“Fuck!” I cursed.
“I think someone tipped them off.”
I sat up, one boot on my foot, the other still lying on its side on the floor. “Why do you think that?”
“I got a text on Steele’s phone a few minutes after we walked into the clubhouse.”
Son of a bitch!“What did it say?”
“Traitor,” Zombie repeated. “They know Steele’s dead. Someone in your house tipped him off.”
I stood up and grabbed my shirt, pulling it over my head as I thought about my conversation with Nav. “It wasn’t Freeway; he’s been locked up since I called Steele and told him to come up here.” Which meant it was someone else. Either one of my men, or maybe the rich fucking backer Skinner had.
“Thanks for letting me know. Watch your back, brother.”
I disconnected the call and looked up to find Grace standing in the doorway to the bathroom, her body trembling.
“It’s not over, is it?”
“No, baby. But I promise you’ll be safe. Please don’t leave. I can’t keep you safe out there.” I didn’t move closer. No matter how much I wanted to hold her, kiss her. I had to wait for her to come to me.
“Are you hungry?”
She nodded. “I’m not ready to go downstairs. Not yet.”
“You don’t have to, baby. I’ll have one of the girls bring you some food.”
“How is Jackson?”
“He’ll be okay. You saved his life, Grace. Karlyn and I didn’t know anything about that shit with the mud. Patch said if you hadn’t done that, he’d have bled to death before we got him home.”
“And Karlyn?”
“She hasn’t left his side. But I can ask her to come up if you want.”
She shook her head and climbed back into bed. I walked over to the far side and placed a knee onto the mattress. “I have to go talk to the guys. But I’ll send one of the girls up with some food.” I kissed the top of her head and walked to the door.
“King,” she called out. I looked over my shoulder and waited for her to say something I might not want to hear. “I’ll try. It’sall I can give you right now. I’m too scared to go outside, to even leave this room right now, but I can promise to try.”
“That’s all I need, baby.”
I closed the door softly behind me as I stepped into the hallway. I leaned against the wall and pinched the bridge of my nose to stave off the tears that threatened to fall. My girl was broken and I had no fucking idea how to help her heal.
I stopped in the kitchen and asked Kytten to bring some food up to Grace and to stay with her as long as she’d let her. If anyone could help Grace, I felt like Kytten would be the one.
“Cash, round up the officers.” My phone started ringing again, and I groaned. I held up my finger and answered the unknown number.
“Hello?”
“King, this is James Doherty. You have a minute to talk?” For a moment I couldn’t answer. Nav had told me the man was alive, but hearing his voice was still a jolt. Once the shock wore off, I said, “One minute.”
I covered the mouthpiece and whispered to Cash, “James Doherty.” His eyes went wide. James Doherty haddiedmore than a decade ago. “Get the officers together, and Sypher. No one else. I’ll be in after I’m done.”
I ran to my office and closed the door. Sitting down behind my desk, I took a deep breath and put the phone back to my ear.
“What can I do for you?”
“This war you’re involved in—”
