Page 9 of Blade
There was an uneasy silence for a moment before I heard the crunching of gravel as someone joined us.
“Eliska!” I immediately recognized Sage’s voice, but she quickly brushed past me and swept Eliska up in a big hug. Thetwo laughed and held each other before Sage pushed back to look Eliska in the eyes as she gently held her arms. “It’s been ages!”
“Three years,” Eliska confirmed with the corners of her lush lips tipping up.
Three years, two months, and seventeen days… but who was counting?
“We have a lot to catch up on. How long are you here?” Sage asked.
Eliska’s easy smile fell as she nervously glanced at Raptor, then me. Our gazes locked before she tore hers free and focused on Sage. “Um, I’m not sure yet.”
Sage nodded and I loved that she didn’t pressure Eliska. Then again, she’d been around the club long enough that she knew you didn’t ask too many questions if people weren’t immediately forthcoming.
Instead, Sage looped her arm through Eliska’s and led her away. “The cabin closest to us is available. I’m going to put you there. You’ll love it. I actually decorated that one myself. Raptor, baby, will you be so kind as to bring her suitcase when you head back to the house?”
“I’ll have someone bring it over,” he assured her back.
The women’s quiet chatter faded as they walked off. I belatedly realized Raptor had likely messaged Sage to take care of Eliska so we could all discuss why she was here.
“Let’s go inside where it’s cooler,” he announced, and Squirrel breathed a sigh of relief. I almost laughed as we all filed into the clubhouse.
We immediately entered the conference room where we held church. Everyone took a seat, and Squirrel dropped into the vacant one by Gator.
“What’s going on?” Raptor wasted no time cutting right to the chase.
Squirrel ran a hand through his dark hair as he sat back in the seat. “Shit’s getting bad.”
“What do you mean?” Raptor asked with a frown. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the edge of the table.
“Lots of crazy shit. But most recently, two of our prospects were out on a mission with Kicker that only we knew about. They were jumped. Kicker was stabbed—he didn’t make it.” He swallowed hard before he continued. “The prospects were both beat up pretty bad, one was killed and the other was left for dead. The shipment we were responsible for is now missing.” He appeared troubled, and with good reason.
“Fuck,” Phoenix muttered. There was a solemn silence. Kicker had been one helluva brother. It didn’t seem possible that he was gone.
“That’s not all, though.” Defeat seemed to crush Squirrel for a moment as his shoulders drooped.
Raptor’s brown eyes flickered golden as he narrowed them.
Squirrel squeezed his eyes shut before finally opening them, blinking rapidly. “We also lost Dojo.”
My chest immediately ached like I’d been stabbed. “What?”
“I’m sorry, brother,” Squirrel said as he shot me an apologetic glance.
Dojo had been a prospect that I sponsored. He’d gotten patched in right before I left.
“How?” I asked through clenched teeth. My nostrils flared as I fought losing my ever-loving mind.
Squirrel explained what had happened with Dojo getting hit on his bike on a back road.
“Venom said he thought you had a rat. Who do you suspect? And why?” Raptor’s jaw was ticking hard by the time Squirrel finished.
“Because someone hacked into our camera feeds. Facet has been going apeshit trying to plug holes that he didn’t see. He’smadder than I’ve ever seen him.” Squirrel ran a hand down his face.
Jesus.
Facet was a genius when it came to computers. His security and firewalls were impenetrable—or so I thought. I bet he did too. Then again, I remembered how freaky he was about printing info out on paper so we could destroy it and it wouldn’t leave a digital trail. We always joked and said he was good enough that he could prevent anyone from getting access. He’d always said that no matter how smart someone was, there was always someone smarter.
Turns out he was right.