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Ze caught the hint and nodded. He texted Raven and their president the address to Colton’s home, then walked over to the box and climbed inside. There were four holes used for handles and ventilation. He could hear them tape the top of the box, putting him into semi-darkness in the cramped, stuffy space that smelled of cardboard and dust. He braced himself as two of his brothers lifted the box and loaded it into the back of their black windowless van along with two other boxes just in case they were being watched. Ze knew what the protocol would be. It was the same thing they did when they knew the police were spying on them. They wouldn’t want to give anything away by rushing, or presenting any cautious behaviors. It would have to look like they were just loading regular legal goods to be transported. Ze could hear the murmured voices of his brothers joking and talking shit to each other. He heard some laughter and it was as if his brothers were carrying on as if they weren’t whisking away one of their own from a professional assassin.

“Hey, I have other shit to get done today, get that last box in here so we can go,” Ze heard Raven telling the other bikers.

“Yeah, yeah, this is the last box, calm the fuck down,” said another brother who Ze recognized as Bruiser. Through the hole in the box, he watched as two brothers hauled the last box into the back, then closed the door, putting him into even more darkness save the sunlight coming in from the front windows. Ze could hear two of his brothers climb inside and close their doors. He heard Raven give Bruiser the address to Colton’s home. He knew that Raven was in the passenger seat, which was just tactical. If they did get attacked, it was best if the enforcer wasn’t behind the wheel and was free to shoot back.

Ze could feel the van moving and felt relief to know that they were on the move. He knew they’d be watching the road to see if they were being followed. They had at least twenty minutes of travel time. He tried to think of what to do next. How to kill an assassin who could take you out at any time. As much as he wanted to be worried about his predicament, he couldn’t shake the rush of it all. He wanted to kill this man hunting him now, and he wanted to kill the man who’d sent the killer after him. He needed their blood on his hands, that was what helped him sleep at night.

Soon, he told himself as he relaxed inside the box.

8

COLTON

Colton had waitedfive minutes after the van pulled away before he left. He made sure to look as calm as possible as he walked out of the building, pulling his helmet on before he’d climbed back on his bike. If the assassin was watching them, he’d know it was him who left the building alive. If they were being watched, he’d know that Colton had been inside for quite some time. Was he waiting for the opportunity to kill his target and that was what took so long, or did something else happen? That was when Wolf’s plan to cause a commotion would come in handy. Didn’t need the other assassin breaking in and going to Ze’s place and discovering that he wasn’t there. Let him think Colton had just left before the bikers discovered their brother was dead. Yes, he had liked that plan when they came up with it.

He pulled into the garage and informed the security at the gate that he was expecting a package and for the van to be allowed access and to tell them where to go. He checked his watch and noted that they should be there soon.

“Yes sir,” the attendant said.

Colton drove through and pulled into his parking spot by his private elevator where his brother was standing there waiting with a very agitated expression on his handsome face. Colton climbed off his bike and walked over to his brother, then removed his helmet.

“Thanks for co–” He was cut off by the right hook his brother gave him that made him stagger a few steps back. He rubbed his jaw and looked at him. “Was that even necessary?”

“Kind of, yeah. You pissed me off,” Nathan scowled.

“Yeah, I get that. I’m sorry, but I have to save him,” Colton said.

Nathan sighed. “I came… because I want to see you happy. You’re right. With what we do, the secret lives we lead, finding someone to truly share it with… is damn near impossible. If this biker can be that person for you, then you’re right. He’s worth saving.”

Colton pulled his brother into a hug and Nate hugged him back.

“So, I hope you have a plan because Shadow Fox isn’t anyone I feel like tussling with,” Nate said once they pulled away.

Colton nodded, then walked over to the elevator, touching the pad and doing the eye scan. The doors opened and both men climbed on. He entered the code and they were in his apartment in no time. He put his helmet down and pulled out his cell phone, showing his brother the photos he’d taken of Ze.

“What the fuck, did you kill h–Wait, this is staged?” Nathan asked and looked up at him.

“Can you tell?” Colton asked, a bit concerned because he thought he had done a damn good job with the makeup.

“No, it looks real as fuck. I only know it’s staged because it better fucking be after all this shit,” Nate said.

Colton laughed and nodded. “His club had the kit, not the first time they had to fake someone’s death. From what I saw, they seem pretty capable.”

Nathan cocked an eyebrow. “A capable biker club?” he asked with disbelief in his tone.

Colton nodded as he walked off to his bedroom, with his brother following behind him. He went into his bathroom to wash up at the sink, all the blood and mess from the fight. Nathan leaned on the doorframe. “They are capable, organized, and don’t seem to make rash decisions. And they had at least one enforcer who gave me hell.”

Nathan scoffed. “Because you let him.”

Colton couldn’t really argue with that. He’d allowed Ze to take the upper hand in their fight because he wasn’t giving it his all in the first place, hoping to talk sense into the man. But that frying pan to the face that left a bruise by his eye had caught him by surprise. He touched the bruise, wincing a little at the tenderness.

“So, what do you plan to do with these pictures? Give them to mom, I’m sure, but do we tell her the truth or lie?” Nate asked.

“That’s the pickle. Mom is so… uncompromising. Will she accept the truth and go along with my plan knowingly?”

Nathan sighed and let his head fall back on the doorframe. “Fuck… I don’t even know how to answer that.”

“Does Iris know about everything that’s gone down?”