“On my way back.”
“Good,” she says.
I don’t argue.I just end the call and throw my leg over my bike and gun the engine.Thoughts swirl in my mind as I navigate the streets of Las Vegas without thinking about it, my muscle memory kicking in.
Before I even realize it I am back at the compound, and the atmosphere has shifted completely.This isn’t tension.This is readiness.Men don’t wait for orders.They assume them.
I call everyone in for a meeting to update them.No exceptions.
Raven stands at the back when the room fills.Not hidden, not centered, but exactly where she needs to be.
“They’ve crossed the line,” Fury says before I speak.
“Yes,” I agree.
Saint watches me closely.“This changes the rules.”
“It changes our priorities,” I correct.I turn so the room can see my face.“They hit Cherry,” I say.“She’s alive but they did that on purpose.”
The room goes lethal-quiet.“They’re not testing our territory,” I continue.“They’re testing us.”
Eyes flick to Raven and I don’t stop it.
“They want a reaction from us.They’re expecting us to go in guns blazing and set the damn city on fire,” I say.“But we won’t give them chaos.We’re going to give them inevitability.”
Raven steps forward then.“You don’t respond fast or out of anger,” she says calmly, “you are going to respondcorrectlyand with intent.”
Saint nods slowly.
Fury exhales through his teeth.“I want names.”
“And you’ll get them,” Raven replies.“After we remove their insulation.”
I watch the club absorb her presence.There is no resistance, no murmurs about what gives her the right to speak, just acceptance.
There are some more questions about Cherry, men making plans to bring in families and club friends to keep them safe, and just general planning.The meeting breaks and everyone moves to do what needs to be done to protect us and those we care for.
I pull Raven aside before she can disappear into whatever it is she will be doing.
“They’re moving closer,” I tell her.
“Yes,” she replies.“Which means we’re doing damage.”
“They hit Cherry because they can’t touch you.”
She meets my gaze.“They’ll try harder.They won’t just give up.”
“Or they’ll try smarter,” I counter.
“That too.”
I hesitate.“I should have pushed harder earlier,” I admit.
She studies me.“You made the best call with the information you had.”
“That’s not an excuse.”
“No,” she agrees.“It’s reality.”
