Page 43 of Rebel

The planning continued for another hour.Shade provided the intel on where the Morettis had moved, including a layout of the building.Charming went over every aspect of the attack -- entry points, escape routes, communications, weapons.I watched Rio throughout, noting how she contributed tactical suggestions that even the more experienced members hadn’t considered.The woman knew her shit.By the time we finished, the plan was tight, with contingencies for every scenario we could think of.

“Get some rest,” Charming ordered when we were done.“We move out at 0400.”

The room emptied slowly, members breaking off to prepare in their own ways.Some headed to the homes, others to clean weapons or check gear.Rio and I remained at the table, studying the map one last time.

“You know this is probably exactly what they want,” she said quietly.“Us charging in, angry and looking for payback.”

“Probably,” I agreed.“Doesn’t mean we’re not going to give it to them.”

She smiled, a cold, dangerous thing.“Never said we shouldn’t go.Just said we should know what we’re walking into.”

I rolled up the map, tucking it into my jacket.“You having second thoughts?”

“About putting bullets in the people who hurt our friends?”She shook her head.“Not a chance.Just want to make sure we’re the ones walking out afterward.”

“We will be.”I held her gaze.“I’ve got your back.”

“And I’ve got yours.”She checked her watch.“Five hours until we move.Enough time to gear up and maybe catch a power nap.”

We walked together toward the SUV beside the clubhouse, the compound now humming with focused energy as everyone prepared for the coming fight.Rio’s stride was confident, her back straight despite the exhaustion I knew she must be feeling.The woman had grit; I’d give her that.

“You know,” I said as we reached the vehicle, “Charming could have had our asses for disobeying orders.”

She grinned.“Knew he wouldn’t.Man needs all hands on deck for this one.”

I laughed softly.“Come on.Let’s head to the house.”

We got into the SUV and I drove us home.When we walked in, Rio stopped at the fridge and pulled out a cold beer.She took a long pull, then handed me a drink as well.She shut the fridge and leaned against the counter.

“Why don’t you sleep with me again?We can set an alarm for two hours.That gives us plenty of time to prep.”

She nodded.“Yeah.Not sure I can actually sleep right now though.I’m dead tired but wired at the same time.”

I got it.Felt the same.

I held out my hand to her.“Only one way to find out.”

She drained her beer and set the bottle on the counter before taking my hand.I finished mine as well, tossing it across the room into the trash.She shook her head when it went straight in.

“Show off,” she muttered.

We went to the bedroom and toed off our boots.I shrugged out of my cut and set it aside then stretched out on the bed.Rio walked to the other side and lay beside me.I put my arm around her, tugging her closer.It didn’t take long for her breathing to even out.I’d known she’d fall asleep once she allowed herself to relax.The beer had probably helped.

Dawn couldn’t come soon enough.The Morettis had drawn first blood tonight, but we’d make damn sure they regretted it by sunrise.Didn’t matter we’d already killed some of them.Far as I was concerned, they all needed to be six feet under.The fact they’d hurt my brothers infuriated me, and I knew the others felt the same.They were family, and family stood together, fought together, and if necessary, bled together.The Devil’s Boneyard took care of its own, and heaven help anyone who forgot that lesson.

Chapter Ten

Rio

Glass shattered somewhere to my left as I ducked behind an overturned table.The roar of motorcycle engines, mixed with shouting and gunfire, created a symphony of chaos around me.Blood dripped from a cut above my eyebrow, but I ignored it.My focus narrowed to a single purpose -- finding the two Army pricks who’d attacked me.Somewhere in this hellhole, they were hiding, and the Devil’s Boneyard assault gave me the perfect cover to hunt them down.

I peered over the edge of the table, taking in the carnage.The Moretti hideout had transformed from a nondescript industrial building into a war zone in less than ten minutes.Bodies littered the concrete floor, some moving, others eerily still.The sickly scent of blood and gunpowder filled my nostrils, a smell I’d grown unfortunately familiar with.

Not how I’d planned to spend my time, but here I was.At this rate, the battle with the Morettis would be never-ending.This made our third confrontation with them since the initial fight.

The attack had started with precision.Charming had received intel about the hideout’s location from Shade, and he’d moved fast.At first, he’d intended to leave me out of the fight, but I’d insisted on going.I wasn’t the type to sit at home and let the men go off to battle.No, if there was a chance at finding the assholes who’d hurt me, I wanted in on the action.They’d cheated by drugging me before.They’d also planted a tracker inside the heel of a boot and another under my truck.This time, I’d have the upper hand.

“Rio, three o’clock!”Chaos’s voice cut through the noise.

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