Page 24 of Sacrifice
The kind of details that seem casual unless you're looking for them.
I keep walking, don't let on I've made him.
At the bar, I catch Magnus's eye, tap my temple twice—our old signal for eyes on target.
He follows my gaze, spots the scout, gives a tiny nod.
The scout's watching everyone, cataloging faces, relationships, weaknesses.
His eyes linger on the women, noting who belongs to whom.
When Meghan walks by with Astrid, both clearly marked as property by their men's cuts, he dismisses them.
But when one of the hang-arounds passes—young, pretty, unattached—his interest sharpens.
They're looking for leverage. For the weak spots.
For women like Saga who won't wear a man's mark, won't accept protection, won't admit they belong to anyone.
"Want another?" the bartender asks.
"Yeah," I say, mind racing. "Make it a double."
Magnus has quietly positioned himself between the scout and the door.
Others are starting to notice too—the way brothers casually shift positions, conversations getting quieter.
The scouts made a mistake coming here.
We're not some small-time club he can scope without consequences.
But we can't move on him. Not yet.
Let him report back that the Raiders are just another MC, more interested in drinking than security.
Let Los Coyotes think we're unaware, unprepared.
Let them underestimate us.
The scout finishes his beer and leaves, nice and casual.
I give it five minutes before following, but he's already gone—probably had a bike stashed nearby, maybe a car.
"You see that?" Magnus appears at my shoulder.
"Yeah. They're already here."
"Changes things. We need to move faster than three weeks."
"Or convince them we don't have what they're looking for." An idea starts forming. "What if we let them find some of the product? Small amount, make it look like that's all we got from the Culebras?"
Magnus considers it. "Could work. Make them think they're chasing ghosts for the rest."
"I'll talk to Runes tomorrow. Set up a controlled find."
"And Saga?" Magnus asks. "That scout was paying attention to unattached women."
"I'll handle Saga."
