Page 12 of Brooks

“Alright,” Ryder began. “We know that Raptor has Tina and Kennedy in The Pistons’ hideout. Our best chance at getting them back alive is to exploit their weaknesses.”

“Which are?” I growled, my knuckles white.

“First,” Zane chimed in, tapping his finger on a photograph of Raptor, “he’s arrogant. He thinks he’s untouchable. We need to capitalize on that overconfidence.”

“Agreed,” he nodded. “If we can catch him off guard, it might give us the window we need to get in and out without being detected.”

“Second,” Zane continued, “their security system. It’s good, but it’s not perfect. Ryder, you mentioned knowing someone who could help us bypass it?”

“Right,” he confirmed, recalling the conversation he had with his informant earlier. “He’s an expert in electronic surveillance, and owes me a favor. He can help us disable their alarms and cameras long enough for us to slip inside.”

“Good,” I said, my eyes never leaving the photographs. “And once we’re in?”

“Divide and conquer,” Ryder suggested. “Zane, you focus on finding Tina and Kennedy. Keep your head down and move quickly. Brooks, you and I will create a distraction, keep The Pistons busy so they don’t notice Zane slipping through.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Zane agreed, rubbing his palms together.

“Wait,” I interjected, my brow furrowing as I studied the map. “What about their patrols? We need to bypass them too.”

“Right,” he agreed, leaning in closer to examine the map. “If we can figure out their patrol patterns, we can time our approach to avoid being spotted.”

“Or,” Zane proposed, his eyes lighting up with an idea, “we can create a diversion elsewhere, something big enough to draw their attention away from the hideout.”

“Either way, we’ll need eyes on the ground,” he said, considering our options. “Someone to keep us informed of any changes in their movements.”

“Leave that to me,” I offered, determination shining in my eyes. “I know a few guys who owe me a favor. They won’t let us down.”

“Alright then,” he concluded. “We’ve got our plan. Let’s put it into motion and bring Tina and Kennedy home safely.”

As we stared at the makeshift battle plans before us, I wondered if we were signing our own death warrants. But there was no other choice. We had to save my family, even if it meant walking straight into the lion’s den.

8

The roar of engines reverberated across the desolate landscape as our band of Red Devils MC members, with me at the helm, ventured deeper into enemy territory. The Pistons’ turf was a dangerous place for us to be. Zane rode alongside me, his eyes flicking back and forth between the road and the shadows cast by decrepit buildings.

“Stay sharp, boys,” I called out. “We don’t know what we’re walking into here.”

“Trust me, I’m ready,” Zane replied, his jaw clenched. I knew how much it killed him to think of his sister in danger, and I admired his courage and loyalty to both his family and the club. My heart burned with a fierce determination to protect those I loved—my brothers in the Red Devil’s MC and my blood family alike.

As we delved further into The Pistons’ territory, the tension between our two rival clubs became palpable. The Pistons had always been angling for control over our lands, and there was no love lost between our two families. We all knew that one wrong move could escalate the situation into an all-out war, and nobody was itching for that kind of bloodshed. But we had to find our missing girls, and if it meant crossing into hostile grounds, then so be it.

“Brooks, you sure about this?” asked one of our brothers, Tank, his burly frame hunched over his bike. I could hear the concern lacing his words, and I knew he wasn’t the only one who felt uneasy.

“Nobody’s ever sure about anything, Tank,” I said, trying to inject some confidence into my voice. “But we’ve gotta try. For Tina and Kennedy.”

“Damn right,” Zane chimed in, his voice hard as steel. “No one messes with our family and gets away with it.” The others grunted their agreement, and I could see the resolve etched on each of their faces.

As we continued down the desolate road, I couldn’t help but feel a gnawing anxiety in my gut. We were in uncharted waters, and every passing minute brought us closer to potential danger. But there was no turning back now—we had come too far, and the stakes were too high. Our loyalty to our family and club demanded that we see this through, no matter the cost.

“Keep your wits about you, boys,” I warned as we rode deeper into the heart of The Pistons’ domain. “We’re in their world now. Let’s just hope we can find what we’re looking for before they realize we’re here.”

We neared The Pistons’ headquarters. My heart hammering in my chest, and I knew the others felt it too. We were riding straight into the lion’s den, but there was no other choice—we had to find Tina and Kennedy before it was too late.

“Keep your eyes peeled, boys,” Zane whispered through the comms, his voice tense. “We don’t know what kind of welcome party Raptor has planned for us.”

As if on cue, the rumble of approaching engines filled the air, and a group of Pistons appeared from behind a bend in the road, their faces twisted into snarls of pure hatred. They had been lying in wait, and now they had us surrounded.

“Looks like we found our welcome party,” I muttered, gripping the handlebars tighter.

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