Chapter Twenty One

Dio squinted at the screen on his phone. The picture Dalton, the newest member of Havlin, texted him confirmed the rumor. Los Li was prowling around again.

"Let me go after them." Ruger stood at the end of the table, arms crossed.

Jagger's mouth thinned. "I'm not going to let anyone run after them alone."

Dio understood why his MC brother wanted to ride out after Los Li. Many years ago, Ruger's old lady was kidnapped and tortured by Los Li. She wouldn't have made it out alive without Ruger saving her.

"We need to discuss if we're going on lockdown." Bane slipped his phone into his vest pocket. "We've got an estimation that there are three to six members of the Mexican mafia here."

"Wait." Wire leaned back in the chair. "Dalton gets one picture of one guy. Who says there are more?"

"They usually appear in teams of three. Since no one else has seen anything. We're going to assume there's no more than six here." Jagger looked at Bane. "Get ahold of every member have them go into Stage One security."

Stage One—Women and children belonging to Havlin members must always have a member around them but were able to carry on their normal schedule. It was the member's liability to keep his family safe.

He met Maverick's gaze across the table and nodded at the unasked question. He would look after Skye. He'd done it in the past to help Maverick and Brooke. But Skye now belonged to him. He was responsible for her.

"I'll contact others within the northwest territory to find out Los Li's agenda. For now, we'll assume they're still in the business of taking women across the border." Jagger exhaled loudly. "How many crews are running security this week?"

"Three," answered Bane.

Jagger looked around the room. "Make four additional crews and have them rotate around the clock. I want the fuckers found and out of Seaglass Cove."

"I'm on it, Prez." Bane sat at the table and opened the membership roster.

The others wandered away from the table to allow the vice president time to sort through the members. Already on a security crew, he wouldn't be asked to run Seaglass Cove, too.

Maverick walked around the table. "Will you be able to escort Skye during the day?"

"I'm gone Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday from three to eleven, evening hours, she's usually done by three o'clock. This week, she stopped at her apartment before heading over to my place around eight. She waits for me to come home." He looked around the clubhouse, found Brett, and waved him over. "Skye mentioned Brett's staying with Mariah each night that Skye's with me."

"I'll be at the clubhouse until five, unless Bane puts me on one of the new search crews. Brooke gets off at five o'clock from the coffee shop." Maverick widened his stance. "I can get her escorted to the clubhouse. She can wait here for me if I'm riding."

Brett approached. "What's up?"

"Are you still on the morning crew?" asked Dio.

"Only every other week unless Bane puts me on another crew."

"Skye needs someone watching over her until I get off the security run, or Maverick can watch her. You've been hanging around Mariah—"

"Got it." Brett slapped Dio's shoulder. "Say no more. I'll throw my duffle down and stay at the apartment until we get out of Stage One. Both girls will be safe."

Maverick clasped Dio's hand, then Brett's, and walked away. Dio pulled out his phone and texted Skye. He wasn't riding security tonight, and Skye still had a couple of hours to work.

Jagger would take no chances with Los Li around. Too many Havlin members have suffered at their hands over the years. Every member, including Dio, would take the threat seriously.

A reply never came. When Skye was at an appointment, her phone was put on silent so that she could concentrate on her client.

He texted Mariah. Does Skye have a written work schedule at the apartment?

His phone vibrated with a reply. No. It's on her phone .

Thanks. He hit send and put the phone in his pocket.

Skye would have to make some changes to her schedule. He needed to know where she would be during the day. If he couldn't be with her, he'd need to find a Havlin member to escort her to the appointments.

Maverick jogged toward him, holding a cell, and said, "Skye."

He took the phone. "Princess?"

"Dad called and filled me in on what's happening. I'm at the Oceanside Assisted Living Center until three."

He glanced at Maverick and frowned. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

"No hurry. I'll look for you before I leave the building."

He disconnected and faced Maverick. "How did you get ahold of her?"

Maverick smirked. Never had he wanted to punch his MC brother in the face, but the egotistical, almost possessive, expression rubbed him the wrong way.

Skye belonged to him now, yet he lacked the secrets to protect her.

He understood Skye needed her phone off while she worked, and it was hard for her to answer calls and texts when she had lotion on her hands and those hands on her clients.

"She has a burner phone that only Brooke and I know the phone number for in case of emergencies." Skye's dad pocketed the cell. "She started carrying it while in college when she shut her other phone off so we could always get ahold of her."

He should've thought of that. It was a way to protect Skye.

"I'll be getting that number," he muttered.

"Figured you would."

"I'm gonna head over to her." He walked backward. "If you hear from her between now and then, get ahold of me."

Maverick dipped his chin. Dio jogged out of the clubhouse. Once he had Skye beside him, he'd need to figure out how to protect her.

Where before Maverick and Brooke were responsible for Skye, he wanted to be the one to take care of her. He wouldn't turn down their help, but Skye was his old lady now.