Page 68 of Property of Rattler

Hardening my features, I turn on him. “I will fuckin’ do it, Tempest. Don’t push me.”

At that point, Woody returns, wire cutters in his hand. I snatch them before Tempest can.

“Don’t fuckin’ test me,” I warn them. “Get your asses out of here, now. Or I’ll be looking for two new members.”

“Or we’ll be looking for a new prez.”

I shrug. “Saint knows the ropes.” I approach Rattler but throw to those still standing behind me. “Are you fuckin’ going or not? And,” I flick my eyes up to the camera. “Arguing is wasting time. Stone might detonate the bomb if he figures he’s not watching in real time.”

Tempest growls, then flings his head back. But at last, he’s walking toward the stairs. Woody, giving a hesitant look toward me, only needs the raise of my chin to get him following. Winchester, who’d appeared to presumably see what was going on, quickly backtracks and follows them.

Alone with Rattler, I carefully approach him. I raise a brow after I’ve given my brothers what I hope is enough time to get clear.

“Ready?” I hold out the cutters, taking the red wire between the blades.

Rattler’s words say one thing. His eyes anything but. “Ready as I’ll ever be, Prez.”

I cut the wire.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

AMES

Something’s gone wrong. I know it. The atmosphere in the clubhouse has changed, as if the temperature has dropped a few degrees.

Pippa has just put her head out of the office where she’s normally holed up with Genie, and yelled for Words and Piston. Hearing the urgency in her tone, they immediately stop their pool game and run to join her. They disappear behind the door.

A cold feeling descends on me.Have they found Rat dead?An all-too-familiar feeling of dread goes through me. After getting my hopes up, I can’t go through my grief again.

It’s only moments later when both men reappear. This time they move toward the club girls, who, with the brothers out of the way, are playing a game of cards while passing around a bottle of Jack. Piston leans over to talk to them. I’m on the other side of the room. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but reading the girls’ faces, it’s not good news. Their card game forgotten, they stand, and with Heaven’s arm around Star, Sweetie starts moving toward the kitchen, then turns back, picking up the whisky before hurriedly catching up with the others. WhenI hear the outer door slam, I presume they’ve gone to the bunkhouse, I think that’s where they have their rooms along with the majority of the brothers.

For a moment it’s like I’ve been frozen to the spot. Then, all in a rush, life comes back to me. I get to my feet, and hurry over to where the two men are standing. “What’s happened? Is it Rat?”

They look from one to the other, but neither seems inclined to give me a word.

Oh fuck it.I spin and start moving toward Pippa’s office, when Piston grabs my arm and holds me back. “Pippa’s got her hands full at the moment. She can’t be disturbed.”

“Well, you tell me what the fuck’s going on.” I pull myself up to my full height, which, admittedly isn’t very impressive and demand, “Tell me now.”

Words pinches the bridge of his nose. He looks sideways at Piston, who shrugs. “She’ll find out soon enough.”

Inhaling sharply, Words sees the other man’s point. His jaw tight, he tells me, “Your brother was expecting them to rescue Rat,” he reluctantly says. “They walked into a trap. Which means Stone knew that we tricked him. Odds are your brother’s coming straight for the club.”

Air leaves my lungs in a rush. I’m not stupid. Bullseye had told me they were going to bring Rat back, so when most of the club had left, I’d assumed that was what they were doing. “The trap?”

“Didn’t fuckin’ work.”

Which is a relief. I feel tension leave me, then just as fast as it went, it’s back. The problem is obvious. I let out a shaky sigh, “Malachi’s coming here. When all the brothers, except for you, are miles away.” That’s why they sent the girls out, to keep them safe. Words presses his lips together and raises his chin confirming my observation.

As if deciding he can leave me to his brother, Piston starts backing away. “I’ll go bring Dee inside.”

“What’s the plan?” Dum, who must have already received a briefing, comes across.

Ignoring me, Words addresses the prospect. “Get to the armoury, check out more guns and ammunition, fuck, bring a grenade or two and some rifles.” As Dum starts to spin on his feet, Words barks at him. “Then we’ll need you up on the roof.”

Dum snaps to attention. “I’m no fuckin’ sniper, but I’ll give it my best shot.”

“All I can ask, but Dum? I’ve seen you at the range, you’re better than you think.”