Page 17 of Lockout

“True,” I said. “But the LoS is going to provide its own brand of trouble. Not to mention the FBI is keeping a close eye on them and their activities.”

Hell let out a groan. “Dammit, forgot about that.”

“Thankfully, they seem to be concentrating mostly on the D.C. chapter, so we should have some breathing room out here.”

“What are you going to do about Keely?” Toxic asked. “FBI is going to frown on her staying here it sounds like.”

“Just have her go AWOL,” Butcher said. “Better than ending up dead.”

“No,” I replied. I hadn’t watched her walk out of my life, to take up a once in a lifetime opportunity for her career, just for her to lose it because of those assholes on her task force. “We’ll think of something to keep her here.”

“You have her explain the situation to her bosses,” Static suggested, speaking up for the first time. “Have them tell the FBI they need her back here. She’s been on loan to them. The feds don’t own her.”

“That’s a good idea,” I said with a nod. “I’ll talk to her about it.”

“Does Hangman know we’re the ones who stole their drugs and got them confiscated by the cops?” Hush asked.

“Not that we’re aware,” I answered. “No one is left who could tell Hangman or his officers we were involved. But putting these fuckers out of business will help us in two ways. One, they’ll never find out. Two, it puts them out of business for good. Them being over in Phoenix, it’s only a matter of time before more of their bullshit finds its way over here to Tucson.”

“And it helps Keely,” Priest pointed out.

“That too,” I said. “So let’s plan this party,” I told the room. “Do some fucking celebrating for once. Then we’ll handle our business.”

“What are we goin’ to do about the numbers?” Hush asked.

I grinned. “Good thing we have a lot of friends now,” I told him. “Beefs up our numbers.”

“You think Cypher’s going to want in on this?” Rip asked.

“Guarantee you that these fuckers are connected with some asshole that he’s chasing down overseas,” I replied. “But if he says no, then we’ll figure something else out.”

“I bet Ruck will help,” Toxic said.

I nodded. “That’s what I’m hoping, too. With The Saint’s Outlaws and the Berserker’s Rage we should have the numbers we need.”

“Still not planning on tapping Austin?” Butcher asked.

I shook my head. “They’re out. Those guys deserve the quiet life they’ve built for themselves.” I couldn’t ask Cade for help. In any way. Because that asshole would get involved even when I tried to physically keep him and his family out of it.

Everyone nodded in agreement. “Toxic,” I said, meeting his gaze. “I want that party happening within a week. We’re not going to have a lot of time for this. In the meantime, Rip and I will be getting with the rest of you and putting you where we need the most help. I want to gather as much intel as possible onthese sons of bitches before we strike. We’ll celebrate, then come up with a plan.”

It was time to go back to war. It was going to be a never-ending part of our life. I didn’t plan to go legit the way Austin had. But then again, we didn’t deal in guns or drugs the way they had. Our city was always going to need a protector. And that was us. I wasn’t going to let our kids grow up in a city that was being taken over by corruption and evil.

Besides, we’d end up becoming monsters if we didn’t let out these impulses that lived inside of us. We needed the violence and death that being vigilantes brought us. Taking old ladies and having kids wasn’t going to ease those urges. Instead, it made them stronger because now we had specific people we were trying to keep safe.

I released my brothers, watching with a grin as they all went over and started smacking Idaho and Static on the backs in a form of congratulations. Static let out a yelp as Toxic squeezed his ass. Fucking Toxic. Always starting shit.

Scowling when I realized Hush was still sitting in his seat, I asked, “What?”

“Just wonderin’ if you’re plannin’ to go talk to Keely,” he asked with a shit eating grin. “Vote passed after all.”

I could have Priest show her where she was going to be staying. It was a different apartment than the last time she was here, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to show her. Wanted to be near her. I should tell Hush to do it. There was enough tension between her and I to cut with a knife. “Fuck the vote. But yeah,” I answered. “Need to show her where I put her shit. Why?”

“Just wonderin’,” he said. “You goin’ to give her a matchin’ hickey on the other side?”

“Fuck off, Hush,” I growled. “I’m not in the goddamned mood.” Just dealing with Keely made me tense. I didn’t want to go a round with Hush right now, too.

He held up his hands in surrender. “You’re goin’ to have to give in sooner or later,” he pointed out.

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