"What I'm saying is Lance didn't die in the explosion. He was in on the double cross."
It took a while for everyone to calm down after that. I did my best to hold them together, but it was pointless. I had just told them that one of their brothers went against them. Someone they mourned. One of the girls was crying in the back. I saw Erica comforting her.
"So is he dead now?" Axel asked.
"Yeah. He's dead."
"Good," Frankie said, spitting on the floor. "Bastard. Got what he deserved."
I looked around the room. Either I was looking at a bunch of really gifted actors, or they were all as surprised as I had been. Not one of them seemed like he was putting on an act. Nobody acted any more hurt or upset than anybody else. I had told myself before I got started that the one who was in on it would overdo it to make up for their guilt. Nobody did that. I was still at square one.
"Where do we go from here?" Chip asked. "I mean, how's it all come together?"
"Randy called me a little while ago. The Wolves are guarding someone in one of their safe houses on the other side of town. It has to be the guy we're looking for."
"I wanna shake his hand," Frankie growled. "He took care of that traitorous-"
"Now just hang on a sec," I said, holding my hands up. Everybody was getting worked up again. "Listen, I know how you feel. That fit I took in there today? The holes in the walls? Now you know why I did that. I wanted to kill Lance all over again." My eyes met Erica's from across the room. "But somebody reminded me that he was only doing what he thought was right. That's all anybody can do, what they think is right. From what Erica heard in the alley and the way it looks in the pictures, Lance knew what he did was wrong. He was standing up for himself and saying he couldn't go through with it anymore. That's why he died." I let that sink in for a minute.
"That doesn't make up for what he did. He got Rick and Jake killed." Everybody else agreed.
"I know, and now he's dead, too. That's over. We can't do anything about it. All that's left is finding out why they died, and how to protect ourselves now. I don't want this happening again. And whatever's left between the Wolves and us … " My voice tightened as rage flowed through me. "That's gotta end. I want this over. I'll do what it takes."
"What's that gonna be?"
"I'm going to the safe house and I'm talking to this guy. I'll need help getting in and covering my back."
Almost everybody stood up to volunteer. I was proud of them, sticking together. Still, I was suspicious. I couldn't take the wrong person. I might end up getting my crew and me killed.
"Randy's already out there. I want Chip, Frankie, Axel, and Onyx with me."
Everybody nodded and broke up to get their things together. Onyx came up to me. "Are you sure it's a good idea for me to go?"
I was shocked. Onyx never let me down before. He wasn't the type to punk out. "I want you there. I don't trust anybody more than you."
"I think it might be a good idea to stay and keep an eye on other people." His eyes shifted to where Erica was still standing with the girls.
"You think so?" I looked at her, wondering. "You don't think she'll try to get out again, do you? Not after what happened today."
"No, but think about it. What if they're just trying to lure you away from the clubhouse-not just from her? What if they want to flush us out so they can come in and do whatever they want?"
"Shit." I hadn't thought of that. "This is why you're my VP. You think of things like that. Okay, I'll take Joe. You stay here with the others and keep a lookout. Post a few guys around the perimeter of the building to watch. I'll do what I can to stay in contact with you."
Onyx nodded and went over to Joe, I assumed to tell him he was going with me. Erica saw the chance and came over.
"You did a great job," she said.
I shook my head. "I don't know. What's a good job at a time like this? Telling them one of their brothers betrayed them, got two of them killed."
"Nobody lost it. You kept them under control. That's a good job in my book."
I wished I had as much confidence as she did, and again I thought what a good old lady she would make one day. She had a way of making me feel stronger than I was when I needed her the most.
"Do me a favor," I said, pulling her close. "Try to stay here this time. I don't wanna go to the trouble of getting into that safe house and have to leave to save you from something. Okay?"
"Okay." She didn't fight me or talk back, though I knew she was dying to. It was her way. She didn't like others telling her what to do any more than I did. I kissed her, short and sweet-anything else might have been hard to stop, and there were other things to think about.
I went into the office, calling the guys in who were going with me. We put together a plan, then went back to the lounge to leave.
"You're going now?" Erica asked, putting her hands on my shoulders and squeezing. "Are you sure about this?"
I grinned. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
She shivered and shook her head. "I don't know. I have a bad feeling. What if they're just luring you in?"
"That's why I'm not going alone. We have plenty of fire power. It'll be all right." She didn't believe me, though I had to give her credit for trying to act like she did. "Remember: I've been doing this for a long time. It's not my first rodeo. Just the first one you've been here for." I kissed her forehead-again, I didn't want to get too close to her, or else I wouldn't be able to stop. She didn't look convinced, but she nodded like she understood.
"Come back safe to me, okay?"
"I'll do that if you make me a promise."
"Anything."
"Stay here this time." I grinned and hugged her, then left. I couldn't hang around anymore, or else I'd be tempted to stay. I didn't tell her I had the same bad feeling she did, and that I wanted more than anything to be able to stay and protect her.
But that was why I was going. I had to do this to make us all safe in the long run.
Chapter Nineteen
The night was dark, the sky inky black. Not a star, no moon, just heavy black clouds hanging low overhead. The air was damp and a little chilly. It matched my mood.
The first thing we had to do was meet up with Ralph. I had told him to wait for us around a mile away from the clubhouse-not far from where I first found Erica.
Ralph was a good guy to have on my side in a tough spot like this. He was always the one I put on the streets when I needed information since he had a wide network of friends he'd pump for information. He was our connection to the grapevine.
"I didn't dare get too close," he told us as we circled our bikes, "but the last time one of my buddies went past, there were still three guards out there. Wolves, of course."
"These buddies of yours. You trust them?" I asked.
"With my life," he replied, no hesitation.
"Good enough." I looked around. "Ralph, Joe, and Chip have the fastest bikes. You create the diversion and lead the guards away. Frankie and Axel stay with me, keep an eye out for when the guards come back. I want them led as far out as you can get them-not toward our clubhouse, or else they'll turn around right away. Lead them into town if you have to, just get them away from here. Buy me as much time as you can."
I felt the energy of the men around me like electricity. They were all ready for a fight, dying for one. "Be safe," I added.
Frankie snorted. "Since when do you tell us to be safe?"
"Since I know you're out for blood right now," I snarled. "I don't want anybody taking risks. I know you can outrun anybody. Just don't go further than that if you don't have to. That's all I'm saying." I was starting to have doubts about him. He was too quick to question me lately. I welcomed questions. I didn't want to work with a bunch of mindless drones. But his questions had a nasty feeling to them, like he was saying more than just what came from his mouth. Was he the one? It would all come down to the job in front of him. He could have my back, or he could turn on me.
I heard the sounds of their motors fading away. All that was left was one guard. "We'll take care of him," Axel growled. He and Frankie drew their guns and rode straight up to him.
"Can only shoot one of us at a time," Frankie called out. "So if you're smart, you won't shoot either."
"I'll blow your head off!" Axel roared. Then I heard what sounded like a pile of laundry falling on the ground, and I rode out. The last Wolf was on the ground, blood trickling down the side of his head.