Sami nodded vigorously.
“We’re willing to consider an agreement between Vanguard and the Mercenaries to develop food resources, if you’ll provide us with ten soldiers for a mission up north,” Jax said easily. “That is, if Maureen agrees, of course.”
“Of course,” Greyson said, his gaze remaining on Maureen.
Raze scowled at his sister. “I don’t like this.”
“You don’t have to,” Maureen returned.
“What’s the mission?” Greyson asked.
“No questions asked. We just need ten more guys to attack a holding up north and steal ammunition and explosives. Then we can discuss food development.” Jax crossed his arms.
“I’m in,” Damon said.
“No.” Jax shook his head. “The second part of the deal is that Damon stays here, undercover, and works his way into the Pure group. You’ll have to denounce Merc territory as unsafe. Temporarily.”
Greyson frowned at Damon. “What have you gotten into?”
“An undercover operation,” Damon said, grinning. “They did save my life.”
“So you said,” Greyson muttered, obviously concerned for his friend. Hell, the leader had come himself to find Damon even after Jax had threatened to shoot him if he took one step inside Vanguard territory. Grey studied Maureen and then Jax. “Damon said the president’s men attacked him.”
Jax nodded.
“I’m guessing you’re planning the dumbest thing you’ve done so far and attacking the president and his Elite Force. That’s the only way you’d ask for my help.” Grey glanced at Damon. “If we do this, it’s all-out war with the president.”
Damon lost his smile. “Anybody know if the Brigade is with the Elite Force?”
Jax shook his head. “Last we heard, nobody quite knew where the Brigade ended up.” He reached out and ran a hand down Lynne’s arm. “The leader, McDougall, is married to Lynne’s best friend, so we’re hoping they’re safe somewhere.”
Greyson glanced at Lynne. “All right.”
Jax eyed the Merc leader. “So. You in or out?”
Greyson met his gaze. “We’re in, so long as Maureen agrees to come back to Merc territory and work on food resources after we get back. I want her word as well as yours, and I decide when she’s finished. Oh, and half of the explosives are ours.”
Jax looked up. “Moe?”
“Agreed,” she said, giving her brother a look and obviously avoiding Grey’s contemplative gaze.
What was up with those two? Jax nodded. “We have a deal. Let’s start planning—I want to attack after dark tomorrow night.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
No risk, no reward . . . but shit. This is fuckin’ crazy.
—Jax Mercury
Sami held tight to Jax’s waist as he expertly maneuvered the dirt bike through rubble and pieces of glass, her mind on Tace in the truck a mile or so behind them. While she understood the need to separate them, she didn’t like it. Not one bit. What if he had another episode?
Barbara was covering Tace, and he was along only because he’d freaked out at the thought of being left behind. If he was anybody else, Jax would’ve shot him.
They reached Lake Tahoe and skirted the southern end, stopping at the edge of the park. Sami jumped off the bike and helped Jax hide it in the trees. “The mansion is a good choice for defense,” she whispered.
The moon shone down, highlighting the harsh angles of Jax’s face. “The president isn’t an idiot.”
She nodded and drew a knife from her back pocket. They’d stopped to gather ten Merc soldiers, and combined with the twenty Vanguard fighters, there were thirty of them. The plan was to infiltrate from three angles, not counting the lake. “I came here once on a Girl Scout trip,” she whispered.
