Now I highly doubt the gangs will care about a little shit like Chase Hurst, but Anna will care, Ash will care. Knowing their friend is inside this compound could push them to do something rash and stupid, and that will make my job all the easier.
Let ‘em come. Let them try to attack this compound, and I’ll take them down one at a fucking time.
chapter 22 - Anger Management
ANNA
Last night, or I guess early this morning, had been a living nightmare. Chase had been caught meeting with Andy outside the compound, and now Chase was being held by David, living through what I would imagine is…
I can’t even bring myself to think about it.
Ash had totally lost her shit when she found out. She’d been inconsolable, and then when Dakota had said, “there goes our diversion,” she’d dove over me and pummeled him over and over until Luke and Cody had pulled her off. To be honest, I’m pretty sure they waited and let her get in a few extra punches because he completely deserved it. His comment was totally insensitive. I mean, he’s not wrong, but it was definitely too soon.
After that, she’d stormed off and I’d followed her, but as soon as we’d reached her room, she had slammed the door in my face. I get it, I really do. If the tables were turned and it was Luke, I can’t imagine what I would do. Well, that’s not exactly true. I would have stormed out and hauled ass to the compound, found David, and died trying to kill him. I’ve definitely had some serious anger management issues lately. Maybe more like rage issues.
Now it’s already noon, and our eight p.m. date with the church is fast approaching as I sit here and listen to each of the leaders argue over whether we should delay. I can’t imagine us delaying another single day, but I understand their concern. We had a decent plan that if pulled off could mean a minimal number of deaths, and now we have nothing. We could still stick with the original plan, just minus the diversion, but it certainly cuts down on the number of people who would witness Vater Henry alive and well, standing at the front gate. That could certainly hurt us. On the flip side, if we don’t go tonight, that leaves Chase inside the compound, Andy too, and I can’t even think about what’s happening to them, probably as we speak.
I don’t have it in me to deal with the arguing anymore, so standing from my stool at the bar, I make my way upstairs, deciding a nap is the only thing that can help pass the time. Inside my room, I leave my clothes on, but take off my shoes before laying down on the patchwork quilt laying across my bed. I close my eyes and then open them. And then close them. And then…
The door opens revealing Luke, who steps in before making his way to the foot of the bed. The look of worry on his face has me feeling the same as he crosses his arms across his chest and then opens his mouth to speak.
“They voted,” he says, eyes fixed on the quilt.
When he doesn’t fill me in right away, I encourage him to go on. “We’ll deal with whatever it is, Luke. How did they vote?”
“In favor,” he sighs. “They voted in favor of moving forward with the plan tonight.”
Either answer from him would have instilled mixed emotions in me, but now that I know, excitement bubbles up from deep inside of me as I realize this might soon be over.
One way or the other, good or bad, months of horrific things happening to us, and all our best laid plans would finally come to an end tonight. And I couldn’t be happier.
***
ANNA
After Luke had filled me in, things had moved pretty quickly from there. Luke and I had taken turns bathing, changing into jeans and black t-shirts which was pretty much how everyone was dressed. I’d gone to check on Ash, but she wasn’t in her room, already downstairs chomping at the bit to leave and no doubt get her man back. Her whole attitude had changed, and I for one was grateful for it. She’d spent ten minutes explaining in graphic detail all the atrocious things she planned to do to David once she got to him. Let’s just say I might never be the same after hearing some of that.
Now our group slowly makes our way to the compound with Bonham growing smaller and smaller behind us. I hope we make it back there. I hope all of us make it back there. I know that’s a lot to ask for but, God please let every one of us make it back.
Everyone around me wears serious looks, seemingly going through everything one last time. Mateo hasn’t said a word since we left the hotel, while Lord Paul hasn’t shut up. I think it’s a nervous tick or something. Luke and I chose to ride double on Pepper instead of me taking my own horse, and Cody and Ash ride double next to us on a dark bray.
The trip seems to take forever, and at the same time fly by as the wooded area that will lead us to the compound comes into view. Our party is large with just over four hundred men and women, so it takes nearly ten minutes before the last person breaks the tree line. We didn’t have enough horses for everyone, so many
