Page 87 of Rebel's Fairytale

Standing in his garage with Brute and Pike, Rock ended the call he just made to Ginger and took a deep breath. After letting it out slowly, he said, “Okay. So, this is the plan. I’m going to have the kids go to Ginger’s house for a couple days. She can take them to the carnival. Rex and Top volunteered to help her keep an eye on the kids. Then, we’ll have Diamond hide out in the house, while we have one of the Claws dress up like Diamond and drive Diamond’s Jeep out to the cabin. We’ll hang back and let him follow her, since he’s been watching the house and following her for a couple days. He vandalized the library, too. He doesn’t know we know, but he’s not very good at being stealthy. On the path to the cabin, we’ll block him in and take him out.”

“Sounds good. So, who is going to dress like Diamond?” Brute asked.

Rock thought about it and replied, “Well, I think height-wise and body type, probably Nails. She’d have to… enhance some stuff, but she could pull it off. Think she would?”

Pike nodded and pulled out his phone. “I’ll call her and ask, but I’m sure she would.”

“Or,” Diamond said as she stepped through the open garage door, “and this is just a thought, but you could just let me do it. No, I amend that, you could ask what in the hell I think, since it’s my ex-husband and my life that is on the line.”

Rock took another deep breath and looked up at the rafters, not wanting to snap at Diamond, because none of it was her fault.

“Don’t you start that shit, Rock. You told me I was strong. You sat there and told me that I could do anything. You fostered me finding that strength within myself. Now, you want me to go back to being weak? I don’t fucking think so.”

Pike and Brute pretended to be awfully interested in the go-cart in the corner.Fucking traitors.

“Angel, I’m just—“

“Taking my choices away. I know.”

Fuck. That made it sound like he was no better than her piece of shit ex.

“Diamond,” Rock said on a sigh and put his hands to his hips.

“I’m doing it, Rock. Give me a gun, if you feel the need to, but I’m doing it.”

The last thing he wanted to do was agree to allow her to put herself in danger, but she wasn’t wrong. If he didn’t agree to her performing the mission, it would be like he was telling her she wasn’t strong enough. In an effort to keep her safe, he would be sacrificing her self-esteem and her trust in him. Rock had to let her do this. He had to let her be bait, but he didn’t have to let her do it without safeguards.

“Do you even know what you’re insisting on doing?”

“I’ve been listening since you were on the phone,” she answered and crossed her arms over her chest, staring him down, daring him to say one damn word to her about it. He wasn’t that stupid.

“Okay. Then, do you have any ideas about how to put a seed in his ear that you’re going to go hide away at a safe house until everything calms down?”

She nodded and shrugged. “He’s been following me. So, I’ll go for a late lunch with the girls and make sure I mention itlouder than I should. Either way, he’ll either hear that, or he’ll just follow me.”

Pike walked over and came to a stop next to Rock. “She’s good at this,” he told Rock. “Maybe we should talk to the Claws. They could use another member working with Nails and Ginger with security.”

Rock glared at his friend.

Diamond giggled. “I’m good being an Ol’ Lady, but my services are at their and your disposal.” Then, she fucking winked…winkedat Pike.

When Pike chuckled, Rock knew his unhappiness was showing all over his face.

Messer

Messer didn’t look forward to making the call, but she had to do her daily check-in. Commander West hadn’t been happy with her lack of new information the last couple days. She really needed to figure out a way to get close.

At least she could tell him what her plan was to change that.

“Elite Messer,” Commander West said into the phone as he answered it.

“Commander, I think I have a way to get close to them and try to gather intel. They are throwing a town carnival on their land, tomorrow. Proceeds are going to the local library, since the group I had been talking to had caused some issues there. I’m going to go to the carnival and try to find an in.”

“Sounds promising.”

“From what I understand, most of them will be there.”

“Good. I need something, Messer. We all have people to answer to.”

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