Page 43 of Last One Standing (Saint Brothers #5)

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

KONA

I watched as Angel, Gabe, Shep, Nick, and Four strapped knives and guns to themselves.

Nerves filled every inch of my body, and I both wanted to cry and scream.

No matter how you looked at this, our side was outnumbered, even if you broke it down into threes.

Colette’s people were likely many, seeing as she hadn’t balked at the death of eleven of her men.

Brick’s, while smaller since the brothers had killed some of their MCs, had more than our side.

Mathematically speaking, we were the underdogs.

Noel was staying back in a van nearby in case they needed another person, but he was going to be the eyes in the sky—that was what Angel called him.

To my surprise, JJ and Mason also were slipping weapons into holsters and securing knives to themselves. They’d be in the van as well. They weren’t fighters like the others, but JJ made it clear: “They hit my man—I come out blazin’.”

The house was safe and secure, and Phoenix and Matt knew how to use the defenses so Pika, Hazel, and Lizzy would be here with them. Me? Well, Angel wanted me at the house but I wasn’t going to do that.

“I’m coming.”

“What?” Angel’s head shot up. “No.”

“It’s not your call. Just give me a gun and I’ll sit in the van with Noel, JJ, and Mason. I’m not going to saunter out with swagger and a wink, but another person on your side is a good thing.”

“It’s too dangerous.” Angel clipped three karambits on the side of his vest.

“Of course it is,” I snapped. “Until this is done, that’s how it’s going to be, but I’m not going to sit here while all of you go out there, when this all happened because of me.”

Angel stepped in close. “This isn’t your fault; we’ve talked about this.”

“Okay, not all my fault, but it’s the thing that got you all involved so quickly.”

“Angel, let him come,” Shep grumbled.

“Mind your business,” Angel shot back over his shoulder.

“Is it just me, or is seeing Angel in love making anyone else’s heart go pitter-patter?” Nick sighed, and I looked at him and Noel with their hands on their hearts, fluttering their eyelashes.

“Our numbers are about to dwindle after I kill the twins, so fine. But be safe. Listen to Noel, and stay in the van.” Angel didn’t spare Nick and Noel a glance.

“What if Noel tells me to get out of the van?” I smiled.

“Don’t be a smartass.”

“You like my ass.” I winked.

“Now it’s getting gross…make it stop,” Noel whined.

I chuckled, pushed up, and planted a forceful kiss on Angel’s lips. I wanted this to be done, to be cuddled in bed with him, laughing about how easy this all was.

“We gotta head out,” Gabe barked.

We had to take two vehicles because Angel, Gabe, Shep, Nick, and Four needed to drive up to the meeting site. Noel’s van would be as close as we could get without drawing suspicion.

With one last kiss, I got into the van, buckled up, and prayed.

The drive took an hour, but we were headed to a very secluded place, which was equal parts good and bad. We had to park half a mile from the location or risk being seen.

The van was set up much like the surveillance kind the FBI used. Mason was staying in the driver’s seat in case we needed to bolt quickly, but there was a screen on the dashboard so he could watch the footage.

Angel and the others had cameras and microphones on them, but to be on the safe side, Noel was using one of his stealth drones as well.

JJ and I sat on either side of Noel as he did his thing, and I watched as Angel and the brothers pulled into the long abandoned diner.

Noel explained that there used to be a highway that ran through here, but it was shut down in the late seventies. The diner, which was once probably beautiful, was one of the remnants of that time.

Light pressure on my shoulder made me jump only to find JJ had reached over to offer comfort. He was likely just as scared as I was with his man out there. Mason too. I lifted my hand to his and squeezed and he smiled at me.

Gabe, Angel, Shep, Four, and Nick, didn’t get out of the van. The drone picked up a bunch of bikes in the back of the diner, four SUVs on the side. They all had to be inside.

“We’re going in.” Shep’s voice came through the speakers clearly.

“Be safe, we’re watching,” Noel answered.

My heart felt like it was going to burst through my chest, I kept reminding myself to breathe, and the death grip I had on JJ’s hand had to be giving him regrets for wanting this connection.

Noel had a bunch of monitors up, each labeled with whose camera belonged to whom. Angel was in front of the group, and through the dirty glass of the diner I could see that there was a significant amount of people.

The moment the door opened, I heard Brick’s voice.

“You motherfuckers.”

“Now, now.” Colette came into view. She was a beautiful woman with her blond hair styled to perfection. She wore a red suit, designer unknown, and behind her were at least six men with guns. “We’re going to have a conversation, Brick. Name-calling is counterproductive.”

“These fuckers are trying to turn you against me.”

“You’re doing a fine job of screwing yourself,” Gabe growled. “Looks like you only have half your crew here. Where’s your VP? Care to tell Ms. Barbier where he’s gone?”

Brick wasn’t looking so good. There was a bruise on the side of his face, and he was sporting a black eye.

“You did all this!” He went to move but the brothers all lifted their guns, which in turn made the Kings and Colette’s men do the same.

“Enough!” Colete shouted, then sniffed, gently pressing her hands onto the lapels of her suit. “We’re going to talk, no shooting…yet.”

It took a good twenty seconds, but everyone did put their guns away. Colette eyed the brothers. “Which one of you was Mr. Fawkes?”

Angel stepped forward. “Me.”

“And your real name?”

“You know my real name.”

She chuckled. “I do, but it’s polite to introduce yourselves.”

“I’m Angel, and this is Gabe, Shep, Four, and Nick.”

“Four?” Her brow lifted. “How unusual.”

“Is it?” Four sounded bored, but I had a strong feeling he was ready to strike.

She pursed her brows, and turned to Brick. “Your claim is that the Saint brothers destroyed my guns and drugs.”

“They did.” Brick glared.

“I am curious as to why you do, in fact, only have part of your crew here. Gabe brings up a good point.”

“Like with what they did trying to turn you against me, he did the same with my crew.”

“If they were a strong and loyal crew, they wouldn’t fold so quickly,” Angel retorted, earning a growl from Brick.

“That is a valid point.” Colette nodded. “Tell me, Brick, how did they raise doubt within the ranks of the Dead Kings?”

“Same as they did with you. Tried to convince them I was working for the Feds.”

“ Mmhmm .” She turned to Angel. “Your proof is pretty damning. I’ve had my people try to find the lies in it all, but they couldn’t.

Agent Waters has a lot on you, Brick.” She rounded on the president.

“While I believe you when you tell me the brothers destroyed my merchandise, I also believe them, that you’re working with the authorities. ”

“That’s bullshit!”

She chuckled darkly. “How I see it is, you’re a rat, and the brothers owe me guns and drugs that aren’t supplied by the FBI or ATF.”

“Not happening,” Shep responded.

She shrugged. “I had a feeling you’d say that. Then there’s only one thing to do in this scenario. One thing that will appease my associates, and make sure I won’t have to look over my shoulder.”

I knew what she was going to say, and I gritted my teeth.

“I think I’ll be the only one walking away from this meeting intact. Good-bye, boys.”

“Fuck!” Noel shouted right before one of Colette’s men shot Shep in the chest. JJ’s screams filled the van, and I was frozen in place.