“I think so!” Now Dingo pointed at the screen, so we had no choice but to look. “See this wall behind Deloy? These are hand-painted artworks by kids. And that Dinosaur Reader’s Theater I believe was a play they were putting on, before the school was abandoned twenty-five years ago. I saw an old poster for it.”
Levon was already slapping his pockets, looking around for tools or gadgets he might need. “Good call, Dingo. Excellent man.” He vanished into the fourth bedroom which he’d set up as a weight room. Crashing sounds emanated from there.
“Good call, Dingo.” I kissed the top of his head, then sighed deeply. “I have no idea what Levon plans to do. Shouldn’t he have backup?”
“He’s probably afraid of Pratt hurting Deloy. But you’re right. We could at least hide in the bushes or something. Levon!”
Levon appeared, hands held out from his sides. He seemed to have a few more items than normal dangling from his belt.
“Listen,” he said with authority. “No one’s following me. If Pratt sees anyone else at all he might go ballistic. We can’t risk him hurting Deloy until he’s out of his clutches. I’ll make a bargain—Deloy for me.”
“But”—I forced myself to utter the words no one wanted to hear—“what about you? Then how do we get him to release you?”
Levon strode on past us, into his bedroom. “You let me worry about that.”
“This is unacceptable,” said Dingo, furiously thumbing his cellphone. He was probably texting Gideon, Sledgehammer, his backup team.
“I agree.” I tried to look over his shoulder, but I couldn’t read the text. “He can’t just sacrifice himself. I know it’s useless to call the cops, but shit, you’ve got a whole MC at your back. Can’t they do something?”
“Indeed,” Dingo agreed distractedly, his thumbs flying over the keyboard. “You don’t worry your pretty head, Oaklyn. We got this.”
So why was I so afraid?
Levon appeared one last time. I walked slyly around his back to see if he’d stuck the usual pistol in his jeans, but his leather cut covered it. Of course Pratt would frisk him before letting him in the school.
“All right,” Levon said with a tone of finality. “This is it. No one’s to follow me. Do you hear me, Dingo? Let me see your fucking phone.”
“No.”
Levon went toward Dingo as if about to whip the phone from his hand. Dingo holstered it and held up his hands firmly. “No, Prospect.” That seemed to do the trick, calling Levon a Prospect. Both men froze. “I’m not giving up my phone to any Prospect. You’re supposed to take orders from us, grunt. And I say we’re going to be there, at a safe distance where Pratt can’t see.”
“You’re risking our lives.”
“We’ll take that asshole out if we have to.”
“If anyone’s taking him out, it’s me.”
“Let me see your back. Lift your cut.”
Levon turned obediently and lifted his cut, displaying that he had no piece in there. He bent and lifted both pants legs to show he had nothing in his boots. He finally looked at me, crooking a grin. “I’m a martial arts instructor, Oaklyn. You don’t think I can take that guy out with my bare hands?”
That made me feel a bit better. Still, I said, “We’ll be waiting at a safe distance. You’re still risking your life because I’m sure Pratt has at least one gun. But you’re forgetting you’ve got a whole club at your back.”
He looked sad. “Well, it’s basically a hostage situation. Two hundred guys outside can’t get to the guy with the gun to my head. Now. We’re wasting time. Oaklyn, tell Nana I’ll be there tomorrow. Watch out for Lazarus.”
And he turned. Was that the last thing he was going to say to me? He was heading to the stairs that led down to the driveway.
I flung myself after him like a lovestruck girl. Clinging to his shoulders, I practically sobbed into his arm. “Don’t forget I love you, you stupid bastard.” Oh, man. What a dumb way to say it. Dragging off his arm like a kid kicking and screaming.
And he didn’t say it back. He just peeled me from his shoulder, looking down indulgently at me. “I’ll be back.” And he jumped down the stairs.
I ran to the front window where we could see the driveway. Dingo was instantly at my side.
“I told him I loved him,” I sobbed, “and he didn’t say it back.”
“That’s Levon for you,” Dingo assured me. “He’s not much for flowery words.”
But how did he know? He’d known Levon as long as I had.
When Levon’s bike went out of sight down Little Wing Street, I nearly lost my shit. Now it was Dingo I clung to like a woman in despair. “Oh, Dingo. What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to get the rest of the club. They’re waiting at The High Dive.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LEVON
No one followed me. I didn’t want them to. This was my beef with Pratt, and I would’ve shot at anyone trying to follow me.
Well, if I had a gun.
Dingo didn’t frisk me or anything, but I knew Pratt would. I knew he’d throw out any cellphone or other tracking device, toss any switchblade or other obvious weapon.
He knew I was a martial arts expert. I expected him to take advantage of me some other way.