Page 58 of Lockout

“The minute we hit them, Hangman is going to know it’s game on,” I said before anyone could say anything. “Which means we lose the element of surprise. If we can take out a decent chunk of his force, I think it’s worth doing. But, we can’t fail. It has to be absolute decimation. Otherwise he’s going to hit back even harder.”

Priest ran a hand back and forth over his hair. It was a little longer than he usually kept it and I knew it was driving him insane. “Shit. You’re right, Lock, but what about everyone here? The school? The apartments? The ranch?”

“Two people on the school, the apartments, and the ranch. Isla and Butcher will stay here to protect the women and kids.”

Everyone looked uncomfortable. And the fact that Butcher wasn’t automatically bitching about that assignment was a huge red flag.

“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“You should stay here with Isla, Lock,” Hush said, finally speaking up when no one else would.

My brows went up. “Why’s that? You think I’m out of shape? That I’ve been out of the fight too long to be useful to you?”

“Goddamn, Lock,” Hush muttered, shaking his head. “You know I don’t. But…”

“But what?” I asked, voice calm even though I was raging inside. I didn’t like the implication. “You think I’m a liability?”

Hush winced.

“Not like that,” Priest said, “but you are.”

I scowled at him. I didn’t say anything, waiting for the explanation.

It came from Rip. “If we’re caught and they get a hold of you?” he said with a shake of his head. “The rest of us will do whatever the fuck we have to in order to get you back.”

“Givewhateverwe have to,” Idaho said with an intense look.

They were right. Goddamn it.

“Information,” Static said.

“Our lives,” Hell agreed.

“Our asses,” Smoke said, making a face, “literally if we had to.” Everyone stared at him when he cracked a grin. “Just trying to lighten the mood, fuck’s sake.”

“I love you like a brother, Lock,” Toxic said. “Not sure I’d give up my ass cherry for you though…”

Everyone chuckled at that.

“Oh sure,” Smoke muttered, pouting. “It’s funny whenhesays it.”

Toxic wrapped his arm around Smoke’s neck, pulling him closer and choking him at the same time. “That’s because I’m actually funny, Smoke.”

Smoke wrestled his way out of Toxic’s hold, glaring at the man as he sat back. “Yeah, sure.”

“Besides,” Priest said, “This will be the most vulnerable we’ve ever left the clubhouse. We need to know with absolute certainty that our women, the kids, my girls, are safe. Who else can we trust like that?” He shrugged.

That calmed down my anger quite a bit because they were all nodding at that. At least they didn’t think I was a useless piece of shit. I tapped a finger on the table, something I tended to do when I was thinking. “You all feel the same?”

Everyone continued nodding. Fuck. I was going to have to sit out of this fucking fight. I didn’t like it. I wanted to lead from the front, not stay behind with the women. But I made most of them, at one time or another, stay behind and do the same. I wasn’t above it. Not to mention the fact that they trusted me to protect their families was an honor of its own.

“Fine. I’ll stay behind with Isla.”

“Great,” Butcher muttered. “Who’s going to tell her?”

“She’syourold lady,” Ricochet pointed out.

“Not my decision to make her miss out on the fun,” Butcher shot back. “Why should I have to take the hit on this one?”