Ace (Reckless Souls MC 2)

An hour into the impromptu celebration, Coop finds me outside. “I’m getting out of here.”

“Missing Kelsey?”

His lips quirk into a grin. “Something like that. I’m gonna swing by to check on the sisters before I head to the brothels and the dispensaries. Gotta make sure everyone’s packing, remember?”

I nod. “Can’t seem to forget.”

“Hey, you worried, man?”

“Aren’t you? We can’t be responsible for dozens of women dropping dead and dumped on your properties. Too much fucking heat.”

“That’s why we’re gonna stop that shit. I just found Kelsey, and I plan to enjoy her for many, many more years to come.”

I nod. “Does that mean you’re giving up the nomad life to stay in Angel Harbor?”

“For now, man. I’m staying for now.” Coop gives me a pat on the back, and a few seconds later, his engine roars to life, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.

My thoughts are all over the place, wondering if McKenna is still safely locked inside her family home, if Hector’s men have chosen another victim, how to win this unavoidable conflict.

The only thing I know for sure is that action is necessary. Still, I can’t be sure which course of action guarantees victory.

“Ace? You got a minute?” Wild Man’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I look up with a sigh.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“I got something on the Iron Kings.” He sits beside me. “Harbor Estates is a fucking gold mine of information. They’re all fucking smart houses. They all have some type of digital surveillance, and even better, it’s all connected through standard wi-fi. Insecure as fuck, which helps our purposes. Look.”

The black screen turns to full color. From five different angles, I’m watching various people go up and down the front steps, staying just long enough to score and get the fuck out of dodge.

“They’re doing a steady business.” I don’t let myself worry about whether or not the Iron Kings are cutting our corner of the drug trade, at least not now, because I can’t stop thinking of Nova’s words.

“Any way to peek inside.”

Wild Man nods. “Only for a few seconds, and it was through a laptop one of the guys was watching porn on. They take their shit to the house in bulk and cut it there.”

A few keyboard taps and the face of one of the Kings appears, mouth split into a satisfied grin as he watches the screen. Behind him, a woman appears, naked except for a small pair of panties, carrying a tray filled with baggies of drugs.

“I think this is their new base of operations.”

“Good to know. Anything else?” Nova was right. This is the perfect place to strike.

“Hector and Nogales were there a few hours ago, but they booked out pretty quick.”

“Probably back to their clubhouse with the day’s earnings.”

Wild Man nods. “That’s what I was thinking too.” Which makes right now the perfect time to strike. “Plenty to protect at the moment.”

“Exactly.” I get to my feet; Wild Man falls into step beside me. “We’re heading out,” I say once we’re inside with the rest of the brothers. “Sooner rather than later. Grab your gear and your weapons, and let’s go fuck some shit up.”

“Hell, yeah,” Shades enthuses, clapping me on the back as if this is his greatest fucking wish come true.

“Joaquin, find Coop and make sure the new drug house at Harbor Estates is nothing but a goddamn memory.”

Joaquin frowns. “That’s it? Just a memory and nothing else?”

The smile he’s trying to hide is almost comical.

“Just use your twisted creativity to get it done.” I have no doubt it’ll get done in a way that’ll inflict maximum pain on Hector and his crew.

Joaquin takes off to grab Coop while the rest of us head out to the Iron Kings clubhouse. Situated on the ass end of town, we hear muffled music coming from the squat, dimly-lit brick building through the slightly opened windows.

“Something feels off,” Preacher says as we gather in the space between the front entrance doors.

“It’s just nerves,” Shades assures him.

Preacher shakes his head and looks around.

“Fuck that, it’s off. Something feels really fucking off. It’s not about whether I want to be here or not. It’s about this not feeling right. Where are the bikes?”

“Probably in the back,” I say and motion for the group to split up and enter from both sides. As soon as I open the doors, it becomes crystal fucking clear that Preacher is right.

“What the fuck?” There are people inside the Iron Kings clubhouse, but not one of them is a member of the MC.

“Hey, girls, Hector really did send us a little treat.” One of the older club whores shouts. She smiles as she eyes each of us like her favorite dish.

“Come on in, fellas. We only bite if asked nicely. Or not so nicely.” She winks and saunters to the middle of the room in a short skirt and black half-top showing a fit but well-used body.