Lane didn’t respond. I knew I was in the right. I grabbed my phone, dialed Kaitlyn’s number, and put it on speaker. We waited a few seconds before an answer came.
“Hey, you,” I said.
But I didn’t get any response. Instead, I heard some background grunts, the kind of thing that sounded like... it sounded like there were multiple people near her.
“Kaitlyn? What’s going—”
But the line went dead. I looked to Lane, who had concern all over his face.
“You heard that, right?” I said.
“Yeah,” Lane said, gulping. “Do you know if she was supposed to work today?”
“She wasn’t,” I said, and now both of us were feeling very worried. “But it sounded like she was doing work of some kind. Wonder why she would answer but not say anything.”
“Unless she wanted us to know she was somewhere without those around her knowing it.”
Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck!
There was only one scenario in which what Lane had said would be applicable. Unfortunately, it was almost certainly the scenario we were facing now.
Somehow, Kaitlyn had fallen into the grasp of the Fallen Saints.
“You know where she lives?” Lane asked, already standing up.
“Was there last night.”
“Then let’s go.”
We bolted out of the church hall, grabbing Axle along the way. We were not asking him to join us—we were demanding it.
Just before we exited the clubhouse, Lane grabbed my shoulder.
“Someone’s going to notice the three of us rolling out,” he said.
Someone who could then alert the Fallen Saints that we’re coming after them. And then it’s Ramadi all over again.
“We need someone to stay behind and act like it’s a casual situation,” I said, begrudgingly admitting he was right.
But we didn’t need to have a debate of any kind.
“You’re going,” Lane said. “And Axle’s going with you. I’m going to stay behind and make sure nothing happens.”
“You’re sure?” Axle said.
I wasn’t going to argue. It was my woman—yes, my woman—that was in danger.
“If I go, it’ll look like something is going down, and every Fallen Saint will know what’s happening,” he said. “But if you two go, you already left once for the day and came back. Now you’re just going out again.”
It was fewer numbers, but a greater chance of success. And if the situation called for it, we could get reinforcements. Put in that frame, and it was the easiest decision we’d made yet.
“Alright, man,” I said, quickly hugging Lane.
“Thanks,” Axle said.
Lane shooed us away before we could say anything more.
