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Without responding, we all run to the clubhouse and as we arrive, brothers are pouring out and into SUVs, vans, and onto bikes. We get separated in the crush and I end up in a van with Hellion.
“Where’s Allegra?” I ask him and he grins.
“She pushed Bear out of her way and took his seat in one of the SUVs. I thought he was going to blow a fuse until he saw who it was. Your woman is truly awesome, man. I’ve never seen anyone shove Bear out of the way before. She must be fooking Wonder Woman in disguise. I might start calling her Diana Prince!”
“Fooking?” I look at him aghast.
Rage elbows me in the ribs. “He’s not the only one picking shit up from her. Two or three of the brothers have been saying fook without realizing. It’s kinda sweet, don’t ya think?” He looks at Hellion as he says this and gets a grunt in return.
Arriving at the ranch house, Silas waves us around the back of the house, presumably out of sight. When we rush through the house to stay as much out of sight of any observers as we can, I wonder why we’re bothering. They must have seen us all arrive anyway.
Finding Silas back on the porch, I don’t get to say anything, he just hands me a walkie-talkie. It’s huge and looks like something from the Second World War.
Ghost: “Vortex. Keep everyone out of sight and don’t let anyone get in front of Silas at any cost. All our guys need to stay behind Silas, no matter what happens. Got that?”
Vortex: “Stay behind Silas no matter what. Got it.”
Sending Allegra one way, I go the other and make sure everyone understands Ghost’s order.
Ghost: “There were four observers earlier, but they weren’t very good at observing without being observed. No one has seen you guys arrive, Chips and I made sure of that, but I suspect we’ll be getting visitors shortly when they don’t check in.”
Vortex: “Are you aware of the attempt on the clubhouse?”
Ghost: Yeah. Pres filled me in. A freaking helicopter in broad daylight. They’ve got some balls, I’ll give them that. Did it go down?”
Vortex: “With what Allegra poured into it, I’m amazed it didn’t become a fireball.”
Ghost: “No shit? Pres didn’t tell me it was Allegra!”
Vortex: “I’m not sure he knows it was her. I just said we hit it hard, and it was smoking when it left.”
Ghost: “I want me a woman like that.”
Allegra: “If only I had a sister, eh?”
Ghost: “Oh, shit. Sorry Allegra. I didn’t know you were there. Fook.”
Allegra: “It’s all good, Ghost. I appreciate the compliment.”
We all sit back and check our weapons. Something could happen at any moment, or we could be stuck like this for a while. Allegra is in the house at an upstairs window. I’m on the porch with Silas. I’ve been seen here before, so it shouldn’t raise much of a concern being here. There’s a brief moment of excitement, but it only turns out to be the arrival of Twang.
“I hear there could be something going down here today? My chief asked me to come and keep an eye on the proceedings. Bill called in today. One of his kids was sick, or so he said. We think he’s been called in as local muscle. If possible, I’m to untangle him from this shit before he does something he’ll regret.” Twang doesn’t look like he thinks that is much of a possibility.
We’ve probably been waiting an hour when Silas says, “Incoming.” A moment later and the radio sqwauks, ‘We have company. Four full SUVs.’
The four vehicles arrive at the ranch house, but curiously, they park on the opposite side of the yard with their rears toward the house. Four men get out of each vehicle, and they are all heavily armed and confident as they stand there. Hmm. Too confident for my liking.
Brandon steps forward, not looking as confident or as smart as I remember. The stress of the last few days has obviously taken its toll.
“I want the people responsible for the computer work, and everyone else gets to walk away. The geeks who moved the money will explain to my investors what they did and then undo it. They will also go free afterwards. There is no negotiating on this. The alternative will be that you all die here today, right now.” Brandon adjusts his cuffs and then brushes the front of his jacket. “Well?”
He is interrupted by the sound of another vehicle coming down the ranch road. The associate closest to the road turns and watches this new arrival. A police cruiser appears and stops at the edge of our standoff. Bill steps out and takes in the scene.
“Brandon. This can’t happen. Things have gotten out of hand, and it needs to stop. Take your men and…”
“It has gone beyond your understanding, and you are no longer useful.” Brandon moves a hand, and one of his associates shoots Bill where he stands.
Things happen awfully fast after that point. There is a three-second burst from an upstairs window, and the associate who shot Bill crumples, dead before he hits the ground. Brandon raises an arm, and the rear doors of two of their SUVs pop open, revealing very nasty-looking mini-guns.
