Outlaws’ Property (Property of Outlaw Sons MC #1)

29. Jessica

29

JESSICA

The city is eerily quiet at night. Even after we've gotten off the bikes and walked into the little plaza in front of the store, I swear I can still hear the faint echoes of the motorcycle engines bouncing off the buildings. But there's no one in sight, only us. Ghost, Riot and Tex surround me, on high alert in case Victor or his men are here to spring a trap on us.

We aren’t alone, though. Hellfire sent Skyhigh and Poe over earlier to get into position early and monitor the area. I keep my eyes focused on the ground, not wanting to look around and give them away. There are other members around, waiting nearby, but I still feel very exposed, walking right into the spot we were told to go. We're as safe as we can be.

But tell that to my anxiety.

Riot scans the area. "Nothing's gonna happen to you. We're gonna make sure of it."

I pull my jacket close. The January chill cuts straight through my clothes, but part of it is just being scared. What if there's a bomb? Or Victor’s men are hiding somewhere we don’t know about? He doesn’t seem to want to kill me, so hopefully there isn’t a rocket launcher about to fire from a nearby building, but he’s capable of it. Not knowing is the scariest part.

But if it isn’t a trap, then who would want to lure us out of the compound?

Despite it being night and empty in this part of the city, it’s not dark. Sparkie’s Megastore has huge display windows full of giant TVs showing endless commercials. There are bars in front of the windows and doors, but we can still see inside and read about their post-holiday clearance sale. Christmas lights and garland still decorate the streetlamps, but I’m not feeling much holiday cheer.

Ghost checks his watch, a plain black piece with physical dials and clock hands. No fancy computer chip for him. "One fifty-five," he says calmly.

This is the Ghost I first met. I’m not scared of him anymore, but I can tell that he’s fallen back into a place where he can do his job without worry or emotions. I wish I didn’t understand why he does it, but I do. I had to learn a similar lesson while working for Victor. There were a lot of times that I had to lock myself away and cry when it was safe.

I bet it’s not quite the same for Ghost. I can’t see him going back to his room and bawling his eyes out like I used to, but the same idea.

Five minutes seems like forever when you're waiting, but at exactly two, all the screens in the windows light up, turning completely white. They shine like daylight out the front of the store, illuminating the whole area like floodlights. I squeak in surprise, jumping backwards right into Tex. He puts one arm around me, and his other is hanging loose at his side, a gun at the ready in his hand. "What the fuck?"

The screens dim a little, and then big black letters appear on them, the same message on every TV facing out of the store.

Look at the front door, Jessica.

God, this is freaky.

Riot steps in front of me, shielding me from an unknown enemy and obviously frustrated there's no one there to stab or shoot. "What in the sci-fi hells is this bullshit?"

Ghost huffs, amused. "Don't like this.” He repositions slowly, never stopping his slow scan of the area. Tex does the same from my other side.

The TVs flash bright white again, then settle back on the same text. Well, the message is clear. "I think I have to do what they say."

"I’ve got your back," says Tex. "This still feels like a trap, but we haven’t found out how."

I'm terrified, but I need to know, and in my gut I don’t think it’s Victor’s style. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t put someone else in charge, but he likes to do things himself.

They stay in a tight triangle around me as I step towards the door.

"Anything feels off, anything at all, and you get the fuck out of the way. We don't want you hurt," Riot says.

I nod and take a step closer. There's a security camera just inside the door, and as I approach, it shifts slightly and focuses on me. Oh God, please don't be a trap. I stop, and do a little wave at the lens.

A new message pops up on all the screens.

Good. Face the camera’s when you speak, I don’t have audio control.

"Why should we trust you?" Ghost asks, steel in his voice. He moves from my side, to my front, blocking the camera’s view.

I still feel exposed. With all the screens typing the messages, it’s like having an alien supercomputer focused on us. Tex is right at my back, and Riot is right beside me.

Do you have a choice?

"We could walk away right now," Tex says. "Sounds smarter than standing around talking to a clearance sale."

Fine. Let’s make this fast. Victor has recalled one of his commando teams from South America. They are in the air right now, and have his full arsenal at their disposal. If nothing is done to stop them, they will target your compound tomorrow. Once the girls are secured, he intends to do enough damage to destroy the whole compound, and likely the surrounding area.

"Okay, let’s say that’s the truth," Riot snaps. "What the fuck are we supposed to do? Who are you and why are you bothering to warn us?"

There's a pause, the screens fill with vertical lines, jittering across the surface for a moment before they refresh with a new note.

I don’t care about you or your club. I’m risking myself because I don’t believe innocents should suffer for the crimes of others. Jessica needs to be safe and I believe you’re her best chance of staying free from Kane's reach. The threat is real, and I have given you actionable intel.

Ghost nods. "We'll take precautions. I think we’re a harder target than he realizes. Kane isn’t the only one with experience and resources. Doesn't mean I trust you."

As you shouldn't. Trust no one.

I cling to Riot's arm while my mind whirs, then push ahead stomping right up to the camera while I yell at it in frustration. "Well I don’t believe you! If I’m so important, why did nobody care that I was innocent when I was eleven and locked in a cell every night until I could control myself? Or for the ten years I’ve been with him punished for every screw up? Oh boo hoo, so noble that you care about me now. I don’t buy it.”

I can’t stay and explain. They're already tracing me. Watch out tomorrow.

The screens go dark, one by one.

Seriously? This is a load of bad spy movie bullshit. I feel like I was just so close, but behind every secret is just another secret. "Who are you?" I scream at the camera.

There’s no answer. I watch until the very last screen is about to die, right in front of us under the security camera.

Never doubt that I love you, my little baby owl.

The screen shuts off before I have time to process what it said, let alone figure out a response. There's no way. Absolutely no way.

"Mom?"