Page 97 of Ordinary Girl

“You’re okay with taking over?”

I look at Wade through narrowed eyes. “You got a problem with me becoming President?”

“No, Jesus, of course not. It’s just that, everything feels like it’s happening at breakneck speed.”

“Tell me about it,” I murmur, throwing the gun back down into the crate. “Let’s get the truck loaded. Come on.”

“Joel?”

I sigh and turn around, hands on hips, I’m not in the fucking mood for questions, not today. “What?”

“Is everything alright? Between you and Skip, I mean.”

“Everything’s fine. But days like these, you never really get used to them. They’re just necessary.”

“Yeah. I guess.”

“Get one of the prospects to drive over to Dag and Freja’s. Make sure Ana’s at home.”

“Sure. You want me to do it?”

“No. I need you here. Get Kit over there then start loading the truck. I’ll be back in five.”

I head into the clubhouse, stopping by the bar first to down a shot of whiskey. For some reason I need the Dutch courage today. Then I go to the chapel, to find Skip. He’s sitting at the head of the table, head down, a cigarette between his fingers burning its way down as smoke spirals up into the air.

“Hey, Skip.”

He slowly raises his head, sighs, and sits back, the cigarette now dangling from his fingertips. “How’s it going out there?”

“Everyone knows what they’re doing.”

We’re hitting the Hawks in broad daylight, and that’s not how we usually do things, but we’re hoping to catch them off guard. We also know Renard is planning a meeting with them this evening, but rather than kill two birds with one stone – quite literally – we’re going separately. It’s too dangerous to wait until after dark, Renard has men arriving later this afternoon. We need to hit before they get here, I’m not sure we have the manpower to fight his army, even with the back-up we have lying in wait. Kasper, Kai and Wade will lead the men taking care of the Hawks while Skip and I take out Renard and hishenchman. We’re hoping there’s just the two of them, we’ve seen no evidence of anyone else going anywhere near the house let alone inside it, we’ve been watching. But, like I said, we have back-up. We’re ready for anything. I’m just hoping it’s a quick inside and out job. A swift, clean operation. And then I’ll have to tell Ana everything…

“You ready for your part?” Skip finally takes a drag of the cigarette before stubbing it out in the ashtray in front of him. It’s overflowing, and this room smells of stale smoke and beer.

“I’m ready.”

Skip’s eyes lock on mine. “And Ana has no idea we’re taking her father out?”

“None.”

“Good.” He lights up another cigarette. “That bastard doesn’t deserve her.”

I lean back against the wall, sliding my hands into my pockets. “He’s here for Sofia too, Skip. He wants to avenge her death just as much as we do.”

Skip takes a long drag and stares at me, eyes narrowed. “You defending him?”

“Jesus Christ…”

“He’s here for Ana. And he’s here to take us down too, or have you forgotten that?”

“We don’t know if that’s true–”

“Come on, Joel! What the fuck is wrong with you? He blames the Hawks for killing her, but he blames us for her being there in the first place. And we all know the truth, that, ultimately, it’s his fault she was forced to turn to people like us, but he doesn’t see it that way. How the fuck we didn’t work that out in the beginning…” He trails off, his gaze wandering around the room. “I’ve been too distracted, since Sofia. Too fucking distracted.”

“Let’s just get today done, Skip. Then we can all move on.”

He looks at me, and his expression’s softened now. “Is she okay? Ana, I mean. Is she okay?”

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