Page 52 of Lexi, Property of Rhyder

Tate looks at Prez then at me. “Don’t think that’s a good idea, brother. If things go sour, we could be in deep shit. This ain’t a regular job, we’re dealing with fucking dangerous people. Cartels and drug lords have paid big money for these girls. If they so much as sniff something’s up, then we’re jeopardizing Lexi’s life, and the other girls for that mat—”

“Don’t care,” I interrupt. “I’m comin’, too. Don’t try and stop me.”

Tate stands and points a finger at me. “You can’t be there. If they catch on to why we’re there, shitwillgo down.”

“They won’t. I won’t let anythin’ happen to Lexi or us, I’m not fuckin’ stupid. Prez, say somethin’,” I demand while looking right at him. Prez stares but gives me nothing.

“Come on, you know how much this means to me. I would never put Lexi in harm’s way.”

“I know that. What if sheisthere, though? You gonna be able to handle your temper and lay low without giving any hint you know her?”

I nod. “I give you my word, Prez.”

Prez links his hands behind his head and swings on his chair. “All right. Tate, Rhyder, Hawke, Trigger Blaze, and I are comin’ with you. Tracker will drive the van, and we’ll ride our bikes. Tracker, brother, you got any more information on Lexi’s cell?”

He shakes his head. “Nope, still nothing. Still at the same spot.”

“Okay. Tomorrow morning, we head out to LA and meet up with the El Pasos.”

“But what are they gonna say when we rock up with our patch?”

“I’ve got that covered. Got some cuts for you to wear…” he pauses before he says, “… Sinner cuts.”

“Mmm… don’t know how I feel about that,” Prez states, his mouth lifting into a smirk. “My patch reads ‘President,’ right?”

Tate smiles. “Nah, just ‘Jackass.’”

We all laugh, and then I turn serious. “What’s the plan if she is there? Ain’t no fuckin’ way I’m drivin’ her to some fucker’s house.”

“Don’t worry, that’s why we have Tracker,” Prez adds. “We’ll make sure he’s the one takin’ Lexi and her sister, and we’ll bring her here.”

I nod in agreement. “I’m drivin’ in the SUV with Tracker. If she is there, I’m with her in the van. Deal?”

“Deal,” Tate adds. “Now you got some pictures of Lexi and her sister? We wanna make sure we know who we’re looking for.”

“Already done,” Tracker says as he grabs some prints and passes them around. He hands me one with a look on his face that says, ‘he’s sorry.’

Staring at the photograph he’s printed, it’s one of Lexi and Paige together, a picture that was shared on the news. I remember this one well because Lexi’s wearing her graduation outfit, and I was there in the background watching as she took photographs with her friends and family.

“She’s cute,” Luke says, and I give him a murderous look. “Calm the fuck down, just giving her a compliment.”

“Yeah, well, keep your thoughts to yourself.”

Luke smiles. “Don’t worry, bro, we’ll get her back.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Okay, let’s get some grub. I’m starving,” Tate says, and the boys agree.

Before I walked into church, I noticed that some of the ol’ ladies were cooking up a feast, and a cooked meal is something I need right now.

“Sounds good,” I reply and stand to open the door.

Music’s playing loudly in the clubroom, and the club’s ladies are carrying food out the back of the clubhouse.

My phone rings and I answer the silent number—to my surprise, it’s Brittany.

“What’s up,” I ask with some annoyance in my voice.

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