Page 59 of Marx

“Quick, give them a smile and a wave so they don’t think we’re up to something,” Mira says through a fake smile.

“She’s really good at that,” Kaia mumbles before doing exactly as she was told.

“The way I see it there are almost as many of them, as there are of us,” Chewy states, staring at our bodyguards. “If Renae turned up here they wouldn’t be able to stop us from fighting. I mean, look at them. One of them is injured and two are old.” Chewy waves at them.

She’s not wrong in her assessment, but I still think even with years on their side, Mad Dog and Flack could definitely take us.

“So, what’s the plan, girlies?” Pops says in his loudest voice, plopping down on the couch next to Nat.

“What makes you think there’s a plan?”

Pops raises an unimpressed brow at Blanche before she cackles.

“Both cartels, and their little gang banger cronies have a total of fifty men, give or take. Twenty won’t make it across the border due to criminal charges. They’re already smuggling drugs and women, they won’t risk bringing those men with them and blowing the whole operation,” Remy interrupts.

“Thirty men. So we can say around half should be at the handover points, both here and in Louisiana and our men will take care of them.”

Pops lets out a whistle. “That leaves at least fifteen for us. That’s a lot of killing.”

“I’m not sure, that’s less than one each,” Mira so helpfully points out.

Chewy strokes her imaginary moustache, with a glint in her eye. “How far out did Dima say Renae is?”

“Around two hours.”

“Good. Gives us time to set up.”

Pops nods once, a smile growing from a small grin, into something more maniacal. “I’ve been planning for this day.”

Kaia looks from Chewy to Pops. “Anyone wanna tell the new girl what’s happening?”

“We’re gonna let them come to us,” Chewy shrugs.

“Let them? Them and all their weapons with my kids names on them? Those guys? The bad guys that kidnap kids? Those ones?” Kaia’s eyes bug out the more she says until she reaches a pitch high enough for dogs to hear.

“Yep, those ones.”

“Trust us, girl, we got this,” Pops says, waggling his brows.

Kaia fixes Pops with a stare before reluctantly nodding.

“OK. We have an hour and a half to get this place locked down and ready for war. Pops, I’ll need two nests up on the roof.”

“Aye aye, Dayz.”

“Ladies, when the time comes we’ll need half of you in the bunker with the kids. Decide amongst yourselves who that will be. I’m going to talk to the men,” Chewy says and we all look at each other.

No one is saying anything so I decide to take the reins. “Hands up who wants to fight?”

Every feminine hand shoots up in the air. Mira giggles when she looks around, before shrugging at me.

“Well, that’s not going to work.” I say, blowing out a breath. “Kaia, Mira, Nat and Ana, you’re in the bunker. Vi, are you good to be on hand for medical emergencies?” Vi nods her heademphatically, “Remy, you’ll be good to offer tech support,” Remy nods at my instruction, “Blanche and Chewy you’ll be the blunt instruments, so to speak.” Once I’ve finished bossing everyone around, I’m breathless and I can feel my cheeks heating.

“Well, well, well. Go Lovely, running ops. Ilikeit,” Nat says, throwing me an impressed look.

“That’s First Lady material right there!” The Girl Gang all whoop and holler for me, the toddlers joining in what they think is a dance party.

“Right let’s split up and get this place locked down ready for war.” Chewy claps her hands and makes her way over to the men.

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