“She’s right, you know.I get the same look in my eyes when I see Hawk as you do when Motown’s around,” Etain replies with a goofy grin.“But we have work to do.”
With that, Tacitus drives Etain and me to my shop, and Flex is with Sasha for the day.While Etain is busy going back and forth with Sasha on names and numbers to add to the emergency phone tree, I’m busy with customers.Today is the busiest one the store has seen yet.The best part is that I’ve sold two big-ticket items.One is an oak side table, and another is a decorative shelf unit.I picked up both pieces from an auction house months ago for a good price.I was going to keep them for my own place, but decided to see if they would sell.The good news is that the table and shelf are going to customers who greatly appreciate their purchases.The bad news is that I’m going to have to go to more auctions to find furniture to fill my home.
Still, it’s not a bad problem to have.I love shopping!
Motown
I spend my day perched on the roof of the building across from the hotel where Bronson’s men are holding Logan.I made a quick stop to pick up a pair of binoculars of my own, then peer into the room to catch a glimpse of our man on the inside.
Each time the curtains move, I look for a sign from Logan.The biggest problem we have is knowing we’ll be meeting tonight, but not having the location.Getting a text with the location an hour before is not ideal.This means we’ll be rushing to ensure the men are ready for the takedown.We won’t get another opportunity like this.
Orion is releasing information to the feds about the drug trafficking operation.A simple call won’t do; we need to feed them more information to convince them to jump on the bandwagon.Reno contacted Alessio Cassini, and after infiltrating the Russian drug shipment and capturing a couple of their soldiers, he’s been able to get photos of the crates, along with the shipping manifest.
Normally, Alessio would take this as a personal win.He could easily have decided to keep the product and move on.It’s his relationship with Reno that has Alessio providing the proof we need to cripple Bronson’s empire.I didn’t know how far Reno’s reach was until he gave us specific emails about where the evidence is being sent.Reno has a man high up in a federal agency.
It’s close to nine, and the sun has set.Decker is getting anxious.
“Anything?”Decker asks.He’s worried about Logan.I get it.Decker was a street kid, and if it weren’t for Logan, he would have been just another statistic of gang violence.Whether Logan was at the right place at the right time or because he was a concerned citizen who saw a lost young man and gave him his time, Logan saved Decker and gave him purpose.I don’t know what went on between the two of them, but Decker found his way to us without Logan.Decker’s been quiet about his past, but he’s been with us from the start.
I do know that Decker and Logan meet regularly.Up until this last week, I knew almost nothing about Logan, and yet, here we are, on the same side.
I hand Decker my binoculars.“Take a look.”
Decker shakes his head.“I don’t see him.”
“If you look close, you can see his shadow as he paces the room.”
Decker lets out a breath.“Yeah, I see it.”He lifts his head to look at me.“I hate that he’s in there on his own.”
“Agreed.But you said it yourself, he’s smart.His senses are sharp, and he’s been in difficult situations before.Remember, Logan’s been under heavy fire in war.He knows how to handle himself under pressure.He wouldn’t have survived this long under the radar if he wasn’t capable.”
“He’s always alone.I don’t think he talks to many people,” Decker says.
“He talks to you.”
“That’s because I’m a pain in the ass and force myself on him.I won’t let him shut me out.I keep going back, whether he likes it or not,” he confesses.
“You don’t think Logan could have thrown you out?Especially when you were a pain in his ass.He might want to be alone, but that doesn’t mean he shuts out the people he cares about.”Decker shrugs, unconvinced.“I’ve been where he’s been.Soldiers fight for their country, thinking they’re protecting freedom.Then they come home and see more atrocities in their own city streets.You start wondering, what the hell am I doing?”I sigh.“I did that, and when my time was up, I came home.But I had nothing to come home to.”
“Logan had a sister.I’m not sure how bad it was, because he hasn’t said, but she’s gone, and he’s feeling it.He’s angry.He’s also grieving the loss of his family.He’s smart, though.He decided to work with us instead of going off on his own.I have to convince him to come see Hawk,” Decker says, sighing deeply.
“That’s what friends do.You’re a good friend to him.Logan saw that and trusted you.Now, he’s not doing this alone.He has us, and we’re not going to let him down.”
“What if they don’t think he’s useful anymore and kill him?”Decker asks.
“That’s why we’re here.We’re keeping an eye on him.Drifter and Demon have eyes on Bronson, trailing his every move.The minute Logan is escorted out of the hotel, we’ll be right behind them.”
“I just want this done and for him to be out of there,” Decker says.
I put my hand on his shoulder.“We stand together, shoulder to shoulder, every brother from our club, Satan’s Pride, and even with Reno and his soldiers.We’re going to win this fight and bring Logan home safe and sound,” I say with conviction.
Chapter20
The Man in Black
Motown
Suddenly, the curtain moves, and Decker shoves the binoculars at me.“He’s signaling again.”I grab them and immediately focus on Logan’s hands.“Take this down.”I watch carefully.Logan does a sign for HOUSE.Then spells out T-E-S-S-A.“Fuck!”
