I wanted to get straight to business. We needed to move against Las Balas now, before that sold the weapons they stole from us.
Luca narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, and I waited. I knew him well enough by now to know that he would take his sweet time before making any kind of decision, even something as simple as this.
“All right,” he finally said. “Follow me.”
This time he led me just outside of the hearing range of the crowd. He clearly had no idea how important this conversation was going to be.
“What’s this about?” he asked.
“I know where your weapons are,” I said. Luca’s gaze flickered to Trainer for a moment before he focused back on me.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You ever heard of Las Balas?”
Luca’s attention on me was laser-sharp as I told him our plan and the part he needed to play in it. By the time we left the warehouse fifteen minutes later, Trainer and I were ready to join the others. We’d be moving against Las Balas tonight.
We pulled into the parking lot of the Blue Dog, where every other member of the club was waiting. I stayed on my bike while Trainer hopped off and addressed the group. He’d stepped up as a leader for us while Ryder was in the hospital, focusing on recovering.
While Trainer gave everyone a rundown on the plan for the evening, Lily, Ryder’s sister, walked around the parking lot, giving everyone a braided leather bracelet with a red thread added. She’d made them for each of us to wear tonight in honor of Ryder. The red represented the blood of our brother that was spilled and the reason that we were seeking retribution.
Mad Dog wouldn’t survive the night.
We rode out together, the rumble of our motorcycles was a deafening roar that felt powerful. We needed that—to feel like a strong, united group.
The Pit was a rundown bar on the south side of town, and the official hangout of Las Balas. It was where they could be found at all times, and tonight was no different. They must have heard us coming because they were all lined up outside the building when we turned onto the street. They were armed again, but none of the weapons came from the crate.
Good.
We had gambled on their greed making them decide not to use the weapons since they could be sold for so much money. Now we just had to find out where they were. We all parked and dismounted. Tonight, I had a knife on me, but I was supposed to be focused on getting into the bar and trying to find the crate.
It might not be here, but we had to check. Luca’s cooperation was dependent on getting those weapons back.
Trainer stood in front of us to address Mad Dog. This was ballsy, seeing as how Ryder was shot last time, but he insisted on doing it. We hoped that they felt secure on their home turf and wouldn’t feel the need to try an ambush again. We stayed on the other side of the parking lot for now, and tension hung heavy in the air between the two groups.
I scanned the Las Balas members, and this time, I caught sight of Jason. He looked nervous, and I felt an echo of that within my own body. I thought about Kat again. If something happened to him, I knew she’d be devastated.
“Impressive form,” Mad Dog said, addressing Trainer. “Riding in as a unit like that. Much more impressive than the last time we saw you all. Running away with your tail between your legs.”
Many of the bikers around him laughed, and I felt a hatred burn within me.
“You know why we’re here,” Trainer said.
It wasn’t a question, but Mad Dog answered anyway.
“I suppose you have a bone to pick with me,” He walked back and forth as he talked, looking unconcerned, even though he didn’t come closer. “Are you the new fearless leader now? I hear your boy survived, but now’s a good time to take control from him. I’d actually admire that.”
I couldn’t believe that this psycho was having a conversation with Trainer right now. We were here to fight, and everyone knew it.
“We remain loyal to Ryder,” Trainer’s voice was firm. “The question is, who will replace you?”
Mad Dog opened his mouth to reply, but before another word could be uttered, a shot rang out, cutting through the still night. Jagger, our enforcer, did his job, firing just once and sending the bullet straight into Mad Dog’s temple.
He was dead before he hit the ground.
Chaos ensued. As expected, the Las Balas members attacked, some shouting out in surprise or anger, while others closed the distance between us without a word. The fight was brutal and wild, with years of pent-up anger and resentment between the two groups making things so much worse. I called on my street fighting experience, focusing on my desire to avenge Ryder as I pummeled those who came at me, careful to avoid their weapons. I could hear the occasional shot going off, but none were near me. I just hoped that no one else I cared about was hit.
“Come on, Blade,” Pin called out from my left. He and Hawk were already together. Three of us were supposed to go into the bar to see if the weapons were stashed there. I fought my way through the crowd, stopping only once to pull a man off of Chalupa, who had been knocked to the ground. I made quick work of knocking the guy unconscious with three jabs to the temple before continuing on.
