he already knew what I was thinking, Hawk looked over to me and suggested, “We should split up. Take them on from both sides.”
I nodded, giving the order for the brothers to disperse.
Shotgun and Rafe led Country and two prospects to the left while Hawk and Axel directed Jagger and the rest of us to the right.
With the misty haze, it was difficult to see, but as we got closer, Hawk held up his hand, signaling for us to stop and wait for the all-clear.
Once we were good to move, he lowered his hand and motioned his head forward.
We immediately continued ahead, and as soon as our group rounded the corner, we came upon three men who’d gained access to one of the units. They were hunched over, sifting through the various boxes—completely unaware that we were standing behind them.
I cleared my throat before asking, “Looking for something?”
One of them immediately looked up and muttered, “Fuck.”
When the guy on Jagger’s left took a charging step forward, Jagger pulled the trigger, firing two shots and hitting him right in the chest. I watched the man flail back and hit the ground with a hard thud.
Jagger turned around to check if we were still good when the second man lunged towards him and tackled him to the ground. The gun flew from Jagger’s hand, and a struggle ensued between the two.
Locke immediately aimed his gun at the third, making sure he didn’t join in. While I knew Jagger could handle the guy, I was in no mood to wait out their dispute. I aimed my gun at the asshole’s head and pulled the trigger, killing him instantly.
Jagger rolled the lifeless body off him with a frustrated groan. Once he was back on his feet, he picked his gun up from the ground, then looked down at the guy I’d just shot and froze. “You gotta be kiddin’ me.”
I stepped closer, and a sinking feeling hit me in the gut when I saw a Broken Knights rocker embroidered on the back of the asshole’s cut.
I figured they’d come looking for their fucking guns, but how the hell did they know we had them and that we’d secured them in our storage unit’s vault? It made no fucking sense.
Hawk also knew why they were there and was just as puzzled, but he didn’t let on as he looked over to the guy in the corner and asked, “What the fuck is this all about?”
“Like you don’t fucking know.”
Without saying anything more, the man lifted his pistol and attempted to aim it at Hawk, but Locke shot him in the chest before he got the chance. Lynch immediately turned to me and asked, “What the fuck, Prez? How the hell did they—”
Before he could finish his sentence, the familiar tzinggg sound of silenced gunfire erupted behind us, drawing our attention away from the men at our feet. “We gotta move.”
Worried for my safety, Hawk looked over to me and asked, “You sure it wouldn’t be better for you to hang back? Locke and I—”
“Fuck no,” I growled. “I want this thing done, and I want it done now.”
Hawk nodded, then started to the others.
We’d just rounded the corner when I heard a man’s voice command, “Hold it right there.”
All motion in the storage yard halted as I turned to look over my shoulder.
My stomach sank when I found two men standing on Ada’s front porch—one with a gun pointed directly at Gladys’s head.
Her hands were bound behind her back, and her mouth was taped shut.
There was no sign of Ada, which left me wondering if she was hiding somewhere in the house or if she was already dead.
It took me a moment, but I recognized the bigger of the two men.
It was Armor—the president of the Broken Knights.
He gave me a menacing smile as he snarled, “I was wondering when you would finally show up to the party.”
“Let her go!” I demanded. “She has nothing to do with any of this.”
“She’s here. That makes her a part of it. Besides, you’re in no position to be giving orders, friend.”
“Just tell me why you’re here, and let’s resolve this thing before anyone else gets hurt.”
His smile dissipated and turned into a scowl. “Again with the orders.”
“Well, I can’t read fucking minds, so if you want something here, you’re gonna have to tell me what the fuck it is.”
“I want my brother to be alive,” Armor roared. “I want him living, breathing, and standing right here next to me, but that shit’s not gonna happen because of you. You killed him!”
“And how do you know it was me who killed him?”