CHAPTER1
THUNDER
Mustang Mountain had beenthrough a lot in the past few months, but the hits just kept coming. I looked around the room at my fellow Mustang Mountain Riders. We’d gathered this afternoon, so Atlas, the MC President, and I could update everyone on what the hell had been going on.
Atlas stepped into the room and headed toward me. “You ready to get started?”
“Just say the word.” He looked tired. We’d all been burning the candle at both ends and in the middle, trying to stay a few steps ahead of the Savage Bones.
“Let’s go.”
I pushed off from the bar and followed him into the conference room where we conducted club business. A few of the guys had already taken their spots around the huge table. I nodded at Jackson and Dean, then stopped to shake hands with Six and Bear as I rounded the table and took my spot next to Atlas.
The rest of the guys filtered into the room. Conversations came to an end and smiles were replaced with furrowed brows and frowns. My game face slid into place. That’s what my brother Lightning used to call it when I gritted my teeth and got myself psyched up for battle. Back then, I waged war in football stadiums and left the fight on the field. Now the battle was taking place way too close to home. It was time to put an end to the opposition.
Atlas started by summarizing everything that had been happening around Mustang Mountain since the first of the year. From Six coming across a woman fleeing the Savage Bones through the woods on New Year’s Day to Stone finding out Sheriff Cade had turned and was now working against us, we’d been up to our armpits in trying to protect our town from those bastards.
“Thunder, you want to tell them the plan?” Atlas leaned back in his chair as he turned the floor over to me. As the Vice President of the club, he’d asked me to come up with a strategy that would shut the Savage Bones down for good.
I was used to rallying my teammates and getting them hyped up before a big game. Being part of an MC wasn’t much different from being part of a professional sports team, except I’d never had to look my teammates in the eye and know they were actually putting their lives on the line.
“We’re all aware of the tactics Savage Bones is using to try to take over our town. They play dirty and don’t have the same respect for the land or the lives of the people who make Mustang Mountain their home.” I scanned the faces of my MC brothers. A few of them had already been injured while fending off the Savage Bones. “When you joined this club, you swore an oath to protect our mountain. None of us expected that would mean risking our lives.”
A couple of guys nodded. Though we put ourselves in danger when it came to helping with the women’s shelter or occasionally teaching some lowlife to pick on someone his own size, we were a relatively peaceful bunch.
“If any of you feel like you’re in over your heads, now’s the time to speak up. You can turn in your cut and be free to go.” I paused, waiting to see if anyone would take us up on the offer.
Atlas had confided that he expected at least one or two of our older members to walk away. I disagreed. All of us had something to lose if the Savage Bones took control. The men in our MC weren’t the type to start a fight, but they also weren’t the type to walk away when one landed on their doorstep.
“No one’s leaving, brother.” Priest pounded his fist on the table then held it to his heart. “I’ll defend my home and all of yours,”—Priest looked around the table and made brief eye contact with each of the men—“until my dying breath.”
“To Mustang Mountain,” a chorus of voices chanted. Everyone copied Priest and beat their fists against their chests.
I offered Atlas a knowing grin. “Looks like we’re all committed to seeing this through. The sheriff’s office has been compromised, so we’re on our own. We’ll use the clubhouse as headquarters, and I’m going to need a few men posted here around the clock. The rest of you will take shifts. I’ve broken the area into ten different zones, and we’ll need at least one man on patrol in each zone at all times. Thanks to Stone we know the Savage Bones have been trying to set up some meth houses in the area. If you see anything suspicious, let one of the officers know and we’ll get a team to check it out.”
The men listened while I outlined the rest of the plan. Anyone with family was encouraged to move them onto clubhouse property where they would be secure. There were still a few weeks before summer vacation, so we’d have a guy posted at each school in the area during the day.
I made sure to put myself on the schedule for a daytime shift downtown. That would let me keep an eye on the curvy blonde I hadn’t been able to get out of my head for the past couple of months. Ashley had been roommates with Priest’s girl Rae before he locked that relationship down. I knew better than to get involved with a woman half my age, but it hadn’t stopped me from checking in on her at the café where she served lunch most days. The meatloaf was good, but it was her smile that kept me coming back.
“Sounds like you’ve got everything under control.” Atlas pushed back from the table and stood.
I was about to tell him we were only getting started when the door to the conference room flew open.
Ashley stood in the doorway, her eyes wide. “I need help.”
My heart catapulted into my throat as I covered the distance between us in a few long strides. Her hands were stained with blood. My gaze scanned over her, trying to figure out where she’d been injured. If those bastards had touched a single hair on her gorgeous head, they’d have to deal with me.
“Are you hurt?” I rushed to her side and tried to find the source of the blood.
She tilted her head back and gazed up at me through glassy eyes. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
“You’re safe here.” I put my arm around her shoulder and led her toward the kitchen. She didn’t appear to be actively bleeding, though until I got her cleaned up a little, I wouldn’t know for sure.
Priest appeared at my side. “What the hell’s going on?”
“I’m not sure yet. Can you grab a few damp paper towels?” I nodded toward the sink as I got Ashley settled into a chair at the table.
The other guys gave us plenty of space. We were used to staying out of each other’s way when shit went down at the clubhouse.
