Page 31 of Last One Standing (Saint Brothers #5)

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

KONA

Noel had been watching the video feed to the store in real time. I didn’t know Darby, but the others in this room did, and Brick…someone these brothers were protecting me and my brother from, had just killed her.

I fell hard into the seat as I witnessed her dying in Angel’s arms, the shop littered with Dead Kings…it was carnage.

“What do we do?” Mason whispered.

“There’s no way the police weren’t called and if they flee, it’ll be worse.” Noel’s hand shook, which belied his calm tone.

“I have an idea.” Phoenix was huddled close to Noel, no doubt shaken up by what we all just witnessed.

“What’s that?” Noel wrapped an arm around him.

“If some of the police are working with the Kings, and there’s no way of knowing who, so maybe going over their head to get someone to deal with them might be a good idea.”

“Like the chief? There’s no way of knowing if they are dirty either.” Mason raised a good point.

“No.” Phoenix bit his lip. “Carmichael.”

I looked at each face, trying to understand one, who that was, and two, why that name turned Noel’s face red.

“Why would we do that?” Noel was trying to keep calm, but that name upset him.

“You can hate him if you want, Noel, but the truth is, he helped rescue me, and he kept all our names clean so no one was arrested.” Phoenix lifted a brow. “And you know you and your brothers would have been thrown in a cell if it weren’t for him.”

“I’m missing something.” I glanced at the screen. “Cops are arriving. Whatever plan you have, now may be a good idea to execute it.”

Noel sighed…well, more like growl-sighed. “Fine.” He grabbed his cell phone, jabbed in a number, and put it on speaker.

“Yeah, Agent Carmichael,” the voice on the other end said.

Noel opened his mouth but it was Phoenix who spoke. “Hi, Agent Carmichael. This is Phoenix Briar.”

There was a pregnant pause followed by, “Mr. Briar, are you okay?”

Noel rolled his eyes as if that were a stupid question, but without knowing the backstory I didn’t understand the animosity he had for the agent. From what Phoenix had told me, he seemed like a helpful person.

“Uh…I mean, sort of. We have a problem and could use your help.”

Carmichael huffed. “I told you all the last time after I covered your asses, this is where we end. I don’t want any part of your gray morality games.”

“I know you did,” Phoenix hurried to say when it appeared like Noel was going to lay into the man. “Perhaps you could let me explain what’s going on, and then you can decide if you want to leave us to hang.”

Another sigh from the agent came through the phone. “Look I’m in the middle of something, can I come by tonight?”

We all glanced at the screen, where cops had entered the shop and were now holding Angel and the others at gunpoint…yeah they were going to jail.

“Probably not,” Phoenix answered.

“Shit.” It sounded like Carmichael smacked his desk or something. “Is this going to take me away from my work here for a while? Because my wife still hasn’t forgiven me for the circus you boys created last time.”

Phoenix grimaced. “Hopefully not?”

“Is that a question? Fucking Christ. Fine, I’m on my way.” He hung up, and I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Who is Carmichael…I mean I get he’s an agent—FBI, I assume?”

Phoenix broke it down for me as simply as he could. “After I was rescued from Amo—The Broken Doll Killer—Carmichael was called in when another agent massacred things. Well, maybe not?—”

“Oh, Lord.” Mason took over. “Carmichael’s an FBI agent who helped us find The Broken Doll Killer.

When the brothers…all of us went about it in less than legal ways, Carmichael helped us stay out of jail.

He has influence, so if anyone can help us weed out the bad cops and maybe help them…

” He motioned to the screen. Angel, Gabe, Shep, JJ, Four, Nick, and Lizzy were all sitting in chairs off to the side and talking to the police. “It’s totally him.”

“If you involve him, you likely lose any chance of wiping out the Kings, you understand that?” I asked.

“Not necessarily,” Noel answered.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “That’s cryptic. Okay, so then while we’re waiting for Carmichael, what do we do about this?” I pointed to the television.

“Wait it out.” Noel pulled his hair tie out and ran his fingers through his hair.

This was such a fucking mess, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty that I’d caused all of it.

Carmichael had arrived an hour ago and after we’d gotten through explaining the situation to him, omitting that the brothers had killed anyone at the clubhouse, or the barn, he stared wide-eyed at Noel.

“Why are you a magnet for crime?”

“Me?” Noel was aghast. “Did you not hear us telling you all the shit these biker bitches have put us through and now killed someone we care about? We never asked for this. We helped Kona and Pika because they were being held against their will. Kona was abused, and Leo, the bartender of the club he works at, was tortured to death to find out where he is. How is that on me?”

Carmichael waved a hand at Noel’s outburst. “Whatever. Look, I don’t know what I can do about getting your people released. A woman was brutally murdered, and there are dead men on the floor of your shop, shot by your brothers.”

“Self-defense!” Mason snapped. “Their property!”

The agent nodded. “And I will see what I can do, but I’m not a miracle worker.”

“Look.” Noel sighed. “We clearly aren’t fans of each other, and while I have no love for the authorities because they’re mostly corrupt, case in point,” He hooked a thumb behind him toward where the TV screen was.

All that showed were crime scene investigators, yellow tape, cops, and covered bodies.

“But, as far as agents go, you’re one of the good ones and…

” Noel looked as if he were in pain. “We need you.”

Carmichael laughed. “Damn, that hurt, didn’t it?”

“You have no idea.” Noel gathered his hair and put it back up in a ponytail.

“If there are corrupt police in this town, I have people I trust to help me. You’re going to have to leave it in my hands, though.”

“What about Angel and the others?” I asked.

Carmichael pursed his lips. “I will see what I can do about having them released, but I can’t guarantee I can get them off the hook just yet.

It truly sounds like the Dead Kings are a huge issue, and if guns and drugs are involved, the ATF could get involved, and if it’s crossed state lines and is an FBI issue, I’ll get on it too. ”

I didn’t want Brick arrested; I wanted him dead, and there was no question Noel and the others did as well, but no one was going to tell that to an FBI agent.

“Thanks, Carmichael.” Phoenix smiled.

“Yeah, yeah. Thank me when this is over.”

I really wished that day was today.