Page 79 of Lockout

“That’s going to make it tough to pin them down when you’re ready to make arrests,” I told him.

“Right? Having a bunch of the chapters mobilize and head west wasn’t what we were expecting.”

“Do you at least know where they’re heading?” I asked. “So maybe you could be there waiting for them?”

“One of the undercovers said they’re heading for Arizona. Guess there was some kind of gang on gang retaliation. Hangman himself is going.”

I bit back that automatic rebuttal that motorcycle clubs weren’t gangs. Priest automatically threw his hand over Butcher’s mouth to keep him quiet and nodded at me to continue. “Well, I really hope you guys are able to catch them.”

“We’ll likely be moving locations, too,” Cory confided, “if they don’t come back in a week or two.”

“Good luck with that. Thanks for appeasing my curiosity,” I told him.

“Yeah, no problem. Keep in touch, Keels.”

“Okay, bye, Core.”

I hung up and flinched when I found them all staring at me. “He’s a friend,” I mumbled, but I avoided Lock’s jealous gaze.

“Call’s already gone out,” Ruck said, rubbing his chin. “That’s not fucking good. Hangman calling in all the chapters on a large scale means they’re going to outnumber us three to one.”

“Easily,” Warrant agreed. “They’re rocking some major firepower, too, thanks to their backers.”

“So let’s take out the backers,” Butcher said with a shrug.

Now everyone was staring at him.

He looked around and scowled. “We take out the fuckers helping Hangman. Make them realize that lending the LoS a hand, or a gun, will get them fucking killed.”

“Not a bad idea,” Lock mused. “Rip, do you have that information?”

“I know of two groups,” Rip replied, “that were working closely with Hangman.”

“Here in the states?” Idaho asked.

“No, both groups are in Canada.”

“Canada?” Hellfire snorted. “Why the fuck would they be there? Maple syrup and cheese? What the fuck else is up there?”

“Moose,” Smoke offered.

“And Cobra Chickens,” Ricochet said with a grin.

“The fuck is a Cobra Chicken?” Hell asked.

“Canadian geese,” Ricochet answered. “Mean bastards.”

“Their immigration laws are less strict than the U.S.,” Static commented, getting the conversation back on track. “Probably easier to move in there and start up an operation than here.”

“Plus, if shit goes down with the LoS, they’re less likely to be targeted,” Toxic pointed out. “Theoretically anyway,” he said with a wolfish grin.

“It’s the middle of December,” Ricochet pointed out.

“So?” Hush replied.

“It’s going to be fucking freezing there,” Ricochet shot back. “Please tell me we’re not heading to Canada.”

Smokehouse took one look at Lockout’s face and groaned. “I think we are, Brother.”