Page 71 of Hawk's Cry

I glance up to find Archangel paying close attention. His eyes reach mine. “You’re not telling me anything that can’t be seen on Google Earth.”

I roll my eyes signalling give me a fucking chance. “Google won’t show you the security, I can.” I do so, laying it on thick, talking about non-existent compression points, trip wires, armed guards and of course, cameras with sensitive microphones to pick up sound, finishing up with, “You won’t get in easily via the front gate, if you can make it in at all. Security is airtight, and so are the fences around the compound.”

“Dogs?”

I shake my head.

“That’s something. So, we come heavily armed. Explosives, percussion grenades.”

I widen my eyes and shake my head. “Are you even listening to me? You don’t have a fuckin’ chance via the front gate. But,” I hold up my hand and give a smug grin, “I can get you inside without them having a clue you’re there.” I have to stress they need me with them, else I’ll be dead once they’ve milked the information from my head. And worse, so will Liv.

He’s looking at me carefully. “You’ve just told me it’s impossible. What do you propose? We drop in by fucking parachute?”

I snort as I’m supposed to. “Don’t forget I know this place like the back of my hand. Look,” I draw something else. “Up here, at the back of the compound is another entrance.”

“One equally well guarded I suppose.”

My grin widens. “Not at all.”

“No? Well, what’s up there?” His eyes sharpen.

“Houses.” I look up to see if I can reel him in. “Where the members with old ladies live.”

“Drummer and Wraith?”

I nod, trying to push down the feeling I want to vomit, wondering if I can pull off convincing Archangel I’d happily see my father dead. “Theirs were the first houses built. Others now live alongside them, Wizard, Heart, Rock, Joker and Lady—”

“I get the picture,” he interrupts. “But surely security is tighter than a virgin ass?”

“Nothing much more than a trip wire alarm, and that’s more than likely switched off.”

His eyes widen.

“Oh, we tried all sorts of early warning systems, even a laser beam, but the wildlife kept setting it off, deer, foxes, even the odd javelina. We’ve never had an attack via the rear of the compound because there’s no road to the forest, so you need off-roaders for a start, and even then you can’t get particularly close. It’s a long hike up from the road, so they’ve gotten lax. Most times the gate itself is unlocked and they rely on their reputation to keep people away from the compound.”

“Vehicular access?”

“Nah, on foot only, as I just said. Is that a problem?”

“Maybe have to leave the tanks and heavier grenade launchers behind.” Problem is, I don’t think he’s joking. “So you’re suggesting we can get in that way. I presume it’s best to use the cover of darkness. That area lit?”

After I shake my head showing no, it’s not, Archangel drums his fingers against the desk. He fires off some more questions, and I answer them all, hopefully to his satisfaction, praying he’ll take the bait and walk into the trap Wizard will have prepared.

“I like this idea,” he tells me at last. “We get the lead members, maybe end up with some product to sell if we can take the women unharmed. Your woman alone has got three sisters.” He gives me a look. “Can you control her if she kicks up a fuss?”

For the second time I swallow down bile. Liv would go crazy if Archangel got close to her sisters. She’d never forgive me. Fuck, I wouldn’t forgive myself. If that happens, I won’t be here to tell the story, I’ll have died before I let anything happen to them, or to Isabel, Maya, Amy, Lisa, Rose, Hope, Alexis, Sabrina, Maria, Tanya or Yiska. As I run through all the women and girls, I hope Wizard has got them locked down securely. Even Mouse’s kids who normally live at his stables, and others who live off compound will have been brought in on lockdown.

This has to work.

He looks up at the man standing behind me. “Get everyone ready. We’ll go in tonight.”

Tonight? So soon. Too soon?

No. Wizard will have sprung into action after my warning.

I could have fucked up. He might be waiting to call church tomorrow.

Whoa. I again tell the demon on my shoulder to shut up, forcing myself to think of the man I supported as my prez, calming my heart rate down so I can relax. To Archangel showing how unfazed I am by clasping my hands behind my head. Wizard won’t have wasted one second. Even now everyone will be safe in the clubhouse, women moaning about the lack of space and teenagers seeing it all as a game. My brothers will already be on standby, some guarding their families, the rest at the top of the compound preparing the trap, ready for whatever is likely to approach. The main gate unguarded, of course.

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