He'd had years to get used to living in a silent world.Annie had no idea what it was like.
Back at the clubhouse, he parked, stripped off his helmet, and walked inside.The familiar smell of smoke and leather wrapped around him, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, between ten and ten-thirty, when the street was empty, and Jason was inside the house, it would all be over.
Hunter stayed in the main room, sitting at a table in the corner by the pool table.He stretched his fingers.He had to stay calm and cool.
Every detail was in place.
And Jason Stevens had no idea his clock was running out.
Kodiak and Cruz walked into the building.He motioned them over.This was a good time to tell them what he planned to do while the main room in the clubhouse was empty.
He'd already mentioned what needed to be done, but none of them took him seriously.They assumed he'd ask for help just like all the times Prez ordered someone else to go with him to cover his back when he couldn't hear danger coming.
He pointed at the empty chairs."I need to talk."
Kodiak nodded.
He leaned forward and planted his elbows on the table. "I'm going after Jason Stevens tomorrow."
"No."Kodiak crossed his arms."No fucking way."
He was ready for that reaction."I'm doing this on my own time.I'm telling you because I'm wearing the patch.If you want me to take it off, I will."He studied their faces, trying to tell if he was speaking too loudly."I've spent every day following that fucker around.I have a shot at him, and I want to take it."
Cruz tapped the table, getting his attention."Who do you plan on taking with you?"
"No one."
Cruz shook his head."Too..."
"What?"He studied his mouth.
"Too risky."Cruz paused."It's dangerous."
"Would it be for you?"He turned to Kodiak."Or you?"
Kodiak spoke, but the words weren't clear until he leaned closer."...after a cop."
He patted the air, telling him to slow down.His frustration level was sky high.It was hard to understand the emotion behind the words he was receiving without hearing their voices.
"This is my responsibility," he said.
Kodiak's gaze intensified."You're involved with...?"
"Annie."
Kodiak pushed back his chair and stood, turning his back to him, literally putting a stop to the conversation.It was rude—not that any of the Royalla members ever lived by the proper rules of conversation with someone who was legally deaf.
Cruz approached Prez.The two men talked privately.Hunter leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms.They had to understand that he told them out of respect for the patch.But they wouldn't change his mind.He was going after Jason whether they approved or not.
Kodiak returned to the table, turned the chair, and sat down straddling the seat."We've got a shipment going out next Friday."
"I'll be done by tomorrow at eleven o'clock in the morning."
Kodiak shook his head."I can't ask my members to go up against a cop."
