Page 44 of Victorious: Part 3

Thirty floors of waterlogged stairs.

Confused security guards.

Panicked workers.

And no one looks twice at us.

Outside, the scene is apocalyptic, with firetrucks, ambulances, and news crews kept back by barricades. The city is in full crisis mode. And in the middle of it, we disappear into the crowd.

Eleven bikers went in.

One was buried beneath the cost of justice.

But the truth?

The truth is out.

And the bastards who built this empire on blood and silence?

They’re about to burn.

Houston’s financial district looks like a war zone. Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars are all focused on the flooded high-rise and the reports of ‘gas leaks’ that caused the water system to malfunction.

The official story will be an industrial accident.

The real story is encrypted and finding its way to news outlets all across America.

As we drive toward the clubhouse, with the chaos in our rearview, my eyes shift to Chains, holding his best friend in his arms.

We went into this fight knowing we could lose good men.

And we have.

Nickel came into this club with a sordid past, but he had more than made up for it. And now that the dust will settle on our role in this Cartel takedown, we will take the time to mourn and to heal from our wounds.

Because Lord knows my body is aching like a motherfucker.

Glancing out the window, I key my radio one final time. “This is H2. Package delivered. Over.”

“Copy that, H2,” the kind voice chimes down the line. “Status report?”

I slump in my seat, blood still seeping from what looks like every inch of my fucking body. “Files leaked. Mission success. Multiple brothers wounded. One 86ed.” My chest squeezes as I glance over at Nickel, my top lip curling at the thought.

“Understood…” She’s quiet for a moment, then her voice comes down the line again, but it’s more fragile this time, “Take care of yourselves. We’ll check in soon. Over and out.”

I’m not sure who’s manning the comms over in LA right now, but it is nice to have a friendly voice on the line. “Thanks, L6. Over and out.”

Exhaling, I run my bloodied hands through my hair.

Six cities, six operations, six chances to cripple a monster. And we just played our part in bringing down this Cartel juggernaut.

I just hope it was enough.

Because the cost?

The cost was higher than any of us wanted to pay.

Chapter Nine