Page 26 of Static

"Prosecute the district attorney?" Rip asked then gave a low whistle. "Wouldn't that be a career ending?"

"Only if we lose," I told him with a wolfish grin.

"That wouldn't be ideal," Lock said, tapping his index finger on the table as he thought. "Maybe we could get his own people to roll on him. Starting with the people laundering his money."

"How do we do that and stay out of it?" I asked. "I could try to figure out a way to be their legal counsel, but these people are going to have money, and they're not going to allow the courts to appoint someone to them."

"I don't know yet. That's why we're giving this a few days before we get rolling. There's still some gaps in the plan."

"Not sure we have enough time to plug all those holes, Brother," Idaho said. "Better that we make the first move before Fremont does. I don't want to spend the whole time being on the defensive."

"Agreed. This starts Friday, whether we know all the details or not," Lock said. There was a finality in his tone.

We were all fully aware this could be the end. Of the club. Of our careers. Possibly of our lives.

"We need to make sure the women and children are taken care of if shit hits the fan," Rip said.

"I've already spoken with Cypher," Lock told him. "He's willing to bring them all up to Wyoming for an extended stay on a moment's notice."

Cypher was the president of The Berserker's Rage MC. Our families would be far out of Fremont's reach up there. And Cypher's crew was all former military members, just like us. The majority of them were special forces of some kind and none of them were the kind of men you wanted to fuck with. Now they all worked for Cypher, doing shit that was just as dangerous as when they were in the military. Our families would be safe with them.

"Maybe we should just send them now," I suggested. "Before this all starts."

"We'd have a full blown riot on our hands," Rip said with a chuckle. "These women aren't going to go until their kids are in danger. That will be the only thing that will convince them to leave their men behind while they run for the hills."

"He's right," Lock said. "As much as I'd love to get them to safety now, it's just not going to happen. We'd end up chasing them down as they tried to come back to Arizona. Better to keep them here for now and send them when the time is right."

"Still doubt they'll go," Rip replied.

"Is Cypher sending any of his guys?" Idaho asked.

"Yeah. They'll be here by Monday," Lock told him. He looked over at Rip. "If they won't go, then we'll just have to make sure this place is locked down tight."

"We can sure use them," I added, relieved that we'd have the back up. "Toxic growing up there and starting out in that club is the best fucking thing that's happened to us."

"Not to mention having Cynic for a cousin," Rip added. "Keeps the ties strong between our clubs and keeps there from being any hard feelings that he patched into our club."

"Naw, Cypher's not the type to hold a grudge against a brother. And he and Toxic are still fucking close as thieves."

"Probably are thieves," I muttered.

The others laughed at that.

"How the fuck did the military end up letting all you degenerates in?" I asked.

"Like you're any better," Idaho scoffed.

I just grinned at him, because he was right. I was just as bad as my brothers were.

"They need fucked up degenerates like us," Lock said. "Who else are they going to get to fight their wars for them?"

"You think they realize the kind of shit we get up to once we're out of service?" Rip asked.

"Oh, I know for a fact that they do," Lock said.

I looked over at him. "How?"

"Butcher."