by Ana Night
They’d been watching Wade and his men for five days now. Figuring out their routines. Finding the weaknesses in their defense. All while making a plan and getting ready. Unfortunately, Sean had decided he was going to help them.
“When are we doing this? My ass is getting sore from all this sitting and doing nothing,” Sean said.
Joker’s only answer was to glare at Sean.
“We should move tonight,” Zayne said.
Joker glanced at Zayne, not at all surprised that Zayne wanted to do it tonight. He’d figured the same thing.
“We should get ready, then,” Joker said.
Zayne nodded and disappeared into the only bedroom in the tiny apartment Sean had set them up in. When he came back, he was carrying a duffle bag. He placed it on the table, pulled out a chair and sat down. He unzipped the back and pulled out guns, magazines, and cartridges, laying them on the table. Then he began putting bullets into the magazines. Sean picked up one of the guns. He turned it in his hand, looking it over and then trying out different ways to hold it. Joker groaned and reached across the table to take the gun away from Sean.
“Hey. What the hell?” Sean blurted.
Joker put the gun back in front of Zayne as he said, “No firearms for you.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because you don’t know how to use one and I’d rather avoid getting shot if I can.”
Sean crossed his arms and thrust his lip out in a pout. “I know how to handle a gun.”
Zayne snorted and stopped what he was doing to turn a disbelieving glance on Sean. “Sure, that’s why you normally have big guys with guns with you everywhere and hid from Wade in a warehouse. You can’t protect yourself.”
Joker pursed his lips. “He did make a bomb, though.”
Red tinted Sean’s cheeks and he averted his gaze as he said, “I didn’t make it. I just put it on the door and pressed the on-button.”
“Case in point,” Joker said, a bit of laughter in his voice. “You did also hook it up on the inside of the door. With yourself in the room.”
“All right. All right. I get it. No gun for me,” Sean said.
Zayne was busy with the guns and Sean quickly found some other way to entertain himself, so he pushed out of his chair. He grabbed his phone and walked out onto the balcony where he leaned against the brick wall between theirs and the next apartment. He pulled up his voicemails. He had seven saved. He pressed the button to play the first one and put his phone to his ear, holding his breath until Gabe’s voice came through.
“Hey. It’s me. I just wanted to… I don’t even know. Just be safe, okay? Call me. I love you, Kerrigan.”
He’d been replaying that voicemail over and over for days. Hearing Gabe say his real name affected him much more than he’d ever thought it could. It was something special between them. A name only Gabe got to call him.
He hadn’t called him back. He had no idea where he stood with King and the club. He didn’t want to bring Gabe into that shit. The decision had been his. He was the one who was going to face the consequences for it. He just had to make sure Gabe was safe before he did.
He played another voicemail, smiling when Gabe’s voice filled his ear.
“Hey. Me again. I just got home. With my parents, that is. They won’t leave me alone. Even Dara’s fussing over me. I’ve decided to let her. It’s rare she gets all loving, so I’m gonna enjoy every second of it. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I’m out of the hospital and safe.” There was a pause where he could hear Gabe taking a shaky breath before continuing. “I love you. Stay safe.”
He knew Zayne was standing in the doorway, watching him closely, but he didn’t turn towards him right away. He squeezed his eyes shut and put his phone in his front pocket. He breathed in deeply before meeting Zayne’s gaze.
“What?”
Zayne shrugged. “You tell me.”
Joker crossed his arms over his chest and kept quiet.
“He’s worth fighting for,” Zayne said, taking a step closer.
Joker grunted. “I know.”
“Then man the fuck up and do it.”
He glared at Zayne, but his best friend was pretty much immune to his deadly glares. He let out a sigh and turned his gaze on the ground.
“I will. Once this is done.”
“At least tell him you love him.”
“That’s not exactly something you do over the phone when it’s the first time,” Joker said.
“Guess you’d better survive the night so you can go home and tell him.”
Joker rolled his eyes. “That’s been the plan from the start.”
“Good. I just wanted to make sure,” Zayne said.
They walked back inside, and the second Sean saw them he was out of his chair and walking towards them.
“So, I was thinking,” Sean said.
Both Zayne and Joker groaned.
Sean put his hands on his hips, saying, “Oh, fuck you.”
Zayne snorted and walked around Sean to go back to the table. Joker stayed, looking at Sean curiously.
“I’m gonna regret asking, but what were you thinking?” Joker asked.
“Well, seeing as I’m not allowed near the guns, I thought maybe I could drive the getaway car.”
Joker blinked at him for several long seconds.
“We won’t need a getaway car,” Joker drawled.
“But…” Sean trailed off, throwing his hands in the air. “Why the hell not?”
“We’ll be driving in and out on our bikes and there won’t be anyone left to run from,” Zayne said.
“What about the cops? I mean, gunshots will most certainly get noticed. Even out there.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Joker said.
Sean made a frustrated sound and said, “Well, now I’m fucking worried. I kinda like you guys alive.”
“Only because we’re doing the dirty work for you, so you don’t have to hire someone to do it,” Zayne said.
Sean mumbled something under his breath and pulled out his phone. Zayne was smiling as Sean pretended to ignore them. Joker shook his head at them and went into the bedroom. He sat down on the bed and pulled up a picture of Gabe on his phone. Gabe was smiling, a sparkle in his eyes.
“Soon, baby,” Joker said in a low voice. “I’ll be home with you, soon.”
Gabe
He stared at his phone, just waiting for Joker to call or text him. He’d been waiting for days now without success. He was angry, but mostly he was scared. Scared for Joker’s safety, scared he wouldn’t come home, or at least not come home to him. Losing Joker was pretty much his worst nightmare.
“You should put that away, sweetheart,” his mother said as she walked into the living room where he was sitting on the couch.
He glanced up at her, finding her watching him with worry in her eyes.
“You know the only one he calls when he’s on a run, is your father,” she said.
“Except he’s not on a run.”
Polly sat down next to him and took one of his hands in both of hers.
“Sweetie—”
“Oh, come on, Mom. You know they aren’t. If it was club sanctioned, they wouldn’t be there alone,” Gabe said. He shook his head. “They shouldn’t be doing it alone.”
“But they are, and you can’t change that. All you can do is hope and remember who he is. He can do it. He can make it home.”
“I hope so,” Gabe mumbled.
“If there’s one thing I know about Joker it is that he will do anything for the people he loves, and I know how much he loves you. He’ll come home to you,” Polly said.
Gabe nodded slowly, hoping his mother was right. For Joker to go up against King, he really had to want Gabe, want their relationship. He’d rarely ever seen Joker disagree with or oppose King.
The front door opened, and Polly sighed, standing from the couch.
“The monster is home,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
&nbs
p; She’d barely spoken before said monster cam running into the room. She jumped onto the couch, bouncing a few times before pulling Gabe into a hug.
“You’re still alive,” Dara said in mock wonder.
“Fuck you,” Gabe grumbled and wrapped his good arm around her.
He’d only had to wear the sling the first two days, but the doctor said it would take weeks before his shoulder was completely healed again. The worst part was that he wasn’t able to ride his bike, both because of the shoulder and the concussion. It’d be a while, which meant he was stuck at his parents’ place without much to do except worrying about Joker.
Dara leaned back, letting go of Gabe, and asked, “How’s the headache?”
“A little better,” Gabe said with a smile.
“I meant Joker,” she quipped, making him push her off of the couch.
She fell onto the floor, landing on her back with a laugh. He flipped her off and leaned back into the cushions.
“Be nice, you two,” Polly said.
“Nice isn’t in my repertoire,” they both said at the same time.
They glanced at each other and both burst into laughter. They’d been saying that since Dara could pronounce repertoire.
Polly sighed loudly and grumbled under her breath as she walked out of the room. Gabe chuckled and met Dara’s gaze. She was grinning up at him but the second their mother was gone, she got a serious expression on her face. She pulled herself up off the floor and sat down next to Gabe.
“I was kinda serious about Joker,” she said and cut him off when he opened his mouth. “I know he’s not a headache. I just mean… I don’t know. I’m just wondering if he’s worth the trouble? Do you really think he’ll fight for you?”
Gabe had to swallow against the emotions clogging his throat before he could say, “I hope so. I know he’s worth it.”
“Yeah, but you’re sorta biased where he’s concerned. You’ve been in love with him for like five years.”
Gabe grunted. “Why do I ever tell you anything?”
“Because you love me and value my opinion.”
Gabe arched a brow at her and asked, “When did you get so grown up?”
“Way before you,” Dara said with a smug smile.
Gabe put a hand over her face and pushed her away. She pulled his hand off, chuckling.
“Seriously, though. You shouldn’t tolerate the way he’s been treating you the last few days.”
“I’m not going to,” Gabe said and meant it.
“Good. ‘Cause no one’s got the right to treat you like shit.”
Gabe blinked at her. “I told you that.”
Dara shrugged. “And now I’m reminding you.”
He shook his head, amazed by his little sister who was, in fact, more grown than he’d realized. Why she kept running off, though, was a mystery to him. But he knew she’d tell him when she was ready.
Dara patted him on the good shoulder and left him alone, probably headed for the kitchen to steal a snack, which would get her yelled at by their mom.
Gabe sat there for a while, just thinking about everything Dara had told him. There was no doubt in his mind that Joker was worth it and the fact he’d gone to make sure Gabe was safe—even though he was being a bit of an ass about it—just cemented that. But Dara was right; he shouldn’t just be tolerating Joker’s behavior and if he could, he would’ve gone after him.
He picked his phone up and dialed Joker’s number. It rang a few times then went to voicemail. He had no idea if Joker even listened to them, but he kept leaving them anyway.
“Hey. It’s me. I just wanted to tell you that you’d better come back to me. Otherwise, I’ll just go after you. I don’t care what it takes. I’ll find you, and when I do, I’m gonna kick your ass for leaving me in the dark like this. You’re an asshole, but I love you, Kerrigan. Stay safe.”
He hung up and stared at his phone for a while, wishing he could just reach through it to shake Joker and make him pick up. He put his phone down with a sigh and stood, making his way into the kitchen where he could hear his mother and sister laughing. He couldn’t make Joker do anything. All he could do was hope and pray that he’d find his way home.
Joker
Gabe was calling him. He couldn’t tear his eyes off of his phone as Gabe’s picture filled the screen. He swallowed hard and pressed the decline button. A few seconds later, he got a message telling him he had a new voicemail. He took a deep breath before listening to it.
He was smiling through the whole thing, loving the strength and determination he heard in Gabe’s voice. As the message finished, he had no doubt in his mind that once he made it back home, he was gonna fight tooth and nail for his man. He wasn’t gonna let anything get between them. Not King. Not the club. Nothing.
Zayne knocked on the bedroom door before stepping inside.
“It’s time,” Zayne said.
Joker nodded and stood from the bed. He got ready, putting on his bulletproof vest, shoulder holster, and magazine belt. He secured his knife and just as they were leaving, he saw Zayne sending a text to Nash. His heart begged him to contact Gabe, but he ignored it. He couldn’t afford the distraction.
They walked outside and Joker put his helmet on before getting on his bike. He pulled his gloves on and started his bike. They took off with Zayne in the lead. Sean had picked the apartment because there was a less than five-minute drive to the warehouse.
They parked their bikes two warehouses from Wade’s. It was getting late, which meant the sun was going down, the workers had gone home, and Wade’s business was in full swing. Wade had at least seven guys around him at all times. Turned out, he was more paranoid than Sean. With good reason, though. He was doing business with the likes of Ronin and some people even worse.
Two against eight weren’t amazing odds, but he and Zayne had tried worse. Normally, he preferred not killing unless he absolutely had to but this time, he figured anyone who was heartless enough to work for a man like Wade had it coming.
They made their way to the warehouse, stopping in a place where they could see the two guards who were always stationed outside. He gave Zayne a nod and they split up to take one of the guards each. Neither of them was paying much attention, looking like they were bored to death.
Joker snuck up on his guy, grabbing him just as he was about to turn Joker’s way. He put his arm around the man’s throat, holding him in a blood choke until he passed out. He lowered him to the ground and pulled out a roll of duct tape. The two guards were the only ones he’d agreed with Zayne that they wouldn’t kill. They were both just boys, barely even eighteen.
With the kid wrapped up good and taped to a utility pole, he turned to walk towards Zayne who was busy taping the other boy to a stop sign. He reached Zayne just as he finished and, together, they made their way to the front door of the warehouse. Movement to their right had them both whirling around with their guns raised.
A man in a ballcap with a long, gray beard and worn clothes was standing thirty feet from them, his eyes wide. He was carrying a large backpack and it didn’t take Joker long to figure out he was homeless.
“Are ya’ll gonna get rid of those bastards in there?” he asked with a nod towards Wade’s warehouse. “I liked it better when it was Sean’s. He was nice. Always shared his food with me.”
Joker lowered his gun. The man didn’t seem scared and if he was to guess, he’d say he’d had a gun pointed at his face before. The way he held himself told Joker he might’ve been military. He was sure the washed-out letters on his cap once spelled out ‘veteran’.
“Walk away. Forget you saw us, and Sean will be back to share his lunch with you in no time,” Joker said.
“Saw who?” the man said with a grin before turning and walking away.
Joker kept his gaze on him for a while, then turned to share a look with Zayne.
“That was risky,” Zayne said.
Joker shrugged. “If he decides he wants money to keep quiet, he’ll
have to take it up with Sean.”
Zayne grunted, shaking his head. Joker drew in a deep breath and then they continued to the door. Zayne grabbed the handle and opened the door for Joker to walk in first. The foyer they stepped into was empty. They were walking into the building from the opposite side of what he and Gabe had, hoping not to walk straight into all Wade’s men at once.
The warehouse had two big offices, several bathrooms, a lounge for the employees, and the big room they used for storage and shipping. They were going to leave the offices for last, knowing Wade was there with one of his men. One office was to their left while the hallway to the bathroom and the other office was on their right. They walked to the first bathroom, checking inside to find it empty, then they moved on to the next.
A toilet flushing had them both tensing. Joker holstered his gun and pulled out his knife. They weren’t going to fire their guns unless absolutely necessary. The nearest police station wasn’t far so if a gunshot was reported, they’d have to haul ass.
The door to the bathroom opened and a man walked out. It only took him a split second to notice Zayne. He opened his mouth, probably to yell, but Joker never gave him the chance. He stepped up behind him, clamped a hand over the man’s mouth and slit his throat. There was some gurgling and blood splatter, so Joker dragged the man back into the bathroom. He laid him down on the floor. The man was unconscious and would be dead within minutes, so he didn’t bother securing his weapons.
He closed the door and motioned for Zayne to continue. They walked back out of the hallway, into the foyer where Zayne stopped in front of the door to the warehouse. Joker pulled out his phone, checking the surveillance video Sean had linked to his phone. There was one man driving the forklift, one standing next to him, looking like they were talking. There was another man by the garage doors and one by the third row of shelves. He pulled up the feed from the lounge, finding one guy there with his head in the fridge. With the guy in the bathroom, they were only missing one apart from Wade.
There was no one by the row of shelves closest to the door so Joker gave Zayne the go signal. The moved into the room, walking carefully so as not to be heard. Some of the men were talking and the forklift was making noise. They stopped by the end of the first row. Joker glanced at his phone and seeing everyone still in the same place, he held up two fingers to let Zayne know there were two men around the corner. He put his phone away and tightened his hold on the knife.