We spend a pleasant couple of hours at Emmett’s house, and I didn’t realize how much I needed this visit. It helps to do something normal. To spend time with people I care about, who have no agenda or ulterior motive.
Sean and I also talk properly for the first time, and though it’s upsetting for both of us, it helps to discuss our feelings and how much we’re missing Sariah.
I feel a little lighter as we leave although I’m sure it won’t last long.
We meet the guys at a local Thai place for dinner before heading back to the barn to get ready for our recon mission. The guys load the truck with weapons and a bunch of surveillance equipment, and then we set out, following the coordinates Bry sent us. He’s meeting us on the outskirts of Fenton, a couple miles from the meeting place.
“Isn’t it risky them meeting in Fenton?” I ask, quickly removing my dirty boots from the dash when Saint growls at me. He’s as anal as ever about this car, and no matter what we have going down, he always makes time to look after it. It’s so clean I could eat my dinner off the floor.
“Meeting anywhere around Lowell or Prestwick is riskier, so I guess that’s why they chose this location,” Saint says.
“I hope The Bulls aren’t facilitating it,” Galen pipes up from the back seat.
“They’re dead men if they are,” Saint adds.
Saint blares music while we drive, muting conversation, and my mind wanders to my mother’s date. I’m ready to wash my hands of her. Truly, I am, but I’m still sick to my stomach at the thought of her being anywhere near that sick bastard.
We turn into the entrance of Fenton Forest a few minutes later, and Saint cuts the music as we pull up alongside Bry’s black Chevy Silverado pickup. Saint lowers the window, resting his elbow on the door.
Bry steps closer, and he’s similarly dressed to us in his black cargo pants, black boots, and black hoodie. He’s wearing a black skullcap on his head, and the bulge of his gun belt is obvious under his hoodie.
“What’s the update?” Saint asks in a barely civil tone.
“The meeting is still going ahead as scheduled, which gives us an hour to get into position.”
“We’ll tail you,” Saint says, and Bry nods, sparing a quick glance at me before he hops back into his truck.
We follow behind him, along an old, bumpy road that winds around the perimeter of the forest.
“You see anything?” Saint asks, looking in the mirror at Theo.
“The coast is clear so far,” Theo says, without lifting his eyes from his tablet. “I don’t see any evidence of an ambush or anyone following us.”
“You can tell that?” I ask, swiveling a little in my seat so I can see his face.
“This new software Diesel hooked me up with is the shit.” He looks up at me, and excitement lights up his eyes. “And he’s promised to get me some other stuff that is way cool. It pays to have contacts in the right places.”
Caz snorts. “Careful you don’t cream your pants.”
Theo elbows him. “Don’t pretend like tinkering underneath a car doesn’t get your rocks off.” He shrugs, smiling. “It’s good to have a passion.”
“Yeah, dude. It is.” Caz drills him with a heated look, and my eyes meet Galen’s in understanding.
It’s dark in the car, so I can’t be sure, but I think Theo’s blushing.
I turn back around in my seat, leaving them to their moment. Saint spares a quick look at me, and I grin at him. I love that the tension between the guys is giving way to something else, and I love that we’re doing something. It feels like I’ve spent months sitting on my butt, and I’m itching for some action. Itching to put our plan into motion and take those assholes down.
“I really hope we get some answers tonight,” I admit, as Saint pushes the Land Rover up an incline.
“We better, because I’m ready to end this,” Saint says, articulating my thoughts.
“We’ve got to stop him before this new truckload of girls arrives in Lowell,” Galen adds. “If other members get a taste for this business, it might not cease when Sinner goes down.”
“It will,” I say, turning around to look at him. “Diesel will make sure of it.” The only reason VERO—the covert organization he works for—hasn’t shut it down is because they want to give Sinner enough rope to hang himself. Plus, they are trusting in Diesel, inus, to help nail his ass to the wall.
We drive higher and higher up the mountain, passing an isolated house plunged in darkness, before the road levels out. Bry parks behind a one-level structure made of corrugated iron, and we pull up beside him.
We congregate between both vehicles, and I lean back against the hood as I scan our surroundings. You can see so much from this height, and familiar sprawling towns are spread out below us on one side, lights twinkling for miles. On the other side is the less well-known part of Fenton Forest, where the meeting is taking place.
