Page 51

There was something to be said for going into defender mode.

It fed a primitive side of me, and I thought it did the same for the others.

As much as I wanted to get started on Deon, until the more significant threat was eliminated, I couldn’t concentrate or enjoy it, so I went with the bulk of our forces to trap and oust the Machado crew.

We couldn’t run the risk of them returning to Mexico and raising other forces to move against us, which meant they’d have to die here and never be heard of again.

We treated it like soldiers would, setting up an ambush.

We hid ourselves in Mr. Engelston’s woods, along the entire length of the front wall.

The back of our property had an entrance, but it was hidden and unknown to others.

We hadn’t made it noticeable or easy to access, which meant the logical place was to try to come at us by taking down our gate or scaling walls.

The razor wire along the top was for more than scare tactics.

It would tear you up if you weren’t careful, but it could still be climbed over.

Throw a piece of thick leather over it, and there you go.

Wire knew this and had factored that in.

Our razor wire was different. It could be electrified, but we’d pass on that option this time.

We had a different plan in mind. The gate was reinforced to withstand anything short of a rocket launcher hit.

However, if they got inside, more surprises were waiting.

With the women and kids secure inside the clubhouse and our people to direct others helping us out of the key areas if needed, we could stop them even if they penetrated the outer defenses.

Was it crazy to have such things when we were technically a civilian organization?

Hell yeah, but that was the world we lived in.

Lucky for us, we had men who had served and shared their ideas, plus others who dreamed up shit.

I loved my life and the fact that I fed two distinctly different aspects of my psyche.

I was primed for the shit to begin. I was standing beside Leon, and Nomad was on my other side. Both had served. Nomad had been an Army EOD. They were softly talking about their experiences while they were in. We’d be alerted when Machado got close.

“I love when we get to do shit like this. It’s the best of both worlds. I got out but couldn’t live the straight civilian life. Becoming part of a club saved my sanity. And I still get the brotherhood aspect I love. There’s no feeling like riding,” Nomad explained.

“I’ve been struggling with that too. I’ve been out for almost four months.

I can’t seem to settle on a job. Guarding Blythe was easy work, but it was better than a few other things I did.

I thought about joining the Dark Patriots, but I don’t know if I want to do that.

They still work for the government sometimes, and I’ve had enough of that,” Leon said.

“You should ask to join the club. If you don’t want to do it here, come to Georgia and prospect with us. As long as you check out, which you do or wouldn’t be here, we’d gladly take you.” Nomad told him.

“Hey, no poaching our prospective prospect, asshole,” Hulk said from the far right. There were light chuckles from others nearby.

“He’s right. I was already thinking of asking if Leon wanted to join. Don’t make us bury you out here,” I threatened.

“Hey, I said if he wanted it or if you passed him up. I get it. First dibs go to you, but second dibs are ours. Gotta beat out those damn Warriors.” He said louder as he looked in the direction of Stalker.

Even in the darkness, we could still see each other.

Night vision did wonders. Stalker flipped Nomad off and called out, “Fuck you.”

We laughed harder. We would have said more, but our earpieces, designed for ease of communication, came alive with Wire’s voice.

“They’re about six minutes out. Get ready.”

Instantly, we went into warrior mode, and silence descended.

We moved closer to the edge of the tree line without coming out and crouched even lower.

The way we were dressed, unless you were looking very closely, we blended into the trees.

Movement would be the way to give ourselves away, and we knew not to do it until we were ready to take them on.

It wasn’t long before the roar of more than one vehicle was heard.

As expected, four dark SUVs stopped along the front wall a minute later.

One sat directly outside the gate. Lights shone along the wall where we had lighting and glowed inside the compound.

It looked like it was lit for a night of fun.

Music, laughter, and talking came from inside the walls.

It was all previously recorded and put on a loop by Wire to fool the enemy into thinking we were partying and unaware.

Out of the SUVs came a swarm of men. I quickly counted them.

Surely there wouldn’t be more than twenty.

What if they snuck some in a different way?

My heart pounded at the thought, but settled when I was done.

There were twenty total, with five in each SUV.

The lead one in front of the gate contained both Machado men.

Wire had made sure everyone knew what they looked like.

They were standing outside the gate, an air of arrogance coming from them.

They were in suits, for God’s sake. We held steady.

Finally, Alvaro pressed the button on the panel, which would ring in the clubhouse.

It was how people could be let into the compound when someone wasn’t at the gate and didn’t have a code to enter.

I wanted to snicker when no one answered.

After several impatient pushes, Agony’s voice boomed over it.

“Yes?” he asked in a bored tone.

“Open your gate,” Alvaro ordered.

“Who the fuck are you? Why would I open my gate?” Agony snapped.

“I’m Alvaro Machado. You have something that belongs to us, and we want it back,” Alvaro snarled.

“What would that be?” Agony asked in that same bored tone.

“My cousin, Octavia Machado! We know you have her. Bring her to us right now. If she’s unharmed, we’ll think about not burning this place to the ground and killing every last one of you,” Alvaro snarled.

There was a long pause before Agony answered.

“Machado, you say. Guys, do we know an Octavia?” he hollered.

The noise in the background never abated.

There were shouts of no. “Sorry, we don’t have anyone by that name here.

However, she’d be on her back or knees servicing my guys if we did.

You must have the wrong place. Or is she a club whore?

We don’t bother to ask their names. What does she look like? ” was his smartass reply.

“Listen, motherfucker, my cousin isn’t a whore! However, your women will be made into them, I promise you. I want you to open this fucking gate! My men will bust through it and search for themselves if you don’t. Anyone getting in our way will die,” Alvaro screamed.

I thought it was telling that his father, the supposed head of the family and boss, said nothing and let his son do all the talking. Had son surpassed father, and Rodrigo was only there as a figurehead? Hmm.

“You can try, but I warn you. It won’t be as easy as you think. As for making our women into whores, that’ll never happen. Go while you can,” Agony ordered. His voice had become hard and commanding. It would put up backs.

“I’ll show you!” Machado yelled.

There was no reply. He kept hitting the button, but no one would answer it.

Finally, he pitched a swearing fit in Spanish.

His father allowed it for a while, then touched his son’s arm and whispered something to him.

Whatever it was, Alvaro stopped ranting, took several deep breaths, and then turned to face the men with them.

All were armed with AR-type rifles and undoubtedly a handgun or two each.

No larger weapons were apparent. I couldn’t tell if they had hand grenades.

“We’ll show them what we’re made of. These norteamericanos , North Americans, will regret touching a hair on Tavia’s head.

And we’ll take back the woman they’ve been hiding.

The one named Blythe. You all know what she looks like.

You’ve been shown her picture. She’s not to be harmed.

She’s rumored to be carrying twins. As for the other women, we’d typically want them, but in this case, kill them.

The only exception is if one is pregnant.

They represent a double payout. As for the men, slaughter them.

We don’t have time to make them beg. I don’t know how responsive the policía , police, are in this area.

I didn’t have time sobornar , to bribe any of them,” Alvaro explained to his men.

There were mutterings, but nothing more. It must’ve been what he expected because Alvaro nodded and then shouted, “Bring the chains!”

Two men rushed to the back of the lead SUV.

They removed two long, heavy chains from the rear storage area with grab hooks attached to both ends.

Those were secured to the rear hitch on two other SUVs, with their back ends toward the wall, and the other latched onto slotted grooves protruding from the gate’s surface.

The primary SUV was moved out of the way.

The Machado men distanced themselves. A driver got into each vehicle, and Alvaro raised his arm high.

He abruptly dropped it. They gunned their motors.

That’s when they got a shock. The gate didn’t budge.

Alvaro frantically gestured to the drivers, demanding they give it more gas, which they did. Nothing. After a third attempt, he waved for them to cut the engines. He paced back and forth, shaking his head. I swore he was talking to himself. After a minute or so, he stopped.