Page 28 of Hawk's Sapphire

We head down to the sanctuary and find all my brothers already in their seats.Declan is sweeping the room one more time.Eli and his men are still here, and since the Feds haven’t quite given up hope on finding something to make stick, Eli has suggested they stay for a few extra days in case any of us do get picked up, they’ll be here as extra protection for the women and children.

“Trevor.”Gabe calls.“Close the door on your way out and stand guard.No one comes in without permission.Let Mason know not to let anyone through the gates either.”

“On it, Pres.”

“Declan?”Pres waits for the all clear, which Dec gives him.He slams the gavel, drops into his chair and scrubs both hands down his face.Gabe looks as tired as I feel.His eyes are red, with dark circles underneath.This whole week has been fucking stressful for all of us.

“You good, Pres?”Jameson asks.Gabe nods, looking over the tops of his hands, his elbows leaning on the table as if he needs to support to hold himself up.

“I’m ready for all this shit to be over.To get back to normal.”Gabe says, sounding rough.“But first, I need to know what the hell is going on?What’s the fucking connection between everything that’s happened?”He slams his fist on the table and leans back.

“First, George dies after helping a group of people get free from the trafficking ring.Then, my daughter comes home.Finding out she wassoldby her grandmother to some rich pencil dick motherfucker.The connection to the fucking mafia was icing on the cake.”Jake growls beside me at the mention of Avery.

“Now we’ve got, Thomas and Sadie both on the run.A long list of dead bodies, including a dirty ass cop and now an alleged federal informant.Devils are moving in on our town.A bitch with a badge and a chip on her shoulder is looking to stir up shit for the club.Anyone want to take a shot atwhat the fuckthis all means or how the hell it’s all connected?And why the fuck it’s happening in my town to my club?” Gabe’s temper is flaring to life with good reason.We’re all tense and pissed off.

“I’m willing to bet Kayce could fill some blanks.”I suggest, hoping maybe Declan’s had better luck than I have at getting any information from the Trident Elite crew.“Their system is a little more difficult to crack this time around, brother.I’m sure after Violet’s deal, they expected me to be in their shit and took preventive measures.”

“I haven’t been able to reach Kayce.I’ve left some messages and sent a few texts to which he said he’d look into and get back to me, but that’s the extent of his communication thus far.”Declan sounds as irritated as the rest of us.Kayce is supposed to be an old friend from the military.Given the pile of shit we’re dealing with, I’d think he’d jump in and help.

Not if he’s somehow connected to the trouble that’s been brewing.

He was involved with Violet’s escape from her shitty husband, and with rescuing her friend.His group intercepted a shipment of people at the harbor recently too.It’s possible he’s involved, but on which side of the line?Maybe he’s playing both sides.Some mercenaries work for the highest bidder.They don’t give a shit which side is right or wrong, only who’s paying the bills.

“Which means, he’s not going to tell us shit.”Jake mutters, interrupting my train of thought.

“Have you found Sadie yet?”Mack asks, zeroing in all the attention on me now.

“No.”I sigh.“I’m still looking.I’ll find her.Knowing her she’s holed up somewhere working on her computer.She’s skilled, but I’ll find her.”

“Walk me through what happened, again?She was with you the day Nate died.You were seen going to your room.You saw the video and yelled at her, and told her to leave?”Mack recaps, looking at me like he’s ready to beat my ass.

“I didn’t tell her toleave,I told her to go home.I never told her to leave town.She did that shit on her own.”My own anger is starting to boil over.If he wants to tussle, I’m down.I could use a little stress relief.

“But you knew she was thinking about leaving town.So, it would stand to reason when you told her to leave, that she fucking would!”Mack is on his feet and so is Jake, standing between us.I don’t take the bait.He’s one crazy motherfucker with a penchant for knives and quite frankly I don’t feel like getting skinned today.

“I knew she was thinking about it.But I didn’t think she would do it.”I’m fighting to keep the grit out of my voice.

“Then help me understand what we’re missing?What else happened?Did she say anything that would give us any clue as to where she went or where her head was?”Mack rambles.“She knows we would never hurt her.Punishment has to be served, but this is Sadie.She’s like my daughter.”

“Thomas is my son.Blood doesn’t mean someone can’t become a traitor.”Caleb’s words are so heavy the weight is felt throughout the room.“But…I don’t think Sadie did what she did on her own.What would she have to gain from it?If I had to bet, I’d say she’s running from something.”Caleb throws his arms out at his sides.

“Maybe Thomas was blackmailing her somehow.”It’s Jameson’s turn to chime in.Gabe’s head is on a swivel as we all bounce shit back and forth.

“What did you find when you went to her house?”Gabe asks, looking to Jake to answer.Eli and his men are all sitting quietly, listening and taking notes.They all know Sadie, but not like the rest of us do.They see her a few times a year, where we’ve all been in the thick of shit with her since day one.

“She’s a tech whiz like you and Xander.”Eli looks to me.I nod.“Did she leave any clues with you as to what she’s been doing?An email.A text message.Anything you can think of that’s out of the ordinary maybe.What about friends she may have contacted outside the club?”

“The only friends Sadie has are in the club.She doesn’t trust outsiders.And the only person she tells anything important to, is Avery.She used to tell Jinx or Jayde, but she’s smart.She knew we would question them.Jinx and Jayde could keep quiet for a while, but their worry for her would override their need for secrecy.They’d eventually crack.As for Avery, she wouldn’t be able to lie even if she wanted to anymore.”

Jake smirks beside me.“Not if she wanted to be able to sit properly, she wouldn’t.”The room fills with light laughter.Everyone except Gabe, anyway.

“What about Thomas?Do we have anything on him?”Gabe asks, looking more frustrated by the minute.

“Nothing Pres.He’s still a fucking ghost in the wind.”I sigh, squeezing the back of my neck to relieve tension that’s settled there.

“Get Ghost and Wyatt on it.”Pres says to Declan.“I wouldn’t normally pull Garrison personnel into club shit, but with the Feds sniffing around everything, we need all the help we can get.I want this shit figured out and both their asses found, fucking yesterday.”

“On it.”Dec pulls out his cell and begins typing on the screen.Ghost and Gus have stayed gone, handling the strip club and the diner, giving the Feds something to stakeout besides the clubhouse.

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