“Raven will fall in line if she has to,” Nero says, an amused half smile on his lips despite the seriousness of the conversation.
“You can be the one to tell her then.”
Raven will listen to him over her brother, even if she doesn’t like it.
“I’ve told Fury and Stryker to take him to the warehouse when they find him,” Nero says. “It doesn’t take all of us to question him. I’m going to call Razer, I want the council all here for this. Nashville, sort out some guys to go down there and take his place, people Storm won’t recognize. I don’t like all these new players coming out of the woodwork. We need to find out everything we can and fast.”
I move away to make the calls, keeping an eye on Charley the whole time. She has a coffee and is chatting with Lily, both of them looking anxious but now and then she seeks me out and that anxiety lessens just a little when our eyes meet.
Nero is right about the people we care about being targets. It might not have been as obvious with Sheridan because she was never a major part of Nero’s life, but their son is. And Storm knows how important Ellie is to the Disciples and the things she has done for the club. She can get even the strongest of men to break down and feed her information and has done numerous times in the past.
It’s worrying that Storm made a play to take her out of things. We have at least one advantage now. This Kivisto guy was not meant to be seen.The way he attacked Ellie, his plan was that she was supposed to be found after he got out.
It was only that Charley saw him and stopped him part way through that we know someone from their family is in Baltimore.
I was scared as fuck when I saw her go after him in that video but looking at her now, I see the strength in her.
She is so fucking scared of what happened with her family she doesn’t realize how strong she is. I’m going to make sure that is all she sees from now on.
We finally have something that Storm is not aware we know. We have to figure out how to make this turn to our advantage. I’m not sure how, but finding the bastard who tried to kill Ellie is our first move.
Beast is leaning against the wall staring at nothing. Grabbing two coffees I go over and stand beside him, handing one to him. He takes it but doesn’t say anything.
“She’s gonna pull through.”
He’s quiet for a long time, then looks at me. “You didn’t see what he did to her.”
“Ellie won’t go out like this, Derek.”
He shakes his head slowly, not that he is disagreeing, He’s just finding it hard to believe.
“You and Charley,” he says after a while and a few sips of the coffee. “Should have seen that coming.”
“Yeah? How’s that?”
“You couldn’t take your eyes off her. Every time she smashed the shit out of more of my glassware and expensive champagne bottles, you didn’t think it was amusing or get angry, you thought it was fucking endearing.”
“I thought I had a better poker face than that.”
“Women can make us stupid, Callum. Showing that you care is what can get them hurt.”
Well, if that isn’t a telling fucking statement, and not about me and Charley. I don’t agree with him. I don’t think we should sacrifice our happiness and be afraid of what might happen, when we can be happy and be there and protect them.
“No, they make us stronger. When you find the right one.”
“Now you sound like Nero,” he scoffs, but he looks away.
If I was going to bring it up, now would probably be the time, but it's not my business to step into whatever is going on between him and Ellie.
As long as Ellie does what we all need her to do. And I’m really beginning to worry that hoping and praying is not going to get her through this.
I slap Beast’s shoulder then head over to Charley and sit down. She reaches for my hand. Beast really is wrong. Nothing could make me feel stronger than having this woman at my side.
I just hope he gets the chance to experience it too.
Epilogue
Rebel
