Page 38 of Motown
“What?”
“Give me a second.”
Logan does the sign for FIRE.“They’re going to go to Tessa’s to set her house or shop on fire as a distraction.”
“Shit!”Decker swears.
“Eleven o’clock.One.Zero.Four.Pier Street.”When Logan starts to repeat his message, I know I’ve got it all.“Keep watching,” I tell Decker, then pull out my phone to call Hawk.
“Hawk, shit!”I bark into the phone, running a hand through my hair.“We got trouble.”
“Spit it out!”Hawk demands.
“He’s sending guys to Tessa’s place to set it on fire.Don’t know whether it’s her house or store.It’s going to break her.”
“Calm down.We’ll figure it out,” Hawk replies.
“There’s more.The meeting will be on Pier Street.I’ll text the address to you,” I add.
“Stay put, Motown.Stay focused on Logan.I’ll talk to Guard, and we’ll put a plan together.I’ll be in touch,” Hawk says before hanging up.
I force myself to stay on task, but the thought of Tessa taking another hit is soul-crushing.She came to start fresh and spread her wings.So far, she’s had to deal with unlawful cops and threats.Let’s not forget that it took me months to make my move on Tessa, even though we both knew it was more than one night.I knew she was special then, but I let my own fear get in our way, and I swore I wouldn’t let anything hurt her again.And yet here we are, facing another threat.
“You okay, bro?”Decker interrupts my thoughts.
“Yeah.”I sigh.
“Tessa’s ours.Hawk won’t let anything happen.”
“We’re stretched thin,” I answer.“Logan’s life comes first.”
“We’re not alone.”Decker means Guard and his crew, and he’s correct, but even with the guys who are here from the Pride, we’re still stretched tight, and the goal is to get to Bronson.If we eliminate him, then we can all rest easier.
I’m a soldier.I know that the casualties of war mean destruction and death.I’m used to seeing villages burned to the ground, crops and livestock destroyed or taken by enemy forces.But we’re talking about my Tessa and all she’s worked for.The burning in my gut won’t quit until this is over.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I check the message from Hawk.Tessa is covered.The entire town is pitching in.Phone tree.I’m stunned.They literally just started this phone tree thing this morning.But it goes to show that the people of this town want to live clean and hate seeing a good woman hurt.
“Motown, they’re coming out,” Decker says, patting my shoulder to get my attention.I see down below that they’re getting into a car with Logan in the back seat with one of Bronson’s goons.He’s holding a gun on Logan, but Logan completely ignores it, pretending it doesn’t faze him in the least.He’s playing his part, and the Redemption Riders are going to make sure we’re there to back him up.
I text Hawk.They’re on the move.Without waiting for a response, Decker and I hurry down from the rooftop and get into our car.It’s a shitty piece of junk to look at, but the motor is top-notch.We want to stay inconspicuous, and this car does just that.
We trail behind, almost losing them twice due to traffic and the vehicle’s sharp turns, but we manage to keep them in sight.The driver is taking great pains to make sure he isn’t being followed, but eventually, he turns off onto Pier Street.We sit at the end of the road, a fair distance away from the industrial area.
“We need to scout out the best hiding spots for the Riders,” I tell him.
Coming in from the back end of the factories, along the edge of the railway tracks, we’re able to hop the fence and scope out the perimeter.The old mill is where they’re holding Logan.The iron numbers are practically hanging off the abandoned building.The car we’ve been following is tucked between that building and the one next to it.
We backtrack to the tracks and make the call to Hawk to let him know where to find us.It doesn’t take long for the team of Pride and Riders to assemble.Demon, Risk, and several other Satan’s Pride brothers have joined us: Priest, Roscoe, and Wildcard.From the Riders, Flex, and Shooter are with them.We creep over the fence, each of us taking positions that directly cover the old mill.
When we start to see movement, we draw our guns, but stop when we notice Sebastian waving his hand to let us know that they’re also taking position.
Now it’s a matter of wait and see.
The worst part of any mission is waiting.I’ve been conditioned through my years in the army to stay focused and keep my rifle aimed at the targets.Hawk and Drifter are going to be in the van with War, waiting to make their move.We’ll wait for Reno and Guard to lure Bronson out with Logan before the takedown begins.Everyone’s been informed that Bronson will be taken alive, if possible.
Bronson’s car pulls up first.Three of his men get out of the car and scan to see if anyone’s around before opening the back passenger door to let Bronson out.More of his men arrive, each taking up a position around the mill.Sebastian moves back before he can be seen as one of Bronson’s soldiers steps around the corner of the building.
Bronson calls out for one of his men, asking him to bring Logan out.
