Page 20 of Reaper Razed

Ares plays the video again as my phone rings in his hands. “It’s Beauty.”

“Hey, Mrs! It’s not a good time. Can I call you back?”

“Ray, fuck, I’ve just received a video from Dozer… Ray, he’s with another woman.” She sobs into the phone.

“Beauty, say that again!”

“Shit, Ray, this video just came from Dozer’s phone. He’s in bed with another woman. She’s sucking his dick and everything… Ray, what the fuck am I supposed to do?”

“Beauty, listen to me real close, okay? Lock the doors and windows, and pack a bag. I’m sending someone to get you. It’s not real, Beauty… the video, it’s not real… Ares, who's here?”

“Tank’s in the bar.”

“Beauty, I’m sending Tank. Don’t go anywhere with anyone else. Pack a bag enough for a week. You're coming to stay at mine. I’ll wait till you get here. I’m gonna get our men back! I got a video, too, okay? Just lock up and pack up. Tank’s on his way!”

I’m already storming down the stairs towards the bar. “Tank, emergency! I need you to get Beauty from home, bring her back to mine, don’t go anywhere else! Grab her and bring her back, and be on high alert. Something is going on!”

Fuck, I love my brother. He grabs the truck keys and runs out the door! “What the fuck’s going on, Ray?”

“Where the fuck have they gone? Is it just Steel, Dozer and Dice?”

“They went to a meeting with a new supplier, testing the waters.”

“What new fucking supplier, Ares?”

“The Armoury! They set up a meeting like an interview to see if we qualify, if we fit their criteria to supply us.”

“Shit!” I storm out of the clubhouse and towards the apartment.

Opening up my phone with my “alternative” PIN number, the automated voice answers.

“VERIFICATION?”

“Sierra 8674463,” I recite.

“VERIFIED! … IDENTIFICATION?”

“Black Queen, Delta 1.”

“CONFIRMED! … REQUEST?”

“Patch to White King Alpha 1!”

The disguised male voice comes across.

“White King Alpha 1.”

“Request Team. Full Tactical. Availability?”

“Black King and Black Rook available!”

“Request immediate pick up from HB going in hot, going in blind.”

“Affirmative pick up request accepted, on the ground in twenty!”

Hanging up, I run up the steps. I’m vaguely aware of Ares shouting from behind me, but I don’t stop. Flying into the weapons room, I dig into the bottom drawer and drag out all my gear. I’ve created a false bottom in the base of the drawer. Stripping off, I pull on my thick, black socks, black combat trousers, black combat boots with knife sheaths on the outside, tight black long-sleeve jumper, and bulletproof vest. I strap on my gun holsters and my thigh holsters, and I slide my knives into the sheaths attached to the back of my combat belt. I load my pockets with ammo and grab my balaclava and gas mask. I load my ammo belt with grenades, flash bangs, and tear gas.

“Skye!”

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