“They will.” I said. My anger ran deep. I remembered the fear in Savannah’s eyes when she told me about her father’s plans. Mymind drifted to how different things would’ve been if I’d destroyed the Greenbriar pack. I never would’ve met her.
Bronc poured sugar into his cup. “You want to tell me what else is on your mind?”
I shook my head. “Nothing that matters now. So, what’s the timeline, and who’s going?”
He sighed. “It’ll look stronger if we go as a unit.” His gaze met mine, steady and sure. “And we’re gonna make this work, Menace. Just like always.”
I grunted. “Just like always.” The words tasted hollow. The way they dealt with Declan could be the end of us all.
“Leave Savannah and Juliet here,” Bronc said. “I want to know they’re safe.”
“With Arsenal?” I knew his answer but didn’t like it.
“Yes,” he said firmly. “It’s the only way I’ll leave.”
“They won’t be happy.”
“No,” he agreed. “But they’ll be alive.”
I sat back, tension easing but not gone. “Yeah,” I said, thinking of Savannah and the fire in her eyes. She wouldn’t take it well, but I’d convince her. “We leave Skeeter to stew?”
“That’s the plan,” Bronc said. “Rafe wants answers, not a mess. We’ve gotta back-burner that shit. At least he’s in a place where he can’t steal another dime from me.”
I nodded. The world seemed a little darker, but at least it was a world we knew. At least we were in it together.
“How’s Savannah?” Bronc asked, changing the subject.
“Hanging in,” I said, the thought of her lifting some of the weight in my chest. “First day didn’t go as planned.”
Bronc laughed, a real one this time. “How’d she take it?”
“She’s tougher than she looks,” I said, proud of her for the way she’d stood up. “But the principal’s got it in for her.”
“Karen Day,” Bronc muttered. “That woman’s a piece of work. How’d you date that bitch for six months?”
“Shit? Blue balls maybe? Oh, and she calls Juliet the ‘Goddess’,” I told him, my own laugh escaping. “And not in a good way. Like, what the fuck? She’s the best thing to happen to you and this pack.” I meant that too.
He shook his head, disbelief on his face. “We’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Make sure she’s not a problem,” I agreed. “Sounds like more than petty jealousy.”
“Think Savannah will stick it out?” he asked, curious.
“After what she’s been through?” I said, my confidence in her unshakable. “She’ll handle it. That woman has a will of iron.” I really could see it myself.
“Must be nice having that much faith,” Bronc said.
“Nice having something to have faith in,” I replied. Savannah had given me more than I thought possible.
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything settling between us.
“Nothing will happen while we’re gone,” Bronc said, trying to reassure me.
“You sound like you believe that,” I said, dry as sand.
“I do.” He looked at me, his eyes full of conviction.
“I want to,” I said, knowing I couldn’t. Not until we had Declan’s head. But I trusted Bronc more than any other man alive. If he thought we could pull this off, maybe we could. Maybe it wouldn’t be like last time. He also thought Juliet would be safe.
