Page 88 of Single Mom's Biker Brigade
He took a step forward, arms still crossed, eyes going bloodshot from the hell we’d all been through.
I tapped the table, my fingers inches away from Hart’s work. “Take Preacher and Dylan. You’re going to run a silent brigade to watch the Hellhound lieutenant. Keep an eye on all exits, especially that parking garage he favors out on Lincoln. You’rebackup for Hart and his team. They’ll hit the front doors the way they’re trained.”
“We’ll have men on every exit.” Hart rolled his shoulders, then his neck. “But I wouldn’t mind extra men, especially ones who know the Hellhounds and can see things I won’t.”
Diesel nodded. “We’ll go set up.” He left the room with barely a look over his shoulder.
Callie had left the room hours ago to check on Cody, and we’d been running so many scenarios that I’d finally come to a decision on how this all needed to play out.
Colt was a wildcard. Even now, he sat in the corner, shoulder bandaged and rage replacing the emptiness now that he had his son back.
I straightened and crossed the room to stand beside him. “You’re staying here.”
An immediate refusal launched him up with a curse. “You need me.”
“Your family needs you here.” I drilled a finger into his chest, being careful to avoid his wound. “Stay here with Cody and Callie. Watch out for them. You’re a liability out there. If any of them see you, this turns into a personal war. We don’t need that level of bullshit.”
He opened his mouth, no doubt to argue, then snapped it shut. From the man who used to run at every opportunity to the guy who stayed for his kid. Talk about a turnaround.
“We’re all his family. We all belong to Callie.” Colt pitched his voice low enough to reach me and no one else. “Don’t act like you and Diesel are going to walk away when this is over, becausethat’s bullshit.Weare a family. So I’ll stay here, but the two of you are coming back so we can do this the right way.”
There was no right way. There was what we wanted, what I’d changed the rules to get, and what we should do. Which was walk away. We should let Colt, Cody, and Callie create their perfect family that would never cause any kind of eyebrow raising or questions.
Hell. I ran a hand through my hair, annoyed by the smirk Colt sent my way. “Keep your radio on. I want updates from the house.”
Colt tapped his forehead with one finger. “Sure thing, boss.”
“Take Cody and Callie to the safe room.”
Colt rolled his eyes, but there was no heat in the move, just stubborn annoyance. “I know. Jesus, you think I’m going to park them out here on the couch or something?” He nudged me toward the door. “Go take care of this so we can put it all behind us. I’m tired of the bullshit.”
Yeah. We all were. Colt left the room with hurried steps.
Less than a minute later, Callie’s voice drifted through the house, and I spotted Cody in Colt’s old hoodie as Colt guided them to the hidden door leading into the safe room beneath the house.
“Okay.” I slapped my hands together. “I’m going out to watch over the operation. I’ll hold back a good distance but I’ll be in the area if you need an extra set of wheels.” I stuck my earpiece in and checked in with Diesel.
We’d upgraded from handheld radios a while back but never really used the more sophisticated technology until tonight.
A rattle of footsteps sounded in my ear, then Callie’s low voice. “For the record, I hate this, Hawk. I can hear everyone walking over us. It’s creepy.”
“But it’s safe.” I called out orders to my team on my way out the door, Hart on my heels.
Callie sighed. “And I hate that I understood every word you just said. There’s something to that saying about ignorance being bliss.” Another sigh, then, “Be careful, Hawk. All of you. You hear me, Diesel? I don’t expect you to answer, but you better come back. Both of you.”
My chest squeezed tight at the emotion in her voice. I’d never heard anything like it before, and it reminded me of everything we had to lose if all this went south. “See you soon, Callie.” I would do everything in my power to make that true.
Two of my guys fell in step behind me as I left the house and swung onto my bike. The ride to the other side of town helped clear my head and get me focused on the main objective. Clearing out the filth the Hellhounds created had to be my priority. None of us could keep going and move on with our lives as long as they were around to cause trouble.
“Two guys are going to try and break for the county line on the south entrance.” Diesel spoke low and calm into my ear.
“Choke point activate.” Hart’s voice snapped out sharp and engines roared as all three of us sped up to reach the action. “Get it all on camera.”
“Body cams live.” A new voice joined in. “Two bikes coming our way. Choke closing in.”
I listened to it all as we weaved around cars and hit a side road that would spit us out within eyesight of the Hellhound house.
“Breech.” Hart spoke again, and a thud followed. Footsteps surged.
