“Shit, Freak, you made me lose my senses.” Chuckling, she moves her gaze from me to Ace. “Yeah, Ace, we’re going to give it a try. You going to come in?” That’s to me.
Yesterday, I’d called her and already told her of the change of plans, and that I won’t return until Sunday, using the term “club business” just to get her used to it. Apparently, that fit in with her agenda, as she planned to take Ace back to the observatory – they’ve got an event tomorrow night which will end late. She’d also agreed to us staying the week. For now, though, I’ve got to get going. With an apologetic shrug, I inform her, “I just need a piss, then I’ve got to run.”
She waves us both inside. I head for the half-bath and do the necessary, then return to the hallway where she’s waiting for me.
I cup my hand around her cheek. “Hate to leave, wish I could stay.”
She sighs and leans into my touch. “Wish you could too, Freak.”
For a moment, I gaze into her eyes lovingly, hoping to convey the emotion I can’t yet put into words. Then, with one last entreaty for my son to behave himself, for which I’m rewarded with a roll of his eyes, I give him a hug, and her a kiss on the cheek, then I reluctantly take my leave.
As Flagstaff’s put in my rearview, I’m on cloud nine. In front of my son, Toni admitted we were starting a relationship. Can life get any better?
I spend a good part of my journey planning exactly where I’ll build my house. Saint’s is already built on the compound, and Short’s picked his plot. I already had my eye on one up closer to the tree line for greater privacy, which will involve making a new road. Then there’s the house itself. Three bedrooms? Four? A three-car garage as Ace will soon be driving. Would Toni want a child of her own? I don’t need to ask her age. I know she’s just a couple of years younger than me. In her late thirties, would shewant to put her body through pregnancy? I don’t mind one way or another. If she wants a baby, and there’s no risk to her, I’d be happy to add to our family. Twins run in her family… Hmm. Better make it four bedrooms, one for us, one for Ace, and one each for our mythical twins. Oh, make that five… Ma’s getting on. One day, she might need to come live with us.
By the time I reach the outskirts of town, I’ve got most of it planned out, and for the last hour and a half, I've been considering furnishings and wondering what style Toni might like. Driving through the gate, I laugh at myself. Who the fuck would have thought I’d have become so domesticated and interested in picking out curtains? That definitely goes under shit I need to keep to myself. If my brothers knew what I’d spent the last hours thinking about, they’d have a fucking field day.
It may be past midnight by the time I arrive at the compound, but I’m not surprised to find it a hive of activity. The guns we’re transporting are already loaded in the truck we’ve kitted out for this purpose, and which sports a reputable charitable logo. The weapons are hidden under a false floor, covered by boxes of second-hand clothing and cooking utensils.
With a wave to Tempest, I head inside, go to my room, and place my cut and my personal weapons into my gun safe – a precaution I’ve taken since Ace was a toddler. I also take my knife off my belt to leave behind. Then, feeling naked, I head back down.
The twin emotions of excitement and nervousness hang in the air as I greet my brothers. Genie hands out our credentials, showing we’re employed by the charity that’s helping with the humanitarian crisis in Mexico. The organisation is legit, our involvement, not so much. The documents we’re carrying should get us through the border crossing. Or so we hope. And any enquiry would confirm our legitimacy, at least until Genie getsback into their database and puts their records back to how they were before he added our fake names.
“Are you ready?” Tempest asks me, and I notice he’s bouncing on his toes.
Of course, despite all our planning, there’s always a chance shit can go south. If we fuck up, I’ll likely be thrown in the slammer and never see Ace again, or at least, not until he’s a grown man. But at least he’s with his aunt, who’ll surely look after him. And Ma has all Toni’s contact details just in case. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Woody emerges from the clubhouse, hitching up his pants. He’s the least tattooed and threatening-looking of all of us, so he’ll be driving.
“Papers in order?” he checks.
I tap my pocket, which holds the fake IDs that Genie has provided us with. Pippa has confirmed they’ll pass scrutiny.
Bullseye emerges from the clubhouse, Saint along with him. “You take care,” he tells us, his tone serious.
“We’ve covered all bases,” I reassure him. “Any metal detectors will ping the cooking pots and pans we’re transporting.”
“We work on finding a better route, Brothers,” Saint unnecessarily reassures me.
Yeah, we had one, but it was blown by the traitor Griz and the fucking MDMC. So now we’re trying to hide in plain sight, and crossing “legally.”
“Call me once you’ve offloaded and are on your way home. You got the coordinates for the drop-off, Woody?”
At Prez’s question, the road captain simply rolls his eyes.
It’s time to leave. Woody steps up into the driver’s seat, and Tempest and I move to sit alongside him. I feel naked having no weapons on me, but going unarmed is less likely to cause suspicion should we get stopped.
Then, Woody starts the engine and steps on the gas. Without fanfare, we set out to deliver our highly illegal cargo of guns across the Mexican border.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
FREAK
Our arrival back at the clubhouse is almost anticlimactic, the trip having gone more smoothly than we could have anticipated. Our disguise, our excuse for crossing the border, hadn’t even been questioned.
We’d met our contact, handed off the guns, and got the payment without a hitch.
Now we’re back on the compound. At five a.m., it’s deserted, the prez and VP obviously having returned to their beds after receiving the all-clear from us once we’d safely crossed back over the border.
