Page 52 of Link (Dragon Riders MC 1)
“If they haven’t already been smart enough to move.”
“I don’t know. You didn’t get a good look at that place because you were too focused on Joanna. But those assholes really have themselves a set-up out there. It’s not going to be so easy to move. They’ve moved in and gotten comfortable. We can use that to our advantage.”
“I’ve also had Ash patrolling more lately. He thinks he’s located the docks they’re using to bring in the guns they’re now running.”
“Wait, you have proof of that now?”
I nodded slowly. “Yep. Ash got pictures. Skeleton’s not in any of them. But his men are. They’re shipping drugs into one area and guns into another.”
“Fucking hell.”
“Yeah. We have to take them down. And as quickly as we can. But they’ve got three massive heads on a gigantic monstrous body right now. Which means we’ll have to strike them where it’s going to hurt the most.”
“You mean…”
I nodded. “Yep. That's exactly what I mean.”
He whistled lowly. “That’s risky as fuck, Link. And bold. Even for you.”
I shrugged. “It’s the only thing we can do to make sure they never step back into this town again.”
“Joanna might be able to help us with that, though. You know, her being a lawyer and all.”
I grinned. “That’s exactly what I’m thinking.”
“It would sure as hell put her career on the map, too.”
“If we can pull it off.”
He paused. “You think we can pull it off?”
I shrugged. “Worth a shot.”
And that was the truth. Anything like this was worth a shot. Especially if it would benefit all of us for the long-term future.
All we had to do was figure out how the fuck to catch Skeleton in the act of distributing all of his shit at once.20Joanna“And you trust them completely?” Hope asked.
I set her bag down in the room she chose. “Yep. I really do.”
“And you think they’ll keep their word? You know, about me having privacy at night?”
I paused. “That, I’m not so sure of.”
Hope froze. “That’s the only reason why I agreed to do this in the first fucking place, Jo.”
I furrowed my brow. “Now, settle down there. I know you’re on edge and I know this is scary, but biting the hand that’s trying to help you isn’t going to do you any good.”
“What? So, now I’m indebted to them?”
“Uh, yeah. I’d say a bit.”
She sighed. “Link promised me privacy at night.”
“And I know he’s going to keep that promise. But there are ways to make sure you’re safe without someone being in this clubhouse or even in the vicinity of it.”
Her eyes cased the walls. “Are there cameras in this place?”
“What?”
“Jo, are they going to watch me piss or something?”
My God, what she must’ve been through. “No. There aren’t any cameras.”
“Then, how are they going to keep an eye on me?”
“It’s not about keeping an eye on you, Hope. It’s about making sure no one gets into the clubhouse to get to you in the first place.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What do you know?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re talking like you know something. And you’re already moved in with Link anyway. What do you know? What has he told you?”
Damn it. “Hope, do you trust me?”
“Not when you hide shit from me, no.”
I placed my hands on her shoulders. “I need you to listen to me, okay? Now isn’t the time to be fighting against us right now. You're not alone in any of this, even though you feel alone. Okay?”
“I don’t trust them, Jo. Not like you do, anyway.”
I squeezed her shoulders. “I know. And I don’t expect you to. But I’m asking you to give them a chance to earn that trust from you. They’re going to be watching your ass, after all. Bringing you food. Toiletries. Things you’re going to need all the way out here. You’re safe, and no one is going to be hovering over you while you sleep. You’ve got my absolute word on that.”
Her eyes watered. “Promise?”
I cupped her cheeks. “With everything I am.”
I drew my sister in for a hug and held her while she cried. She clung to me, her tiny body trembling as her tears soaked my shoulder. I looked up and tried to blink back my own tears. I held her as tightly as she held me, hoping to squeeze all of the fear and hopelessness out of her body. And as we stood there in the only bedroom in this entire place that had absolutely no windows, I sent up a silent prayer.
Lord, please make this work.
“I’m going to come visit as often as I can,” I said.
She sniffled. “Promise?”
I kissed the side of her head. “Promise, promise. And I’ll come with treats. You’ll never hurt for doughnuts out here. That, I can assure you.”
She giggled. “I miss eating doughnuts with you.”
I pressed her out in front of me with my hands. “And I’ll bring that full-fat milk with me, too.”
