Page 20 of Bowser (Dragon Riders MC 2)
Link nodded slowly. “You want to use women as bait for them to come get.”
I sipped my drink. “And snatch them up one-by-one in return.”
Sly crooked an eyebrow. “You know we’re not going to be able to pick them off like that. Even if we take down one of Skeleton’s men, they’re going to come after us like… oh.”
I grinned. “Now it’s clicking.”
Link narrowed his eyes. “You want to use the sting operation to draw them off their turf—”
Knuckles smiled. “And into ours, so we have the advantage.”
I set my drink down. “From there, we can get creative. We can set up booby-traps and shit. We can spook them and get them to tear through some of that ammunition they’ve got on their persons in order to give us a fair and fighting chance. And if we find somewhere else to move Hope, we can even use this clubhouse as a place to lure them into where we completely hold the upper-hand.”
Link’s eyes locked hard with mine. “And where do you suggest we put Hope?”
I didn’t like the tone of voice he used for that question.
“We could put her in various places. Sly’s practically got his place on lock—”
Sly shook his head. “Hell, no. No chicks allowed for any span of time in my place. If they ever come in? They’re out within an hour.”
Knuckles paused. “You only take an hour?”
I chuckled. “No wonder you’re single.”
Sly pointed. “Hey, I’ve got my game and it works. We’re both satiated after an hour, so—”
“Enough,” Link commanded.
We all fell silent as our eyes turned to him. He kept his locked with me, though. I saw the veil lifting from his face and the look in his eyes made me nervous. He knew something I didn’t. There was something tumbling around in his mind that I needed to be privy to that he wasn’t spitting out. I didn’t like that. I didn’t like having a meat hook hovering around me, not knowing when it was gonna be shoved into my ass.
“Are you the man I think you are, Bowser?” Link asked.
All of the guys furrowed their brows in confusion as I tilted my head.
“Of course, I am,” I said.
“If we set forth rules for something like this, can you follow them?”
Uh oh. “To the letter.”
“And you’re sure about that?”
He knows. “One hundred percent.”
“Because from what I know? It doesn’t look that way.”
Fuck. “The only thing that’s important right now is getting Hope her life back. We told her we’d protect her, yes. But I think we need to broaden that agreement to promising her that we’ll actually get her to a point where she can live her life again. She’s been here for just shy of two months. All of us are going stir-crazy. We need a plan, so Knuckles and I have come up with one. A damn good one. And the only thing it requires is your sign-off as well as the possibility of moving Hope somewhere else. That’s it.”
“I’m assuming she’ll be moving in with you, then?”
Sly butted in. “Uh, I’m sorry. Is there something we should all know? Because I feel like there’s something going on that we should all know.”
Link cocked his head. “I don’t know, Sly. Is there something we should know, Bowser?”
God damn it. “Nothing that will hinder us keeping Hope safe, no.”
He nodded slowly. “Brainstorm places we can put Hope.”
Knuckles raised his hand. “I don’t mind putting her in my place somewhere.”
I nodded. “And I’d make sure she was safe in my place if she came with me.”
Sly shook his head. “Sorry, guys. Can’t be that charitable with you.”
Link licked his lips. “We could also foot the money on the club’s dime to put her up on a hotel or some shit like that. Keep that guarded and patrolled. I’ve got an in with the owner of La Fountaine on the other side of town. I could probably cash in a favor or two.”
I paused. “Does this mean we’re considering the plan?”
Knuckles altered that statement. “Or that we’ve agreed to the plan?”
Link finally moved his eyes away from me and I let go of the breath I had been holding.
“Time for a vote,” he said.
We all gathered in a circle as I drew in a deep breath.
“All in favor of this plan, raise your hand.”
Knuckles and I shot our hands into the air, but Sly was a bit hesitant to budge.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“No talking during the vote,” Link snapped.
Sly sighed. “I just have one question.”
Link rolled his eyes. “Make it quick.”
Sly turned to me. “If we agree to this operation, it’s gonna require a ride or two. We’ll have to head out of town to set things up. Make sure things are in place. We’ll have to find women willing to participate in this, which means convincing girls we know and care about that they’re going to be safe even though we’re dangling them on a string in front of Skeleton’s face.”
