Page 47 of Last One Standing
He nodded against my chest. “Brick didn’t want to kill me, Angel. There’s no fun in that, but Leo…he’ll try and get what he can from him and then kill him. You won’t have the time you think you do.”
My gut told me he was right. As soon as I’d ordered Shep, Gabe, and Four to get the location and return home, I’d signed Leo’s death warrant. But I couldn’t sacrifice their lives, not when they were so horribly outnumbered. Leo would die, and so would they. It was a hard choice and that was why I’d made it and hadn’t left it to any of them to voice it.
“I’m sorry, Kona.”
“Please don’t be mad at Leo if he sells you out to end the pain.” Kona’s voice was broken.
“I don’t want him to suffer, Kona. I’d never blame him for a thing.”
He wrapped his arms tighter around me, and I gently held him while he cried.
The location was a deserted barn in the middle of nowhere. Shep, Gabe, and Four got as close as they could. From what they could gather, there were twelve bikers. Shep logged the coordinates and sent them over, and Nick got a drone out immediately.
The aerial view showed bikes surrounding the barn. We’d never be able to take them all as it was. We needed to break them up and kill them off in clusters. Maybe blowing up the clubhouse—that might work.
We slept in shifts that night, watching the barn for any movement. It wasn’t until about six am that the MC started rolling out. I watched carefully for Leo, but it was only bikers. Just one motorcycle was left behind, and I wondered if it was to watch Leo or to clean up.
“Nick.” I shook him awake from his spot on the couch.
“Hmm?”
“We have an opening.”
He sat up and squinted at the TV. “Fucking finally.”
We all gathered quickly. Regardless of the shape Leo was in, we were getting him out of there, and if we could get a Dead King in the process, even better.
“There are two roads that actually lead to the barn.” Noel put a map up on the television. “Two teams can go in.”
“Okay.” I looked at Shep. “You, Gabe, and Four can be one team. Me and Nick another. Noel, you’re our eyes in the sky on this.”
“You got it.” Noel nodded.
I turned to go get geared up and came face-to-face with Kona. “You need to be careful, Angel. You all do. Just because you see one bike doesn’t mean there’s only one King in there.”
The urge to kiss Kona and hold him was overwhelming at that moment. I’d never just grab him, of course, but the intensity of the feeling took my breath away. His worry and genuine fear for us was raw and there for anyone to see.
“We’ll be okay.” I lightly pressed my hand to his lower back and guided him over to Noel. “You can watch with Noel. You’ll see, we’ll be fine.”
He nodded shakily and sat down, but his gaze didn’t leave mine. Even after I left the room to get my things, I could feel his stare burning holes through the wall.
Nick, Shep, Four, Gabe, and I met in the garage and split off. We knew our jobs, and we were in each other’s ears. Noel was watching us, so if anyone approached we’d be ready for them.
Right now, I was holding on to false hope that Leo was still alive. Kona was right; Leo would be worthless to Brick once he got the information he wanted. I was crossing everything that Leo was holding on.
Once the barn came into view, we knew we were likely going to be heard as we got closer, but the truth was, I’d rather be shot at with a car as a shield than running in an open field.
“Coming in on the opposite side.” Shep’s voice came through the earpiece.
“Punch it.” I hit the gas, and I could see Shep approaching on the other side. They’d probably focus on one of us, giving the other enough time to step in.
A second later, two Kings were running out with fucking machine guns strapped to their chests. Both focused on Shep’s truck. The moment Shep veered to the left, I accelerated even more. They’d just turned my way when my car collided with them, sending them flying…messing up my car. But it justneeded to get me off the property; then I could stash it somewhere and tow it later.
“Nice.” Gabe smiled as he hopped out of the truck and moved to the guys. One was still, and the other was moaning. Gabe lifted his gun to the man and shot him in the head. Just to be safe, he did the same to the other.
“If no one has come out hearing that, they are likely all who were stationed here,” I said.
“Let’s get inside.” Shep held his gun in front of him and led the way into the barn.
