“Does he need all his body parts to testify?” Salem asks, flexing his hands and making his knuckles crack.
Swift spares him a glance. “I think we’ll find Devon resists arrest.”
Salem, clearly speaking her language, gives an evil smile.
“All this because you wanted to pimp your fuckin’ ride.” Dusty’s long hair swings as he shakes his head, his eyes settling on mine.
“If I fuckin’ hadn’t, we’d have never known what was going on,” I retort.
“We’ll get your modelling fees out of him before we hand him over,” Swift offers with a grin.
“I didn’t fuckin’ model,” I grumble. “He just used my bike.”
Prez gives a sigh, then asks, “Had you no idea this was going on?”
“Hadn’t come onto our radar,” Bolt states. “Hate to say this, but Hispanics coming over the border illegally are just one more statistic. If they get through the border patrols, then they do tend to disappear, even kids.”
“The one with the missing poster?” I ask.
“Was supposed to end up with an uncle. Never arrived,” Swift says, succinctly.
There’s a brief spell of quiet, which is broken by the prez.
“So, where do we go from here? How are we going to take Devon Starr?”
Swift straightens, all business now. “We have a list of locations, studios he uses, places he frequents.” I notice Token shaking his head. He’s been trying to find info like that with no success. Swift eyes him too. “We use facial recognition software. We were able to pick him up.”
“Duty and Honor are trying to track him at base,” Bolt explains. “Currently, we know where he’s been, but not where he is or where he’s going. They’re trying to rectify that now.”
“When we have some locations, we’ll split up into teams. I brought communication devices with me.” Swift gives an exasperated sigh. “But your prospect wouldn’t let me bring my bag in.”
Good on Wrangler. No recording devices in church. Well, not for the likes of them—visiting members who we don’t know.
“We’re hoping to know enough to make our move tonight,” Bolt confirms. “The cover of darkness is always good, and if we catch him with his pants down, or off as the case may be, so much the better.”
“Sergeant-at-arms, VP. Will you sort out the teams? Liaise with Bolt and Swift to see how many we’re going to need.”
“On it,” Dart and I answer Prez together.
“Everyone else stick around until you know who your team is, okay? Then you’re free to go but stay in communication. We’ll meet back here at…?”
“Ten pm,” Swift inserts.
It must be getting on for midday now. I’ll square things with the VP and the arrangements for tonight, and then I can go see Mary. Talking about tracking Devon down had taken my mind off my own problems. Now I start wondering what thinking she’s done herself, and whether she’s decided to take precautions. Lost in my head, I follow my brothers out into the clubroom.
Music is playing, and there, dancing gracefully on the pole is Alex, the VP’s wife. Swiftly turning my head like all the San Diego brothers, I start to head to the bar.
“She’s incredible,” Swift breathes out, watching Alex move.
“Fuckin’ is,” Bolt admires.
“Eyes off my fuckin’ ol’ lady,” Dart snarls, then calls out. “Alex?”
“Just finishing up,” she calls back, swirls around one last time, then sinks to the floor, landing perfectly. Of course, all this I see out of the side of my eye.
Swift immediately approaches her.
A wail announces Eva’s entrance. She’s carrying Dart and Alex’s baby, who’s what? Fifteen months or so now. The kid spies her parents and wriggles her way out of Eva’s arms, and starts weaving drunkenly toward her mother. Then, she spies her dad, and, as fast as her little legs will take her, changes direction.
Dart crouches and holds out his arms. “Who’s my clever girl?” he asks, as he sweeps her up. “You been good for Auntie Eva?”
For an answer, she sticks her thumb in her mouth.
Seeing how besotted he is, I have to ask. “You happy being a dad, Dart?”
“Already was one to Tyler.” He reminds me of how he’s adopted Alex’s nine-year-old boy. “And this littl’ un’s just the icing on the top.” He glances at me, seeing I’ve asked the question seriously. “Wouldn’t change it for the world, Brother.” He grins, and, though his arms are full, nudges my arm with his elbow. “Why, you thinking of starting a family yourself?” He chuckles as though he’s made a good joke.
When I don’t join in laughing, or answer immediately, his mirth fades. “Grumbler?”
I lean in. “Broken condom,” I tell him.
“You fuckin’ what?” Dart’s eyes widen.
“Language, Dart!” Somehow Alex hears and admonishes him, then gets back to talking with Swift.
“Christ. This is good.” His brow furrows. “How old is Mary?”
“Forty-seven.”
He slaps my back. “So you’ve got nothing to worry about, have you?”
“What’s Grumbler worrying about now?” Salem’s none too gentle when it’s his palm now landing on my cut.
Dart shoots me a look, then betrays me completely. “Grumbler’s had a condom misfunction.”
Salem snorts. “But you’re both too old, surely?”
“Hopefully,” I tell him. “Fuckin’ hopefully.”
“That’s it.” Alex steps up, taking Isla from her father. “We’ll be lucky if the first thing she says doesn’t begin with an f.”
“She already says, Dada.” Dart grins at her. Yeah, Alex is pissed Isla doesn’t call her momma as yet. Dart certainly milks that.
“You pregnant?” Pennywise must have overheard—his expression looks like a mixture of shock and amusement.
Why did I open my mouth?
“Impossible,” Salem observes. “What’s the likelihood of you having a baby?”
Pennywise shakes his head. “Is this a cause for celebration, Brother?”
“Fuckin’ no.” I round on them. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s highly unlikely. Even if she is, it’s got to be risky. I don’t know what the fuck I want, but I
