Page 32 of Sniper

They rolled into the parking lot as if they owned the goddamn place, smug as they dismounted their bikes and strolled towards our brothers. Smoky, their Prez, led the small group, but I noticed more bikers pulled up behind the truck to box us in.

They fell right into our trap.

Less than twenty feet separated the Steel Demons and Black Vultures. Maverick pulled out his weapon first and fired a shot, clipping one of them in the shoulder. That one shot started it all, bullets flew across the parking lot in all directions, and they scattered like cockroaches.

T-Bone and I looked at each other and then jumped from the front of the truck just as the rest of the MC burst out of the back, easily handling the half a dozen bikers behind us until their bodies were bent over their bikes, limbs twisted painfully.

Gio crawled underneath the truck and set up his shot, picking off the Vultures that arrived in a truck meant to steal our product, and he did it with a mischievous smile.

The parking lot was a chaotic mess as bullets flew all around, but as I settled my breathing in the midst of it all, I saw the first signs of retreat. Smoky slowly walked backwards but with each step his stride grew longer, moved faster until he was back at his bike.

Not today asshole.

I hurried my steps to head him off before he jumped on the bike and took off. Thankfully, he was moving so frantically he dropped his keys. Twice. We needed at least one of these assholes alive, and he was the best source of information which meant I had to get to him first.

“Don’t take another fucking step,” he said when he saw me, pulling out a forty caliber that was too big for his small body. “You heard what the fuck I said!”

I kept moving towards him just at a slower pace. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I stopped five feet from him and slid my index finger in place onto the trigger.

Smoky raised his gun and aimed it at me. There was a gleam in his eyes, but it died quickly when a bullet went straight through his belly. He looked shocked as if he never expected to get shot.

I spun around to find T-Bone wearing a smug grin.

I wanted to ask him just what the fuck he thought he was doing but two Vultures advanced on him, and I didn’t have time to do anything but act. His eyes widened when I raised my gun and shouted at him. “Down!” I squeezed the trigger four times, putting two bullets in each of the Vultures, watching with a smile as they fell instantly to the ground.

There weren’t many left. We still needed someone to give us answers so I scanned the parking lot until I spotted just the man who could provide them. He was a scared little bitch, running away and looking over his shoulders every few seconds to make sure none of his men saw him running off. The rest of the Vultures who remained were in a fight for their lives, tryingto do just enough damage that they could get away without suffering more damage.

I followed Roach in the shadows, catching up to him just before he made it to his bike, completely oblivious that he had a stalker. I stepped up behind him and hooked one arm around his neck tugging back to knock him off balance. I nestled my forearm under his chin and applied pressure until he was a limp weight in my arms, and only then did I relax.

Tonight I would get my fuckin’ answers.

Chapter Twenty-One

Katey

Lockdown wasn’t as fun as it sounded when Sniper brought it up. Even from the confines of my room I could tell that the air was thick with worry and anticipation. Music played, but the chatter was a low hum, instead of the enthusiastic conversations and laughter that usually sounded on the other side of my door.

Whatever the task was that Sniper, and nearly all of the Steel Demons had gone to take care of must be really serious. They could be gone all night, a thought that ratcheted my worry up another ten notches which only pissed me off. I shouldn’t be scared for Sniper, and I shouldn’t have urged him not to go earlier, like I was some terrified housewife. It was silly and each time I thought about it, humiliation burned deep within me.

Someone knocked on the door, then opened it without hesitation. It was Peyton and Harper. “You gonna stay in here all night or do you want to reduce your stress with a drink or five?”

I let out a heavy sigh, ready to tell them that I wasn’t interested in having drinks with them, but something stopped me. It wasn’t the eager and determined expressions they each wore, it was a deep and growly, slightly grumpy voice that made me promise to go out for a little while. And socialize?Yuck.“Yeah okay, fine.”

Peyton opened her mouth, likely to give me another reason to join them before she froze and frowned. “That was easy.”

“Too easy,” Harper added, her gaze narrowing with suspicion. “Why?”

“Sniper is worried about my mental health,” I admitted. “And I can’t have him worrying about me when he has other, more important things to focus on.” I don’t know why I said all that to them, but it was the truth.

“Aw, that’s so sweet. So you guys are like together for real now, right?” Peyton’s sapphire eyes were wide and hopeful as she waited for my answer.

“No,” I sighed and headed towards them. “Now about those drinks I was promised.”

“Come on then.” Harper linked her arm with mine and smiled. “It’s so weird that I don’t know anything about you when we’re sisters-in-law.”

I bit back the groan that bubbled up at her words. “There’s nothing to know. My brother served with Sniper in the military. I used to be an ER doctor and now I’m… here.” I didn’t like to think about that time in my life because it felt so long ago, like a part of me I would never get back.

“I need to know more than that,” Harper sang. “But first, what are we drinking, tequila or tequila?”

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