Page 223 of Forged in the Fire
“He’s betting his life on it.” Cash’s voice was rough.
I huffed a cynical laugh. “He’d better be sure he knows I’ll gladly collect.”
“He said he knows the score.”
“And you trust that?”
Cash scoffed. “Do I trust a sniveling dirtbag only out to save his own ass? Not a fucking chance, but right now, he’s the only real chance we’ve got. Question is, do you want to take thatchance?”
Dread stuttered the fierce pulsing of my blood, one skipped beat as fear slicked my insides in sludge.
Not for myself.
But for my men who had stepped up. Every one of them pledging their loyalty and sacrifice. Taking my life’s obligation as their own duty.
Didn’t mean I viewed a single one of them as expendable.
Our bond had meshed us tight as family.
“It’s the only thing we can do.” I forced out my commitment to the operation.
“Okay then. Details are on their way.”
The documents would be sent to the secret shared folder that Cash and I often used to communicate.
He hesitated for a beat then added gruffly, “My crew is in.”
Surprise stumbled my steps before the refusal was rocketing off my tongue, “Not a chance, man.”
There were five of them in Sovereign Sanctum. Each one brutal. As savage and ruthless as us. Experienced in the type ofdelicate mattersthat we often undertook.
Wickedly skilled to boot.
Problem was, all of them had gotten their hearts tied. Married or were shacked up with kids.
No way I was letting them put themselves on the line.
“It’s already decided,” Cash said like there was no room for argument. “I’m in as deep as you, and if Kent catches wind that it was me and my crew who got your sister out, it won’t bode well for us. We need him gone just as badly as you do. Just as badly as this world does.”
Emphasis was gouged into the last.
Stickiness clogged my throat, the scale of this close to overwhelming. “You’re sure?”
“We’re in this with you. Same way as all the times you’ve been in it with us.”
Years of connections.
All the way back to the days of riding in the Iron Owls MC. When we rode for ego and greed and heedlessness rather than for the purpose we donned our cuts for now.
Blowing out a haggard sigh, I relented. “Okay.”
We sat in a beat of knowing silence before he hedged, “And the girl?”
Anarchy stormed my insides.
“She’s safe and clueless. I’m going to assign a seven-man detail to watch over her and the rest of my family during the raids.”
Rejection of the idea blared through my senses at no less than one hundred and fifty decibels.
