Page 94 of One of Six

"We need a plan."

"Can't turn off, huh?" Pause. "Harding and Anders will provide cover, along with Jesus and his two men, Joker and Pretzel."

I stare at Ed in disbelief. "You made those names up, didn't you?"

He laughs. "I didn't." Chuckling, he continues, "I have no idea why they have those nicknames." He shakes his head. "I don't even want to know what kind of past they have. It's bad enough that the former president of the Den of Filth MC is involved in an FBI operation."

"He's family to the Redds. That's easy to explain."

"I'm not so sure." He leads me back into the kitchen, where Essex shoves a bowl of stew into my hands.

"Eat," he whispers as he plants a soft kiss on my cheek.

Butterflies flutterin my stomach at how nervous I am. I pick up the phone and dial Richard. The phone rings as Essex places a hand on my lower back. He centers me and my nerves dissolve.

"Daughter," Richard answers cheerfully.

It throws me off for a moment before I snap, "Don't call me that!" I take a deep breath and ask, "Where do you want to do the exchange?"

"At the house."

Ed winces.

"Is Ridge, okay?"

"As long as you come alone with the phone, he will be."

"Who else will be there?" I ask, hoping he says David.

"An hour!" The phone goes dead.

"That asshole has a lot to answer for," Jesus continues cursing until his sister slaps him on the back of the head. "Woman!"

"Don't swear in my house, Jesus Matthew Drake!"

I smile at the look on Jesus' face after being called by his full name. Essex and his brothers look elsewhere as I watch Jesus go after Maggie.

"Were your grandparents religious?" I ask Essex.

"Grandma was. Jesus got his foul mouth from his father." He grins.

Anders puts a rifle on the table in front of us and my stomach drops. The reality of the situation hits me all at once. As much as I hate Richard for what he did to Mom, I don't know how I want this to end. He raised me with an iron fist. Prison is what I'd prefer. But then again, would he get the death penalty? I rub the pain in my chest.

"I don't like this." Essex pulls me toward him. "I'm going in with her."

"No," I say. "He won't hurt me, but you, I don't trust him. Besides, I have plenty of reinforcements outside.”

Ed says. "If David's inside, don't give him up. For all we know, he could have slipped away to be there for you."

"I hadn't thought of that." I pause. "I'm going to change." On the way up, I say to Essex, "I want to see Violet first."

He nods in the direction of where she is. "I'll wait in our room." He gives me a small smile and a kiss on the tip of my nose.

I knock and open the door. Violet turns away from the window. Her eyes are red and puffy. We hug and sit on the bed. "You're not okay."

"No. It was scary, Bea, but I'd rather be there with Ridge than here without him." Her lip quivers.

"I'm going to meet Richard to get Ridge back. Agents Anders and Harding will be watching everything." I wince. "I also think Jesus and the other two will be up to something. We'll be fine."

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