Page 32 of Brave as It

I jerk my head back. “And I’m to blindly trust you? A prospect?”

“We’re here to get you to Emmalee.” He explains like I should already know it. There hasn’t been a spare second to turn on our phones and touch base with Tripp. I know I told him to call the Sons but that doesn’t mean it was successful.

Karma and I look at each other stunned. Nothing goes this easy and the Sons, well they damn sure don’t owe me shit. Hell, I threatened war. No way I’d meet someone at the airport to give them a lift after that. I asked Tripp to give a marker for them to keep eyes on Emmalee not give us a red-carpet welcome.

Maybe Stone was trying to get a rise out of me on the phone. I don’t know what Emmalee told him concerning her past and where she comes from. I’d fuck with someone I didn’t know ifa woman didn’t seem comfortable with the conversation. Her declining my calls made it clear, she was anything but okay with talking to me. I’ll handle that situation later. First things first, find Hollis and get the boy safe with his dad.

The van door opens, and I lean back in my chair to get the tilt. As soon as my front wheels hit the side of the van, Karma lifts the back rolling me up as I transfer to the seat behind the passenger seat. Karma folds my chair with practiced ease before rounding the van to the sit beside me. When going on transports, Karma and I have an easy system to get through the runs. He’s dealt with my wheelchair plenty. The driver turns to look at me. He isn’t fazed by my missing legs.

Impressive, there aren’t many people who can take it like it’s everyday normal.

The driver talks not at all concerned with my missing limbs. “Stone, President of the Sinister Sons MC and Emmalee’s boss. This is my brother, Racer,” he looks to the man in the passenger seat before pushing a button to open the rear hatch. The prospect climbs in and they close it. The back seats are gone leaving him to slide in and hang loose.

“Got a situation,” Stone begins to explain, and I want to laugh, situation is not even the right word. “Emmalee is havin’ a situation. Don’t much like you involvin’ my employee in your shit.”

“Got a history with Emmalee. Saw the video and saw a familiar face,” I elucidate.

“Tripp called down here, explained there is a boy been kidnapped.” He puts on a turn signal and heads away from the airport. “Don’t like the shit, but kids aren’t really an area the Sons step into.”

“That’s my son,” Karma interjects. “He’s not any kid, he’s a Hellion.”

“Yeah, Tripp said that, too.” Stone continues, “Don’t know what you told her or what she said to the woman.”

“What do you know?” Karma jumps in not hiding his aggravation with the idle chit-chat. He wants answers and quick. I get it. This is his only son.

“Had to put things in place once I found out you weren’t just callin’ to try to win back that pussy. Took time to get boys where they needed to be after I talked to Tripp.”

I have to bite back the need to choke him for making it like Emmalee is simple pussy.

“We got eyes on Emmalee’s place. The kid is there. He’s okay. Can’t say the same for everyone else.”

No.

Just no.

This shit is not happening right now. I am not stuck in a van with a stranger driving and being told Emmalee is hurt … or worse. Fuck!

“Not big on games, Stone.” I let him know while looking at Karma who is ready to jump out of this moving vehicle.

Stone laughs unfazed by the two of us. “Not playin’ games. One woman is dead, another has been shot. The boy is fine. I got my other brother Hunter watching them. Got the rest of my club headed back. We were on a run as support so I’m short my guys until they can get back to the area. Hunter was sitting alone with too many unknowns to make a play yet. Once shots were fired, numbers didn’t seem to be against him, he moved in. Sorted what he could of things while I was waiting for your plane to land. Figured we can chat. You hacked our shit?”

His question toed the line between question and statement.

“Technically me, no, but was it for me? Yes,” I explain. “Didn’t hack for gains just information.”

Working relationships are a balance. A give and a take of sorts. In order for him to give me what I need then I have to give him what he wants. I can play this to keep things even … for now.

“The woman on the video with Emmalee. The one with your boy,” he says looking at Karma through the rearview while navigating through traffic and ignoring speed limits. “She’s dead.”

Karma runs his hand through his hair. I don’t know how to process that Anna is dead, I can’t imagine what Karma feels. Did Hollis see it? Didn’t have the best early days myself. That shit scarred my soul. How will this impact Hollis?

“My kid?” Karma inquires the panic rising.

“Told you, he’s okay. There is another woman, he calls her Zizi, she covered him with her body. She’s refusing to let our doc take out the bullet in her stomach until someone the kid knows is here to be with him. We need to put her under, doc says, but she’s refusing. We have the bleeding under control, but bitch is crazy about your son. Won’t let us near him.”

“Fuckin’ Maritza,” Karma says to no one in particular. “She got shot, where is this brother of yours?”

“Where is Emmalee?”

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