Page 62 of Azrael

Charming dropped into his chair, the leather creaking under his weight.He pulled a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet behind him and set out five glasses.

“Before we start,” he said, pouring two fingers into each, “let’s acknowledge our brother who brought back what he went for.”He lifted his glass.“To Azrael.”

The others raised their glasses, but I shook my head.“Save it.We’ve got bigger problems than celebrating.”

Charming’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded.He understood that my rejection wasn’t about disrespect -- it was about priorities.He set his glass down untouched.

“Tell me what we’re facing,” he said, all business now.

I leaned forward, placing my forearms on the table.“We have serious consequences from Tel Aviv on our doorstep.Assuming they figure out who hit those places,” I said, keeping my voice low despite the privacy of the room.Old habits.“The last facility we hit wasn’t just holding Mazida.I think it was a hub for their operations.And some of the stuff I saw had US stamped on it.”

Havoc cursed under his breath.At sixty-eight, our Sergeant-at-Arms still had the build of the Marine he’d once been, and the tactical mind that had kept us alive through more than one war.

“How big?”Charming asked.

“Big enough that they can’t ignore it,” I replied.“We took out fourteen of their men.They won’t care all this shit started with Eli’s fucking orders to take out three targets.In fact, he’s probably made sure none of this will trace back to him.But without Shade there, we have no way of knowing about hidden cameras or any other tech they may have had in place that could track us.”

Stripes took a long pull of his whiskey, his Russian accent thickening as he spoke.“Tel Aviv will send a cleanup crew.Professional.If they figure out who hit the place, they’ll come for us.”

“How soon?”Charming asked.

I shrugged.“Hard to say.We covered our tracks as best we could.”

Havoc set his glass down with athud.“Surveillance points,” he said, switching immediately to operational mode.“We need eyes on every approach.Double the watch rotation, arm everyone.”

“Already done,” Charming said.“Since you three left, we’ve been on high alert.But we need more.”He looked at me.“What are we talking about here?Hit squad?Full assault?”

I considered what I knew about the organization we’d just pissed off.“They won’t come at us directly, not at first.They’ll probe, look for weaknesses.Then they’ll strike at whatever soft target they find.”

“Zara and her mother,” Samurai said quietly.

I nodded.“Among others.Anyone connected to the club is at risk.And, there’s a chance they’ll use the Devil’s Minions to reach us.Maybe even team up with them.”

Charming rubbed his jaw, thinking.“What if we moved our families elsewhere?Maybe reached out to other clubs?”

“Won’t work,” I countered.“If they’re onto us, then they’ll be watching for that move.Besides, Zara won’t leave now that she just got her mother back.Even if you said Mazida could go with her, I don’t think she’d budge.”

“You control your woman,” Stripes said, his tone matter-of-fact rather than judgmental.

I shot him a look that would have made a lesser man flinch.“She’s not property, despite what her cut says.”

Stripes held up his hands.“Make her understand the danger facing her.”

He had a point, though I didn’t like it.Zara had her own mind, her own will -- it was what had drawn me to her in the first place.But she also wasn’t stupid.She understood danger.

“We fortify here,” I said, bringing the conversation back to strategy.“Make the compound a fortress.Wouldn’t hurt to do that anyway.”

Havoc nodded slowly.“Could work.”

“Call in favors,” Charming said.“I’ll have Scratch reach out to the Dixie Reapers, see if they can spare a few bodies.Stripes, your connections with the Devil’s Fury might help.”

Stripes nodded.“Da.I’ll call my granddaughter’s old man.They’ll send help.”

I watched the exchange with a measured gaze.The alliances between clubs were complicated, built on blood and loyalty rather than written agreements.We all helped one another when the need arose.But only if we had men to spare and weren’t dealing with our own issues.

“We need to have Shade watch the ports and air traffic coming in from other countries,” I said.“Our best defense is early warning.”

Samurai, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, finally spoke.“I have a contact in airport security at Memphis International.I doubt anyone would fly into Memphis if they’re coming here, but maybe he knows someone in Miami.”

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