Page 67 of Hawk's Cry

“He’s taken Liv for revenge as we’d expected. I had to think fast, Wizard. I’ve come up with something. I don’t know if it will work…”

“Eli, I know you’ve been doubting yourself for some fuckin’ time, but you’re the one on the ground. You’ve spoken to the motherfucker. Give me your thoughts.”

Yes. I’m the one with the direct contact. I want, need, my wife back. And, it appears, I’m her best hope of that. If Archangel buys what I’m selling.

“I’ve told him the club beat me up and threw me out. That all ties have been cut. I’ve explained Liv and I are on our own, and…”

As my voice trails off, he prompts, “And?”

“And you won’t give a damn whatever happens to Liv.”

“What else, Eli?” he growls, sounding like he dislikes hearing me say it even if it is what was agreed.

I take a deep breath. “I’ve told him I know everything about the club, that I know where to hit you to make it hurt. That I’ll help him destroy the Satan’s Devils.”

He’s quiet. The silence stretches out. Have I gone too far?

Suddenly he gives a short laugh. “Fuck, Eli. This is why I wanted you at my side. Because you think outside the fuckin’ box. It’s fuckin’ brilliant. If Archangel buys into your bullshit, we can set him up. Lead him into a fuckin’ trap. Love it, Brother.”

“If Archangel falls for it,” I warn.

“Yeah.” Again, he goes quiet. “Assuming he does, what are you thinking, Brother?”

“How do you want to play this, Pr… Wizard? I mean, do we deliver him to the feds so they can put him back inside?”

“We end his miserable life,” he snarls. “If they couldn’t hold onto him once, he could get free again. I want this ended once and for all.”

“I’m so fuckin’ happy you said that.” Despite the constant fear for my wife and baby churning in my gut, I grin. I want Archangel six feet under where he can never be a threat to me and mine ever again. “So here’s what I’m thinking.” I’d come up with the plan fast, with no idea whether Wizard will think it’s feasible. “I encourage him to launch an attack on the compound.” I tap the fingers of my hand not holding the phone on the tabletop while I pull some more threads of my thoughts together. “He thinks we’re soft about the women, and we all know he’s not averse to hurting females. I can let him know our, your security is focused on the gate and main entrance, and that the entry via the forest is unguarded. I lead him in that way with the carrot he can hit you where it hurts, by harming the people you hold precious. But instead of unguarded old ladies, he’ll find brothers waiting instead.”

Wizard takes a moment, then speaks, “I like that idea. Like it very much. It’s hard to get to and you can let him think we’re overconfident, or blind to that as an entry point. I’ll get Mouse to take the CCTV cameras down and the alarm on the gate so there will be nothing visible to warn him. Archangel will think it’s totally unguarded.”

“You think this will work?” Suddenly I doubt myself. I’d have preferred Wizard to have shot me down and come up with another idea himself.

“I haven’t thought of anything better. Know this, Eli, I’d offer myself in exchange for Olivia if I thought that would help.”

“He wants revenge. He took the bait when I offered to help him destroy the club. Wizard…”

“What is it?”

“Do you trust me?” I say the words fast. “You don’t think I…”

“Really want revenge for yourself? Fuck it, Eli. I know you better than that. You’re still the man who prospected and earned our trust. It wasn’t you, our brother, that left, it was the man with a fuckin’ disease in his head.”

“Which I’m still battling,” I admit.

“Which you’re now fighting and getting the help that you need.”

My palm hits the table. “What if I freeze, Wizard? What if I can’t do this? What if I give something away? What if I fuck up and Liv… and Liv…”

“Nothing’s going to happen to Olivia. Brother, you speaking to me like you did just now? You planning, thinking things through? That’s the old you, the real you that’s been hidden inside.”

He’s right that I’m fighting, struggling to keep back the demons that tell me I’ll fail this time right when Liv and my unborn child need me.

“You can do this,” Wizard says firmly into my ear. “If there was some way I could step up and do it for you, I would. Not because I have any doubts in you, but I know your illness makes you doubt yourself.”

“I’ll be alright,” I reply, knowing I’ve no other option. Not if I’m going to see Liv, and then our child when it’s time for him to come into the world. “If he’s hurt her…”

Wizard growls. “He’s not going to get that chance. We’re relying on you, Brother. Try and get him to buy into your plan. Tell him you’ll only help if you get proof of life.”

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