“At the front gate. They’re driving up the road now. We’ve got sixty seconds max before they’re at the front door.”
“Shit.” Steel storms into the room behind me. “How many?”
“One car.”
“Convenient timing. They must have been sitting around waiting for an excuse to breach. Guns away, everyone,” Steel shouts.
The guys tuck them into their holsters or carry them to their rooms, getting them out of sight.
All guns on the property are clean and registered to make sure we don’t end up in hot water if we’re unexpectedly raided. Still, this many can get us into trouble if the Feds decide to be dicks about it. Which is probably the case, considering they were circling the compound looking for a reason to drive through the gate tonight.
Patch bunnies clear out at the mention of the Feds. Aimee disappears down the hallway toward Havoc’s room, and I’m thankful Luna and Willa left out the side door in the kitchen, so they hopefully won’t cross paths with them.
Patch stays in the bar, tending to the guys who got hit, while I head to the front porch with Soul to deal with the Feds. We have enough heat on us without them targeting our president, so Steel hangs back, even though his grumble tells me it pisses him off to do so.
“Have I said lately how much I hate the fucking Feds?” Soul grumbles, stopping on the front porch just as their car rolls to a stop.
Asshole Number One climbs out first, brushing his short blond hair off his face to show off his smug smile. He walks ahead of Asshole Number Two, who hangs back by the car.
“Trouble tonight?” the blond asshole asks, trying to see around us and into the clubhouse. “We heard gunfire.”
“Is babysitting duty really that boring?” Soul’s eyebrow hitches. “You have to imagine a few fireworks are shots fired just to add a little fun to your evening?”
“You’re saying we didn’t hear gunshots?”
“I don’t know what the fuck you heard. I’m telling you what it was.” Soul pulls out a cigarette and leans against the railing, lighting it.
Smoke curls from his lips as he smiles, wearing a mask of calm like he’s good at.
I chuckle, grabbing a cigarette when he offers me one, trying to act casual, when every nerve in my body is fried.I want to fucking skin someone for what just happened, but the Feds can’t know that, or they’ll try to push inside.
“Fireworks,” Asshole One says loud enough for Asshole Two to hear him, and they both chuckle. “Guess you won’t mind if we take a look then?”
“You got a warrant?” I take a long drag, blowing smoke in his face so he takes a step back.
“Why would we need a warrant if you’re not hiding anything?”
I lean on the railing next to Soul, taking another drag of my cigarette and letting it calm me. It would be so easy to pull out my gun and plant a bullet between this asshole’s eyes, and it takes everything in me not to.
“Just covering your asses for you.” I shrug. “You know if you find something without a warrant, it won’t do shit for you in court. What a shame that would be.”
“Sounds like we’re doing you a favor, really.” Soul smiles, but there’s more malice behind it than anything else.
The Fed frowns, stepping back when Soul blows more cigarette smoke at him. They make it too easy.
He tries to see around us again, but the door is closed, and the guys know to be quiet right now.
“All right, I’ll be back with a warrant.” The Fed narrows his eyes. “But if I find anything that proves you’re lying to me right now, I’ll hold you personally responsible, Dean Graham.”
I hate when they call me by my fucking name.
“You thought I didn’t know who you are?” He smirks. “I know who you all are, and I know justhow much each of you has to lose. Maybe remind your president of that when you see him inside. Ask him how he’ll feel when he’s not there for the birth of his child. When he has to watch his kids grow up from behind bars. You know what it will be like in there for him, don’t you? Been there already? It won’t be long before you’re back.”
I stand tall, taking a drag of my cigarette because it’s all that’s keeping my feet on this porch and my hands to myself. Smoke curls around me, and I’m swimming in it. Anything to not catch a felony tonight.
“Have a good night, gentleman.” I force a smile that promises nothing good if they don’t leave.
“Don’t worry, we will.” They chuckle, climbing back into their car and leaving.
