“That’s why we need to strike now!” Tee cut him off as he scanned the skeptical faces. “It’s only going to get worse the longer we wait. Tonight is the only time we can do it.”
“Peterson’s acceptance speech.” Luca crossed his arms and slowly began to see what Tee had in mind. “He’ll have his most trusted guys around him tonight.”
“And he’ll be bringing in as many cops as he can to protect his ass when the Steel Veins show up at his little party.”
“You want to use the club as bait.” Bowie grinned, sitting back down in his chair. He was beginning to put it all together too.
“You’re fucking right I do.” Tee smirked in his signature way. “Send all the guys you got to Peterson’s HQ right after they kick off the celebration, then me, Luca and Grace will break into police station and get Chou.”
As the rest of the club hashed out the details, Luca walked over at Grace who was instructed to stay quiet during the meeting unless she was asked something specifically or she had a particularly incredible insight to share. Luca hated to ask that of her, but she was lucky to be allowed in the room at all. Church was reserved for members only, but Luca was able to get her in because this was an informal, impromptu meeting, and because she was the one who gave the club the Intel on Chou’s location.
Luca leaned against the wall next to Grace. “You realize that if you do this and get caught, not only is your career over, but you’ll likely go to jail right alongside us. You fully get that, right?”
“What career?” Grace’s mouth turned into a thin white line. “That all ended the second Peterson was sworn into office. You know he’s not going to stop with just the MC, he’s going after everyone you care about next.”
Luca dragged his bottom lip across his teeth. “I didn’t want to drag you into all this, Grace. I’m sorry.”
“I know.” Grace looked up at Luca, and smoothed her hand down the side of his face. “But it’s not your fault. It’s Peterson’s. For Bella, for a better tomorrow in Santa Fe and most of all for you, I’m all in.”
Luca pulled her in for a long kiss, while everyone else argued behind them. He didn’t care about the world, or what they had to do next, all that mattered was her. Her scent, the way she tasted, the warmth of her skin…Luca would do anything for Grace.
The meeting room doors were suddenly thrown wide and slammed against the adjacent walls
“Shit!” Winded, Recon jogged in a few feet then slumped forward with his hands on his knees. “Luca. I gotta find—”
“Whoa. Whoa!” Bowie announced, looking the man over to see if he was bleeding. “Recon, what’s up, brother? You all right?”
“I’m fine.” Recon struggled to catch his breath. Wherever he was coming from it wasn’t anywhere near the club. “It’s your place, man! Someone lit your fucking house on fire!”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Luca growled, his eyes flaring.
“It’s a message from Peterson,” Bowie remarked darkly almost to himself before addressing the rest of the assembled club. “We’re coming for you and we’re bringing scorched earth. They’re itching to rain some hell on us, brothers. We gotta hit em’ hard and we gotta do it now. Or the Steel Veins are done in Santa Fe.”
Chapter Seventeen
Bowie took one last look around the compound. His men were as ready as they would ever be. Tonight could be their final hooray if things went bad. It could also be their shining hour if they could accomplish what they hoped to do.
He walked over to where Tee, Luca and Grace were standing and met his VP’s eyes. “It all rests on your shoulders, are you guys ready?”
Luca nodded, Tee nodded and finally Grace nodded. Out of all of them, she was the only one that was nervous or so it seemed. When she looked over at Luca, she could see that he was trying to hide just how nervous he really was. That bolstered her confidence a tiny bit.
“Peterson will have his own squad of goons protecting him at the party tonight when we show up,” Bowie explained. “That means you shouldn’t have any problems getting into the jail. You get that motherfucker out and get his statement on film and you run it on the air. That’s our safety net. That’s our way back. If you can’t get it then every single one of us and our families are dead. He can’t afford to let our families remain alive either. They will talk about the reason we’re all dead and that would only attract media attention. Peterson won’t, no he can’t let any of us live to see another daybreak.”
“Hey boss.” Tee smiled slightly. “We’re Steel Veins and we don’t go down all that easy. We’ll catch this motherfucker and take him the hell out. This is our moment and we ain’t gonna fuck it up.”
Bowie reached out and grasped Luca’s shoulder. Without saying another word, he turned to his troops and raised his fisted hand high in the air. “Steel Veins, let’s dance!” he shouted over the dim of racing motorcycle engines.
The roar of the motorcycles as they left the compound broke the evening quiet and it didn’t end until the bikes were nothing more than echoes in the night.
Luca watched until the last taillight vanished then he looked over at Tee and Grace. They were all dressed in black, Luca wore his vest proudly, while Tee didn’t. Grace was dressed in a black t shirt and black jeans.
Luca turned his head and stared at the men they left behind. They were the remaining Steel Veins, just enough men to protect the club and the women and children they were leaving behind. Luca hoped it would be enough.
Tee got behind the wheel of the vehicle they hoped would be their getaway car after the jail break. Grace followed him and Luca shut the door behind him. The main gate was closed as they made the turn onto the main road and Luca looked back one last time at the place where Bella was at.
Then he turned to face the front of the car. No one said a word as they drove to the precinct where Grace said Chou was incarcerated. They had gotten word from an inside man that Chou knew he was to be sacrificed. He’d been stunned when Peterson’s cops had arrested him and his attorney had failed to get him out. The Steel’s inside man told them about Chou’s words how he looked into Peterson’s eyes and saw the truth in them. He also knew he would probably die as Peterson gave his acceptance speech. Peterson couldn’t be governor and allow Chou to live. Chou knew he had too much knowledge of the shady dealings Peterson had done and he knew if those backroom deals became public knowledge, his career would be over.
No one had told Chou about what was coming tonight. He wouldn’t expect any last minute help, least of all from the MC, Peterson was hell bent on destroying.
Earlier today, they had set things up. One of Grace’s clients had agreed to help them and had been arrested. He would be the reason Grace was at the jail. Luca would follow the plan and Tee would be waiting for them to come back out. Luca hadn’t wanted Grace involved at all but when Bowie pointed out this was the only way they could insure success he folded. Grace had told him she didn’t mind helping he told her to be very careful. He couldn’t protect her inside the precinct. She would be on her own until they got Chou out of his cell.
Now all they could do was hope the plan worked out. If it didn’t every single one of them wound die.
Grace was the first to go inside. She rushed up to the front desk and inquired about her client Jerry Marchant.
The police officer behind the desk was an overweight clerk. He was well known to Grace and she had no problem speaking to him.
“Hey Alex, how’s it going?” she called out as she came up to the desk.
“Oh hi Grace.” Alex smiled. “You here to see someone?”
Grace nodded. “Yeah, I heard Jerry got picked up tonight. Damn, he just can’t stay out of trouble can he?” She shook her head.
Alex pursed his lips. “He should know better you’d think wouldn’t you? I mean he’s trying to get custody of his son and showing up against court orders isn’t the way to do that.”
Grace leaned closer to the desk and Alex leaned closer to hear what
she had to say. Alex was a terrible gossip and everyone knew it. “If you ask me though, he deserves custody of his son. The boy’s mother is plain just no good. She’s more worried about herself than her four year old boy.”
Alex’s eyes widened. “Oh, how do you figure that?”
“Carol Marchant is a whiner. She whined when she got pregnant, on purpose I might add. She said this baby would ruin her figure and all that, bullshit. Then when the baby came, she was whining she didn’t know how to take care of her son and that she needed a nanny. Jerry busted his balls to give her whatever she wanted and then she cheats on him? Boy that woman has some nerve.” Grace tossed her head back and forth. “Then when Jerry has had enough of her bullshit and she knows she’s going to lose her precious cash machine she fights for custody of her son so Jerry will have to pay child support. She told the judge the boy has gotten used to a certain life style and Jerry is depriving him of that.” Grace rolled her eyes. “The kid is only four, he has no life style yet other than the one in his mother’s eyes.”
Alex’s agrees. “Yeah, some bitches be greedy for sure.”
“Anyway, can I see Jerry?” Grace asked as she rubbed her fingertip in the counter between her and Alex.
Alex looked at her with regret in his eyes. “You know the rules Grace. It’s long after visiting hours.”
Grace nodded. “I know but I figured Jerry would want to know what I found out tonight about Carol. It would go a long way in his case against Carol and might just help him get custody of his son.”
Alex paused and leaned forward. “What did you find out?”
Grace leaned closer. “Carol has a new boyfriend. He’s rich and he doesn’t really like kids. He wants her to leave the kid behind and jet off with him to some Greek island for a vacation. Jerry just might have a chance to get full custody of Ryan.”
Alex leaned back and smiled. He got up slowly and walked around to the gate between them He opened it from his side and allowed her to come through. He motioned for her to follow him to the holding cells where he knew Jerry Marchant was waiting.
As she passed through the portal, the front door of the station house was thrown open and Luca stumbled in. He was loud and obnoxious and appeared very drunk and disorderly.
“Hey, you fat boy in blue!” he shouted out at Alex.
Grace turned to stare at Luca with concern on her face.
“Yeah, I’m talking to you.” Luca pointed at Alex. “Do you know what tonight is? Tonight is the worst night this city could ever imagine.” Luca stumbled closer and began waving his arms around. He reached the counter and swayed against it grabbing hold of it to seemingly keep his balance. “Glaring at Alex and Grace he continued in his spiel, “And do you know why, my friend? Lemma me tell you why…Tonight is the night that a selfish bastard took the Governor’s chair. Tonight is the night all hell is gonna break lose and the people of this state have no fucking clue what’s coming.”
Alex wanted to slam the safety door shut but Grace wouldn’t move. She couldn’t. If she didn’t know any better she would be convinced that Luca was indeed, drunk and that, he was going to start a riot.
“Umm, sir,” Alex began. “I think it would be best if you just left this place.”
Luca sneered. “I’m not going anywhere fat boy. I’m here to lodge a complaint against our new Governor. I demand my day in court. I need to let the good people of this state they voted in a rat. A rat that will take them all the way to hell.”
“Sir, tonight might not be a god night for that.” Alex began to sweat.
“Oh, and why is that?” Luca demanded. “I have a right to tell my story to whoever will hear it.”
Alex nodded. “Yes sir, you do but it won’t do you any good tonight. There’s no one here to hear it. Everyone is over at the Governor’s party. I’m almost the only one here tonight and I happen to agree with you.”
Luca heard what he needed to hear. He straightened up and glared at the man standing almost behind Grace. “That’s all I need to know.”
Alex trembled. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s just go back to the cells, fat boy.” Luca growled.
“I can’t take you back there.” Alex tried to make his stand.
Luca stomped over to where he stood.
Grace could feel the tension in the air. She turned to Alex and whispered, “Maybe you should do what he says. He looks mad enough to hurt someone.”
Alex looked scared enough to pee his pants but he was an officer of the law and he knew he had to protect that law. “Sir, I don’t want to have any trouble here but I can’t let you go back to where the prisoners are held.”
Luca moved even closer.
It wasn’t until Alex felt the blade poking him in the belly that he looked down and saw the blade press against his belly. He paled as he expected the pain as the blade broke through his skin.
He stumbled backward and Luca pushed his way through the door. Grabbing Alex’s arm he shoved him back yet again. Alex stumbled down the hall with Luca right behind him.
They came to the main block of jail cells and Luca took his time searching for the one man he was there for. Several of the prisoners shouted out for the keys to their cells but Luca ignored them.
Alex made one attempt at rescuing the situation. He turned and cocking his fist, he tried to punch Luca in the jaw. His fist connected only because Luca wasn’t expecting the fat guard to fight back. He slammed against the cells and when he sprang up, he growled at Alex.
He pulled back his own fist to retaliate but Grace was there to stop him. She didn’t say anything but instead she laid her hand on his arm.
Instead of beating, the other man Luca shoved him against the barred cages. “Don’t do that again pig or you won’t like what I will do to you.” Luca growled. I need the keys to the cells. Hand them over.”
Alex swiped the sweat off his forehead. “The cells don’t have keys. They haven’t for a long time.”
“How the fuck do you open them then?” Luca demanded.
“With the panel over by the door.” Alex offered.
Grace moved over to the door where she found the panel Alex talked about. She gave Luca a nod. Luca forced Alex to walk in front of him down the rows of cells until he found the one he wanted. Inside the 6 by 8 cell, he found himself staring at an older man of Chinese birth.
The man simply glared back at him.
He appeared to be refined but Luca knew better. The man’s money was from sales of human beings, most of them under the age of twelve.
Luca glanced up at the number above the door and called out the number. A moment later, the door of the cell opened slightly and Luca wretched the door open. Shoving Alex inside the cell Luca sneered at Vin Chou. “Get up and move toward me.”
Chou glared at him. “And why should I do that? You expect me to calmly walk to my own death? Are you fucking crazy?”
“I’m not going to kill you,” Luca insisted. “Not yet anyway. I need what you know about Adam Peterson.”
Chou snarled. “Peterson is the worst of the worst man imaginable. He has no honor at all.”
“I know.” Luca nodded. “He would spill your blood to keep his own secrets. I want the very people who voted that bastard into office to learn them all. Each and every dirty little secret. The people have the right to know, wouldn’t you agree?”
Chou stared at Luca for a moment, “Does this mean you will allow me to go free? If I give you what you want, that is?”
Luca glared at the other man. “I won’t lie to you. I would just as soon slit your fucking throat than let you go free. You’re a god dammed kid peddler, the worst sort of scum.”
“Then what do I have to gain by telling you Peterson’s secrets?” Chou wanted to know. “What’s in it for me?”
“How about the idea of doing the right thing?” Luca sneered. “I know that’s a foreign concept to you but for once in your life, you have the opportunity to do something good here. It might be the last
chance you have.”
Grace stepped forward. “You already know what the alternative is. You already know Peterson is going to silence you. He can’t afford to have his secrets revealed so all he has to do is kill you and they all go away. What have you got to lose? Is holding on to what you know really that important? Are you really going to play his game right up to the end? I thought a man like you would want his revenge.”
Chou slowly turned his head and glared at her through dead eyes. “Oh, I want more than just revenge lady, I want him to go to hell before I get there.” He turned back to Luca and nodded. “Ok, I do what you ask. I’ll give you enough evidence to fuck up Peterson. But I want something too. I want my freedom. Even if it’s not for very long. I’ll give you what you need then I walk away. The police will no doubt catch up with me again, but I want to be able to walk away from you.”
Luca studied him for a moment then told him, “I can’t give you any promises, my President might not agree but I’ll do what I can.”
Chou got to his feet and began walking toward the door. “We have to hurry if you want the evidence to ruin him. I believe his men might be on their way to watch me die. He told me I would be dead when he gave his acceptance speech.”
Luca pushed Alex into the cell as soon as Vin Chou stepped out. He slammed the door shut and told the deputy, “There will be someone along that will let you out. Peterson is not a good man and if he takes over this state, people like you and me won’t be allowed to survive. He’ll look us in the eyes and shoot us without even blinking. This won’t be a free state anymore, he’ll have us living in fear under Martial Law. His riders are all bikers and they won’t hesitate to kill you or people like you. War is coming here my friend and you will be nothing more than one more body. I’m sorry we have to leave you here but we got things to do before this goes any further.”
Alex nodded. “I believe you. Good luck. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.” He turned and looked at Mr. Chou.
Luca, Chou and Grace raced from the building. At the last minute, Grace pulled the fire alarm and the sprinklers came on as they raced toward the front door.
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