Chapter Twenty Three

Dio rode through the alley, stopping on the east side to look out on the one-way street. He ripped off his helmet and spit on the ground.

Behind him, Ruger and Maverick stopped. He fisted his hand and put it at his side, signaling the end of their ride.

"We lost them," he shouted.

He put both feet on the ground and walked his bike backward to sit between his MC brothers. He'd been the one to spot the black Escalade watching the pot shop when they'd finished their shift. As soon as he looked at the car and realized it was driven by a member of Los Li, the chase had gone down.

He lucked out that Ruger and Maverick were right behind him and understood what was happening when he ripped out of the parking lot, hitting Highway 101. He'd stayed right on their ass all the way into Seaglass Cove.

If it hadn't been for the senior citizen tour bus pulling out in front of him, he wouldn't have lost sight of the Escalade.

"Let's get back to the clubhouse and fill Jagger in on what we've seen. He can alert the crew that's riding. Hopefully, we can get them before they hide underground." Ruger latched his helmet.

It troubled him, knowing Los Li was hanging around the pot shop. Havlin had a hand in running security since the beginning. They'd laundered money through the shops, took bumps off the incoming cash, and had as much pot as they wanted working from farm to table—growers to buyers.

He led the way back to the clubhouse. They were only four blocks away. Seaglass Cove was small enough to sprint across town, which would've been faster, considering there were tourists mingling elbow to elbow on the sidewalks lining the gift shops catering to life on the Pacific Ocean.

Riding past the pool, he glanced at the glass windows surrounding the back of the building. Brett had taken the girls to the pool after escorting Skye home from her client's house and taking her to the clubhouse, where Mariah waited on her day off from the coffee shop.

He pulled around the clubhouse and parked his Harley. Not waiting for the others, he swung his leg over his seat. The first step almost took him to his knee as his lower back spasmed.

He gritted his teeth, pushing through the pain. It was a bad time for his back to start hurting again. He walked to the door with a hitch in his stride.

Inside, he looked around for Skye, even knowing she was at the pool by now. Because he'd spotted Los Li, and they'd seen him, it heightened the danger for those close to him. All he wanted to do was have his eyes on Skye and make sure she was okay.

"I texted Jagger." Maverick stopped beside him. "He's in the parts shop and will be here in a second."

Ruger wiped his hand down his face. "We had the fucker right in front of us."

"I'd like to know why the hell he was staking out the pot shop," muttered Maverick.

"It wouldn't surprise me if they were trying to take a load—probably trying to figure out the delivery times." Dio squatted, stretching his back, and stood on a groan. "Havlin is already there every fucking time the truck rolls in. It'd be impossible for them to steal a truck without causing a scene. There are people in and out of those shops all the time, besides a Havlin crew hanging around."

A door slammed. Dio turned to find Jagger striding toward them. He took a cigarette pack out of his pocket and tapped the end of the box against his hand.

Jagger motioned toward the table, but they all remained standing. "Tell me what's going on?"

He shifted his weight. "I walked out of Green Peace Cannabis at two-thirty." He raised his hand. "East side door behind the building. There's a mortgage place—"

"I know the outlay of the area," said Jagger.

"I spotted a black Escalade sitting in front of the other business with a direct line of sight to the backdoor of Green Peace. As I walked to my Harley, I looked to see if a driver was inside—that's when the Escalade tore out of the parking lot. I got on my bike and followed him. Going by the speed, he wasn't sticking around."

"What kind of plates?"

"California." He shook his head. "I couldn't get close enough to get any more than that."

Jagger pinned his gaze on Ruger. "Where were you?"

"Following his ass." Ruger grunted. "It was obvious something was going down, so Maverick and I followed Dio."

"You saw the car?"

"Yep." Ruger crossed his arms. "I'd swear on the patch it was a Los Li car."

Los Li often snuck around at night and stayed in the shadows, but one thing was certain. They always rented black, high-class vehicles to travel while in the states. It was as if they wanted to flaunt their power in the face of those they planned to hurt.

Jagger's mouth tightened and he walked a few paces away. Dio waited, knowing Jagger wasn't a president who jumped into trouble without going over all the information. It wasn't only him or even the two hundred plus members in the Seaglass Cove Chapter. Havoc-Lincoln "Havlin" Motorcycle Club spanned the whole Pacific Northwest.

Jagger came back. The news had etched deeper lines at the corners of his eyes.

"We keep the same schedule. We keep our eyes open." He looked at the three of them. "And if we get a chance, we take them out."

"Let me do it." Ruger stepped forward. "Take me off the crew and let me ride alone. I'll hunt them down."

Ruger's need for retaliation fueled him through life. He sought permission to go after Los Li any chance he could get. But Dio knew Jagger wouldn't let his MC brother go alone.

"I'll go with him," he said.

"Jesus." Maverick clasped his hands behind his head and turned from the group.

He understood Maverick's view. Dio was responsible for Skye now. If something happened to him, Skye would suffer.

"As long as Los Li is in Seaglass Cove, none of us are safe." He shifted his weight to the other foot. "The women need their freedom to go to work and not worry about their kids."

"Count me in." Maverick inhaled deeply. "No one mentions a word of this to Brooke."

What they planned to do would remain between them. It was club business. Once they took down Los Li and kept the Mexican Mafia from trespassing in their territory, everything would go back to normal.

"You get one week." Jagger shook his head. "Don't get yourself killed." He faced Ruger. "Your daughter and grandson need you."

Ruger cocked his brow and patted Jagger's face. "Love you, too, brother."

The president of Havlin walked away, heading back to the parts shop. Dio looked at the others. Without saying a word, they all had the same concerns running in their head.

They had women who loved them, who wanted them to return home. They willingly risked their freedom and their life to make sure their families stayed safe and protected.

It was their job.

"Bring Skye and Rachel over to the house. I'll find two brothers who can guard them." Maverick coughed. "We'll ride out in two hours."

"Use Brett. Have him take Mariah to the house, too." Dio stroked his beard. "They're at the pool now. I'll go over there and get them."

Skye would feel better having her aunt and her best friend with her. She'd have less time to worry and overthink the situation.

"I'll contact Bane to have him take us off the crew for the week," said Ruger.

"Bane was outside when I pulled up." Dio checked his phone for any message as he walked away.

"Good. It'll save me a call." Ruger strode beside him. "Hopefully, we'll get those fuckers tonight and put an end to this shit. I'd like to see them all thrown in the fucking ocean."

"I hear you, brother." Dio pushed out the doors and headed around the building to the city pool next door.

The walk loosened his back. He took the steps up to the pool house two at a time and found Brett and Hawk talking to Daisy, who was standing on the other side of the counter. They all turned when he stepped through the open doorway.

"What's up, man?" Brett looked behind Dio. "Is it three o'clock already?"

"I'm early." He motioned for Brett to follow him outside.

Privately, he turned his back to the door, knowing Daisy was curious about any information. "I need a favor. Skye will be staying at Maverick's house with Brooke and Rachel. I need you to bring Mariah over there, too. Pick another member you trust to guard them with you until we're done."

Brett frowned. "You're riding out? "

He dipped his chin. "I need the women to remain safe."

"You can trust me." Brett clasped Dio's hand. "Watch your back."

"Yep, that's the plan." He slapped Brett on the shoulder. "I'll talk to Skye and then take her to her dad's house. We have less than two hours to ride out, so do what you have to do."

"On it." Brett followed him through the men's locker room and to the pool.

Mariah stood at the edge of the pool, talking with another woman. Dio scanned the water. Spotting Skye's slim arms rise and fall below the surface in lane six, he skirted the pool and arrived at the end before she arrived.

He squatted, ready to grab her as she reached the side of the pool, but she popped her head out of the water and smiled at him before he could touch her.

She blinked rapidly. "Hi."

He held out his arm. She grasped his hand, and he pulled her out of the water, dripping wet.

"Kiss me." He refused to let her go.

She stepped closer and wound her arms around his neck. Wetness seeped into the thighs of his jeans. He'd dry as soon as he got on his Harley.

Skye raised to her toes, sealed her lips against his, and sighed in his mouth. He held her tighter, feeling the need to keep her close to him and knowing he had to ride out. By tomorrow, he had to have a plan for getting her to and from her appointments. He would have to rely on his MC brothers since Maverick would be with him .

She pulled back and peppered soft kisses on his lips. "I didn't." Kiss. "Expect you." Kiss. "So early."

"Change of plans." He rubbed his mouth against her lips. "You need to get dressed. I'm taking you over to your dad's house. You're going to spend the night there."

"No." She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on to him. "Why?"

He walked backward until she let go, then grabbed her hand, leading her around the pool. "I have to ride out with your dad and Ruger. Rachel and Mariah will be there, too."

"Mariah?"

"Brett's going to watch the house," he said.

"Oh." She squeezed his hand and studied him.

He urged her to go into the locker room and change. Then, he slipped through the men's locker room and waited at the pool house entrance with Brett for her and Mariah to come out.

They had one week to find Los Li.