Chapter 22
Riptide
Today was the day. Or tonight would be. My nerves were bunched so tight if one more thing was piled onto my plate, I’d snap like an overstretched rubber band.
It was always like this before an op. I would triple check the equipment, make sure everyone’s gear was working.
I could handle the stress of combat. What I couldn’t handle was if one of my men was hurt because of something easily preventable.
In this case, I was worried about Sloane and the others.
They had no training, I would be asking a lot of them.
If we failed tonight, they’d end up paying the price. Me and my brothers would lose our lives, but the women and children who were all set and ready to run from this place would be forced back into this life and they’d pay every day for the deception they’d participated in.
I was already looking forward to taking down Ethan, but knowing what was at stake for them would ensure that we won. Nothing else was acceptable. I looked around as I walked down the street, doing a mental inventory.
Tonight, I’d meet my brothers outside the walls and lead them into an attack on The Order. Excitement fired inside my blood. I was ready for this. Ethan deserved what he was going to get. So did the other men here.
Despite the doubts that had occasionally plagued me while I’d been here and the horrific shit I’d seen Ethan put his people through, I was glad I’d come.
Not only because the people here were about to be free, but because of my angel.
I’d meant every word when I’d told her I loved her and wanted to continue this once we got back home.
I wanted my club to be her new family, my home to be hers.
My eyes passed over Jacob and Bruce, who were standing next to the large fence that surrounded the compound. They looked relaxed. No one suspected a thing.
Sloane had helped me pinpoint the people who’d be walking out of this alive and she’d approached each of them.
She’d warned them to pack a small bag of things for themselves and their children.
Everything else would be left behind. She’d promised them that me and my club would help take care of them once we got to Tucson.
Getting to know me more over the last few weeks made it easier for them to trust her words. It astounded me that she hadn’t gotten angry with me when I’d told her who I really was and why I was here. None of her people had gotten mad either.
I guess when you’ve been under the thumb of a dictator who doesn’t hesitate to kill for disobedience, you’ll take any savior you can get.
Mae had used that word. Savior. That, I certainly wasn’t, but to them it was true. I sighed and tried to focus. There were only a few hours left before this went down.
Sloane met me out on the street, falling in step beside me. “Everything’s ready,” she said in a low voice.
“Angel.” I waited until she looked over at me. “I need you to follow the plan tonight.”
She nodded. “I will, Rip. I’ll see you once you’ve finished.”
I stopped and pulled her into my arms, giving her a long kiss. A group of girls walking past giggled at us, but kept going. I smiled down at her. “I’m a lucky fucking man.”
* * *
A whistle cut through the dark and I adjusted my direction.
My heart was racing knowing I’d see my brothers again.
Knowing that everything would end tonight.
It was dark, the moon wouldn’t rise until later, making it hard to walk without running into cacti.
There was no way I was turning on a flashlight, though.
That would be too fucking obvious. The dark would help us in the long run.
By the time I saw the shadow darting toward me it was too late to maneuver away from it.
The body hit me at full speed and I grunted as we tumbled down to the dirt.
I landed on a stray prickly pear paddle.
It was impossible to fall in this desert without hitting some kind of cactus.
I bit down and howled low in pain as the spines jabbed into my back.
“That’s what you fucking deserve for making us worry,” Butcher said from where he was sitting on my chest. His fist connected with my jaw, making the world light up under what Butcher would consider a love tap.
“Get off him, you asshole,” Toxic muttered, pulling Butcher off me.
One of these days I needed to send Toxic a fucking gift.
He was the only one who was able to keep Butcher under control and the duty always fell to him.
Control was a strong word. When it came to Butcher it was more like point and release.
He completed his task without ever fucking complaining, though.
The two had quickly become friends and Toxic was often Butcher’s voice of reason.
It would be goddamned weird to send another man flowers. What did you get for a man that said, ‘Thanks for keeping the psychopath entertained and out of trouble?’ A fruit basket maybe? A dog collar? Who knew what kind of freaky shit those two liked. They were like two peas in a pod.
Toxic reached out and pulled me to my feet. His arms crushed me in an embrace before he handed me off to the others. There were a lot of painful back slaps and more punches as we all reunited. It was to be expected and there was a huge grin on my face.
“Good to see that you’re alive,” Lockout said with a chuckle. “Is everything ready?”
Hush handed me a rifle and I nodded. I gave the magazine a tug and checked that a round had been chambered. Didn’t want to get in the middle of the gun fight and miss my chance at revenge on some of the men in the compound.
We were standing close enough in a circle that they could see me. “It is. We have forty-eight women and children, and three men—a total of fifty-one—who are all staged up in a building waiting on us.
Looking around, relief washed over me. The majority of my club had come. There were men everywhere, waiting to go into battle with us because we’d asked it of them. Even Static was here. I clapped a hand on his shoulder, silently thanking him for coming to help me.
“Good,” Lockout said. “The quicker we get this done, the better. Dash, George, Static, and Smokehouse. You’re in charge of getting the fifty-one we need to rescue back to the vehicles.
Smoke’s jaw dropped. “What?”
Dash and George were both members, but they were older and didn’t have as much to do with these types of operations anymore.
They also had children, we always took that into consideration.
They’d always come out to help and show their support, but if we could keep them out of the direct line of fire, we did.
“It’s a lot of people, Smoke. Some are bound to stumble and get lost, and with fifty-one of ‘em, they won’t be quiet. I need you to keep it all together.” Lockout’s glare was easy to discern even in the darkness.
Smoke hesitated for a second before responding, “Wherever you need me, Prez.”
Smart. Going against Lockout’s orders was a good way to get your ass handed to you and get fucking demoted.
Smoke was disappointed that he wasn’t going to get to play, but Lockout was trusting those four to keep the innocents in all of this safe.
It was the most important job of them all.
Smokehouse knew he was being trusted with the biggest responsibility tonight. He’d do his job.
Static just nodded when Lockout met his gaze.
He was here as support for the club. He’d been out of the life for a long time now, so Lockout wasn’t about to toss him in the middle of things.
Not when he wasn’t officially a part of our club…
yet. I had a feeling that wasn’t going to last long.
The yearning there in Static’s eyes told me he was tired of living life straight and pure. He missed this shit. Missed us.
“Once they’re out of the village,” Lockout continued, “we start our assault. Smoke and his team will assume a guard position at the fence while the women and kids escape. Hellfire, Ricochet and Priest,” He motioned to them, the trio stood and headed off into the desert, “They will take a position on the North of the compound, when you hear gunfire start your attack. The rest of us will move in from the south. The three of them will keep the cultists pinned while we sweep through.” He looked over at me.
“I assume the leftover men don’t deserve mercy? ”
“Fuck no, they don’t,” I replied. “Kill them all. You’ll want to be careful with Ethan, Jacob, and Bruce. They’re going to be the most difficult to kill.” I described what the three men looked like. “I’d prefer to take out Ethan myself,” I requested.
“As long as it doesn’t put anyone in danger, that’s acceptable. You certainly deserve it after what I’m sure you had to put up with in here.” Lockout said with a nod. “Let’s get going. Rip, you lead.”
There hadn’t been any time to relay what I’d gone through during my time with The Order. There’d be plenty of time for that later. They were all going to be in for a surprise once they realized I had a wife.
We moved along as quietly as we could until the fence surrounding the compound came into view. We doubled back and everyone crouched down.
Whispering, I told Lockout, “It’s best if a couple of us sneak in, get everyone out and send them on their way before all this kicks off. Get Smoke and his team in place, give me three to get the rest out.”
“Sounds like a good plan. Hush, Butcher, and Toxic you three come with me and Rip. Smoke, you’re in charge until I get back.”
Smoke nodded, clapping a hand on my back for good luck. I returned the gesture. I couldn’t wait to fucking crack a beer with my brothers and tell them about this wild ride. I’d missed every one of the fuckers.
Lock and the other three fell into line behind me.
We slipped through a hole I’d made in the back half of the fence a few days ago.
Smoke and his team were waiting there to help the people who’d be coming back through.
The hole was closest to the building that all the women and children were hiding inside.
I didn’t want a huge line of people sneaking through the compound at night, so I’d made sure we had a place to escape nearby.
As soon as my brothers were through, we moved around to the door of the building. The lights were out inside, only a few candles spread out along the walls battled against the darkness.
“Rip!” Sloane whispered, rushing forward.
My arms wrapped around her. “Is everyone here?” I asked in a low voice.
“Yes. Everyone is here and ready,” she replied. Her eyes strayed toward my brothers. “We don’t have a lot of time. Mae and I managed to convince Ethan to lead the men in a late night sermon while she would do the same for the kids. All the men are gathered at the altar.”
“Brilliant,” I told her. Turning, I found my brothers all wearing shit-eating grins. I gave them an unamused look. This wasn’t the time for them to start giving me shit about the woman in my arms and that looked like what they were about to do. “Save it for later,” I snapped at them.
Lockout chuckled and repeated the order. They didn’t dare disobey him.
“We’re going to lead you out of the compound,” I said, raising my voice just enough that everyone could hear me. “Then four of our people are going to take you to the vehicles. You’ll wait there quietly for us and we’ll get you out of here safely. Got it?”
Heads nodded and some murmured in agreement. They were ready to get the fuck out of this hellhole and so was I.
“Follow us. Stay silent.” I took the lead, heading back toward the hole in the fence. Pausing before I left the shadow of the building, I scanned the streets and along the fence, looking for any of the guards. No one was around thanks to Sloane and Mae’s plan.
As one large group we crept over to the fence.
Lockout and Hush took up positions on either side of the hole and started directing people as they ducked through.
It was all done in a very low murmur, but still my nerves were fraying at the ends.
If we were caught here and now, too many people would die in the crossfire.
The men were gathered on the other side of the compound, but all we needed was one guard to spot us and we were fucked.
Soon enough we were all on the other side of the fence. I grabbed Smoke by the cut and tugged him close. My voice was a low growl of warning. “Take care of them.”
“Of course, Rip,” he responded.
I knew that even though he wasn’t happy to be on what he’d consider babysitting duty, he’d do his damndest to make sure they were all safe. He wouldn’t fuck around with the lives of innocent people.
Kissing Sloane, I watched as they all walked off into the darkness, toward safety. Face hardening into a cold mask, I turned back toward the compound. It was time to demolish The Order. They’d be nothing but a smear of blood out here in the desert by the time we were done with them.