by Brook Wilder
Chang laughed and motioned for us to follow him. “This way.”
Soon I found myself seated at a small table near the kitchen, tucked away in an alcove I assumed Chang used quite regularly for his own meals. Chang left us without another word, and I looked around.
“You come here often?”
Damian shrugged. “Not really. I did some cleanup for him a few years ago and come out here when I can.”
I arched a brow. “You ever go upstairs?”
To my surprise, he colored. “That’s not for you to know.”
Seriously? “Oh come on. We’re both adults,” I countered, leaning back in my chair. I was nowhere near a virgin, having my own string of failed relationships, mainly because of my job and the demands it put on my social life.
He frowned, glaring at me. “I’m not discussing that with you. End of story.”
My retort was abruptly cut off by the dishes Chang brought with him, each one revealing hot, delicious food. I forgot about the upstairs, or what cleanup truly meant as I dug in, not caring if Damian thought I was a starving woman. He joined in and together we cleaned many of the dishes until I couldn’t put another noodle in my mouth.
“I hope your bike doesn’t have a weight limit,” I remarked, patting my bulging stomach. “Because I think I just exceeded it.”
“It doesn’t,” he grinned, stretching his legs out in front of him. “But I’m glad you ate. We don’t have great cooks at the clubhouse. Mostly everyone there prefers the liquid diet.”
“It was fabulous,” I answered with a happy sigh. “Thank you for this.”
He opened his mouth to respond but then frowned, pulling his cell out of his jeans pocket. “I gotta get you back to the club.”
I frowned. I didn’t want to go back to the clubhouse. I didn’t want to let Damian out of my sight, really. “Why?”
“I have to meet someone.”
“Take me with you,” I blurted out. His eyes met mine and I leaned forward. “Please. I don’t want to go back.”
Damian got up from the table. “No.”
I stood as well, grabbing his arm. “Please.”
He looked at me, his nostrils flaring, conflicted emotions in his eyes. “I’m not putting you in danger. I’ve already done that once and I lost.”
I knew instantly he was talking about Will and my heart constricted at the naked pain on his face. He was still affected by my brother’s death, just like I was.
“I’m not weak. You called me a fighter. If this has anything to do with the village massacre, I should be there. Y’all wouldn’t even be involved it if wasn’t for me.”
A guilty look passed over his face and I knew I had nailed it on the head. This was about the massacre.
“You can’t shut me out,” I continued, following him through the kitchen and out the back door. “This is my fight, too.”
Damian rounded on me, advancing on me until my back was pressed against the surface of the building, still warm from the sun. “You are not going with me. This isn’t a game, Elisa. This is fucking life and you could die.”
Despite wanting to run and hide, I maintained eye contact with him. “I know. I take that risk every single day, Damian.”
He made a sound before stalking away, climbing onto the bike. “Come on.”
**
The night sky was filled with stars by the time we reached our destination. I decided that I liked riding at night best, feeling the cool air on my skin and the stars above lighting the way.
That and I couldn’t really see what was coming very well.
Damian killed the engine and I scrambled off, scared he would leave me behind. I could tell he wasn’t happy about me being here, but I wasn’t about to let him make any plans about revenge without me being involved.
A tall man waited near an abandoned house, a sole streetlight illuminating his form. “Who’s this?” he asked mockingly as we drew near.
“Like you don’t already know,” Damian growled.
The man chuckled. “Alright then. I got the plan. Your nurse here will be the perfect addition to it.”
Surprised, I stared at the mysterious man. He knew who I was. How could that be possible?
“Leave her out of this,” Damian was saying, his expression angered.
“No can do,” the man stated. “She’s involved whether you like it or not. Do I have to explain the terms again?”
Damian paled and I knew this was about to go south.
“I’ll do it,” I offered up, stepping forward. “I’ll do whatever you need from me.”
“Good girl,” he laughed. “I found Raul. He has dinner every day at the same fucking restaurant. You will do the hit there. I got cover for you to get in and out.”
Chapter 8
Damian
This could not fucking be happening. I stared at Elisa helplessly, feeling my rage nearly boil over at the mere thought of Elisa being on this job.
I should have taken her back to the club.
But I couldn’t have her learn what kind of club she was helping either. If Voodoo told her what he had on us, she would run clear for the hills and hate my guts, which is not what I needed right now.
I needed for her to feel like she could trust me in keeping her safe. I needed for her to stay until I was sure her life wasn’t in danger.
Now, though, she was about to walk straight into the line of fire.
“Chopper will be ready at dusk tomorrow,” Voodoo was saying, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “I’ll pick you both up and fly you under the cover of darkness to a field hospital near the restaurant in the village. It’s a safehouse that should keep you out of sight until its time.”
“Gun?” I forced out.
“Can’t do this long range,” Voodoo explained. “We need a picture of his body to satisfy my higher ups. You’re gonna have to take him head on.”
Elisa gasped but I didn’t look at her. “This is shit and you know it.” I said.
“It’s the only plan I can offer,” Voodoo said with a shrug. “Dusk. Tomorrow. You know the place.”
“What about the people in the village?” Elisa spoke up. “If anyone decides to retaliate, they might be in danger.”
She was right. If civilians were around, they could be killed by any retaliation.
“Already have it covered,” Voodoo supplied with a grin. “We have documents prepared for them to be escorted across the border as soon a Raul is dead.”
That seemed to satisfy Elisa, but I didn’t believe it for one moment. I’d never known the CIA to care about collateral damage over getting their mark.
“Dusk,” Voodoo repeated, winking at Elisa. “This should be fun.”
Fun was not the word I would have used.
**
Dusk the next day came far too soon. I slung the duffel bag over my shoulder and waited for Elisa to join me. After Voodoo’s meeting, I had driven us back to the club and spent half the night trying to figure out a way to keep Elisa back.
Even Chains had been surprised that Voodoo had added Elisa and now that we were being flown in, there was no chance of any Jester or Bitches back up.
I was on my own.
The door opened and Elisa stepped out, dressed in all black. Her face was pale, her eyes large and I wanted to tell her to turn and go back inside.
“Ready?”
She nodded, her hand gripping a backpack strap slung over her shoulder. I didn’t say anything, instead I led her to my truck parked in the drive. Since we had gear, I couldn’t take the bike. Elisa climbed into the passenger seat and I threw the duffel bag in the back before sliding behind the wheel.
The engine turned over, but I didn’t pull out immediately. “Listen,” I started, keeping my gaze on the windshield. “I need for you to listen to me at all times. If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to get the hell out, you get the hell out. Don’t worry about me, alright?”
“Alright,” she said softly, laying a hand on my arm. I imme
diately pulled away and threw the truck into reverse, peeling out of the drive. She didn’t say anything more as I drove us to the pickup point, where the chopper already waited for us.
In a matter of minutes, we were up in the air and flying toward Mexico. Voodoo wasn’t on the chopper, but I imagined he was at the drop off site, waiting to see if I was going to follow through or not.
Elisa was pressed against me, the only person in the chopper who had her lap belt securely fastened around her waist. I wrapped my arm around her, glaring at the soldier leering at her. She stiffened, but gradually melted against me, her warm body pressed up against mine. I was staking my claim with the asshole across from us while trying to give her a bit of comfort at the same time.
That and I hated flying in choppers. My entire military career I had flown in so many I couldn’t keep count. I had rappelled out of them, jumped for no fucking reason at all, and nearly taken a spill out of one that had decided to lose an engine.
Flying had been as easy as walking.
But now, I hated it. It reminded me too much of what happened overseas and of people no longer with us. What would Will think about me and Elisa together like this now? He would likely punch me in my face and drag his sister away, knowing what kind of guy I had been with him. I had been just like every other hellion looking for a good time, whether it was with women or with alcohol. Even overseas, a man got bored, and depending on where they were stationed, we could find some local entertainment.
I had done my fair share, and was lucky enough not to bring something home with me I couldn’t shake.
The chopper dove suddenly and Elisa tensed, causing me to rub small circles into her side as my stomach dropped with it. It had been far too long since I had flown like this.
Thankfully, we were on the ground before I embarrassed myself and we were hurried into a truck with a red cross on the side. Once the canvas curtain dropped, I let out a breath.
“Do you do this often?” Elisa joked lightly, seated across from me.
“No,” I said, keeping my own voice even so she wouldn’t know how tense I really was. “I don’t. Normally I travel alone.”
She shook her head, a smile playing on her face. “You know what I mean. Is this your life?”
“Yeah,” I answered. “It is.” It had been for the last few months, especially since we’d been fighting the cartel. There were more bullets, more dead bikers than ever before. Now I worried about who wasn’t going to make it with each run we did, the chances of being killed higher than wrecking a bike on the highway.
It was also fucking tiring.
The truck slowed and I held up my hand, pulling the gun tucked into my waistband. Elisa’s eyes went wide as I crept to the edge, keeping my body between the opening and her. They would have to kill me to get to her.
The flap pulled aside and Voodoo’s grinning face met the barrel of my gun. “I should have known you would greet me like this, Private Gibson.”
I lowered the gun, fighting the urge to plant my fist in his face. “That’s a good way to get yourself shot you idiot.”
He shrugged. “It’s gonna happen eventually. Come on. I got you a room all set up.”
I grabbed my bag and motioned for Elisa to follow me, helping her down from the truck. The village was quiet, with only the lights gleaming from the small windows of the huts, most covered by some sort of cloth. The roads were poorly maintained and as we walked through an alley, I could smell the scent of garbage thick in the air.
On the other side of the alley, the hospital came into view. It was just as run down as the rest of the village, the lights flickering as we walked inside. The lobby was strangely empty given the time of night. Voodoo led us past peeling paint and dirty tiled floors to the back of the building, throwing open a door.
“Sorry, Private. This is the best I could do. Trust me, this is high accommodations in this shithole.”
I allowed Elisa to go first, finding a windowless room, likely a supply room, that had been cleaned out and a hospital bed placed in the center.
“There’s some junk food in the bag over there,” Voodoo said as I dumped the bag on the floor. “And some bottled water as well. You do this right and I will get you a steak dinner.”
“What time?” I asked, looking at my watch.
“Ten,” he answered. “Raul always shows up at a quarter until ten. I figured you could pop him in the middle of his coffee.”
I set my watch for nine thirty to give me plenty of time to scope out my target. “And afterward?”
“Don’t worry,” he said with a laugh. “I will take Nurse Betty here and meet you with a ready chopper to get the hell out of here.”
“Where?”
“Four clicks to the north,” Voodoo said as he walked to the door. “You’ll find us. I have no doubt.”
He walked out whistling before I shut the door behind him.
“Who is he?” Elisa asked softly as I threw the lock, securing it tightly.
Turning, I leaned against the door. “No one. It’s better you don’t know.”
She sighed. “Fine, whatever. So I’m supposed to just trust him?”
I wanted to say no. I still didn’t understand why Voodoo had involved her, other than to piss me off, but he was our only link out of here now. “Yeah, you can trust him.”
“Well,” Elisa said after a moment. “I guess we will negotiate for the bed?”
My groin tightened as I thought about sharing a bed with Elisa. Damn, why was someone torturing me with her? “You take it.”
“You are the one working tomorrow,” she said with a grimace. “You should take it.”
“I’m not gonna argue with you about this,” I said softly. “Take the bed. I won’t be getting much sleep anyway.” In truth, I was dead on my feet, but I wasn’t about to tell her that.
“You’re not gonna budge on this are you?”
“You’ll just be wasting your breath.”
She muttered but climbed on the bed, the springs squeaking as she got comfortable.
After cutting out the light, I slid down the door and sat on the floor, stretching my legs out. I had slept in worse places and in far worst positions. With the light out, it was pitch black in the room, with only the light from the hallway outside sneaking in under the door. I couldn’t see Elisa, but I knew she wasn’t asleep yet.
“Don’t worry about tomorrow,” I said into the dark. “I’m a pro at this.”
“You’ve killed a lot of people.”
It wasn’t a question. “Yeah, I have.” Not just with the Jesters, but with the military, too.
“Do you regret any of it?”
“Yeah,” I answered truthfully. “I do.” I wasn’t lying. She just didn’t know who I was talking about.
**
I was gone before Elisa even turned over.
Voodoo was patrolling the hall as I walked out, giving me a salute. “Morning, sunshine.”
I slammed him against the wall, dust flying from the force. “If anything happens to her, I don’t fucking care if you are CIA or not. I will hunt you down and kill you. Understand?”
Voodoo grinned. “Imagine me finding out she had come to you of all people. Does she know?”
“She doesn’t,” I growled. “But that’s not your place to tell her.”
He stared at me for a moment. “You’re right. It’s not. I won’t say anything and she’s perfectly safe here. I’ll have her on that chopper.”
I released him, taking a few steps away to keep from killing him. “Did you bring her along to torture me?”
“Call it an incentive,” he answered honestly. “I know you won’t ditch this job if she’s waiting on you. So go on, get this shit over with and let’s get the hell out of here.”
So I did. The sun was just starting to rise as I climbed the fire escape to the roof on the building directly across from the restaurant, setting up my scope. With a couple of adjustments, I could see the restaurant clearly, already teemin
g with people. Great. This wasn’t going to be easy and I doubted I was gonna get out of there without a civilian death.
For hours I watched, locating my escape route and running through all the possibilities in my head of what could happen. When my watch went off, I packed up my shit and made my way down to the street, placing my bag somewhere I could grab it on my way to the pickup point.