Page 20 of Ace's Ascension

“Let’s get down to business.” Chainz leads us down a long hallway and into their Chapel. Once the door is shut and Chainz takes his seat at the head of the table, he brings down his gavel. “Tank received some intel earlier about Dia that was meant to take both of them out. Luckily, Elle overheard this information and relayed it to me. Cobra, Fuel, Hound and Reaper found him on time but our Prospect Denny suffered a serious blow to the head and now Dia is missing. They’re towing her car back here to the Clubhouse and we need to have a game plan to get Dia back.Her husband is a worthless piece of shit that will hurt her if given the chance. We can’t let that happen.”

“What do you want us to do?” Kayne asks.

“We need to dig up anything and everything on Ben Cross and Cross Shipping. An informant told us about Steam and Savage Saints MC. Steam was deeply involved in the Black Market Railroad and used our ports along with theirs to move kidnapped and abducted women and children. Kayne, Blayde, Rooster and I will work on the documents Hound found. Freedom, Taz, Crusher and Poison will work on looking through all the security footage of the possible abduction. The rest of you, check our stockpile of weapons, make sure they’re good to go and pull whatever contact you have to bring this fucker down.” Chainz slams his gavel on the table, ending the meeting and we all get to work.

After a little while Rooster speaks up from his laptop. “I’ve found something.” He rises from his seat, blinking a couple of times before heading to the maps strewn across the table. He looks them over before grabbing one that has blood splatter on it and laying it over another. “They’re here.” He points to a warehouse in the business district just outside the city.

“Are you sure?” Chainz asks.

“Positive, Prez. I’m the best in the business.” Rooster answers cockily.

The church doors burst open and Tank comes barging in with four other men I don’t recognize. My defenses rise, itching to hit someone.

Tank blinks rapidly at the frenzy of activity. “Tell me you found something.”

“We think we found her.” Chainz taps his finger on the bloody map. Tank leans in to look. He’s pointing to a warehouse in the business district on the outskirts of the city.

“How do you know?” Tank cocks his eyes at him suspiciously.

“I tracked the van’s movement with street cameras,” Rooster speaks up. “It was last picked up making a right turn at this intersection.” Rooster points to the map on the table.

Chainz picks up the map our prisoner Lucas used to circle the locations of the Black Market railroads used to move girls. Drops of his blood stain the page, but it’s clear enough. Chainz lays Lucas’s map over top of the bigger map.

“Fuck.” Tank growls, seeing what Chainz is showing him. “If this is true, my father didn’t take her. Ben did. We need to move up the attack,” Tank growls.

“We can’t go in there halfcocked. We send someone ahead to scope it out first.” Kayne cuts a sideways glare in Tank’s direction.

Tank’s fists clench at his sides and he’s having a tough time holding in his rage right now. “Fuck that. I can’t sit around for twenty-four hours knowing she’s in danger. I’ll go alone if I have to.”

“You’re a loose cannon right now, Tank. We send Cobra to run reconnaissance.” Chainz orders.

“I agree. Stryker will go with him.” Kayne looks at Stryker who’s nodding in agreement.

“Fuck no. If anyone is going, it’s me.” Tank growls

“Tank, you’re my right hand but you’re sitting this one out.” Chainz is not giving him an inch. “Cobra and Stryker take the lead. Recon both locations. The rest of us head out at midnight.”

I leave Church after all the weapons are locked and loaded and find a quiet spot outside. There’s a nip in the mountain air that feels good against my heated skin. I pull my phone out of my cut and send a text to Liz. I know it’s late but I really need to talk to her. It’s been a hot minute since we left and I haven’t had a chance to let her know we made it.

Me: Are you up?

Liz: Yes. I’m at work but can take a break.

I check the time. It’s eleven pm and she should be getting off her shift soon. My phone rings and Liz’s name flashes across the screen. I slide the green button and answer.

“Hey,” I pause waiting for Liz to respond.

“Hey yourself. How’s it going?” Her soft sultry voice has me wanting to keep her on the phone until I can see her.

“It’s going as good as it can be. How’s work?”

“Eh.” Liz pauses, “My boss didn’t show up at all tonight so that’s a plus. Except there is this asshole biker sitting at the bar, bitching about everything.” Liz holds in a giggle.

I laugh knowing who she’s talking about. “If Tex gets out of line, grab him by his bolo-tie and tell him you’ll fuck his mother if he doesn’t stop.”

Liz snorts, “What are you talking about?”

“It’s a running joke with Tex. He gets super sensitive when you joke about his mom. It’s how we get him to quit bitching all the time. Try it. I’ll bet he shuts right up.”

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