name.”
“You think that’s where he’s holding Braylen and Zoe? Where his mom lives?” Ace asked.
“She died five months after he bought the place, so the only way she’s there is if he buried her somewhere on that land.”
“Or under the house,” Linc added.
“Either way, I think it’s a perfect place to hold two women hostage.” His statement was met with a growl from Ryder. “Besides, it’s the only info we have to work with. I doubt they’re being held at one of the clubhouses. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“What’s the plan, then?” I leaned forward, ready to leap into action as soon as he gave the go-ahead.
“We scope out their charter here, in Hilmar, and the one in Santa Clara, as well as the farm. Then tomorrow night, when Linc goes to the fight, we hit all three places at once.”
“He’s still gonna fight?” our VP asked, his voice raised in concern. “What if they ambush him?”
“We have to stick to the plan; otherwise, I have no doubt they’ll kill them both. And they’re not gonna ambush Linc, at least not before the fight.” Stone opened his mouth, his eyes darkening and his hands clenching into fists, but Prez kept talking. “We’ll have people with him. We’re not gonna send him alone.” Everyone was on edge, this new information doing nothing but heighten the anxiety swirling through the room. At least, that’s how I was affected, and I felt I could speak for Ryder as well. “Ford and Owen, I need you to check out the farm. No one knows who you are, so if anyone sees you, they won’t associate you with us.” Marek held out several of the pictures as well as the info on the place. “The first one’s Griller and the rest are other members of the Reapers. And there’s the address. I’m gonna need you to leave right away. By the time you get there it’ll be getting dark. If you see—”
“I’m goin’, too,” I blurted.
“Yeah, so am I.” Ryder glanced from me to Marek, resting his stare on our leader, as if his fierce expression wasn’t enough to relay his seriousness.
“No way. Neither of you are goin’ anywhere. You’re not a hundred percent yet and I don’t need somethin’ happening to you in the middle of whatever we have to do, pulling focus.”
As if on cue, Ryder and I exploded at the same time. I hopped up from my seat, pounding my fist on the edge of the table. “I’m goin’.” I wanted to rant and rave, spew so much more, but there wasn’t anything more to say other than those two words. Besides, my injuries were well on their way to fully healing, and I barely had any pain, just a jolt now and then.
“Me too.” Ryder’s nostrils flared and his clenched jaw looked ready to shatter. “They have my fuckin’ family. There’s no way I’m hangin’ back.” Marek shook his head. “What would you say if they had Sully?” Prez’s expression switched on a dime, his irritation at our protest morphing into anger. “Exactly,” Ryder spit, even though Marek never verbally answered his question.
The entire reason Tripp contacted his cousins in the first place was to help us if anything happened, which it unfortunately did. But instead of them replacing me and Ryder, they were simply two additional bodies, which we obviously needed. And the fact no one knew who they were only served to work toward our advantage. They could hide in plain sight. No one would think they had anything to do with our club.
“Fine, but you’re not goin’ with them tonight, though. They’re only scoping things out.” It looked like Marek wanted to say more, casting his eyes from me to Ryder, but he didn’t.
“Who’s goin’ with me to the fight tomorrow?” Linc scratched the back of his head, switching the conversation. Sort of. “Other than Jagger.” Jagger was Linc’s trainer, so it was assumed he’d be going along with him.
“Ford and Owen.” He looked to them again. “You okay with that?” They both nodded. “Again, no one is gonna think you’re with us.”
“What about their clubhouses?” The question came from Hawke that time.
“You, Ace, and Tag are gonna check out the one in Santa Clara. And Rez, Miles, and Nash will check out the one close by. No cuts. No unnecessary attention. Dress in black, baseballs caps, whatever. Be as undetected as possible. We’ll regroup later tonight as you guys won’t be back until well after