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A large hand comes down on the top of my shoulder and I turn to see who’s trying to gain my attention.

“I won’t leave until we have both Remi and Ryder back on the plane, brother,” Brass proclaims, looking me right in the eyes.

Brass has always been the carefree brother of the club. There isn’t a time I can remember where his antics haven’t started a fight in or outside of the club. But the look on his face right now tells me that he’s never been more serious in his life.

Words escape me. I’m not even sure I could verbalize what his decree means to me at the moment, so I nod instead.

“Creed is just up ahead,” Hawk says while looking down at one of his devices.

Stone stands up from the bench. “Let’s bring our family home, brothers.”

All of us begin checking our ammo and take the safeties off our weapons as the truck starts to slow down. Hopping down off the back of the cargo vehicle, I take in the vast surroundings. Sutton wasn’t wrong about the fake trees mixed in with the real ones. From the aerial photos, you’d never know how fake they are unless you see them up close and personal.

Men in blue and gray fatigues are littered around, some tucked up in brush, all dead from our mercenaries making way for us to come in. A few wait over by one of the fake tree trunks. They have their ARs out and trained on the vacant land, making sure the area is clear of any cartel men.

“We’ve got four men on the inside clearing the way for us and flagging the tunnels that lead up to the compound,” the man who introduced himself as Creed tells Stone. “We’ll leave two men here to receive the other two trucks of men. Follow me.”

Stone turns back to our club and looks us over. My body is now buzzing with energy, ready to breach the walls and make Juan José pay for ever touching my family.

“DEAD ROAD, NO EXIT!” Stone shouts out one of our mottos and we all repeat it back.

The club has different mantras for several events that we partake in. It’s not very often that we have to massacre large groups of people but if it’s necessary for the club then we make it happen.

“I’ve got your six, brother,” Brass grasps my shoulder while standing next to me and I nod before turning to Stone and Havoc.

“I’ve got your six,” I tell Prez and VP.

“Let’s end this once and for all,” Stone declares then follows Creed.

We file down a narrow stairwell that the fake tree was hiding. Small lanterns barely provide enough light to make out what is in front of you. I keep one hand on my AR and the other on the shoulder of Havoc as we navigate our way through the maze. As we follow white triangle flags leading us to another staircase, we come across several bunkers with pallets of cocaine bagged up. Occasionally we have to step over dead bodies as we continue toward the last bunker.

Four men wearing all black stand against a wall, waiting for us.

“Main house is up to the left,” one of them says. “Once the shooting starts it’s going to be chaos and our cover will be blown. The next truck is three to five minutes out. When we have our targets, get back here as quickly as possible. The explosives detonate,” the guy looks at his watch on his wrist. “In thirty minutes.”

“What the fuck you mean explosives?” Stone growls.

“We wired this place to take out the problem. Bishop gave us orders and this is the best way,” Creed informs us. “Who we don’t kill by hand will be taken care of in the end.”

“What happens if we don’t have our family out in that time?” Havoc grits.

The guy shrugs and I start to lunge forward at his nonchalant attitude, but Brass grabs my shoulders.

“Just be back on time then,” Creed says and it makes me want to waste a bullet in his skull.

“Then what are we fucking waiting for? Move!” Brass voices as he starts to shove forward.

We begin moving up the steps and reach a metal hatch. Creed cracks open the door and peeks out.

“The men will cover you,” Creed says as we hustle up the stairs and come to ground level on the inside of the compound.

It’s laid out just like the pictures that Hawk had from his drone. Off to the left side, the main house is located. We are coming up from the backyard of the property and can see a courtyard area where a pool and cabana is.

“If you can kill silently do so,” Stone suggests but before he can finish the sentence a couple of men come out from a nearby building and spot us.

The man beside Creed aims and shoots two of the guys in rapid succession, sending a booming echo through the air giving us away.

“Fuck!” someone says. “Move, now!”