Hard As You Can

Chapter 22

Sara sat on the edge of the bed, absolutely amazed at what this group of strangers was willing to do for her and Jenna. Part of her mind had wanted to reject what she’d heard them discuss as total fantasy, but then Shane would smile or nod or take her hand in his, and she’d know it was all real.

Still left her feeling like she’d stepped into a fairy tale, though.

Which was why she’d told Shane she’d join him for lunch with some of the guys in a few minutes. She’d just needed to sit in the quiet and wait for the ground to stop moving beneath her feet.

All she knew was, fairy tale or not, sitting in on that meeting gave her real hope that Jenna would be with her again soon. A matter of hours, now.

From her purse on the dresser, a cell phone rang.

Jenna!

Sara gasped, lunged across the room, and tore the phone free. Not recognizing the number, she swiped the button and loudly said hello before she’d even put it to her ear.

“Sara, it’s Howie.”

Hearing the older man’s voice was so unexpected, Sara wasn’t sure how to react. He’d always been kind and protective of her, and Marz had overheard that he was helping with Jenna, but Howie was still inside the Church organization. She couldn’t help but be suspicious, even as her gut said it was okay. “Howie?”

“You need to listen, honey. I don’t have long,” he said in a hushed whisper. “You know what’s happened?”

“Jenna,” she said cautiously, pacing in an almost dazed circle.

“She’s bad off, Crystal. And Bruno is not acting right. Erratic, flying off the handle at everyone—”

“What do you mean by ‘bad off,’ Howie?” God, there were so many ways to read his words. She shivered and hugged herself.

“Horrible seizure when they brought her in. The guys couldn’t even watch. Left the room. And I think he must’ve hit her because she has a black eye. What the hell happened?”

Tears clogged Sara’s throat, but she tried to keep a clear head. “Me,” she said simply.

“Well, he says he’s sending her away tonight, Crystal. If you don’t come. And you shouldn’t. I don’t know what to do.”

Sara’s mind raced. She needed Shane’s help with this. He might know something to suggest to Howie. “Hold on, Howie. I need to check something. Just don’t hang up.”

“Hurry. They think I’m taking a smoke break out back. I can’t be gone long.”

“Okay,” she said. Sara hit the mute button and tore out of Shane’s room. Racing up the hallway, she called, “Shane? Shane?”

He nearly jumped off a stool at the breakfast bar, his expression shifting from surprise to concerned. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Sara held up the phone and blurted out a fast stream of words. “Howie called me from Confessions. This is the old friend of my father’s I told you about before. He called about Jenna. Wants to know how to help. We have to hurry though, he doesn’t have much time.”

Shane crouched to look in her eyes. “Can we trust him, Sara? Do you?”

Sara’s heart beat faster. That was the question, wasn’t it? “Yes. I really think so. I’ll admit I was suspicious at first, but I’ve known this man since I was a kid, and I think he’s genuinely upset over what’s happened.”

Marz slid off the barstool and joined them. “Well, let’s see what he has to say, but no names, Sara. Don’t mention us yet.” He dashed to the counter by the phone and returned with a pad of paper and pen.

Sara turned off the mute and turned on the speakerphone. “Howie, are you still there?”

“Yeah, yeah. Thought I’d lost you.”

“You’re sure Jenna’s still there, Howie?”

“Yes. Seen her with my own eyes. But Bruno said if you weren’t here by seven, he’d initiate the sale and finalize it when he returned from a meeting.”

Sara shook her head, her mind rejecting the very idea. Suddenly, Marz and Shane started whispering back and forth. Sara got the gist, so she just asked the question outright. “Howie, I hate to ask because you’ve been there for me a lot. But I have to. How do I know Bruno didn’t put you up to this call?”

“Truth is, Crystal, you don’t. No real way for me to prove it to you, either. But as a man who held you in his arms as a baby, I’m telling you I’m on your side.” Sara nodded at the guys, letting them know she believed him. So many times Howie had covered for her or helped her out over the last four years. For crying out loud, he’d brought her flowers to her high-school graduation and had helped her pick out her father’s casket.

“Okay, Howie. I had to ask.”

“I know you did, honey. But what can I do?”

Sara’s thoughts reeled, but one main idea came to mind. “Well, after Bruno leaves at seven, can you just free her?”

Howie blew out a breath. “I’m the only other person who has access. If I do, he’ll know it was me. I may go down for this anyway, but someone else has to be the one to carry her out of that room.”

“Well . . . how about this,” Sara said, thinking on the fly. “Could you leave a key for me somewhere?” Marz’s pencil flew over the pad of paper. Sara read it and nodded. “Like maybe somewhere in the big party room?”

“Uh, oh, Jesus. Yeah. I could maybe duct tape it under the bathroom sink in there. But how will that help you?”

“It just will, Howie. Thank you so much,” Sara said, pressing her hand to her mouth.

“This whole thing is just wrong. Who your father was, you girls ought to be treated like princesses around here. I’ll keep an eye on her, Crystal. Don’t you worry.”

Totally impossible, but she appreciated the sentiment and the protectiveness. “Okay,” she managed, as her eyes scanned over a note Marz had written. Sara nodded. “One last question, Howie. Do you know where Bruno’s meeting’s happening tonight?”

“Oh, lordy.” Howie’s sigh was troubled yet resigned, a sound she’d heard from him many times before when he’d learned about bad things going on around the club. “Parking garage at Wicomico and Ostend,” he said in an almost whisper. The line went dead.

“Holy shit,” Marz said. “You did great, Sara. And we’re in business. I’ll call Nick and Beckett and tell them to get their asses—”

“Tell us what?” Nick asked, walking in the door with a briefcase in his hand. Becca and Beckett joined them at the island.

Now that the urgency of the call was over, Sara’s body wouldn’t stop shaking. And though the news was mostly good—Jenna safe for now, the location of the delivery for the team—adrenaline left her feeling like she was going to cry. Not something she wanted to do in front of all these people. “I’m gonna . . . go,” she whispered to Shane, pointing back down the hall. She didn’t give him time to stop her. As she retreated, she heard Shane and Marz recount the conversation and the other men’s animated responses.

Back in Shane’s room, Sara sank onto the edge of Shane’s bed. God, Bruno was really serious about selling Jenna. Sara’s worst nightmare come true. A light knock against the door. “Um, come in?” she said.

“Hey,” Shane said, stepping into the room, a concerned expression on his handsome face “You okay? I’m sorry I didn’t come back right away.”

She smiled. “I’m okay. Actually, Howie’s call was kinda reassuring.” And it was true. If she could just forget what happened if they weren’t successful.

“Yeah,” Shane said, coming closer. He rubbed her arms. “I wish I could spend the day with you, but now that we have this location intel, we need to scout it.”

“Oh. Of course.”

“Becca will still be here, though. And Jeremy’s downstairs in the tattoo shop. Don’t hesitate to let either know if you need something. Okay?” He leaned in for a soft, slow kiss.

“Okay. I’ll be fine,” she said, even though she hated the thought of Shane’s leaving. Part of her yearned for the bubble of happiness and love they’d stepped into early this morning. Silly. And selfish. Jenna’s return and the team’s safety were the most important things here.

“Can I see your phone, please?” he asked. She handed it over and, while she watched, he programmed his number in, then called himself so he’d have her number, too. A buzz sounded from his pocket. “Call me if you need me for anything.”

“I will. But if you need to go, go. Don’t worry about me.”

“Okay,” he said, cupping her face and kissing her again. “I won’t be long.” He smiled as he left, shutting the door behind him.

For a few minutes, Sara stood there, staring at the door. The silence and solitude of the room closed in on her. Maybe there was something she could do, some way she could help. Determined, she left the room in search of something or someone who might need her, so she could avoid going crazy.

Sara found Becca sitting alone at the breakfast bar, a pile of stuffing and fabric in front of her. “Did they leave already?” she asked.

Becca looked up and smiled. “Yeah.”

Sara’s stomach growled. After skipping dinner last night, the bagel she’d had for breakfast wasn’t holding her. “Do you mind if I find something for lunch?”

“Of course not. There’s stuff for sandwiches and salads. Cans of soup in the cabinet. Maybe some leftover Chinese.” Becca shifted to slide off the stool.

“No, please. I can get it. Do you want something?” she asked, opening the fridge. All the fixings for sandwiches were right in front, so Sara grabbed those and brought them to the island.

“Actually, yeah. I would, thanks.” Becca matched two pieces of plush fake brown fur together.

Sara tried to figure out what Becca was doing as she made the sandwiches, asking Becca her preferences as she built them. Finally, she settled a plate with a sandwich and some chips in front of the other woman, careful not to mess up her project. “Something to drink?” Sara asked, grabbing a Sprite.

“I’ll have the same, thanks,” she said distractedly.

Sara brought the drinks and slid on to the seat next to Becca. “What are you working on?”

“This used to be a teddy bear, but it got dissected.”

Sara chuckled. “I’ll say. Are you trying to reassemble it?” she asked, wondering if she should offer to help. This was actually something she could be useful for. Sara took a bite of her sandwich and savored the crusty roll, savory ham and cheese, and crunch of the lettuce.

“It was from my dad, so . . .” Becca shrugged and pushed the fabric away as she pulled her plate closer.

“Well, I really love to sew if you want me to take a shot at it,” Sara said. It’d be a great distraction, too. Something to do with her hands while the man she loved put himself in harm’s way to get ready for saving her sister tonight. Where he’d do it all over again.

Becca’s expression brightened. “Really? That would be awesome. What do you sew?”

“I make a lot of our clothes. And occasionally I quilt.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. I’m not very creative,” she said.

As the women ate, they chatted about Becca’s job, Charlie and Jenna, and everything that had happened in the past week from Becca’s perspective. Sara liked Becca’s openness and friendliness, and it made her feel less awkward about being here without Shane. Becca cleaned up their lunch mess and fixed bowls of ice cream, and Sara savored every sweet spoonful. When they were finally done with their leisurely lunch, Becca tidied up while Sara sorted through the parts of the bear.

She could totally put this thing back together. Having something to do made her happy, especially since it was for Becca. “Do you have a sewing kit?” Sara asked.

“A very sad one, yes,” Becca said, pointing to the small tin that included two needles, a thimble, and three colors of thread, white, black, and brown.

Sara chuckled. “I can make that work.” She reassembled the legs first, then attached them to the body. Turning the torso inside out, she sewed the back seam closed, then turned it right-side out again. “Look, I made you a headless bear,” she said.

“Thank you so much, Sara. The poor thing would’ve been deformed if I’d tried to put it together.”

“You’re welcome,” Sara said, smiling. “If you stuff the body, I’ll sew the head back together; and then I’ll just need to reattach it.” Becca dove into the task of stuffing as Sara looked at the fabric for the head. It hadn’t been opened cleanly along the seam, so she’d need to figure out how to hide the tear without puckering the back of the head. She flipped the material around to look at the bear’s face. “Oh, his eye’s loose.” Sara looked closer. “I think this was glued on rather than sewn.”

“I’m sure Nick has glue around here somewhere. Or else I’ll just run to the craft store when all this is over. The biggest thing is that it’s back together again. Thanks to you,” she said, wrist deep in the bear’s body.

A glint of light caught Sara’s eye. She looked at the bear’s face again, not certain what it could’ve been. Holding the material in her hands, she tilted it back and forth. A little flash from the loose eye. Sara held it up to the light. In the depths of the toy eye, there appeared to be a tiny brighter square that caught the light when you held it just right. The middle of the other eye was darker, flatter. “This is strange,” she said, comparing the eyes again.

“What’s that?” Becca said, glancing up from stuffing the arm.

“One of these eyes is different. Almost looks like there’s something in it.”

“What?” Becca said, almost alarmed. “Can I see?” Sara handed it to her, unsure about her reaction, and Becca held it up to the light just as she had moments before. “Oh, my God, Sara. I think you’re right. Come with me,” she said.

Sara followed Becca down the hall to a closed bedroom door. She knocked. A man’s voice welcomed them inside.

“Hey Charlie, up for a chat?” Becca asked.

“Sure,” he said, looking up from a laptop as Becca crossed to a chair. Sara hovered in the doorway. A black puppy lying next to Charlie on the bed raised its head, its tail lazily wagging.

“It’s okay, Sara,” Becca said, waving her into the mostly plain, windowless room.

“I’m really glad to see you doing better, Charlie,” Sara said.

“Thanks,” he said, peering up at her, almost like he was shy. Charlie’s glance shifted to Becca. “What do you need?” he asked, gently swinging his legs off the bed so he didn’t hit the dog, who jumped down anyway.

The dog had three legs, Sara noticed, doing a double take. “What happened to him?”

“Her,” Becca said with a smile. “Eileen. I’m not sure. I found her that way.”

Eileen came over and sniffed Sara’s legs, and Sara couldn’t resist squatting to give her a pet. The puppy apparently thought that was an invitation to play, though, because she whacked at Sara’s hand with her paws and tried to nibble on her fingers. With a last smile at the dog, she rose.

Becca held up the bear. “While you were unconscious, Marz noticed the ID tag on this bear had the number to Dad’s Singapore account on it.” Charlie’s eyes went wide. “So Marz cut it apart, thinking something was hidden inside, but it was empty. Just stuffing. But just now, Sara was putting it back together for me, and she noticed there’s something weird about the eye.” She handed the bear to Charlie.

Frowning, Charlie looked closely at the eyes. “I don’t see anything. But that lamp isn’t very bright. Either of you have a flashlight app?”

“I do,” Sara said, turning the app on and passing Charlie her phone.

“Thanks,” he said. He shined the light in the eyes. First one, then the other. Back and forth several times.

“There’s something in the loose eye,” Charlie said. “It almost looks like a microchip.” A chip for what, Sara wondered, stepping closer.

“Like, for a computer? That small?” Becca asked, excitement in her voice.

Charlie nodded. “Smallest chip in the world is two millimeters square. Looks like the Colonel might’ve given you the key in the form of the bracelet and the lock hidden in here.” He rose off the bed wearing a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. “Maybe Marz has some tools that I can use to take this apart. Chips this size are fragile. I don’t want to break it.”

“You might’ve just unraveled a pretty big mystery,” Becca said, squeezing her arm around Sara’s shoulders with a smile.

Sara didn’t know what to say. The whole thing was crazy, but she was glad to have done something helpful given everything Shane’s friends were doing and risking for her.

Charlie led them through the apartment and to the gym. Becca punched in the code, then they headed to the big computer station in the corner. “Where is everyone?” Charlie asked.

“They got a lead on the delivery’s location tonight,” Becca said. “They’ll be back soon.”

Setting the bear on the edge of the desk, Charlie searched Marz’s station for tools. “Aha,” he said, finding a small red toolbox on the floor. While Sara and Becca leaned in as close as they could, Charlie gently separated the back of the eye from the glass. And there, in the center, sat a computer chip no bigger than Sara’s pinkie nail.

Charlie held it up with a pair of tweezers and turned it around as he examined it. “What were you trying to tell Becca, Colonel?” he said, almost to himself.

“He wasn’t just trying to tell me, Charlie. He sent you the account information, after all,” Becca said. Sara glanced at Charlie, wondering why the guy referred to his father that way.

“Hmm,” was all Charlie said, looking around. “I wish I had my own equipment. I’d know better how to try to access this.” He settled it on a piece of white paper.

“Well, wait ’til Marz gets back,” Becca said.

It was like her words conjured him. The door opened, and the whole group of men entered and crossed the gym. Shane was in the middle of the group, looking sexy in a long-sleeved gray shirt and a pair of black jeans. Of course, now Sara knew he looked every bit as sexy without clothes, too.

“We have news,” Becca said, almost jumping with glee.

Using the tweezers again, Charlie held up the chip as the men joined them around the desk, Nick going to Becca and Shane taking Sara in his arms.

“Holy shit,” Marz said, rushing closer.

“Pretty sure Sara just found what we’ve been looking for,” Charlie said. “In the eye of the bear.”

Heat rushed into her cheeks as every pair of eyes in the room turned on her. And then as Shane watched with a wide smile that sent Sara’s heart soaring, they all took turns shaking her hand and hugging her. Marz even took her for a few dancing spins, making her laugh and squirm with all the attention. Meanwhile, Becca explained how they’d found the chip.

“Hey, guys?” a voice called, finally breaking up the celebration. It was Jeremy, leaning in the door. “Heads-up. The first of the Ravens are here.”

“Well, hell,” Marz said. “Guess it’s showtime. We’ll have to save this prezzie to open later.”

AS HIS TEAMMATES, Becca, Charlie, and Miguel made for the door to greet the Ravens, Shane hung back with Sara, absolutely overflowing with pride and love. “I leave you alone for a few hours, and you save the world,” he said.

Chuckling, she dropped her gaze and shook her head. “I didn’t do anything. It was just dumb luck.”

Shane tilted her chin upward. No way she was playing this off. “Maybe, but it was dumb luck none of the rest of us have had. I’m serious, Sara, whatever is on that thing is probably going to be huge for us. So, thank you.” He pulled her in for a kiss, wishing they could’ve had the day to lounge in bed and make love and talk about what would happen between them after tonight. She wound her arms around his neck and pressed in close. Shane’s body responded immediately, his pulse spiking, his cock hardening. “Mmm, the things I’d like to do to you,” he said, pulling away from her lips.

Sara lifted her eyebrows. “That sounds promising.”

Shane nearly growled. Sexy, tormenting woman. “Just you wait.” He gave her another quick kiss. “Do you want to come meet everyone or hang inside? Up to you.” A sound like thunder rumbled around the building.

“I’ll come with you,” she said, slipping her hand in his. And, aw, damn. It was a small gesture, but her initiative in showing him affection was proof positive how far they’d come in the past week. Couple more hours, and they’d have Jenna back, then nothing would stand in their way.

As they left the gym, the sound of thunder grew louder, and Shane realized it was the rumble of a shit ton of motorcycles as they entered Hard Ink’s parking lot. The sound was almost deafening when they stepped out the door.

Holding Sara close, Shane scanned the lot, almost packed to capacity now. Everywhere he looked, he saw men in cutoff denim jackets with the Raven Riders patch on the back. They hung their helmets on their handlebars and congregated behind Ike and a couple other obvious leaders in the center.

Sara stepped closer to Shane’s side, her arm coming around his back, and Shane was only too happy to return the gesture by pulling her close and making it damn clear that she was off-limits. Nick was all but draped around Becca, too, so at least he wasn’t alone in the feeling.

Hands were shook, introductions were made, and thanks were given as the two groups made nice.

Time and again, Shane heard one of the Ravens express the sentiment that any enemy of the Churchmen was a friend of theirs, so he didn’t have any questions about the loyalty of their new allies. At least, as long as they were paid.

Shane’s question had more to do with how twenty-eight guys used to operating loud and visible were going to mesh with the team’s general covert approach. Time would tell.

“All right,” Nick said to Ike, who they’d learned was a General Board member in the club, and Dare Kenyon, the club’s president. Kenyon was tall and lanky, with brown hair nearly to his shoulders. Seemed friendly enough. They all did, so far. “Can we get everyone to come inside so we can get some plans hammered out?”

“Come on, sweetness,” Shane said against Sara’s ear, earning a smile.

When he’d offered them the space earlier in the day, Jeremy hadn’t been lying. This room on the far side of the Hard Ink building was just a big open rectangle unfinished all the way around. Looked like Jeremy had demolished whatever had been in here down to the studs. But at least there was plenty of room for all the men to lean against the wall or sit on one of the sawhorses scattered around. Shane and Sara made their way toward the front with the rest of his team.

It took a few minutes to get everyone in and quieted, but once they did, Nick offered some words of welcome and thanks to Ike, the president, and the club in general. And then Marz took over briefing everyone on the nature of the missions at both locations. At the parking garage near the football stadium, the identification of the players in the trade and possible interception of the cargo—whatever it was. The latter was particularly important to the Ravens. God knew Shane wasn’t adverse to interfering with the Churchmen’s cash flow, and neither was the rest of the team. At Confessions, though, the mission involved a rescue and was, in Shane’s mind, the far more important of the two.

As the conversation turned to Jenna and Confessions, Shane checked in with Sara. “You okay?” he whispered.

“Yeah. Be better when all this is over and Jenna’s back.” She laid her head against him.

In the planning, the Ravens proved themselves equal partners in strategizing each of the locations. Within an hour, the men had firmed up the plans and been divided into two teams—a group of twelve for the part inside Confessions, another four on the outside of the club just in case, and the remaining eighteen at the parking garage. The Hard Ink guys would split between the two. Those Ravens heading to Confessions left their jackets stacked in the corner for Jeremy’s safekeeping. They wouldn’t be able to get in the door with them on.

Back at Hard Ink, Charlie and Jeremy would be running the communications and monitoring the surveillance at the club that they’d just installed at the garage. So at least his teammates would know what was going on at both locations. It was déjà vu of the night they’d rescued Charlie all over again.

After everything was set, the Ravens filed out of the room, and within minutes, the lot outside roared to life.

When just Ike and Dare remained inside with the team, they offered a final recommendation. “You know,” Kenyon said to Nick, “Church is going to consider this a full-on assault no matter what you do. So from one man to another, I strongly suggest you consider taking him down once and for all.”

“Meaning?” Nick said, eyes thoughtful and intense.

“Church, his Apostles, Confessions. As much of it as you can.” Kenyon and Ike traded glances, and Ike nodded, too.

The justice and righteousness of that resonated way down deep in Shane’s gut. Tempting as it was, though, the team couldn’t give into full-scale vigilantism without becoming just like that which they were fighting against, could they?