Page 42 of Mouse Trapped

“She feel the same about you?” Viper asks.

“Haven’t had a chance to ask her,” I admit.

“You claimin’ her, Brother?” Peg asks.

I look around the table. Wraith had eyes only for Sophie from the moment he met her. Drummer, the man known for tapping everything in sight, only had to meet Sam once to be a goner. Peg himself met Darcy by the side of the road and was immediately smitten. Heart, well, it might have taken him a little longer, but then the circumstances were different for him. Slick, too, he claimed his old lady fast, though it took longer for them to make it together. Rock wouldn’t have gone out on a limb for Becca if there hadn’t been anything there. There are no looks of derision coming my way from the men with old ladies, it’s only those who haven’t met their one yet who don’t understand.

Clearing my throat, I say the words, “I’m claimin’ her.”

Prez gives a sharp nod. That seems to have come as no surprise. “Well, let’s help our brother get his woman home. By whatever means we can.”

“Breaking into a prison, Prez. We’ve not done that before.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, Blade.”

Chapter 18

Mouse

Mariana should be out of solitary by now, that’s what Carissa told me when I called. She still doesn’t know the reason she was removed from the general population, but Drummer’s comment about it worries me, and I’m determined to find out. Today we’re going to visit her.

Drew’s waiting by the side of my bike, bouncing on his feet in anticipation of seeing his sister again.

“Sorry, Wraith wanted a word.” I go to the saddle bag and take out a helmet and pass it to him.

His hands don’t move to take it. When I lift my eyebrow he shrugs. “Don’t need to wear one in Arizona.”

“Wrong, kid. You’re not eighteen. Anyway, I’m responsible for you.” I hope I’m not going to regret that when I see his sullen look. I’ve started the process to make it legal with Carissa, she’s going to prepare a document for me and Mariana to sign.

Straddling the bike, I walk it forward to give him room to get on. While I was doing so, he’s at last put on the helmet and has it buckled up. At my nod, he climbs up behind me. The winter day’s chilly, but at least it’s not raining. I grin to myself. If Mariana signs that document, soon Drew will be driving us there himself. I’ve already got Blade looking for a car for him. A good runner, but cheap and easy to learn on. Not that the kid knows that yet. Didn’t want to get his hopes up until everything’s in place.

We drive up to the facility. Drew’s not the only one excited to see Mariana. Now I’ve claimed her in front of my brothers, I’ve got to start getting her onside with the idea. Somehow my brain has acceptedshe’s mine. And I’ll be fucked if that doesn’t sit easy.

We again go through security which makes me feel more like I’m entering as an inmate than a visitor, and I feel ill at ease as if somehow they’re going to lock me up. I eye the door behind me as though checking my escape route as we wait in line.

The same guard that was here last time is on visitor duty once again. I suppose I stand out, a Native American with a Hispanic boy, but he recognises me, and walks up with that sneer which I assume is habitual. Idly I notice he’s got marks healing on his face as though somebody scratched him. I can’t summon up any sympathy.

“You come to visit Mariana De Souza?”

His tone annoys me, but I tamp down my irritation, suspecting full well things can be taken out on the inmates. I content myself with a simple, “We are.”

He snorts and shakes his head. “Well, you’ve had a wasted journey. She’s not here.”

What?My heart leaps. Drew turns to me with hope in his eyes.

He might be a boy almost grown into a man, but I don’t object when he takes my hand and grasps it firmly. I can feel him shaking as he asks, “She’s been released?”

“Nah,” the guard informs us with something akin to glee in his voice. “Transferred to another facility.”

What?I step forward, trying not to appear menacing, but failing. Carissa did suggest that was going to happen, but why wasn’t she, and we, told? “Where is she?” comes out as a snarl.

“How would I know? We just stop them from getting out. ICE deals with everything else.”

Now it’s Drew holding onto me firmly, holding me back. The guard’s moving closer as if he’s longing for me to take a swing at him. I notice another guard coming up to cover his back.

It’s hard, but I resist my impulse to attack, knowing I’d only end up behind bars. “Let’s get out of here,” I snarl, turning and dragging Drew with me.

Collecting my phone, I don’t bother putting it away. As soon as we’re clear of the building, I call Carissa.

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