Page 65 of Up in a Blaze

“Listen, I don’t have time for your tantrum. Lucas is safe. Henri and Sawyer aren’t. I lost the fuckin’ van, Wreck.”

When the line went silent, I knew he’d figured Blaze was gonna lose his shit even more.

“Did you get anythin’ on the van?”

“Number plate.”

“Call Tech. He’s on a plane right now, but he should answer. Mexico ship arrived early. It was just guns, no people, so they’re headed to us. Get Tech to run the number. But if you can’t reach him, call Jones. He’s around this place somewhere. The cop won’t be able to look it up, but he might know someone who can help.”

Run to a brother first before someone outside the club, got it.

“Will do,” I answered.

“This ain’t on you, brother.”

I shook my head. “I shoulda been faster.”

“It ain’t on you.”

“Let’s fuckin’ pray these are the same guys as the ones the club’s hittin’ today and this van is travelin’ your and Blaze’s way, and it ain’t just some coincidence.”

Wreck grunted. “If they are comin’, means it’ll take them four hours to get here.”

“Your ship still lookin’ to port sometime today?” I asked.

“Yeah, probably around the same time the van gets here. Could mean a quick port to load up more people and then go again.”

“Fuck. I’ve got everythin’ crossed we’re right and they’re connected.” That was the best-case scenario, because if these cunts in the van were just randoms, and I’d lost them…. My gut twisted painfully at the possibility.

“Same, brother. Keep us posted if you get anythin’. I’ll tell Blaze…. Hell, I don’t know…. Torch is talking him down at the moment, but I ain’t sure how long that’ll last.”

“Good luck,” I said and hung up, before throwing the phone to the center console. “Anyone see anything?”

“Nyet.”

“No,” West said.

“Nothing,” Lucas added.

“Right.” I parked the car. “Adrick, you’re drivin’ while I make some calls.” I got out and swapped with the Russian. When I was belted up, I told him, “Start headin’ toward Los Angeles.”

And let’s fuckin’ beg all the gods above that we’re on the right track.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

HENRI

I considered checking to see if the door we leaned against was unlocked since we were so close. But if it was, the fall could kill us at the speed they were going. So instead, I stayed still and silent, watching the men staring at us. Even with the gaps in the masks at their eyes and mouth, I could tell two had indifferent, almost bored expressions, but the one who had slapped me scowled at Sawyer and me.

He may as well have a big red sign above his head that flashed homophobic. Unless he was one of those who pretended to despise us but really wanted to fuck us.

Either way, I could see the hate clear in his gaze. He wanted to hit me again.

Sawyer shifted against me. “What will they do?” he whispered.

Rubbing up and down his back, I told him softly, “I do not know, chéri.”

I wished I had answers I could share to help ease him, but I didn’t. Not when we weren’t allowed to ask questions.