“The club’s under threat. Donovan Harris has tipped his fucking hand in the biggest motherfuckin’ way. I can’t risk the lives of our men to clean up my mistakes, but if we go now, we might be able to cut them off before they can do real damage to this club. To this town. To our women and our children. What they did, taking my woman, is a declaration of war. They want war. We’ll give it to them. We haven’t gone on a ride like this in a long time, some of the guys never,” I look at my VP, this is a first for us. Our club has ruled Helena and now it’s time to fight for our birthright.
My voice is calm and controlled as I give the order. “We’re going into lockdown. I want all the families here, the prospects can guard the place, maybe Gun or Pops can stay too just in case things kick off here.”
Edge’s brow lifts. “You think we’re walking into a trap?”
“I know it. Let the men know that too. I want to wait and get a better fucking plan together, but that just gives them time to come back at us. They have my woman, so that means I’m out of options.”
Something flashes in Edge’s eyes and damn me, that blaze of loyalty and love hits me square in the chest. “They’ll ride with you.”
“We’ll show them that we’re a force to be reckoned with.”
Edge walks up and claps a heavy, ringed hand on my shoulder. “You’re not gonna lose her, brother. We’ll get her back, I promise.”
“Call Wolf. It’s been a long fucking time since we went down to the basement, but I want every single man riding out with us armed up and ready. Semis, subs, I don’t fucking care.”
“How we doing this? Bikes or cages?” Edge asks.
I think for a moment. “Three vans with six men in each. The rest on bikes, we need options.”
“And Harley?”
Something in Edge’s tone bursts me out of the murderous rage brewing inside of me. I picture my daughter coming home without a father. Picture her growing up into the beautiful woman she’s already becoming without me, having babies without me, getting married to some asshole I can’t hate because I won’t be there. It’s strange, thinking that shit could all be over, knowing it’s likely coming, but having to do it anyway. The thing is, even if my life is over, I’m going to give it for Leah. She says that I saved her up on that tower a few years back, but she’s saved me every single day since.
My brothers are my family, and Harley is my daughter. My kid. I never thought I would know loyalty and love like that, but I never thought I’d have the love of a woman either and give that love in return. Leah breathed life back into my tired, worn out lungs. She made me believe in the goodness in there.
I am gonna set her free, even if it costs me my life.
I turn to Edge. “I don’t have my shit in order. Never thought I’d go down like this, so soon, you feel me? I should have, but that will’s nearly ten years old. Did it when we started all of this. If anything happens to me, you look out for Harley, okay?”
“Nothing’s gonna happen to you,” Edge says harshly. His eyes burn with sincerity. “We’re gonna get your woman. We’re gonna kill our enemies and bathe in their fucking blood because it’s them or us. And then I’m gonna slay Leah’s fucking father because you can’t take him out. Even if she hates the asshole, that kind of shit just ain’t right. I swear to you, we’re gonna make it out. So is every single one of our men.”
“Do we have vests?”
“Yep. Got ‘em a few years back when things were kicking off with the Ragers. To be honest I thought it was a waste of fucking money at the time.”
“I want everyone wearing one. I don’t want anyone to have to die for me tonight, even if they would. You feel me?”
“I feel you. If you want to go in first, then you can be my guest. I’ll let you shoot first and not ask questions.”
Despite everything—my rage, the fear, thoughts of my daughter growing up without a father twisting at my guts, leaving this club without a leader, having to go into enemy territory and shed the blood of men who want us dead, having to spill rivers and rivers of red again— Edge brings me back.
For a second, I actually feel like we are gonna come out on top of this and I have to cling to that kernel of hope because it is the only motherfucking lifeline that I have.
“I’m not dying tonight,” I say with a grumble, looking Edge straight in the eye. “You’re my second in command, and there is no fucking way I’m leaving this place to your shit rule.”
Edge grins. “That’s a promise I’m gonna hold you to, brother. Now, let’s fucking gear up and move out.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Leah
My throat feels dry. It aches like I am fevered and sick. The rest of my body hurts too. There is a strange pressure on my chest, and my legs feel like they are on fire. My brain feels sluggish, slow in sending commands to my heavy-lidded eyes.
When I finally pry my eyes open, I have to blink against the darkness. It coats the strange room like fog.
The first thing I hear is my father’s voice. He’s speaking in hushed tones to someone, but I know I’m not in the house.
It all comes back to me. My father. That man. Running. Being tackled to the ground.
