Page 56 of Brandishing Balance (Devil’s Psychos MC #3)

Nico

L aying in a heap of bodies with Maya wrapped around me, I let out a breath and closed my eyes, feeling every bit of happy, content and satisfied.

I savored it, because in another twenty minutes we were leaving.

A boat would pick us up and take us to the north end of Lake White Buffalo, and from there a car would be waiting to take us to Chicago.

Maya snuggled in my arms. She fell asleep almost immediately after we all pulled out of her. We cleaned her up and I wrapped her in my arms and she was out.

Jason pressed a kiss to her shoulder, his hand rubbing lazily over her arm. “She’s so fucking perfect,” he murmured.

“Yeah, she is,” Marcos said from across the room. He was already pulling out our duffels from the closet. “Come on guys, we gotta gear up.”

I sighed and nuzzled my face against the top of Maya’s head. I didn’t want to leave her. I didn’t want to leave her and Luke alone, even if they were going to be surrounded by Seratelli men…on a Yacht, in the middle of a giant lake.

Jason rolled away from Maya’s back before I could muster up the energy to move.

It had been a long day, but that had been the plan.

Romance and adventure, and lots of orgasms. We wanted Maya so exhausted that by the time she fell asleep, she stayed asleep.

We didn’t want her to wake up and not be here for her.

Luke too. Thankfully he was a heavy sleeper and didn’t get up often in the middle of the night.

I finally dragged myself out of Maya’s warm embrace, careful not to jostle her.

It took a couple minutes, but I was able to pull myself out of her arms without waking her.

I started changing my clothes along with Marcos and Jason.

The blackout clothing we brought would keep us hidden as we moved through the night.

As I was pulling my t-shirt over my head, my phone rang. I grabbed it out of my pocket quickly, not wanting to wake Maya. “Cousin,” I answered.

“I need you.” Leo’s voice was hoarse.

Fear gripped my spine. My cousin did need anyone. “I’m here. We’re ready to roll.”

“Alessia was taken by Hillcrest. Her guard was killed. I’m sending a chopper to your pickup location instead of a car. Be there in twenty minutes.” Leo hung up the call.

“Shit, we gotta. Alessia has been kidnapped.”

Marcos and Jason both jerked their heads toward me. “What?”

“Her guard was killed and she’s been kidnapped. Leo thinks it’s Hillcrest. We need to move now.” We quickly finished gearing up and then grab the duffels of weapons we had stored at the bottom. I glanced back at Maya sleeping peacefully, before we walk out the door.

We met with the captain before we left and he assured us that he and the staff would guard Maya and Luke with their lives. “The boat is ready for you,” Captain Taverish said.

Five minutes later our captain for the small speed boat was hauling ass toward the northwest shore of Lake White Buffalo.

Halfway toward the shore, the sound of a helicopter alerted us to Leo coming up from the south.

As he passed us, a bright spotlight briefly illuminated our boat before they sped towards the rendezvous point.

Our boat slowed, the air heavy as we approached the shore.

The small fishing boat was soon secured to a private dock and we climbed off quickly.

We jogged toward the waiting chopper, still running.

Leo opened the hatch as ran up and we quickly jumped inside.

He barely had the door closed again, before he was instructing the pilot to take off.

It took the three of us a few minutes to get strapped in and headsets on.

Once we were able to talk, Leo filled us in on his sister.

“Her guard was supposed to check in at ten. When he didn’t check in, I reached out to my men in the city.

They went to her dorm and found the guard dead and Alessia gone.

We don’t know the timeline. My guys are pulling the security footage now. Last check in was at noon.”

“Fucking hell,” I swore. “That’s a big ass window.”

“Like I said, my guys are pulling security footage on the dorm now. We should know something soon. In the meantime, my guys are in position and ready to roll.”

“Good. My guys are with the Irish at a warehouse on the west side. We’re going to meet them there. You have issues working with The Irish Outfit?” Marcos asked.

Leo shook his head. “They’re buying my coke, aren’t they?” he deadpanned.

Marcos grunted.

Marcos

Thirty minutes later, the helicopter landed on top of a high-rise right on Michigan Avenue.

I assumed it was Leo’s building. We climbed out of the chopper and onto the roof.

I ignored the height and the wind, following Seratelli toward the metal door.

One of his guys in a suit held it open for us while we all stomped inside.

The noise difference inside was jarring as we rushed down a set of concrete stairs. Leo threw open a heavy metal door, and I followed, leading my brothers through a marble tiled hall as Leo lead the way through what I assume was his penthouse.

I didn’t look around much at the modern space as we beelined for an elevator in the foyer of his open-concept living space.

Leo glanced over his shoulder as if to check that we were still there, then pushed the button on the elevator, which opened immediately. Down to the underground garage we went. “Give my driver the address for the Irish,” Leo ordered as we climbed into the waiting black suburban.

I pulled out my phone and rattled off the address as my brothers climbed in besides me. Nico tossed our duffle in the back of the vehicle and we were off, tires pealing as the driver hastily drove away.

I texted the Psychos’ group chat.

Marcos:

10 min out

The driver made it to the west side warehouse in six minutes. I quickly climbed out of the vehicle and headed for the entrance of the warehouse. Leo was ahead of me, just as in a hurry.

Near the door, Leo hung back and let me take the lead. I was walking into a room filled with my men and The Irish Outfit. Leo and Ronan hadn’t been introduced yet; I would have to do that quickly.

Axel was on the door with Kierney when we walked up. “Pres.” Axel nodded.

I nodded back and glanced at Kierney. “We’re ready,” he said.

“Good.”

Kierney turned and led the way into the warehouse.

Inside, both crews were waiting. Ronan Tiernan looked up from where he was packing ammo at a table in the middle of the room. “Marcos, welcome,” he greeted, his brogue thick.

“Ronan, this is Leonardo Seratelli, he’s here to help.” I keep all information about his sister being missing to myself. Leo could share that if he wanted to. “Leo, Ronan Tiernan.”

Both men shook hands.

“Thanks for the coke.” Ronan grinned.

Leo dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Thanks for buying.”

Ronan chuckled. “Alright, your men outside?”

“Yes. You’re ready?” Leo glanced around the warehouse and the soldiers mixed with Bikers.

Johnny Taylor walked over when I noticed him. “Brother,” he greeted. We shook hands and slapped each other’s backs. “Seratelli.”

“Taylor.” Leo nodded.

“Alright, let’s move out!” Ronan called out.

A warrior's shout, raw and powerful, reverberated in the echoing warehouse as each man yelled their agreement.