Guns and Mirrors

FORTY-NINE

♕Harley Anderson♕

Danté shakes his head, looking down at the ground in frustration. I sigh, noticing his worry and frustration.

"You're not mad I want to help, are you?" I question him and he looks up at me so quickly, I would think he snapped his neck.

"No, I'm just ecstatic." He replies sarcastically. I frown to myself, crossing my arms over my chest in defense.

"They've done a lot for us Danté." I whisper feverishly. "The least I can do is help them. If I didn't agree to go get Ariela back with Lina, chances are that I was gonna have to go to the Slithers and help them cease control from the gang's house anyway. It was a dead end. Lina needs everyone else to go to the gang... they're going to need it."

"Do you get it that Jack wants you dead Harley? You're a traitor! He'll see you once and shoot you without a thought!" Danté shouts in a whisper and I know he's more frustrated at the situation than at me. I walk to him, clasping his hands in my own. His chest heaves up and down and I cup his cheek.

"I'll make sure he won't see me." I try to reassure him but not even I can guarantee that. "What are you going to be doing? You're not going with Ray and them to the gang's house right?"

Danté nods his head. "I am. They need as many people if they want to be able to storm the building and take control. We all know Slither members won't hesitate to shoot whoever they can."

"How can you be upset that I'm going to go help Lina when you're walking right into the lion's den huh?" I ask, feeling a little irritated at Danté. I don't try to hide the scowl on my face.

"You shouldn't be getting involved at all. You should be staying here."

"And you must do all the work?" I snap. "I need to help too!"

"And if you need to kill someone, then what huh?" Danté states bluntly. "Are you going to do it?"

Looking him dead in the eye, I say: "No. Which is exactly why I'll make sure it doesn't go there."

Danté shakes his head, looking down at me with a locked jaw. "You're relying too much on luck and hope Harley."

"It's what I've relied on for my whole life and I'm still alright. I think I can cope." Comes my snarky remark before I turn on my heel, leaving the garage before I say something I don't want to and don't mean. As much as I hate arguing with Danté, I don't have time to try and sort things out. Right now, I have more important things to do.

Like talking to Katalina and planning how the hell were supposed to get Ariela back.

****

Ramiro stands at the head of the table, silently listening to what Lina says. His hand rests on his jaw while the other is tucked under his arm. Adrianna stands beside me, quietly absorbing Katalina's instructions.

"Jack won't have Ariela outside, she'll be in the warehouse and only after his men have contacted him and let him know that we've given Persephone back at a different location will he give her back. Those are his terms and I'm not keen on trying to negotiate. That means that you and Harley," Katalina looks at Adrianna and I, "need to get into that warehouse and get Ariela as soon as possible. There will be at least two other guys there so you need to knock them out. Quietly. So that Jack thinks I'm alone and he has the upper hand. After that, you get Ariela out of there so I can get rid of Jack."

Looking between Ramiro and Lina, I ask: "Don't you think Bruno should be with us? You don't know how easy or hard it will be to get rid of Jack."

Lina shakes her head. "No, Bruno needs to be with everyone else. If there's going to be a bloodbath, it sure as hell is not going to be King's blood. I can handle myself." Her tone leaves no room for negotiation and I don't bother to try persuade her into thinking a little more logically. Ramiro seems to find no problem with the plan and so I'm led to believe it makes sense. I'm not aware of what is planned for everyone going to the gang's house so I can't exactly argue.