Page 95 of Brew
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
Brew
“He’s not gettin’ out,” I say to Cash, and it’s final. He knows what I mean, and I’m not kidding around. “Been sittin’ ducks for the better part of two days, these guys could easily slip away.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” Cash replies. “But when I give the order, I want them alive. If what Gareth said is true, they’re worth far more to us alive than dead.”
Of course, I know that already. There are so many unanswered questions that The Grid and Ridgley and his men have to answer for. Ridgley has been elusive for years, but I’ve got eyes and ears everywhere, and with Sawyer on board dedicating every spare second he has to the cause makes me feel better that we’re gonna hone in on him soon.
“You don’t have to explain that to me.” I don’t care how petulant I sound. Fuck this. I’ve waited a long time to get this close to The Grid, and the fact that they’re sneaking around in Louisiana, New Orleans no less, isn’t just fate, it’s destiny. All of their destinies will be final in the coming days. I’ll make sure of it. “But you of all people know how long and hard I’ve waited for this. How long we’ve all waited. I know keepin’ them alivewill make interrogation paramount, and I’m prepared for that.” I thumb behind me to Haze, Sawyer, heck, even Logan came to the meeting.
Logan and Cash may not always see eye to eye, but they’ve worked out their differences over the years, and I know Cash is eager to have Logan join the MC. The reason my older brother has held off for so long isn’t about stubbornness, it’s semantics.
I feel Logan’s hand on my shoulder. “We don’t want a gunfight. I know you’re not trigger-happy, brother, but one wrong word out of any of their mouths and you could be. If we’re ever gonna find Ridgley, you know what has to happen.”
Hearing him say those words makes me cringe. I want to punch something. Hurt someone. The pain comes flooding back.Hismen are the ones who took Valencia from this world. He may have been the last one to see her alive, but I’m gonna be the last one to make him suffer. Makehimpay. Just like I did all of those bastards.
“So what about Gareth?” Haze puts in, trying to calm the situation. “He suitin’ up to come and put his life on the line.”
“That’s mandatory,” Cash says. “Just because he’s Bane’s brother doesn’t mean I trust him. I doubt it’s a trap, but we’re prepared. Had Rock check out his less than favorable credentials, and turns out all of what he’s said checks out. He’s an ex-soldier, Brew, and he’s been undercover and off the spectrum for a couple of years.”
“If he’s been undercover all this time, why not say that when Big Papa’s men nabbed him?” I argue. “Somethin’ fishy goin’ on, no matter which way you look at it.”
“Bane said he suffers from paranoia and PTSD,” Cash says, making me shut my mouth. “So trustin’ anyone who comes along isn’t second nature to him. Not makin’ excuses, but he has a complicated history. I’m sure you two have a lot more incommon than you think, but he’s probably not gonna be on the Christmas card list anytime soon.”
Ryder, the VP, snorts. The other committee members were already briefed earlier today, so it’s just us in the meeting room. I’m all for a plan of attack, but I hate sitting around waiting for the go ahead. One thing that hinders me doing what I really want is following club rules. I respect the club, don’t get me wrong. When I was lost, fresh out of the military with an injury and no place to go, the MC took me in, and the rest is history. I owe this club, and I respect Cash. He’s like a father to all of us.
My mom did the best she could, there’s no disputing she’s tough, but I know we drove her mad over the years. Raising three boys is no easy feat. If my dad had been like Cash, I wonder if things would’ve turned out differently. I guess we’ll never know.
I run a hand over my face. “Got word Steven’s hearin’ is next week,” I say. I don’t even know if Erica knows yet, but I need to break that news to her soon.
As well as Haze now housing Nova and our mom, I need to keep Erica and Olive safe. I wonder if I should take them out to the cabin.
I’ve always had a place out of town amongst the wilderness. I go there sometimes to decompress and switch off. They’d be safe there, but we’d also be away from the club. Housing Erica and Olive at my place would be too obvious if she’s being watched because it’s also Erica’s place of work. The more I think about it, the more I know she could be a sitting duck.
“Know it,” Cash says. “We’re gonna be prepared no matter what. How’s Erica holdin’ up after everythin’?”
“She’s shaken,” I say. I told Cash about the letter; not the contents, but briefly what he said. The fact that he knows his ex’s whereabouts means she’s a target. “But I’m takin’ care of her.”
Silence falls over the men until Haze slaps me on the back. “Finally grown a pair?”
I shoot him a look. “It’s complicated.”
“Jesus,” Logan mutters.
“You tellin’ me you’re plannin’ on claimin’ her at the table?” Cash piques a brow. “Or you just gonna sit back like a pussy and let a good woman get away?”
Chuckles ring around the table.
“Not doin’ shit like that,” I mutter. “I’m claimin’ her because she belongs to me.”
“Glad to hear it,” Cash says. “Erica is part of this club by association. Once we know more next week, we’ll put a plan in place. That motherfucker won’t step one foot near her, that’s a guarantee.”
“Already on it,” Sawyer mutters. “He won’t get far, and he sure as shit won’t get anywhere near New Orleans.”
“We move tonight,” Cash says. “Brew, you’re leadin’ the charge, just remember what I said.”
