Page 39 of Last One Standing (Saint Brothers #5)

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

KONA

Tendrils of fear crept up my spine as I waited in the alley for Tank.

He came this way three times a week to get pickups, and I was fairly certain today was that day.

Nick and Noel had me wired up. One of the buttons on my shirt was a camera, and when I explained that it wasn’t what I normally wore and no one would believe it, they told me to make it my own and just leave a button at heart level so they could make the camera work.

So I did. It wasn’t my best work but a tank top, with the shirt they wanted me in—tied at my waist, open, with tight black pants and boots—would have to do.

A tiny earpiece was wedged in my ear so deep, I really was worried they’d never get it out, but I was guaranteed that wasn’t the case.

“He’s coming.” Nick’s voice came through. Angel and Gabe were around the corner as a precaution, but it was true that if Tank chose to shoot and kill me, there would be nothing they could do.

A beat later he rounded the corner, looked up, and froze. “What the fuck?”

“Tank, I know this is fucked. But I need to talk to you.”

“If you think I’m gonna smooth things over with Brick for you, you’re insane. You’re dickin’ it down with the Saint brothers now. Spreading your legs for any man who can pay to keep you, isn’t that right?”

“You know that’s not true.”

“You turned on us; we’ve lost men.” He advanced on me, his hand reaching for his back.

“Wait.” I held up my hand. “Maybe find out why I’m here first, why I’m risking my life to talk to you before you decide to shoot me.”

Tank clenched his jaw. He was a big burly man, with a bushy beard, long hair he sometimes brushed, tattoos covering most of his body, and a harsh scar across his cheek.

“Make it quick.”

“Okay.” I gestured to a duffel bag by my feet. “In there. Open it.”

He glared. “You fucking open it.”

“Fine.” Slowly, I unzipped the bag and opened it.

“What’s all this?”

“Proof of what I’m about to tell you.”

He eyed the bag, noticeable folders with FBI and ATF stamped on them. And a tablet.

“Speak.”

“Brick’s working with the FBI, namely with an Agent Waters. He made a deal with them to hand over a business associate of yours, Colette Barbier, in exchange for his freedom. I don’t know why he made this deal, but no part of that agreement saves the club, just him.”

“Bullshit.”

“I’m not lying; it’s all here. That tablet”—I pointed to it—“has photos and video of him meeting with the agent yesterday.”

He grunted. “And how’d you get this information, those fuck-ass brothers?”

“Actually, yes, they stumbled upon it.”

He chuckled darkly and scratched his beard. “You want me to believe you’re doing this outta the kindness of your heart?”

“Ha, right, you wouldn’t believe me if I said yes.”

“What game you playin’, Kona?”

I motioned to my face, where my bruises were pretty much healed.

“I never deserved any of this, any time. I took it, though, until I couldn’t anymore.

So, part of me hopes you give him the same treatment.

But the bigger reason is because when Brick locked me and Pika up, you kept him safe, you didn’t let Brick near him.

I’m grateful to you for that, and this is my way of saying thank you. ”

He eyed the bag and then me. “If this is true?—”

“It’s true. You have to decide what you want to do with it. All the proof you need is in here.”

“Kick it to me.”

I zipped it up and kicked it the best I could. He huffed and moved forward, scooping it up, and slipping it on his shoulder.

“You want nothing for this?”

“I told you, this is me thanking you for protecting Pika.”

He jutted his chin out. “Those brothers know you’re giving this to me?”

“No,” I answered without hesitation. “I imagine they’ll be pissed if they find out.”

He hummed. “You better return to them, then.”

I spun on my heels and gave Tank my back—the biggest no-no ever, but he needed to think I trusted he’d be honorable. Once I rounded the corner to where Angel and Gabe were, I took a deep breath, willing my heart to calm down.

None of us spoke a word, listening to Tank’s retreating footsteps.

“He’s gone,” Nick said.

“Now we see if it worked,” Gabe whispered.

The fact that Tank didn’t argue with me more about what I’d told him meant some part of him knew something was up—he just didn’t know what. I’d handed him the answer to those questions, and it would unleash chaos in the clubhouse once he saw it all and told the Kings.

“Let’s get out of here.” I followed Gabe and Angel to a waiting truck, got in, and thanked whoever was listening that I was still alive.

Nothing happened for days after that meeting.

I thought maybe I’d made a mistake trusting that Tank was the right guy to give this info to.

I’d thought pandemonium would erupt, that through the camera the twins had set up we’d see members leaving, maybe dragging out Brick, but nothing happened.

Everyone else seemed antsy, and I’d heard a few of them talking about a plan B and that by giving that information to Tank they might have royally fucked themselves.

I’d just about lost hope. I sat in front of one of the monitors with Noel, focusing on the clubhouse camera while he was doing something else.

I thought it best I contribute since it had been my idea to hand this over to Tank.

Guilt and regret sat heavy in my stomach and no amount of kisses, hugs, and reassurance from Angel would change that.

The clubhouse was filled with members. I could see the bikes, and I even thought maybe we should have just blown the place up with them in it. I got why we had to make sure this Colette bitch wouldn’t retaliate and that there was a process. It just frustrated me.

Like I’d said, I’d given up hope, until movement on the screen had me sitting up. Four guys exited the clubhouse, arguing, pointing fingers. Then Mike punched Fly right in the face.

“Look!” I shouted, and Noel spun around from what he was doing. “Something’s happening.”

All hell was breaking loose. A beat later, a few other guys came out followed by Tank and Brick. Brick was yelling at everyone, probably something along the lines of knock it the fuck off. Tank was arguing with him, and I saw the tablet that had been in the duffel was now in his hand.

“It’s happening.” I smiled.

Noel grabbed his phone, mumbling that he was going to text everyone. Nick had been working to get all the intel to Colette about Brick, so if it all worked, she’d back off and let us do our thing or meet with him and the brothers would take them both out. How was this my life?

“Shit,” Noel snapped and that was when I saw Brick pull out a gun and point it at Tank’s face. “If he kills him here, the rest of the members may fall in line behind him.”

I shook my head. “You can’t kill a member without a Reaper vote.”

Noel glanced at me briefly before returning his attention to the screen. “A Reaper vote I’m assuming is like a kill vote?”

“ Mmhmm , ever see Sons of Anarchy ?”

“No.”

“Well, while MC life isn’t as dramatic as that show makes it out, a lot of it is accurate to the code of outlaws and such. They call it a Mayhem vote, but every club has their own name.”

Brick wasn’t shooting, but the fighting had stopped. Tank was talking. Soon they all went inside, and I didn’t know what that meant.

“What happened?”

“No idea. Let’s join everyone in the living room.” I’d been in the tech room with him. Nick was busy with the Colette crap, but he abandoned it for the meeting.

I followed him in, hoping this was all coming to an end.