“I get it, Zodiac. I’ll be around the club more.”
“Good. Both of you need to figure your shit out. I’m tired of people putting the club second. Until we get shit squared away with the Artillery and the targets are off our backs, I don’t want anyone leaving the clubhouse.”
“Are you putting us on lockdown?” I questioned.
Zodiac nodded. “For now.”
Fuck. Ruby isn’t going to like this.
“When’s the band getting here?” he asked, turning his attention to me.
“In a few days. Friday, I believe.”
Even though I was away from the club, I was still handling club business the best I could. That included keeping in dailycontact with Grief’s Conviction’s manager and planning out their visit.
“They want Bull to run point.”
Bull groaned. “Why me?”
“You know why,” I countered.
Bull threw his hands up. “The woman is a glutton for punishment. Why does she hate me?”
“It sounds to me like there’s still something there, Bull. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be requesting you.”
The way his eyes burned with unbridled rage was alarming. “There’s nothing there!” he boomed. “Never was. Never will be.”
Then he stormed out, leaving the rest of us stunned.
Leo took a swig from his beer and grinned. “We’re dropping like flies around here.”
Zodiac pointed a finger at him. “You need to get your shit together too, Leo. This whole bitter, alcoholic phase needs to end.”
“What phase, Zodiac? This is life.” He punctuated that sentence by downing the rest of his beer, then grabbed his crutches, struggling to get to his feet.
“You know, if you actually let someone fucking help you, Leo, maybe your life would be something other than booty and booze,” Archer challenged him.
“You can’t help the broken,” Leo grumbled, hobbling out of the room.
Damn, he was going to fucking hate me when Knight got here.
Zodiac ran a frustrated hand through his hair before scrubbing it over his beard. “Before the rest of you decide to run off too, I’m just gonna say one last thing. We started this club as a sanctuary for men who have a love of motorcycles and were seeking out brotherhood. The Hell’s Artillery is trying to fracture that and doing a damn good job of it. We all need a break, butuntil we know the threat is secured, I need you all to back me up here. Keep your eyes open and ears to the ground. The Artillery is planning something, but when and where they strike, we don’t know yet. It’s going to take all of us sticking together to protect the club. So no more of this vigilante bullshit. The club comes first, and if it doesn’t, then maybe you should re-evaluate your status in this club. Meeting adjourned.”
Chapter Fourteen
When Cap came out of their meeting room, he looked upset. I could immediately tell whatever happened in there wasn’t good.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him, noticing the conflicted look in his eyes.
“Zodiac has ordered a lockdown.”
I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“It means that I’m not allowed to leave the club for a while.”
“Oh…” I stated, knowing he was expecting me to stay too.
“I can’t force you to stay with me, Ruby, but I’m urging you to do so. You’re just starting to come out of your shell, and I don’t want you retreating just because I’m stuck at the club.”
