Page 11 of Reaper

"Federal agents!" Her voice rings out clear and strong."Drop your weapons!"

All hell breaks loose.

The Kings scatter, caught between my crew and Sandy's tactical team.I use the chaos to tackle Big Mike, driving him into the dirt before he can get a shot off.His gun skitters away as we grapple, his size advantage nearly putting me on my back until a boot connects with his temple.

"Need a hand?" Sandy stands over us, looking deadly and beautiful in tactical gear that definitely wasn't under her cut earlier.A badge glints at her hip as she covers Big Mike with her sidearm.

"Thought you'd run." I grab zip ties from my pocket, securing Big Mike's wrists.

"Not this time." She helps me up, then spins to drop another King with a perfect leg sweep."Though we should probably talk about this later."

"Ya think?" Tank's voice drips sarcasm as he appears beside us, bleeding from a graze on his arm."Like maybe explain why the Wings' treasurer is packing federal credentials?"

"Later," I bark, shoving him down as bullets whiz overhead."Right now, we fight."

And fight we do. My crew may be shocked by Sandy's revelation, but they're professionals.We fall into formation around her tactical team, providing cover as they systematically take down the Kings.

Sandy moves like a force of nature.She drops three Kings in quick succession, her shots finding legs and shoulders with surgical accuracy.No kill shots. Even now, she's playing by fed rules.

"Clear!" Her team calls out positions as they secure the scene."All targets contained!"

When the dust settles, twenty Kings lie zip-tied and groaning.Doc's already patching up the wounded, his own injury apparently minor.And my crew...my crew stands in a loose circle, staring at Sandy with expressions ranging from betrayal to grudging respect.

"So," Timer breaks the silence, dabbing blood from a split lip."Federal agent, huh?"

"Seven years undercover." Sandy holsters her weapon but doesn't step closer.Smart girl. "Started officially with the Wings right after I left the Saints."

"You only left the Saints five years ago," Tank points out with an edge to his voice." You were spying on us?"

"She left to protect us." The words come out before I can stop them."They wanted her to inform on the Saints.On my dad's operation. She chose to walk away instead."

Understanding dawns in Timer's eyes."The ring throwing incident."

"Yeah." Sandy's hand goes to the chain around her neck."Not my finest moment. But I'd just brokered a deal to get sights off you guys." Her eyes dart to me.So I needed a performance that would allow me to make a clean cut."

"But you're a fed now." Tank's voice carries an edge."Working against crews like us."

"I've always been a Fed," Sandyadmits."Working against crews that traffic military weapons to terrorist cells." She meets his gazesteadily."The Kings aren't just running guns,Tank.They're arming people who want to watch this countryburn."

Sirens wail in the distance. Her team starts processing prisoners with efficientprecision.

"We need to move." I check my crew, assessinginjuries."Before this becomesofficial."

"Go." Sandy nods toward our bikes. "I'll handle the paperwork."

"And then?"

"And then I've got one more operation in Georgia." She steps closer, close enough that only I hear her nextwords."Could use a good Road Captain to help plan theroute."

I study her face, seeing past the federal agent to the woman I've loved since we wereteenagers."Might know someonequalified. I'll have to talk it over with Ranch first though."

"Yeah?" That familiar smile plays on herlips."What's hisrate?"

"Full disclosure." I tap the chain holding myring."No more secrets. No morerunning."

"Counter offer." She rises on tiptoes, brushing a kiss across my mouth that makes Tank groan and Timerwhistle."Full partnership. I keep my badge, you keep your club, and we figure out the resttogether."

I pretend to consider it as my crew mountsup."Throw in winner picks the hoteltonight?"

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