Page 79 of Bones

Unknown Caller:

Smart move

I think it’s time for us to meet.

You and your president, at my place tomorrow at 2.

Come alone.

“Shit.” I took my phone and slid it over to Cotton. “He messaged again.”

Cotton picked up the phone and looked down at the screen, and as soon as he read the message, he ran his hand over his thick, gray beard and cursed, “Son of a bitch. This motherfucker’s got balls telling me where to be and when.”

“He asking for a meet?” Guardrail asked.

“Tomorrow at 2. He wants Bones and me to come to his place alone.”

“Don’t give a fuck what he wants,” Stitch growled. “That shit’s not gonna happen.”

“We gotta find out what the hell this guy wants with us.”

“Yeah, but not like this. It’s too fucking dangerous.”

“Then, we’ll take protective measures.” Cotton’s tone grew fierce as he said, “He attacked the clubhouse. He put our women and children in harm’s way, and there’s no way in hell I’m gonna let him get away with that.”

Tempers were high, so I had to tread lightly as I asked, “But what if today wasn’t about an attack?”

“What else could it fucking be?”

“A message... A means to an end.” I might’ve been way off base, but I truly believed it when I told him, “Up until today, he hasn’t done anything to us that we haven’t done to him. He got information on us. We have it on him. He roughed up Q and Rooster, and we worked over Ben.Tit for tat.Might’ve stayed that way if Ben hadn’t been his grandson.”

“That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t ya think?”

“The fact that he not only used thermite, but also knew to use it should give us pause. So, no. I don’t think it’s a stretch. Today could’ve been a lot worse if Bruton wanted it to be.”

“Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t give a fuck what it could’ve been. He fucking torched my SUV,” Clutch roared. “I say we give this asshole a taste of his own medicine and burn his house to the fucking ground.”

I wanted to argue and tell him that he was letting his anger get the best of him. Thankfully, I didn’t have to say a word. Cotton said it for me. “We’ll get him. You don’t have to worry about that, but first, we need to find out what this fucker wants from us.”

“You really think it’s a good idea for you and Bones to go over there alone?”

“We aren’t going there alone.” Cotton turned to Maverick and Stitch as he said, “You boys are coming with us to make sure nothing goes down.”

Stitch was quick to reply, “To do that, we’re gonna have to find a position that’s far enough away that he won’t spot us but close enough where we can make a move if one is needed.”

“Do what you gotta do. Just make it work.”

“We’ll get it covered.” Maverick turned to Big as he said, “We’re gonna need eyes and ears on them when they’re inside.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“We’re also gonna need to get blueprints of the house and an aerial view of his property and of those nearby.”

“On it.”

Big pulled up his laptop, and it wasn’t long before they were forging a plan that they hoped would keep Cotton and me out of harm’s way. But I knew no such plan existed—not when you were dealing with a guy like Bruton. It seemed he was always one step ahead, and that had me concerned. I was still struggling with the fact he wanted me in on this meet.

It was one thing to send me messages.

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