“That’s bullshit, Barrett,” Zane growled. “Boudier was the one who broke the law by sending the Assassins into this state without letting you know what was going on.”
“Boudier holds a grudge. That’s for sure,” Barrett agreed.
“We’ve got this Barrett. Whatever we need to do, we’re ready.” Damon stepped up. “Isn’t that right, boys?”
“Hell, yeah.” A chorus of curses and shouts went up in the room.
Barrett nodded. “We all leave in half an hour.”
As the last Guardian left out of the room, Barrett was left alone with his thoughts.
Had he brought this on his own men? Was he the one to blame for Heimy’s— and possibly Mitchell’s— death?
He’d find out soon enough.
Chapter Thirty-One
They pulled into New Orleans around nine p.m. It was dark and the streets were getting crowded with tourists.
Lucien pulled into a parking lot and killed the engine. He let Catty get off first before he climbed off.
“How are you feeling?” He brushed her blond hair out of her face.
“Good. I’m completely healed.” She rubbed the area on her chest where she’d been stabbed. She spread her arms and looked down at the shirt his mom had given her to wear. It was sleeveless and white and billowed when the wind caressed it. “Doesn’t really go with my biker boots, does it?”
He grinned and pulled her close. “You look great in anything.”
She burrowed her face in his chest and chuckled. “I can’t believe your mom gave me a bra to wear. That’s so embarrassing.”
He’d overheard his mother tell Catty she needed to wear a bra with her shirt because it was see through. Thankfully his mother had bought some personal items for the women’s shelter. She happened to have a bra in Catty’s size.
“She really likes you,” he murmured against her hair.
She pulled back and looked at him, uncertainty in her eyes. “You think so?”
“I know so. You impressed her. That’s hard to do.”
She smiled and reached up on her toes to place a kiss on his lips. “So what’s the plan?”
“According to the witch, the Guardians are underground. The Triple X is close. So I’m wondering if there isn’t a tunnel running from the club to the shipyard. I remember when I first got here I was talking to a waitress who said bad stuff happens at the Triple X. She was a wolf and she was trying to warn me about even going to the club.”
He looked at her and frowned. “Do you know of any rooms in the club that have an underground compartment or some way to get underground?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Wait. The rooms near the back of the club where they do lap dances. There’s a room in the back that’s always locked. None of the girls are allowed to go in there. They said it’s where the supplies are kept.” She looked at him. “Or so they’ve told us.”
“It’s worth checking out. In the meantime, go back to your place and get your stuff packed. I don’t know how long this is going to take, but once this is over I’ll come get you. So pack light.” He grinned.
“I will. There’s not a lot I want to bring with me.” Her eyes lit up.
“Want me to walk you back to your place?”
“Nah. I’ve got it.” She kissed him long and hard. “Lucien, please be careful.”
“I always am.”
He watched her walk in the direction of her apartment until she disappeared around the corner. He fished his cell phone out of his jacket pocket and pulled up Barrett’s number. He sent a quick text regarding the possibility of an underground tunnel leading from the Triple X toward the shipyard. It was his only lead on where they would be holding the Guardians.
He pressed send, turned his phone on silent and tucked it away in his pocket.
He needed to get to the club before his Guardians did to see if Catty’s hunch panned out.
He grabbed his .9 mm out of his saddlebag and tucked it in the back of his jeans. The club owner might have humans guarding the tunnel and if so he couldn’t shift in front of them. But he sure as hell could shoot.
***
Catty dumped the contents of her backpack out on her bed and glanced around the room. She would need something bigger if she wanted to cram as much stuff in as she could.
She knelt by the bed and pulled out a duffle bag. It was bigger and could be attached to the back of her seat on the Harley.
Excitement pounded in her chest as she packed her laptop and then opened the drawers on the small dresser. She couldn’t take all her clothes so she decided on the essentials: underwear, bra, three pair of jeans and some shirts. She glanced down at her feet. She would wear her biker boots and could pack her tennis shoes.