Page 20 of Devil's Due: Sarge

“Of course, I know. But Halfway is where the safehouse was located. The Lords have friends out that way, and I figured since you guys are now friends with the Lords, they might be willing to help us out – or not. If you think it’s better that you and I go it alone…” She lets her thought trail off.

“I’ll have to come up with a plan.”

“It’s going to take us a few days to get there, so I suppose you’ll have to come up with your plan while we’re on the road. I don’t have a car or any money. I swear I’ll pay you back once I get a job.”

“Baby, what did I tell you about money? You’re not paying me back. We’ll take the truck because it’s safer, less chance of you being noticed than being on the back of my bike.”

“Thank you, Sarge,” she says, pressing up to kiss me again.

“Right,” I snap. “I’m going for a walk to clear my head…” Her eyes grow sad—man, this woman just does it for me. I don’t foresee good things for my life when all it takes is one sad look from her to break me. “No, baby…” I soften my tone. “Not because of this. Because all I can think about is fucking you right now and that’s not gonna help me plan.” I push up from the bed, leaving her lying there staring at me with those sexy hooded eyes. Damn, I drag my hand over my hair to collect myself and turn to leave. If I don’t get out now, we aren’t making it to Halfway, Texas in time for the drop.

Right as I reach the door, she calls out softly, “Don’t tell Vlad.” That catches my attention and I turn to look at her. “He’s my friend,” she says with a little shrug, “and I don’t want to disappoint him, but more than that, I don’t want Nic somehow stowing along. She’s my best friend – you know she’ll try.”

I nod, but I don’t agree verbally because I don’t want to lie to her. Vlad’s my president and he’smybest friend. I won’t go into this mission without him knowing the state of play.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I have his number dialed before I reach the end of the hallway. It rings twice before I hear, “What’s up, brother?” in my ear.

“Where are you? I need to talk, but I don’t really want to do it over the phone.”

“Out in the garage tuning up my bike. Something wrong?”

“That remains to be seen. Like I said, I don’t want to talk about it on the phone.”

“Right. Can’t talk in your room because you got Greer in there now. Meet me in the rally room. Should be enough privacy for us.”

“Heading there now. See you in a few.” I hang up, shoving my phone back in my pocket. Most brothers are off working this time of day, but seeing as he had me on Greer duty, I have nowhere that I need to report to. That, at least, makes things easier.

I slip into the darkened rally room behind the bar and flick on the lights. Those brash, fluorescent lights that do nothing to help the look of the fake wood veneer on the walls, but give off a constant, annoying buzz. I take my seat to the right of Vlad’s at the head of the table and wait. He doesn’t make me wait long.

Vlad walks in still wiping his greasy hands down on a once-white hand towel. He leans on the table instead of taking his seat. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

“Greer came to me. She’s feeling bad about learning about the Lords being followed.” Just thinking back to our conversation… I shake my head, pressing the palm of my hand between my eyes. The woman better be prepared to be laid good and thorough after pulling this stunt. “She ended up at that safehouse on the lamb from her family—serious dicks who happen to be art thieves.”

“No shit. She said as much.”

“Yeah, I know. But, brother… it gets worse. Again, you know they set her up to take the fall for a sting they found out about with the FBI. She hadnothingto do with their business before that, and she almost died while it was going on. But she escaped with the stolen art – ”

“Fuck.” He draws out the word long and slow. The exact sentiment the situation deserves.

“That’s why they came after her at the safehouse. I guess it’s a crazy valuable piece of artwork. They want it back.”

“And let me guess, she’s planning on giving it back to them?”

“Because she doesn’t want any of the women getting hurt in the process, and they agreed to leave her alone – although she says she doesn’t trust them on that.”

“She can’t go,” he says, folding his arms over his chest.

“I know that, and you know that. But she already agreed to the meet. That’s why she came to me, because she doesn’t want to do this alone.”

“Well, at least she was smart enough to do that. Let me get some brothers together –”

“No—” I cut him off. “She doesn’t even want you knowing about any of this. She said she doesn’t want to disappoint you, and she doesn’t want Nic doing something stupid like trying to tag along without us knowing.”

“Dammit.” He runs his fingers through his hair then scratches the top of his head. “Nic loves Greer. Feels responsible for her. She might actually try that.”

“She picked the location. We’re supposed to meet in three days in the town of Halfway.”

“In Texas? Where the safehouse was located?”

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