"You don't get to choose. I'm your mother. That means I walk into danger if that's what it takes to keep you safe." Vince stood. "If we do this, we do it right.
Full coverage, eyes on every exit. Men positioned inside and out." "At the first sign of trouble, we extract both of you." "How many men can you get inside the hotel without being obvious?" Loretta asked.
Vince thought about it. "Four, maybe five if we stagger the timing. The rest will be outside ready to move." Ray pulled out his phone, started texting. "I'll coordinate positions."
"Jake, you're on the security feed. See if you can get access to the hotel cameras." Jake nodded, already typing on his laptop. Bobby looked at Vince. "Boss, this is risky.
If something goes wrong "Then we adapt." Vince said. "We've been in worse situations." He turned to Evelyn. "This is your call.
Your life. Your choice. We'll support whatever you decide." Evelyn looked at her mother, at the determination in Loretta's eyes. She thought about 12 years of hiding.
12 years of looking over her shoulder. 12 years of cutting herself off from everyone and everything because she was afraid. She was tired of being afraid. "We'll do it." She said quietly.
"Tomorrow morning, 8:00." Vince nodded. "Then we have tonight to prepare." The meeting broke up. Brothers dispersed to their assignments.
Weapons checked. Positions assigned. Vehicles prepped. Loretta and Evelyn were given a private room in the back of the clubhouse. Small but clean.
Two beds. A bathroom. A lock on the door. Evelyn sat on one of the beds, head in her hands. Loretta sat beside her, put an arm around her shoulders.
"Talk to me, baby." Evelyn's voice was muffled. "I'm scared, Mom." "I know." "What if something happens to you because of me?"
"Then it happens. And I'll have spent my last moments protecting my daughter." "There are worse ways to go." Evelyn looked up, eyes red. "How are you so calm?"
Loretta smiled, sad but genuine. "I'm not calm. I'm terrified. But I learned a long time ago that fear is just information. It tells you the stakes are high.
It doesn't tell you what to do." She brushed a strand of hair from Evelyn's face. "Your father used to say that courage isn't the absence of fear." "It's deciding that something else matters more." "What matters more than staying alive?"
"Living matters more. Really living. Not just surviving." Evelyn leaned against her mother. "I've missed so much.
12 years of hiding. Of not having friends. Not having a life." "Then tomorrow we get your life back." They sat in silence for a while.
Mother and daughter preparing for what might be their last night together. Outside the clubhouse hummed with activity. Men moving with purpose. The machinery of the club gearing up for war. Vince stood in the parking lot, phone to his ear.
"Kyle, it's Vince." Kyle Harrison's voice came through tired but alert. "Boss, it's been a while." "I need to tell you something. I found her."
Silence on the other end. Then quietly, "The woman from Vegas?" "Her name is Evelyn Sutton. She's here at the clubhouse." "After 12 years?"
"After 12 years." Another pause. "Why now?" "Wade Garrison is why. He's come for her.
And we're going to stop him." Kyle's voice hardened. "Tell me what you need." "I need you to know that if something happens tomorrow was worth it." "Finding her.
Protecting her. Keeping the promise we made." "Nothing's going to happen." "But if it does Vince, you don't quit. You've never quit.
Don't start now." Vince smiled despite himself. "How are you doing?" "Same as always. Physical therapy twice a week.
Learning to live with what is instead of what was." "I'm sorry for everything." "Don't be. I'm alive because of her. We both are.
So you protect her. You hear me? You do whatever it takes." "I will." "And Vince, tell her thank you from me."
"I will." He hung up. Stood in the darkness for a moment, gathering himself. Ray appeared beside him. "Everyone's in position for tomorrow.
Jake's got access to the hotel security feeds." "Bobby's coordinating the outside perimeter." "Good." "You really think this will work?" "I think it's the best option we have."
Ray was quiet for a moment. "That woman Mrs. Sutton she's got steel in her." "She does." "Reminds me of my grandmother. Looked like she couldn't hurt a fly."
"But she once chased a burglar out of her house with a rolling pin." Vince chuckled. "Sounds about right." They stood together. Two men who'd seen too much.
Done too much. But still believed in something bigger than themselves. "Get some sleep." Vince said. "Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
"You too, boss." But neither of them slept much that night. Morning came too fast. 6:30. The clubhouse stirred.
Coffee brewing. Engines warming up. Loretta and Evelyn emerged from their room. Both dressed simply. Jeans.
Blouses. Nothing flashy. Nothing that would draw attention. Loretta had pulled her hair back. Evelyn wore hers down.
They looked like a mother and daughter going out for breakfast. Which in a way they were. Vince met them in the main room. "You ready?" Loretta nodded.
"As ready as we'll ever be." He handed them each a small device. Earpieces. "We'll be able to hear everything. If you need us, just say the word coffee twice and we'll move immediately."
Evelyn tucked the earpiece into her ear. Adjusted it until it was comfortable. "Ray and Bobby will already be in the hotel." Vince continued. "Ray's in the restaurant.
Bobby's in the lobby reading a newspaper." "Jake is watching the security feeds from here. I'll be outside with the rest of the crew." "Ready to move on a moment's notice." He looked them both in the eyes.