CHAPTER NINE
IONA DROVE INsilence, alert, and gaze shifting from mirror to mirror. So far, no signs of trouble. She didn’t tell Elias, but he’d scared her when he took on the biker president alone.
She’d probably scared him a time or two during their missions. Because they hadn’t been dating, he wouldn’t have said anything much, although his angry expression would tell the tale. Now that he considered her to be his, however, Elias Knight wouldn’t hold back if she risked her safety needlessly.
He should remember that she would hold him accountable for those same risks taken without precaution on his end, too. Nope, he wouldn’t like that at all. She had seen his previous behavior and recognized that Elias always pushed the edge.
She glanced at him and smiled. He was asleep. That’s exactly what she wanted and what he needed. Violet had pulled her aside before they left Elias’ house and told her how to help him the most. Sleep was at the top of her list. Even a few minutes would make a difference, according to their medic.
An hour later, the caravan stopped at the guarded gate to the Fortress compound. Seth spoke to the guard, then waved his identification card in front of the reader. The gates opened with a slow glide.
The five SUVs drove onto the grounds and into the underground garage. On the opposite side of the garage, five motorcycles waited for the operatives to use on their next operation.
Iona parked and turned off the engine. As she did, Elias woke up fully alert. “Have a good nap?”
He rubbed his face. “I did.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I never nap.”
Except today. She’d pat herself on the back later. “How is your shoulder?”
“A little better. Those pills kicked the pain level down where I can push it to the back of my mind.”
“Good. I hope you’ll take another nap when we leave here.”
“Depends on where the MC compound is located. I don’t want you to drive into an MC compound while I’m sacked out in the front seat.” He shrugged his good shoulder. “Wouldn’t present the right image.”
They exited the SUV and met at the front of the hood. Together, they joined the other operatives in the elevator and rode to the executive floor, where Brent had scheduled a planning meeting in the conference room.
When the elevator arrived, the silver doors slid open. Zane, the communications and tech wizard, motioned for them to follow him. “The boss is waiting.” He led the group into the large conference room and zoomed inside ahead of them, guiding his wheelchair to the computer terminal with multiple screens, a small version of his setup in the communications room.
Brent inclined his head toward the table. “Take a seat and let’s get started.”
During the next four hours, they studied schematics of the bikers’ compound on the Tennessee-Alabama line and discussed strategies and backup plans in dealing with the MC. After long sessions of memorizing every fact Zane had put together on the key players in the MC, Brent said, “Do you have questions?”
“Just one.” Seth folded his arms across his chest. “In all this preparation, one thing has been glaringly obvious.”
“What’s that?”
“You haven’t told us the name of the MC we’re joining.”
“You’re right. I haven’t.”
“Why didn’t you tell us at the beginning of this session?”
“I had my reasons.”
Noah scowled. “Boss, the time for discretion and secrets is gone. We need to know what we’re dealing with before we leave this room.”
Brent inclined his head. “The target MC is the Blackthorn Riders.”
Elias stiffened. “Are you serious? Brent, they’re an affiliate of the Reckoners.”
His teammates exchanged grim glances.
When her teammates all wore the same puzzled expression, Iona twisted to face Elias. “Who are the Blackthorn Riders?”
