Page 24 of The Queen of Nightmares

“I can’t wait to hold him!”

“I bet it’s a girl!”

“No way. There’s no way a man like Bones would make anything other than a boy.”

Kara walked back over to the group, holding a bubbling glass of ginger ale and a beer bottle. “Just as long as you bitches know that I get aunt privileges.”

“I don’t care, just as long as I can get baby snuggles,” Mindy or Cindy sighed. “I should get one of these bikers to settle down so I can have a baby.” She looked back up at me as I pulled the picture back, carefully tucking it away in my wallet again. “How’d you do it?”

I jerked my head up at the question, zipping up my purse and picking up my glass of ginger ale with a frown. “What did I do?”

“You got one of the Devil’s Nightmares to fall in love with you.”

A short blonde nodded with a sassy grin. “Not just any Nightmare,theNightmare. He was so unattainable. None of us ever stood a chance. We’re just curious what you did.”

I took a small step back as I glanced at all their eager faces one by one. As I looked closer, I didn’t see malice. Maybe a hint of jealousy, but it didn’t seem to be directed at me personally. They all looked genuinely… happy for me. Maybe Kara was wrong. I didn’t think these girls were trying to steal Jack from me at all.

“Uh, I didn’t really do anything. I mean, the first time I saw him, I felt like, a spark. Then, I didn’t really see him very much, but when he was around, he always seemed to be watching me. It wasn’t until a month had passed before he even spoke to me.” I laughed as I thought back. When I thought about the Jack I knew then, to the Jack I know now, I realized that he was just as confused as I was. I sort of loved that he didn’t know what he was doing.

“That’s super sweet. Though, I wouldn’t mind having one of them just stomp up to me and throw me over his shoulder. None of that staring for a month bullshit. No offense, Sally.”

I giggled. “None taken.”

“I like how you think, Sherry,” the little blonde nudged one of the others. “Carry me off to his cave and lay his claim as he lay his pipe.”

I choked on my ginger ale, sputtering as everyone laughed at her words.

“Agreed. Anyone that claims me better have a big ass pipe, too. I’ve had it with tiny little pencil dicks.”

“Pencil dicks aren’t the problem, it’s what they do with it. Some guys think just because they’re hot, they don’t have to work it. A hot guy can have an anaconda in his pants. If he can’t make that thing do the mamba, then he’s worthless. Throw him back and find an average fucker that really knows how to work those hips.”

All the girls agreed with a cheer and took a big swig of their drinks, all giggling and talking excitedly about guys and their experiences. I was surprised that I found myself enjoying their company. I glanced over at Kara to see her sitting back, sipping her beer and watching everyone with a small smile. I nudged her with my elbow with a grin, glad she had been wrong. It was nice having girlfriends for once.

ChapterEighteen

JACK

“Iwill send out the drones later tonight around three a.m. Less chance any patched member will be out, and prospects likely won’t know what they are looking at. That’s if I’m even noticed.” Tech’s tone was smug, but then, he’d earned the right to be. He could probably send out a drone at high noon during a barbeque and still go unnoticed.

I jerked my chin, giving him all the permission necessary to start getting his plan in order. The meeting had been productive. We had a working plan to take out the Boogeymen once and for all. As much as I would love to ride up guns blazing or, better yet, shoot off a few dozen rocket-propelled grenades to wipe them out, we needed to be smart and stealthy. And the first step was surveillance. But we had already lined up steps two through ten as well.

“I’ll check our stash for C4 and all the fixings for bombing the buildings. Once we know what we are looking at,” Rash jerked his chin in Tech’s direction, “Once we have the layout, I’ll draw up the compound diagram and figure out the best places for them.”

I sat back, running my hand over my scruffy chin. I needed to shave so I didn’t hurt my girl with it. I didn’t like the thought that I could damage her delicate skin. “Sounds like we have a working plan. We’ll need to call our inside guy back. Shock, get ahold of him, and tell him to make himself scarce. I don’t care what excuse he comes up with. If he’s not out of there by the end of the week, then it’s his ass.”

Shock nodded with a grim smile. “On it, Prez.”

“There’s one more thing we need to discuss.” I glared down the table. “I just got word this morning that the doctor fucker that hurt Sally escaped prison. According to the voicemails, He escaped yesterday morning from his own doctor’s appointment. The mother fucker walked out of there after killing his guards and the doctor.”

Barell sighed and shook his head. “I saw what you did to his knees. There’s no way he’s able to walk long or far. He’s going to need a cane, at the very least. I will put the information out around town to be on the lookout for a stranger with a cane, wheelchair, or crutches. Fuck!” He shook his head again. “How is Red taking the news?”

I thought about her panic attack last night. I knew the only reason she managed to get control of her emotions was because she had to deal with mine. “She’s handling it. But she shouldn’t need to. I don’t want this fucker to get within one hundred yards of this town. Do I make myself clear?” I eyed everyone around the table.

All heads nodded their agreement, but it didn’t satisfy me. Nothing would until the threat was eradicated once and for all. “He won’t be going back to prison.” I didn’t have to clarify. He would be dead. We had an incinerator that needed feeding. “It’s going to be all hands on deck for the next several days around here. If you have families, I suggest you move them onto the compound. Or send them away to stay with extended family. Hell, put them on a plane to fucking Jamaica for vacation. Somewhere warm out of this damn cold. Whatever you choose to do, make sure they are safe.”

After everyone agreed and any questions they had were answered, I called an end to Church. I stood up quickly, nodding to my men and slapping Doc on the back as thanks. I appreciated that he’d finally stepped into his role, even if it was reluctantly.

“One sec, Prez,” Horse called out before I could leave. I paused and stared, waiting for whatever he had to say. “That package that arrived yesterday? The one you wanted information on?”

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