Page 150 of 12 Months of Mayhem

Maya grins, cracking her knuckles. “That’ll take me like two minutes.”

“I could do it in one,” Voodoo jokes.

“No one likes a showoff, V.” Maya fires back with a middle finger pointed at the camera. “Even if you’re almost as good of a hacker as I am.”

“Almost?” he laughs before Raze elbows him hard in the ribs. “The things I can do with a single keystroke would broaden your horizons.”

“It only takes one stroke?”

“If I weren’t a happily married man, I would show you just how powerful one stroke could be.”

“Enough. I don’t give a shit if you’re talking about a fucking tech nerd thing, but if you say another goddamn thing about stroking, I will not only tell my sister about this little nerd flirting shit, but I will help her hide your body with fucking gusto,” Raze reminds him.

“Trust me, Raze. I will never forget who I married. Getting my face rearranged by you the first time is enough of a reminder.”

“If we’re done with whatever the fuck that was…let’s focus on the problem at hand. Meredith,” I continue. “We need to keep her under tight control. She’s a wild card. She can’t know what we are planning. We can’t risk her blowing our plan to bits before we even execute it.”

“I’ve got it under control. She’s not exactly conscious at the safe house. I can keep her drugged until we’re ready for her. You tell me when you’re ready to move her, and I’ll get it done.”

I nod, satisfied with the plan so far. “Good. Now, we wait to see if they take the bait while we prepare.”

As the meeting wraps up, I can feel the tension in the room ratcheting up a notch. Everyone is on edge, knowing what’s at stake. I watch as the men file out. The Heaven’s Rejects boys nod respectfully as they pass, a silent acknowledgment of the alliance we’ve forged.

Once the room clears, I turn back to the laptop screen where Voodoo and Raze are still watching.

“You two got everything you need?” I ask.

Voodoo nods. “Yeah, we’re on it. I’ll start laying the false trail for Meredith right away. Should have something for you in a few hours.”

“Good,” I mutter. “Keep me posted.”

As I reach to end the call, Raze’s voice stops me. “Rex, how’s Remy holding up?”

I pause. “She’s...managing,” I say finally. “Tough as nails, even when she’s stuck in a hospital bed.”

Raze nods, his concern evident even through the pixelated screen. “Tell her we are thinking of her, yeah? And keep her safe, brother.”

“Always,” I promise before ending the call.

Chapter Ten

Rex

I drum my fingers on Rem’s desk. The waiting game is getting to me far more than it should. Patience has never been one of my virtues, and it’s showing. Everything is set and ready. We just need them to take the bait. The sooner we can end this, the faster I can focus on what really matters. Rem and our kids.

My phone buzzes on the desktop. I snatch it up, and my heart rate quickens as I see Rem’s name flash across the screen. Swiping to answer, I bring it to my ear.

“Hey, darlin’,” I drawl.

“Rex,” she says, her tone clipped and businesslike. “Any movement yet?”

“Nothing. It’s like watching paint dry but with more guns and potential for bloodshed.”

“It’s better than being a personal pin cushion and wired to monitors.”

I chuckle despite the tension. “How’re you feeling?”

“Like a beached whale with indigestion,” she grumbles. “Your child seems determined to use my bladder as a trampoline.”

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