“Just take a seat and I’ll explain,” Taxi replied.
“Why the fuck is everyone so invested in the location of my ass?”
“Wrath,” Sundance huffed out. “You’re in this meeting as a courtesy. As Sierra’s old man, and as a loyal captain who I respect. Please grab some pine and let the man speak. You can huff and puff after we’re done here, but for now I need you to be a good soldier, sit down, and shut the fuck up.”
Sundance was the only man on the planet who could order me to do anything. I owed him my life, five times over, and I respected him more than anyone.
I sat down next to Sierra, who took my hand underneath the table, giving it a gentle squeeze as Taxi continued, “As I was saying, my team and I have been running through various insertion and extraction scenarios in an effort to find the one with the best odds for success. We feel very good about the operation as it stands, but the data shows an overwhelming advantage over our opponent if we play this as a two-person operation.”
“I’m in,” I said. “If you think a second man increases our chances of taking these bitches down, then let’s do it. Sign me the fuck up.”
“I appreciate your enthusiasm and support,” Taxi said. “But I’m afraid you’re not quite right for the job.”
He turned to Sierra.
“What the fuck?” I growled.
“Desi was a fully capable professional, who was at the top of his game, but he was never more powerful than when Lucy was at his side,” Taxi replied.
“I’m about to shove a pair of bongos up your ass if you don’t tell me what the fuck you’re talking about right now.”
“Operation Lucy was a plan built around inserting two agents into the Predators. A couple. In this scenario, it works with Tango as the son, and Sierra as his old lady.”
“You’ve gotta be shittin’ me? After what you told us yesterday? About what the Predators did to their own president’s daughter. You want to send her into that hell hole? No fuckin’ way,” I said, rising to me feet. “Come on, baby, were gettin’ the fuck outta here.”
“Please sit back down,” Sierra pleaded.
“You walk out that door, you leave your cut on the table,” Sundance said.
“Seems like I’ve heard you say that to someone else recently.”
“Don’t push me, Wrath. You know I love you like a son, and I understand how hard this is for you, but—”
“Due respect, Sunny, but how the hell could you know how I’m feeling? No one’s asking you to send Wyatt in to infiltrate a club full of sadistic rapists,are they?”
“As long as we’re in this life, our families are always in danger. Whether it’s retaliation from a rival club, or losing a father to the road, or prison.”
“The outside chance of Sierra getting caught in the crossfire of some gangster shit is not the same as willingly and knowingly sending her into the lion’s den.”
Sierra coughed loudly. “If I could just interrupt your little swordfight here, I’d like to say that whateverIdecide to do will bemydecision, and mine alone.”
“Babe—”
“Wrath, please sit down, let Taxi finish, and we can talk about this in private afterwards. Or you can leave and stay in the dark about what happens to me.”
I sat back down.
Saying nothing.
Making eye contact with no one.
“Here’s the bottom line,” Taxi said. “With double the agents, we can accomplish twice the amount of work. While Tango is busy pulling focus, Sierra can plant listening devices and possibly even gain access to the Predators’ private network.”
“The Predators would be smart enough to sweep for bugs on a regular basis, wouldn’t they?” Sundance asked.
“They can sweep all they’d like. The latest generation of FBI listening devices is virtually undetectable. They’d have to have intelligence agency grade instruments to even pick up the slightest trace. We’llfinally be able to track the activity of these slippery bastards. Not to mention, the added value Sierra brings as additional bait.”
This was the Sierra effect. She appeared to have Sundance’s full trust even though she was working for a government organization that could crush our club with a single rubber stamp. Not to mention the trust every single one of my brothers and their old ladies had for her. From what I could tell, every person Sierra ever encountered appeared to fall under her spell. People were drawn to her. Compelled to tell her their deepest secrets and confess their darkest sins. A skill that Taxi had no doubt observed and was now looking to exploit. He was smart, I’d give him that, and I hoped I wouldn’t have to kill him one day.