"That's what I'm afraid of.What you'll have to do.What it'll cost you."
"Already paid the price last night.What's a little more?"
"Your soul, maybe."
The words hit harder than I expect.Because she's right.Every act of violence, every body, every choice, they all take pieces of who you are.Eventually, there might not be enough left to recognize.
"My soul's been damned for a long time," I tell her."But you?Those kids?You're worth whatever hell I have to walk through."
Tears well in her eyes."I don't want you to be damned for me."
"Too late.Already am."
I lean forward, pressing my forehead against hers.Breathing her in.Alive.Safe.Mine.
"Sleep," I tell her."I'll be here when you wake up."
"Promise?"
"Always."
Her eyes drift closed, trusting me to keep watch.To keep her safe.
And I will.For as long as I live, I'll protect this family we're building from the ashes of everything we've lost.
* * *
Ghost leaves for the meet at two in the afternoon.He takes Savage, Renegade, Ruin, and Venom with him.He also agreed to Sniper's request of having Onyx and Inferno go ahead earlier and bug the meeting place.
Rogue, Tempest, Sniper, and I stay at the clubhouse, making sure that our families are safe.
The conversation comes through the mics crystal clear.
"Appreciate you meeting with me," Ghost says.
"Didn't have much choice."The Shadow Hawks' president sounds tired.Resigned."You took out our Boston chapter, now three of my men are dead.I need to know if this is the start of something or the end."
"That depends on you.Were they acting under your orders?"
"No.Ethan Morrison paid them directly.Hired muscle for his personal vendetta.I didn't know what they were doing until it was done."
"And now?"
"Now they're dead, Morrison's dead, and I've got members asking if we're going to war with the Saints over this."
"Are you?"
A long pause."No.Morrison brought this on himself.My men made a choice to work for him.They paid for it.I'm not throwing good lives after bad."
"Smart."
"Survival.The Saints have been around longer than most clubs.You've got resources, connections, territory.We'd lose more than we'd gain trying to take you on."
"So we walk away?Both of us?"
"We walk away.But I need something from you first."
"What's that?"
