Page 124 of Avenging Devil: Part 2

Swift glares at him, but in the end, all she can do is say she’ll try.

Dart’s looking at me strangely, then he turns to Lost. “Niran’s right. It’s hellishly risky.”

Lost drums his fingers on the table. “Then we come up with a new plan. If it’s confirmed we know his location, we take him there.”

“We’ve got one hour fifty-five minutes,” Grumbler points out. “Not long enough to see the lay of the land and organise an attack. And, if we attack, he might kill my old lady.”

Lost furrows his brow. “I don’t like leaving it until we’re at the mall. We risk losing him, even if we keep Saffie safe and get Mary back. We know he won’t give up. And there’s always a risk he’ll pinch Saffie and keep Mary as well.”

It seems we’re at a standoff.

Lost pinches his nose, then rubs his forefinger of both hands against his brow, then he toys with his beard. Suddenly his face brightens, and he looks up. “If it looks like we’ve found the right location, we’ll go stake it out. Duke won’t go to the mall without backup, so he’ll be taking Grit along, maybe leaving Mary with Susie. We can take him on the road.”

“But if he’s true to his word, he’ll have Mary with him. How are you proposing to stop him? Crash the fuckin’ car? She’s pregnant, goddamnit!” Grumbler’s understandably upset.

“So we’ll get Stormy’s drones to monitor the building and see who’s fuckin’ left there.” Lost seems to be getting frustrated.

Tentatively, I raise my hand. It takes a moment for anyone to notice me. When they do, I swallow nervously as I prepare to propose my idea. I mean, who am I to offer advice to bikers?

“What is it, Saffie?” Lost prompts me, his eyes settling on me gently.

“You’ll know what car Duke will be driving if you watch him leave the warehouse, right?” Dart’s eyes widen, then he makes a gesture to me as if to say, carry on. “You can find it in the parking lot and put a tracker on it or something.”

“Then what?” Niran growls beside me. “What’s on your fuckin’ mind?”

Knowing he’s going to hate this, I rush my idea out fast. “We do exactly what Duke says. Go to the mall. If he’s true to his word, he’ll exchange Mary for me. Then you can track his car and come get me.”

“No.” Niran’s hiss is somehow worse than a shout.

“Let her continue,” Lost orders.

“If he’s left Mary at the warehouse, you can swoop in and take her while he’s gone.”

“But you’ll be in Duke’s hands,” Salem states.

I shrug. “Hopefully not for long. You’ll be able to track his car and then intercept it. But this time, Mary won’t be in danger.”

“She might,” Pennywise says, shaking his head. “What’s to say he wouldn’t leave her immobilised in the car when he takes you, and keep you both?”

“Whatever we do, there’s a fuckin’ risk.” Lost wipes his hands over his face, drawing down his eyes. “We’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t.”

“And we’re running out of time. One hour forty-five now,” Grumbler says, his voice vibrating with anger. Though that’s what I assume before I look at his face. He’s terrified.

Lost’s phone pings. Pressing a couple of keys, he answers and puts it on speaker.

“Talk to me.”

Preacher’s voice comes over loud and clear. “Managed to get the mic working. Got a direct line of sight, so hearing them is a breeze. There’s some dissent in the enemy camp.”

“What are their plans?” Lost asks, while Grumbler interrupts.

“Can you hear Mary? Is she alright?”

Preacher snorts. “She’s currently tearing Susie a new one.” For the first time today, I see Grumbler smile. “The plan was to leave Susie behind to watch Mary, but she’s refusing. Mary’s water has broken. She’s been having pains and Susie doesn’t want to be left delivering a child.” Grumbler’s smile is completely wiped away.

“It’s too early,” he rasps. “She needs to be in the hospital—”

“Just hang on,” Dart tries to reassure him. “She’s still got time. We got this, Brother.”

---