“There it is,” Tiny said in a low voice.
Up ahead, a ranch-style house with a large porch greeted them. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimney, and the lights in the front part of the house cast yellow squares on the glistening snow. The six metal warehouses stood off to the left side of the main house. They weren’t huge buildings and perched on the front sides of them were security cameras. The buildings creaked in the wind.
“Do they have a camera at the house?” Banger asked.
“Nope,” Rock replied.
“Fucking unbelievable,” Throttle said.
“What a bunch of dipshits.” Helm spat on the ground.
“This is too fuckin’ easy,” Ruben said.
“We should take the shit from the grow building and the guns,” Axe said.
“That’s what I was gonna suggest.” Banger turned to Rock. “You and Tiny know which is which, so we won’t strike those until after we take the stuff. Rusty and Skinless are bringing the trucks. When we kick the front door in, give the signal to Blade to cut the cameras. Let’s go.”
In a flash, they were on the front porch, Wheelie carefully opening the screen door and jerking his head at Axe. Axe raised his leg and, with his full strength, kicked the door. It groaned and splintered, and the rush of excited voices told him he had less than a second to break it open. Another kick and the door flew open. He rushed in with his gun drawn and saw two men run to the back of the house. Knowing Jerry, Chas, Cruiser, and Helm would be waiting, he let them go and moved over quickly to let Hawk, Wheelie, Banger, and Bear in.
“What the fuck?” a tall man with red hair said. “Banger? What the fuck are you doing?”
“I came over to visit,” Banger replied, his hand inside his jacket.
“Why the fuck didn’t you just knock? You broke my fuckin’ door. You gonna pay for that?” From where Axe stood, he could see the red blotches on the man’s face, and the vein in his temple pulsing.
“Brothers, this here is Chad,” Banger said. Turning to two other men who stood near Chad, he laughed. “How in the hell did you get mixed up in this shit Randy?”
“I needed the money,” Randy blurted out.
“Shut the fuck up!” a skinny man said.
“Let him talk if he wants, Beau. It figures you and Calvin are working with Chad.” Banger shook his head. “But Randy? It’s too damn bad you didn’t go to the bank for a damn loan.”
“I’m not involved with any of this, Banger. Honest. I was just helping with some of the plants.” Sweat beaded up on the dude’s forehead.
“Banger’s here because he’s pissed we’re doing meth. What the fuck can I say? I need the money. I couldn’t get the grow license, so I had to do something. The farm hasn’t been doing that good. Hard to get good help.” Chad smiled but it was one of the most insincere smiles Axe had seen in a long time. “Do you and your friends want a beer?”
Beau started to move away. “Don’t fuckin’ move, old man or I’ll put a bullet through your head,” Axe said.
Chad snorted. “No reason to be so serious. Sit down. Tell me what’s on your mind. We can reach an agreement. The fucking cops don’t even give a shit what I’m doing. I’m not a big honcho. I’m not threat to anyone’s operation. Really.”
“This isn’t about the weed or meth. It’s about Sketcher,” Hawk gritted.
“Who? I don’t know him.” Chad looked at Beau, Calvin, and Randy. “Do you guys know who he’s talking about?” They shook their heads, but Randy looked like he was going to have a heart attack.
“I’m not asking if you knew him. I’m telling you why the fuck we’re here.” Hawk took a step forward.
Chad snorted. “Banger? Tell your friend that I don’t know who he’s talking about.”
Banger shook his head. “You fucked up, man. You killed one of ours.”
Randy’s eyes bugged out. “He was an Insurgent? Fuck. We didn’t know.”
“I told you to shut the fuck up.” Beau slammed his fist in Randy’s face.
“Both of you shut the fuck up! Sketcher was part of our family. We don’t like it when someone messes with someone in our family. It doesn’t matter if they’re brothers, club girls, or on the payroll, they are in the fold.” Banger took out a joint and lit it.
“Go check the other rooms,” Hawk said to Axe and Throttle.
Axe went into one of the rooms and saw a small girl sleeping on the bed. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. He checked the other rooms and met Throttle in the hallway.
“All clear,” Throttle said.
“Same here except for a girl who’s sleeping. She looks about five or six. Shit.” Axe replied.
“I thought Rock and Tiny said there were no kids?”
Axe shrugged. “Stay here. I gotta tell Banger.”
When he went past the kitchen, he nodded at Jerry and Chas who had the two guys who’d tried to run on their knees with their hands behind their backs. He went into the living room. “There’s a kid sleeping in one of the rooms.”
The vein in Chad’s temple throbbed. “That’s my granddaughter. Don’t hurt her.”
Banger went over to Chad and slammed his gun into his head. “Don’t tell me what the fuck to do.” Chad cried out and brought his hands to his head.
“You want me to take her out?” Axe asked.
“Yeah. How old is she?” Banger said.
“She’s only five. Please don’t hurt her.” Chad’s voice broke.
“Put something over her eyes and take her out.” Banger went over to Randy. “Now you’re gonna tell me the truth because we’re done fuckin’ around here. If I don’t hear the truth from you, I’m gonna make you sorry you ever heard of the Insurgents.”
Axe chuckled and walked back into the room with the girl. He went over to her and stared down. Her lips were parted in an “O” and with her blonde hair and fair skin, she looked like one of those angels he’d seen in books. He turned away and rummaged through some drawers until he found a scarf. He went back to the bed and picked her up, blanket and all. She moaned slightly then wrapped her arms around his neck. He walked to the kitchen.
“What the hell?” Chas asked.
“She’s the fucker’s granddaughter,” Axe replied.
“You practicing for when you’re a daddy?” Jerry chuckled.
“Fuckin’ lame, dude. I gotta get her outta here. I can tell by the way Banger and Hawk are standing that shit’s about to hit the fan.” He went outside.
The cold air woke her up and she cried out, “Poppa. Where are we going?”
Axe’s heart twisted. “Your poppa’s busy. I’m helping him out. We’re going to play a game. Have you played pin the tail on the donkey?”
“Yeah, but I don’t wanna play.”
He kept walking to the SUVs. He wanted to get her out of there before the gunfire and the explosions started up. Jerking his head at Skinless, Axe opened the door of the vehicle.
Skinless tossed his cigarette to the ground, stubbing it out with the toe of his boot. “Just got the word to move in.”
“Shit’s about to get real.” Axe handed the prospect the scarf. “Put this around her eyes.”