“But they knew it was him. Our club. Right?”
“They did,” Bulldog confirmed. “And so we went to war.”
This happened before I patched in, and Void had been a little kid. We didn’t know about this. Diesel had to be in elementary school back then. None of us knew how we’d eventually end up together.
“We thought we took them all out. The war lasted months. Death and bloodshed on both sides. Bulldog refused to stop until he sent them all to hell.”
“He freed the other women, didn’t he?” I asked in the quiet that followed.
“On the spot. He used to get postcards from some of them. No return address. No messages. Just places they were visiting. The lives they got to live because of him.”
“Oh, God. They’re still in his office.” Becca’s hand hovered above her mouth. “I asked him once, and he said they represented freedom. I never understood until now.”
“It’s been years, but sometimes, they still arrive at the clubhouse. I have a drawer where I keep them. They should be stored with the others in Bulldog’s study.”
“I’ll take them there,” Becca promised.
“I know you will,” Hades confirmed. “You should know he never once regretted bringing you home. Told me more times than I can count. He took one look at you in his arms, and that was it. Said your soul stared back at him when you locked eyes, and honest to fucking god, he cried as he showed you to me.” Hades’ voice broke, and he paused. “Only saw that shit twice. The day he found you, baby girl, and the day he left you.”
Becca was crying so hard her whole body shook. She sucked in a breath as she sobbed, not bothering to wipe away the tears. I moved without thinking, dropping to my knees beside her. My hand rested on her knee.
Void held her hand, clutching it against his chest. Diesel held the phone, but his gaze was focused on Becca, tortured by her cries.
When she calmed, she sniffled, and Void handed her a box of tissues. “If someone tried to kill us, then they’re back to finish the job. Is that what you think, Hades?”
“Yeah. I do.”
“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Diesel agreed.
“No other enemies that I know of,” Void added.
“Tell me about this safe house,” Hades ordered. “Can they find you?”
“No.” Void sounded confident.
“Then you keep her there while I deal with this shit and end it.”
“Pres,” I began.
“No, Revenant. I need all three of you there to protect her. I won’t survive it if they take her from me. Those motherfuckers already gunned Bulldog down. They won’t get to Becca.”
How many times had we dealt with these traffickers? Why was it never brought to the table in church?
“Respectfully, Pres, I don’t think you understand. Becca is ours to protect.” Diesel sounded calm as fuck as he contradicted Hades.
“She’s as close as I got to a child. She’s blood to me, Diesel.”
Becca was listening to all of it, drying her tears and blowing her nose. She rose to her feet. “Hades?”
“Yeah?” He sounded gruff, angry, and worried.
“Dad?”
I heard him swallow. “Yeah, baby girl?”
“This is a club decision. It should be brought to church and voted on by all the members. No more vigilante justice, Dad.”
He sighed. “Okay.”
