Page 67 of Our Tricks

“Yes, Dax, thousands,” Wes answered. “Did you think we were going to be able to pull this off with only the thirteen of us?”

“Well, yeah, that’s exactly what I thought. There’s no reason we need to involve the rest when we can just slip in, kill the fucker, then go back home. Done deal!” I explained. “Why, what are you thinking? An all-out war?”

“Hellcat, this is an all-out war,” Eagle pointed out. “Marco has attacked my people, and if he wins, then he’d happily slaughter all of your people as well. We can’t do this quietly. We need to make a statement that says if you pick a fight with the Hidden Empire, you’ll be destroyed. If we were going to do what you just suggested, we could send the triplets to do the job and be done with it. I know that’s not what you want.”

Shit, Eagle had a point. I’d been looking at this in a way to get it to end but not really long term. This needed to be huge news with flashing lights and a neon sign that says, ‘Fuck with me, and I’ll end you.’ Fuck, I must be getting tired if I didn’t realize this before. It’s a damn good thing I put them in charge of planning.

“You’re right.” I sighed.

Cognac whipped out his phone and held it near my face. “I’m sorry, loba, could you say that again? I just want to make sure I have it on record since this is a momentous occasion.”

“Fuck off,” I grumbled and flipped him the bird. “So does anyone have any ideas as to how to get that many people into another country so one would notice?”

“Honey child, this is such an easy solution, I’m astounded none of you thought of it. Y’all must be slippin’ if you didn’t think of it yourselves,” Dante teased.

We all stared at him expectantly when he didn’t continue to tell us his brilliant idea, “Goodness, you clearly do need my help. I’m so glad you asked since you seem to be in dire need of some fresh ideas. Tell me what comes in and out of the country with thousands of people on them that no one would bat an eye at?” Dante asked, trying to get us to figure it out ourselves.

Sprocket groaned and dropped his head on the table. “How the fuck did we not even consider that?”

“See, there ya go, now you’re cookin’ with fire,” Dante praised. “Now tell the others what they missed.”

Lifting his head, Sprocket grinned at us all. “A motherfucking cruise ship. They come and go all the fucking time and flood the ports full of people doing this or that, and no one bats an eye. We just need to buy out a ship, fill it with our people, and bam, we’ve got ourselves an army.”

We gawked at his answer, then I quickly dissolved into laughter. “God, if that isn’t the best fucking idea and something we can totally make happen. The boat can even start in Seattle and make its way down, collecting people. Hell, if we run out of room, we simply get another boat. Wait, how many people does a cruise ship hold?”

Wes turned to his computer, and the sound of keys clacking told me he was looking up that very information. “Seems to be an average of two or three thousand, and some of the bigger ones can take almost four if you count the crew.”

Three to four thousand. Holy shit, that’s waging war on Marco with those kinds of numbers.

“So how do we do this? Rally the troops, I mean?” I asked, looking at the others. “We’ve kept most of this a secret, but I have zero doubt most saw the fight night and my declaration.”

“Simple, little demon, you be yourself and rally the troops. I’m sure there’s a way for us to film something we can send out to your leaders throughout the Hidden Empire. Then we’ll make it known to talk to those in charge in their area to get more details,” Void suggested.

Wes nodded his agreement. “That’s simple enough to do. It will be like the monthly meetings we typically have with the lieutenants running the Pacific Northwest.”

My gaze flicked around the table as Wes said that, expecting there to be a bigger reaction to the fact that I controlled the whole West Coast, but no one seemed to care. Had Weston told them already? I suppose it didn’t matter. Most of the men in this room were my husbands and would have found out soon enough, and the others didn’t seem to give a fuck.

Well, good to know we aren’t making a big deal out of that bit of news.

Now, on to more important things like what are we going to do with the army we’re collecting?

Chapter 24

Dax

Wes and I went upstairs to work on the video while the others worked on the logistics of getting the cruise ship and all that went with it. There was also the part where we needed people to fill the boat when it left so no one would be suspicious of an empty ship taking off.

“Okay, shortcake, you got this,” Wes encouraged. “Forget that Marco is mainly targeting you and focus on the fact if you weren’t standing in the way of things, he’d come after them.”

Taking a deep breath, I nodded, shook out my body, then acknowledged to Wes that I was ready. When he gave me the thumbs up it was recording, I looked his phone’s camera dead in the eye and told it like it is. “Hidden Empire, this is a call to war. I’m sure many of you have seen the footage of the fight night I was supposed to participate in this past weekend. Those who haven’t, I’m positive have heard about it. As your leader, I’ve kept a lot of what’s been going on behind the scenes to myself until it was time to involve everyone…”

I paused and licked my dry lips before continuing, “Marco Tesoro, the leader of the Tesoro Cartel in Mexico, has made it his personal mission to take me out and destroy the Hidden Empire, taking over the territory for himself. He believes I’m the cause of his father’s ruin and is seeking revenge. Over the past few months, I’m sure those of you local have noticed the uptick in attacks, raids, and the bold assassination attempts on me. Marco has found many friends in our enemies and has been using them to do his dirty work while he sits safely at home in his fortress.”

I took a deep breath. “This is a call to arms. It’s time for me to retaliate in kind, and to do that, I need your help. If Marco gets what he wants, life as we know it will cease to exist because Marco believes he can become king of the criminal empire. I refuse to let him have that satisfaction, and the criminal world we live in only thrives when each of us can take our own path. Fight with me for your families, for the empire you helped create, and for yourselves. Once I’m out of his way, I’m not sure anything will be able to stop him. This battle won’t be won with me fighting alone. A ruler is only as strong as their people, and I know my people. Those who owe their allegiance to the Hidden Empire are a force to be reckoned with. Stand with me, fight beside me, keep the Empire strong and show any motherfucker who dares to poke the giant we’ll destroy you.”

Having said my peace, I flicked my face up to Wes and nodded so he knew to end the video.

He was grinning from ear to ear as he walked up to me. “Goddamn, I love when you go all boss bitch. It’s so fucking sexy, I just want to fuck the shit out of you right now.” He slid a hand behind my head, fisted the hair on the nape of my neck, and yanked so my face tilted up for him to ravage my mouth.