Chapter 29
ZANE
The ride to LA was one of the most peaceful rides I’d ever been on.
Sienna sleeping at my back, her arms cinched around my waist. I kept making sure her grip was tight enough so she wouldn’t fall off, but she never loosened her hold on me.
The air kept getting warmer and warmer as we neared our destination.
And freedom and something that seemed a lot like a new beginning awaited me once we reached it.
I haven’t been happy in so long I forgot what it feels like, but I’m pretty sure that ride was it.
I didn’t expect Rogue and Blade being up to greet us when we arrived just before dawn. I thought I’d have some time alone with Sienna in my room first. She’d be rested, I was full of the restless energy that long rides after narrowly escaping death always brought.
And I did narrowly escape death if what Rogue is telling me now has any merit. I have no doubt that it does.
We’re in the Rogue Angels MC war room, sitting around the long table that together with the chairs doesn’t leave much room for anything else. Like pacing. Which is what I’d rather be doing while I listen to Rogue lay out all the ways that Hydra have been making trouble for the MC lately.
Blade is here too, frowning as he listens to Rogue talk, giving him his full attention even though I’m sure he’s heard all this before.
I love Rogue like a brother, but he’s never been one for brief speeches.
Skye, the intel officer and Creed, our money man, are here too. They both seem engrossed in Rogue’s tale, though I’ve seen Creed stifle at least two yawns.
“So, what you’re saying is that these Hydra people are escalating,” I say into the first real pause Rogue makes. “They’re trying to draw us out into an open fight.”
“So they can try and finish us off, yes,” Rogue says. “That’s what I believe. And that’s what the intel seems to support.”
He looks at Skye who nods. She’s a gorgeous Asian woman despite the star-shaped scar on her cheek. Though the worry and darkness in her face does take a lot away from her beauty.
“Hydra’s got hundreds of members all across the US,” she says. “And that’s just their mercenary arm from what I’ve been able to find out. It’s not looking good.”
“And they’re after us because you helped Devil’s Nightmare MC break up one of their trafficking operations?” I say. “And now also because I’ve taken the woman of one of their friends? For such a huge organization they do seem to hold grudges like teenage boys.”
I am glad I’m not the only reason we’re facing this threat. But it does sound like it’s a threat we might not survive whatever we do.
“It’s gotten so bad none of us can leave the compound alone without getting attacked,” Blade says. “They seem to have eyes on us everywhere.”
“So what are you saying?” I say, looking at all of them in turn. “We’re prisoners in here?”
“Pretty much,” Rogue says. “As you know, we were so close to busting open that child molestation ring we set out to break up before you left. Literally on the verge of cracking it wide open. Then Hydra showed up, surrounded us, and opened fire. Minx is currently fighting for her life at the hospital, Judge took one in the shoulder, an inch to the left and he’d be dead, and—”
“Did anyone die?” I ask since I can’t stand this suspense he’s creating. There’s a time and place for these kinds long of speeches and this ain’t it.”
Rogue shakes his head. “Luckily, no.”
“But it’s more like, not yet,” Blade adds. “And we’re at a loss as to what to do. Every time we take out a few of them, more pop up. Like the damn mythical beast they’re named after. They can’t be killed.”
“It seems like they’re getting financed by God himself,” Creed adds, speaking for the area he’s most qualified in, namely finances.
“Or the Devil, more accurately,” Skye says with a harsh, dark undertone. She’s usually very soft spoken. Hardly ever says much, in fact.
“Yeah, that,” Creed says.
I look at all of them more closely. They all look like they haven’t been getting much sleep, so it probably wasn’t my arrival that had them up this early. Or all night, more likely.
“I’ve been trying to find their HQ, the place they operate out of,” Skye says. “So we could at least expose it. But there’s nothing. It’s like they’re everywhere and yet nowhere.”
She sounds tired, frustrated, and angry. They all do.
“That asshole husband of Sienna’s can reach them,” I say though I’m not sure how that helps anything. So I fully deserve the slightly disgusted looks they all give me.
“I mean, he’s just some low-level manager or lawyer or something. But maybe he can lead us to the higher-ups in the organization. It’s them we gotta reach, right? To stop this feud. Else we’ll just be fighting them forever.”
They exchange looks and I feel like maybe I should’ve kept my mouth shut. Obviously they’ve thought of everything, including this. And if they say it’s hopeless, then my bright ideas probably aren’t worth much.
“He’s coming here anyway,” I add. “Might be worth asking. Plus, I’d love to get my hands on him.”
I’m not ready to give up and call this situation hopeless. Not after I’ve just gotten hope and happiness back.
But the silence that follows tells me that’s not how this will play out.
“Could be he can give us some of the much-needed information on how their organization works,” Rogue finally says, Blade and Creed both nodding along.
“All I need is a clear direction to search in,” Skye says. “Then I’ll find them and all their secrets. I’m sure I will.”
“So we wait for the guy to show up and we take him alive,” I say. “Or better yet, I go out and meet him. Then I’ll drag him back here.”
We spend another half an hour going over that plan. It involves using Sienna’s phone as bait, since he had already used it once to track us to that small town motel. Luckily, no one suggests that she go out there and pose as real live bait, because I’d have fought anyone who did.
Somewhere on that long peaceful ride I must’ve forgiven her completely. And if not that, then I certainly decided that I’m not living another minute of my life without her.
She’s the only one, the only thing that makes me feel alive. I thought I’d never know that feeling again. So I’m gonna hold onto it as hard as I can.
Enemies can be lovers. And forgiveness is overrated anyway.