Page 64 of Hell Yes

“We’ve got the dogs, the cameras, and round the clock patrol,” Gage replied. “No one’s getting in here.”

Xander nodded. He hoped. He was used to dealing with drug dealers and hits for hire, not obsessed religious fanatics. And he didn’t like feeling uneasy about the whole thing. Or about the potential idea of Val being brought back to that cult where she grew up. She left home with nothing, and people don’t run unless they got a right to be scared.

“Or, maybe, it’s the perfect opportunity,” Val suddenly spoke up.

Every member turned towards her.

Gage’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? And by the way, why the fuck are you here? This meeting is supposed to be for members only.”

Jesse stepped forward. “She’s here with me and Xan. All in.”

Gage didn’t say anything. He just stared at Jesse, but Jesse stood his ground. Xander stepped up beside him, Val too.

“I want to use myself as bait,” Val continued, despite feeling under the spotlight.

“No!” Xander shouted at the same time as Jesse.

“Think about it,” Val urged. “Just like yesterday, we set up a trap. It’s the fastest way to get this done.”

“She’s right,” Sonny replied. “They want her so badly, they’re willing to risk approaching us to get to her. Once they know for sure she’s here, they won’t be thinking straight and that’s when they’ll fuck up. And when we capture them.”

“No,” Xander repeated. “It’s too dangerous.”

“More dangerous than me going into that illegal gambling ring? Unarmed?” Val retorted, hands on her hips.

Her green eyes met his and he knew that look. She was as stubborn as Jesse. Fearless too.

“Jess?” Xander turned to him. “Talk some sense into her.”

Jesse hesitated for a moment, then rubbed his jaw. “She’s got a point, Xan. And the sooner we get her stalker gone, the better. We’ve got all the protection she’ll need. Nothing’s gonna happen to her.”

Xander felt like his heart was being squeezed right out of his chest. Logically, he knew the idea was their best chance. But otherwise, he was afraid for her.

“You really want to do this?” Xander asked.

“Yes,” Val replied.

Xander let out a growl of frustration and held his hands in the air. “All right then. Let’s figure this out and do it.”

Val smiled, leaning over to kiss him, then Jesse.

You could hear a pin drop in the clubhouse.

CHAPTER 23

XANDER

He didn’t like this idea, but he knew in his gut that Val was right.

“We do it when we leave for Drumheller on Thursday,” Jesse explained. “Somehow, we gotta get the stalker here that day. That means making contact with this person and convincing them to come out here.”

“How do we do that?” Val asked.

“Do we have a visual on what this person looks like?” Avery asked. “Or, if there’s more than one person?”

Xander shook his head. “The car has tinted windows. We need a crew member to head into town today to make contact and another to tail them. Someone that won’t draw suspicion. Maybe Sage. She can follow them into the local diner and chat them up.”

“Speaking of, we gonna let Sam go back to his restaurant?” Dante asked. “Or do we think the Krypt might try and grab him?”