If there’s anything worse than the miles stretching between me and home right now, it’s this hellish gridlock keeping me stuck in one place with nothing but my own thoughts for company. Atlanta traffic on any given day is backed up, but on Fridays, you can kiss your evening goodbye. It feels like the universe is taunting me, delaying what I know will be a confrontation with Ember. I don’t understand why she’s completely shutting me out, why she’s giving up on us without talking to me.
As I finally pull onto our street, my chest tightens, unsettling me as if something bad is about to happen. And then I see it. A “For Sale” sign planted squarely on the lawn, standing like a final blow in a long series of hits that have unraveled my life. My mind struggles to process as I throw the car into park, staring at the sign, the house, and having this overwhelming feeling of emptiness. The warmth we’d built here is gone, just like Ember.
Stepping out of the car, I trudge up the stairs, each step dragging under the weight of the memories this place holds… Ember’s laughter in the kitchen, our late-night talks on the porch, and all the plans we made for a future that now feels like nothing more than an illusion. Legally she doesn’t need mypermission to put our house on the market since her name’s on the deed. But I thought I’d at least have a say in the decision.
Frustration cuts through the sadness, sharp and unyielding. Pulling out my phone, I call Elijah, knowing there’s no chance Ember will pick up.
After a few rings he finally picks up. “Elijah, tell me where she is, now!” I demand, doing my best to dial back the anger in my voice.
There’s a pause on the other end before he responds and he’s lucky he isn’t standing in front of me.
“Mav, I know you’re upset, but that’s not happening.”
“That ain’t up to you old man,” I bite back, my voice tight. “I need to talk to my wife and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“I get you’re upset, but you need to check that tone or Ember won’t be the only problem you have,” he states with an edge to his voice. “My loyalty is to my daughter. She asked for space and I’m gonna make sure she gets it.”
“If you hadn’t…,” I start to fire back, but he cuts me off.
“No, Mav. If you hadn’t lied, you wouldn’t be dealing with this. I trusted you to protect her and you chose to fall in love with her. This is all on you.”
His words slice through me, the truth unavoidable. He’s right. I let my own selfishness lead me down this path and it’s brought Ember nothing but pain. Suddenly I feel the full weight of it, exhaustion settling over me.
“Fine,” I murmur, my anger dissolving into resignation. “Just… tell her I need to talk to her. Please.”
“I’ll tell her,” Elijah replies, his voice softening. “But the decision is hers and hers alone.”
He ends the call and the silence that follows leaves a hollow ache in my chest. How did we get here? How did we come to a place where she won’t even speak to me, as if everything we shared meant nothing? If she would just give me a moment toexplain, maybe she can find it in her heart to forgive me. Even if she still wants the divorce, I could accept it as long as she knows that everything I did was because I love her and truly believed I was protecting her in the only way I knew how.
As I head toward my car, my phone vibrates in my pocket. For a split second, I’m hoping it’s Ember, finally willing to talk. But when I glance at the screen, it’s Jameson, calling earlier than planned and the hairs on the back of my neck, stand up. Jameson’s voice cuts through the line, tense and urgent.
“Mav, listen up. We’ve got a big problem. The mules are heading to the abandonedHulsey Yardnear theAtlanta Beltlinefor the meetup, but I got some intel that they’re walking into an ambush and I haven’t been able to reach any of them. Word is, they’re gonna kill them and take the drugs.”
“How many perps are we looking at?” I inquire, as my grip tightens on the phone, my adrenaline spiking.
“Not sure, but it sounds like maybe ten or more and they’re packing a lot of heat,” he replies. “You and the rest of the Bastards need to get there fast and handle this shit quickly. He’ll be there in about an hour.”
“Got it. We’ll be on our way,” I respond, already getting in my car, tearing out of the driveway. Anyone who messes with Royal Bastards’ business better be ready for a fight they won’t win, and I’m just pissed off enough to roll some heads tonight.
“And, Mav? I need you to send a clear message to these assholes not to fuck with my operation again or the consequences will be worse than anything they can ever imagine.”
“I’ll make sure they get the message and then some,” I say before he hangs up. I immediately dial Steel, telling him to gather everyone and have them ready to roll when I get there. “Pack the van heavy. No chances tonight,” I add, my voice sharp letting him know that this is not a drill. After what happenedto Renegade, we can’t afford anyone getting hurt and the mules have to make it through in one piece. If things go sideways, Jameson will bring down hell on Atlanta, taking out everyone involved. We’d end up in his crosshairs too and I’m in no mood to deal with that shit.
Parking a quarter mile down the road, we move in low through the shadows of the train yard, careful not to make any noise. Ahead, three of our mules are down on their knees, guns pointed at the backs of their heads. In the dim lighting, it’s hard to make out who’s holding them hostage, but these fuckers must have a death wish to mess with Jameson’s operation. Two of them circle the mules like vultures, snarling threats about other mules and drop times. Wanting to know the other meet up locations and who’s in charge of distribution. Five other men, stand a few feet away, keeping watch of the surrounding area.
“You think we’re playin’ around?” the one I assume is the leader, snarls, pressing his gun against a mule’s chin. “One word from me, and your families disappear. Where are the other mules?” He demands, but our guy remains quiet, refusing to break.
I signal to my men to spread out and stay sharp. They nod, fingers steady on their weapons, waiting for my command tomove in. The tension is heavy in the cool evening air, fueling my need for a swift, brutal end to this mess. Locking eyes with Steel, I point toward the guy issuing threats, silently telling him to take him down first. Within seconds, gunfire splits the night, the sound echoing off metal containers and concrete, igniting chaos. The mules drop to the ground, scrambling for cover as bullets start flying.
The assholes whip around, guns drawn, firing back. Sparks fly off steel containers as I charge forward, leading my men into the fray. Today’s been hell and right now, this fight is exactly what I need to channel my anger. My priority is to eliminate the immediate threat and secure our people. Ducking behind a stack of pallets, I return fire, my aim steady, taking out three of them as I advance.
Steel and Vandal fan out, taking cover a few yards away, picking off more of the gang. That’s my chance to reach the mules and secure them. But just for a moment, my mind strays… to Ember. Thoughts of her flood in, dredging up an ache I’ve tried to shake. This isn’t the time to be distracted, but damn if I don’t feel the weight of losing her and the love I drove away by hiding my real life from the one person I should’ve trusted with everything.
It all happens so fast. Bullets whiz by as pain explodes in my side, ripping through me. The impact forcing me back against a stack of crates. I’d almost reached the mules, when Steel’s shouts snap me out of it, urging me to fall back. The shooter is in my line of sight, but before I can take aim, he fires again, the bullet just missing me as Steel takes him out. The adrenaline pumping through my veins dulls the edge of the pain but this shit burns like a motherfucker. Pressing my hand into my side, the warmth of my blood seeps through my fingers, and I realize this is bad… real fucking bad.
“Keep pushing!” I order, needing my men to keep the pressure on instead of stopping to help me. Vandal covers the last few feet, hustling the mules to safety.
Lone Wolf’s voice breaks through the haze. “Mav! You good?”
