“Were?”Jude asked.
“I’ve got another plan, but I’m going to need some help with it.I called King, and I’m just waiting to hear back from him.I’ll let you all know when I do.”Wrecker nodded toward Pipe.“Until then, Pipe keeps calling Yogi like nothing’s changed.Friendly.Calm.Like we’re still giving him the benefit of the doubt.”
Pipe snorted.“Gonna be the hardest acting job of my life.”
Cole’s voice cut in, low and dangerous.“Or we roll up and take his whole fucking clubhouse.”
A few guys laughed under their breath, but not because it was funny, because it was true.
Cole’s eyes were hard.“They hurt Star.And now Clove.We keep playing chess while they keep moving?That’s how we lose.”
My chest tightened with agreement.
Wrecker held Cole’s gaze, respectful but firm.“I hear you.”
Cole didn’t look away.“Then act like it.”
Wrecker exhaled slowly.“Acting like it doesn’t mean acting stupid.”
A couple murmurs.A couple nods.
Wrecker’s voice stayed level.“We go in loud without intel, we risk walking into a trap.We risk escalation that gets our women hurt.We risk turning this into a war that pulls heat from every direction.”He looked around the table.“You want the kidnappers.So do I.But we get them by taking away their exits.Not by giving them a warning shot.”
I wanted to argue.
I wanted to stand up and tell him none of this mattered because Clove could’ve been dead, because she’d been chased through the woods like prey, because I’d heard her counting, and it had taken everything in me not to break something.
But Wrecker wasn’t wrong.
And that was the worst part.
Dad’s voice softened, just slightly.“Sit back.Let him lead.You’ll get your pound of flesh.”
I swallowed, forcing myself to breathe through my nose instead of my teeth.
Wrecker leaned back from the table.“Here’s the plan.”
“Pipe keeps Yogi talking.Or trying.If he answers, we keep it calm.We keep him thinking we’re playing nice.”
Pipe’s mouth twisted.“I’ll play nice while I fantasize about punching him.”
“We monitor our own.No one moves alone.Women stay paired.And no one is alone, ever.”
My hands curled into fists under the table.
Cole’s jaw worked like he was chewing down rage.“And if Yogi keeps ignoring us?”
Wrecker’s tone turned colder.“Then we treat him like an enemy.”
Pipe nodded.“Which he already is.”
“Not officially,” Wrecker said.“Yet.”
A beat of silence.
Then Brinks leaned forward, voice almost amused.“So basically we’re gonna let him hang himself.”
Wrecker’s mouth twitched.“Hopefully.”