“It’s the only lead we’ve got,” I say, feeling the need to defend Wren. “It’s our best shot at finding some answers, for now. Dummy shell accounts tied to this address.”
“I know you said to look out for any electronics,” Babyface whispers. “But I wouldn’t even hide my porn stash here.”
Smoke huffs at that.
“Focus,” Grudge says.
“Only porn I care about right now is the torture kind that leads us to cartel receipts or stolen crypto,” Jackal says, racking his shotgun with a little too much glee.
“Yeah, well, no blowing doors off until we know what we’re walking into,” Atom warns.
“Can see the headlines in theGazette,” Wraith says. “Outlaws Blow Up Budget Storage Facility.”
“If that happens, Prez, you better start practicing your PR voice,” Smoke drawls, then flicks the ash off the end of a cigarette he’s not even supposed to be smoking. “For when all that media shows up asking for a comment.”
Grudge flips him the bird.
“He’d be the weatherman,” Taco says. “Forecast calls for ass-kicking and broken noses until three a.m. when the weather will shift to disemboweling and torture.”
“Can we focus?” I growl. My voice comes out harder than I meant, but my nerves are wound tight. Wren is back at the ranch, and while my brain tells me they’re safe, my heart is telling me I should be someplace else.
Except Wren is expecting me to deliver on my end of our skills equation.
The fourth truck arrives right on time, and out steps Butcher, our former president and current nomad. “Feels just like old times, boys.”
“There’s no chance you’ve gotten rusty, and we need to worry?” Wraith teases.
Butcher punches him on the shoulder. “Fuck you. This’ll be a piece of cake.”
It was Grudge’s idea to ask him to ride along with us tonight. There’s every chance we might need a locksmith. And there’s a bonus that Butcher knows how to break into a manual safe.
“Good to see you, Dad,” Atom says, which garners chuckles from some of the others. “Won’t tell Ember that you came out with us tonight.”
Butcher grins. “It was perfect timing. It’s Greer’s day off, and she wanted an early night.”
I look at my watch; tells me it’s a little after two.
“She know you’re here?” Grudge asks.
Butcher shrugs. “She will in the morning.”
Everyone chuckles at that.
“You’re with Jackal, Shade, and Wraith. They’ll cover your back as you head directly for the door,” Grudge says. “The rest of you, go with the plan.”
We spread out as we make our way across the property. We’re flanking Butcher. Taco, Atom, and Smoke are entering from the rear.
Ideally, we want to go unnoticed and leave no trace at the building. We don’t want anyone to know we are on to them. Which is why Grudge called Butcher.
The man kneels down in front of the lock and picks it confidently. Then, he moves to the lower lock. It takes time. Shade holds a flashlight so Butcher can see.
“Colder than a fucking witch’s tit,” Jackal whispers.
I scan the outside of the building, and there are no signs of cameras, even when I shine a flashlight up at the large, unlit lighting features.
The lock clicks open, and Butcher shoves his tools away, before putting his gloves back on. But instead of opening the door and walking through first like he usually would, he steps back and gestures for Grudge to go ahead.
“Ain’t the fucking natural order of things,” Grudge mutters as he nudges the door open slowly, the old metal groaning and protesting.
