The only two biker gangs I’d interacted with were full of murderers and drug dealers, but the Dead Presidents were family men who were here because they wanted to rescue a bunch of kidnapped girls. A week ago, I never would have thought I’d be getting help from bikers, but now I was so grateful for it I was almost in tears.
Tap pulled out a chair for me at the table. As I sat, he scooted his own chair closer to mine and held my hand under the table.
“What’s this?” Wasp asked with a smirk, gesturing between us.
“What the fuck do you think it is?” Tap asked.
“Fuckin’ interesting, that’s what,” Wasp replied, leaning back in his chair.
Link ignored the two of them and started grilling me, firing off question after question about the Serpents’ compound. Then he brought out his phone and showed me the blueprints of the building, asking me to point out the things I remembered.
Apparently, Morse had overheard Buzz discussing what to do with the girls, which meant we needed to move fast if we had a chance of saving them in time.
Doris and Hailey eventually joined us, and Tap introduced them around the table.
“There’s the curtain climber,” Havoc said, tickling Hailey’s foot. “You ever need anything, you come to your Uncle Havoc, and I’ll make it happen.”
She gave him a big smile and I could practically see the big guy melt.
Wasp looked Hailey over. “You know, she’s only a couple years younger than Trent.”
“What’s your point?” Tap asked, his expression unimpressed.
“I’m just sayin’ that it’s possible that you and I could be related someday. You never know where and when young love will bloom.”
Tap stared him down. “Get the hell out of my house.”
Wasp threw his hands in the air. “What? I’m not sayin’ I would encourage it, just that itcouldhappen. You never know.”
“I do know, and it’s not gonna happen. Now shut your mouth before I forget that my daughter is on my hip and shut it for you.”
Wasp chuckled, but he let the matter drop.
“What’s that about?” I asked Julia.
She glanced at the guys. “Wasp likes to stir shit up. He’s harmless. Actually, he’s a really good guy. He just likes to poke the bear. All of the bears, in fact.”
“Shit, I wish they wereBears,” Jayson chimed in. “Then maybe I’d get laid once in a while.”
Even I caught that reference, knowing thatBearswere gay bikers.
“We’ll find you one, Jay,” Naomi said, patting his arm.
We ordered pizza and continued to plan out the attack, but there was one major factor I had a problem with: I wasn’t included in the op.
“And what will I be doing?” I asked Link.
“Staying here.”
I didn’t like that answer one bit. “But I know the compound. I know the layout and the guys, and I can help with the girls.” I met Link’s gaze, hoping I wasn’t dealing with another chauvinist. “I’ve been trained for this, and if something goes wrong…”
“You’re a fugitive,” he said.
I winced, because although it was true, it stung like hell.
“If you get spotted with us, you put the whole op in jeopardy. I know you want to be a part of it, but it’s just not worth the fuckin’ risk.”
I knew he was right, but I was having trouble accepting it. “I could drive separately.”
