Page 35 of Deadly Ruck
"Dibs on being there to watch," Hunter added.
Storm shook his head like they were both out of their minds. He leaned over to me and said, "Are these guys supposed to help us get Chelsea back?"
"Don't be fooled," Ice said. "They act like a pair of clowns, but they're both almost as ruthless as I am. They’re Reuben Brantley's youngest brothers."
"And favourite brothers," Hunter said. “Also most indispensable, if I may say so myself."
"I don't know, Caleb is pretty indispensable," Parker said. After a beat, they both laughed again.
"Pair of clowns is right," Storm said darkly.
"They seem like fun to me," Frost remarked.
"We are fun." Parker draped an arm over Frost's shoulder. "We also understand the gravity of the situation. We will get Chelsea back. We like her. She reminds me a lot of Lila, our girlfriend. Smart, determined and kick-ass.”
"She's all of those things," Ice said.
"I bet she's looking for a way to escape before we even get there," Hunter said. "Lila did that the time she was taken by some asshole. We got there to rescue her, but she'd already rescued herself." He smiled softly. Clearly he adored her.
"Chelsea's definitely a badass," I said. If anyone could save themself, it was her, but without knowing where Atlas and Jay stood, I could only assume the odds were not currently in her favour. We'd change that.
"She's the biggest badass," Ice said. "The only one who doesn't think so is her." He glanced over to the doorway as another couple of cars pulled up and footsteps headed closer.
"Who are we killing?" Gianni asked cheerfully as he stepped into the shed. He was followed by Mina DiMarco and Daisy LaSalle, along with a bunch of other men.
"What he said." Daze jerked a thumb towards Gianni. "Who the hell dared take my friend?"
"Carlos Jones," Ice said simply.
"Ah," Gianni replied. "Well, he should have died a long time ago." He gave Mina a sideways glance and a smile.
She didn't disagree with him. "What's the plan?" she said instead.
"Do we know where he took her?" Daze asked. She looked ready to slice open throats and ask questions later.
"I've been communicating with some contacts," Ice said. "Calling in every favour I have. A friend of a friend of a friend said she was in a property close to Dusk Bay last night. That same friend of a friend of a friend said he was planning to fly her out this morning."
"I suspect you're not suggesting we have a dogfight with his aircraft." Parker looked disappointed.
"Not while Chelsea's on it," I said before anyone started to think that was viable idea.
"Abso-fucking-lutely not," Storm said. "I don't give a shit what you do to Jones and how you kill him, but if you get Chelsea killed, I'm going to come after every last one of you."
"I like him," Parker loudly whispered to Hunter. "He's got balls. I don't mean footballs either."
"I didn't think you did, Park," Hunter whisper-shouted back. "I like him too. I think we should try to buy the Smashers."
"I'm not saying that's not important, but can we focus on the matter at hand?" Daze gave them both a meaningful look. "Why are we here, Ice? Why aren't we at the airport?"
"That's a very good question," Storm said. "Why the fuck are we wasting time here?" He looked ready to run straight back to the SUV and floor it.
Ice raised his hands and gestured around him. "We are at the airport. It might not look like it, but this is one of the hangars they use to repair aircraft."
The hangar was full of tools, which hung on the walls and lay neatly on workbenches. Now I knew what to look for, I saw smears of oil on the concrete floor, here and there. It also explained the smell that hit me the moment I stepped inside.
"I think it looks like it," Parker said.
"Me too," Hunter agreed. "I'm guessing you have a plan." He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
