Laura Kaye: Hard As You Can

“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.”

A S 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.