Page 38

Lovely

“ T hey can tell something is up,” Vi whispers, eyeing up the men standing on the other side of the room from us.

“Well, duh, they were all there for the big reveal,” Mira says, doodling something in her book.

Chewy has been suspiciously quiet for the past hour, choosing to sit in a rocking chair with Chomper on her lap. Laney is messing around on the floor with her blocks while the other toddlers cruise around the room, asking for cuddles and being picked up and doted on by no less than twenty people.

“We know she’s on her way here whether we like it or not. The question is: is she in town to scare us, or something else?” Nat asks.

“I’m going with ‘something else’. I mean, she has the backing of two cartels, some low level gangs and that fricker, Serpiente. If they know where we are, they’ll come for us.”

“Ana’s right. If what Dima sees is correct, then they’re on their way with force.”

“Remy, how many men do both cartels have in total? Also, cross reference against their contacts here,” Chewy murmurs, petting Chomper.

Remy starts tapping away on her laptop as I turn to peek at the men in charge of our safety, all of them leaning against the wall, eyes on us.

“Quick, give them a smile and a wave so they don’t think we’re up to something,” Mira says through a fake smile.

“She’s really good at that,” Kaia mumbles before doing exactly as she was told.

“The way I see it there are almost as many of them, as there are of us,” Chewy states, staring at our bodyguards. “If Renae turned up here they wouldn’t be able to stop us from fighting. I mean, look at them. One of them is injured and two are old.” Chewy waves at them.

She’s not wrong in her assessment, but I still think even with years on their side, Mad Dog and Flack could definitely take us.

“So, what’s the plan, girlies?” Pops says in his loudest voice, plopping down on the couch next to Nat.

“What makes you think there’s a plan?”

Pops raises an unimpressed brow at Blanche before she cackles.

“Both cartels, and their little gang banger cronies have a total of fifty men, give or take. Twenty won’t make it across the border due to criminal charges. They’re already smuggling drugs and women, they won’t risk bringing those men with them and blowing the whole operation,” Remy interrupts.

“Thirty men. So we can say around half should be at the handover points, both here and in Louisiana and our men will take care of them.”

Pops lets out a whistle. “That leaves at least fifteen for us. That’s a lot of killing.”

“I’m not sure, that’s less than one each,” Mira so helpfully points out.

Chewy strokes her imaginary moustache, with a glint in her eye. “How far out did Dima say Renae is?”

“Around two hours.”

“Good. Gives us time to set up.”

Pops nods once, a smile growing from a small grin, into something more maniacal. “I’ve been planning for this day.”

Kaia looks from Chewy to Pops. “Anyone wanna tell the new girl what’s happening?”

“We’re gonna let them come to us,” Chewy shrugs.

“Let them? Them and all their weapons with my kids names on them? Those guys? The bad guys that kidnap kids? Those ones?” Kaia’s eyes bug out the more she says until she reaches a pitch high enough for dogs to hear.

“Yep, those ones.”

“Trust us, girl, we got this,” Pops says, waggling his brows.

Kaia fixes Pops with a stare before reluctantly nodding.

“OK. We have an hour and a half to get this place locked down and ready for war. Pops, I’ll need two nests up on the roof.”

“Aye aye, Dayz.”

“Ladies, when the time comes we’ll need half of you in the bunker with the kids. Decide amongst yourselves who that will be. I’m going to talk to the men,” Chewy says and we all look at each other.

No one is saying anything so I decide to take the reins. “Hands up who wants to fight?”

Every feminine hand shoots up in the air. Mira giggles when she looks around, before shrugging at me.

“Well, that’s not going to work.” I say, blowing out a breath.

“Kaia, Mira, Nat and Ana, you’re in the bunker.

Vi, are you good to be on hand for medical emergencies?

” Vi nods her head emphatically, “Remy, you’ll be good to offer tech support,” Remy nods at my instruction, “Blanche and Chewy you’ll be the blunt instruments, so to speak.

” Once I’ve finished bossing everyone around, I’m breathless and I can feel my cheeks heating.

“Well, well, well. Go Lovely, running ops. I like it,” Nat says, throwing me an impressed look.

“That’s First Lady material right there!” The Girl Gang all whoop and holler for me, the toddlers joining in what they think is a dance party.

“Right let’s split up and get this place locked down ready for war.” Chewy claps her hands and makes her way over to the men.

“You sure about this, kotiro ?”

“We don’t really have a choice, Mama Debs. They’re coming for us whether we like it or not. We either hide or we get ready to fight back. We need to get rid of them otherwise we’ll never be safe.”

Mama Debs stares at me, assessing me with her keen gaze. “Can I tell you a secret?”

My brows furrow as I nod. “Of course. I won’t say a word.”

She leans closer, her comforting scent dampening the butterflies in my stomach. “I kinda wish I was up here fighting with you ladies,” She gives me a cheeky smile and I can’t help but pull her into my arms.

“Next time.”

“ Ae . Next time.” She holds my gaze. “I’ll protect the kids, don’t you worry.” She cups my face and I press my cheek further into her warmth. I know if anything happens that she will protect her moko, her grandchildren, with her life. But I know it won’t come to that. We’ll take them out first.

“I’ve briefed my kids. They’ll help entertain the others,” Kaia murmurs, stepping up beside me.

“You’re OK with this?”

“I don’t have much of a choice.” She turns to hold my gaze. “Being here with the MC was meant to keep my kids safe. Now the fight is coming to us and our men are out on the road fighting their fight. If I need to step up I will. No one touches my babies.”

I don’t miss the way she says “our men” as I nod in understanding.

Our worlds were tipped upside down, and now we’re all fighting to set it back to rights.

If that means breaking some rules and maybe unaliving some people, then so be it.

We’re not bad people. We’re good people who do bad things to make the world a safer place for our kids.

Patting both her and Mama Debs on the shoulder I scoop up little Bee, giving her kisses on her chubby cheeks.

I notice Blanche is doing the same with Tess, and Chewy with Laney and Chomper now that the men have stopped yelling.

I think they know deep down that what Dima says is true.

Renae and God knows who else is coming this way.

We can either choose to bury our heads in the sand, or strap in and give them one hell of a fight.

Everyone starts to disperse, Chewy has barked orders at everyone, going ahead with my initial plan. It feels good to contribute in such a way, but I’m still worried that we won’t have nearly enough power behind us.

“Yo, I heard you needed a little law and order?” Moss grins at his terrible joke, wandering into the dining room.

“What? One single cop?” Pops spits out in disgust.

“One is all you need to legally be able to put down as many people as you like without Rose Grove PD investigating and landing your old ass in prison.”

“Fair enough,” Pops says, before turning to Mad Dog, “Hey! Old Man, are you gonna help me with this shit or not?” Pops indicates two duffel bags at his feet that Moss and I both clocked as soon as Pops gestured at them.

“Tell me that’s not full of illegal weapons.”

Pops stares at him the way Chewy does when she’s trying not to get into trouble. He silently picks up a bag, Mad Dog gripping the other in his large hand and they scuttle out of the room like their butts are on fire.

Moss lets out a long sigh. “Let’s get this show on the road. Flora has bingo later and I need to be back for the twins.”

We share a smile and move to complete our tasks. We have a storm coming and we need to be prepared.

Marx

“Anything?”

“All quiet. Pres ,” Gus smirks at me with a side eye.

“Don’t you start. I’ve just had Jules mocking me too.”

“I’ve never had a Pres before.”

“Quit it before I kick you out of my MC,” I grumble, trying to hide the twitching of my lips.

“What can I say? It’s a gift. We get it from our grandpa.”

I roll my eyes and let him get back to his surveillance.

Cartel de Silencio has been quiet as hell, and yes, I do get that it’s in the name.

But still, with a huge shipment coming through I would have assumed that they’d be getting shit in order.

Moving existing shit, coming and going a lot more.

Instead, they’re tucked into their ally’s gang house having the lamest looking party I’ve ever seen.

Pizzas were delivered, there is no trace of music playing and there are no women on site either. It all feels off somehow.

“Something feels weird,” Rhodie grits out.

“You’re getting that too, huh?”

“Just an itchy feeling.”

“Gus, get Tav on the phone, I want to know what they’re seeing there,” I bark.

Crossing my arms I tense my thighs, then release, then tense again trying to work some of the jitters out of my body.

“Yo, bro, what’s up?” Tav’s face fills Gus’s screen and instead of waiting for Gus to speak, I lean over his shoulder.

“What are you seeing there?”

“Sweet fuck all, Pres. Some slick suit guys turned up around half an hour ago, at least six of them. They went inside and it’s been a docile get together. Pizza arrived ten minutes ago. If they’re partying they’re doing it in silence because there’s no music or anything.”

Rhodie and I share a look. “Tav, wrap it up. Pack it in and head home. Something isn’t fucking right.”

“What’s happening Pres?” Tank asks from where he stands next to Wire.

“What are the chances that two cartels, in two different places, with trucks of illegal merchandise coming in would have the exact same behavior at the exact same time? Pizza delivery, no one in or out, a party yet no music?”

“Shit.”

Tucking my lower lip I let out an ear piercing whistle. “Pack up your shit we head out ASAP.”

“Ah, Pres, I got Dima on the line,” Wire says while his fingers fly over the keys of his laptop.

“Put him on speaker.” Clenching my fists I wait for whatever weird shit is going to come our way.

“Marx, thank you for taking my call,” Dima’s accented voice says through the speaker. “You and your men are needed at home.”

“Do I need to ask why?” I grit my teeth, waiting for what is probably going to be some mystical shit.

“You’ll know why soon enough. It’s the reason you had to split the club.” With that he hangs up.

“Does that guy creep any else out, or just me?” Nitro grumbles looking around the room.

“I don’t mind him being creepy,” Wire replies. “I’d just like him to be more thorough with the information he shares. The guy is super light on the details.”

Dima may not be the best at sharing information, but he never seems to be wrong. If he’s telling us we need to head home, then so be it.

“Wire, hit the dark web, see if you can find anything out. Gus, call Ana, ask her to check in with Roman, he may have fresh intel. Rhodie, call Chewy.”

His brow raises at my barked instructions. “Why don’t you call her?”

Closing my eyes, I let out a sigh, “She never picks up my calls. Waits ‘til I hang up then asks me to text.”

Nitro snorts and then spins to look at the wall when I shoot a glare his way.

Rhodie chuckles and calls his ol lady who unsurprisingly picks up on the second ring.

“Hey babe.”

“Hey ba- Chewy, are you in a vehicle?”

“Noooooo.”

There’s some rustling over the line, a couple of grunts and then what I imagine a wind tunnel would sound like. There’s also a male voice I can’t quite put my finger on, and feminine voices. One I know very fucking well because she was screaming my name this morning.

“Chewy, who’s with you?”

“Oh, you know, just Lovely and Blanche. We’re having a nice time. We’re, ah, making cookies for the kids.”

“Lovely I can believe, but I’ve never once seen Blanche bake anything. And Chewy refuses,” Gus whispers with narrowed eyes.

“Chewy, where the fuck are you? Tell me right now before I hunt you down and tan that plump little ass of yours.”

“Whoa hey!” Jules growls.

“Oh kinky,” she purrs over the line. There’s more rummaging and the male voice again.

“That’s fucking Moss Davies!” Tank says, pointing to Rhodie’s phone lying face up with the speaker on.

“Oh! That’s the timer, gotta go byeeeee.” She hangs up and we sit in silence staring at the blank screen.

We wait a beat, then two, then the room erupts in movement. “Pack it in boys, we’re heading home!”