Page 20 of Pound

Before the what the fuck left his mouth, Trip was his voice.

“What? If he’s her ol’ man, he has a duty to be there.”

“Both of you, calm down and listen. Moreno’s thinking he’s got one over on us. He was driving around, not worried about a tail. He was flexing muscle out in the open with the wheelchair lady, which means he also doesn’t think there are eyes on him at home. He hasn’t figured out you’re a Phantom. If he did, he’d be on lockdown. He’s not that big of an idiot or he wouldn’t have her in the first place.”

The words he was saying made sense to his head but not his heart.

“Prez is right, brother. You’re our secret. One we can spring on him when it’s most beneficial. If we storm the castle and he catches sight of you before we get Meri out, he could kill her out of spite for you.”

“Fuck!” Pound cursed and ran his hands through his hair roughly for the millionth time since Meri was taken. He was going to be bald if they didn’t get her back soon.

“I’m not asking you to stay back here, I know you’d disobey me if I ordered that. You stay back and don’t go in. The minute she’s out and we have Moreno, you can throw her on your sled and bring her back here and let Mash check her out.”

Taps decided it was time to pipe in. “Mash is still around?” It was obvious to anyone who knew Taps that a follow-up remark was coming. One that was likely insulting.

“Hold your tongue, Taps. We’re guests here and I know you won’t mean it as such, but I’m sure whatever you’re about to say is insulting. Give us five.”

Taps pushed the button on his watch and shut up. It was the way Granite relayed the need to be serious to the jokester.

“Let the young one speak, Granite. Mash may be in his sixties, but he can take on any man in this room, myself included.”

“Mash?” It was then that Pound realized Trip hadn’t met Mash before. They’d been lucky on their previous visits not to need his services.

“Old prez of the Iron Travelers. He was in a MASH unit for his career, thus the name. Some of you young’uns might not know what that is, they don’t exist anymore but watch some old TV and you’ll figure it out. He can handle anything you throw at him, but his bedside manner leaves a bit to be desired,” Morningstar explained. “Oh, and he’s my old man.”

Granite barked a laugh. “A bit to be desired? If that isn’t the understatement of the decade, my hair isn’t gray.” He turned back to Pound. “I need you to be the veep you’ve always been for this one. Lock that shit down and disconnect until she’s safe.”

Taps’ watch alarm went off. “Aren’t you the one always trying to get us to touch our feelings and sit around holding hands doing hippie campfire shit?”

“I guess our five minutes is up.” Granite rubbed his temple. Something he seemed to do a lot lately.

The mood had settled. It wasn’t light, but it was… hopeful.

“It’s get in touch with your feelings, not touch them. That sounds kinky and possibly illegal. Prez is trying to keep us from ripping ourselves and each other to shreds. And what you call hippie campfire shit is one way to do that. If it wasn’t for this club, I’d be long gone from this world.”

The truth of his own words shook him to his core. It was true. Even he’d fought the touchy-feely shit, but it mattered. It had changed his life… was changing it. If it wasn’t for Granite and the rest of his brothers, he would’ve never felt worthy of Meri.

No one knew it, but Pound was ready to go wander before Meri was taken. He was waiting for the right time to approach Granite about it. The happiness surrounding him had been suffocating. But it now seemed oxygenating.

“Gather down here at eighteen hundred and we’ll go over the plan and head out.” Granite meant the order for the Phantoms, but the Travelers nodded and made themselves scarce too.

“You good with holding back?”

“Yeah, prez. It’s the smart move and we all know it. Doesn’t mean I like it, but it’s the soundest course of action.”

“Then are you all straightened out with what you’re gonna do?”

He nodded.

“Does that still involve you stepping down?”

Pound cleared his throat before answering. Granite was hurt by his actions earlier and it showed.

“No, prez. You were right, but I do have a confession.”

“Is that about you stepping away before all this mess?”

Pound was shocked at the perception of his oldest friend. He shouldn’t have been, but he was.

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