My eyes traced the lines of her face, the way her brow furrowed slightly even in sleep, like her mind was never truly at rest. I swallowed hard, leaving her behind, praying she’d understand why.
One last look, then I turned away, the door clicking softly shut behind me.
The roar of engines shattered the night as we gathered in the garage. I stood in the centre, scanning the brothers—Riot, Keno, Link, and every other man I trusted with my life.
The Fangs had made their move, thinking they could break us, kidnapping Lucy, taunting me with that damn patch nailed to the wall. They thought I would buckle and work for them. But all they’d done was light a fire that wasn’t going out.
I clipped my knife back onto my belt, its weight grounding me. Gage was dead, and Bishop was gone, traitors slipping through our fingers and feeding the enemy. We had to move fast, hard, and together.
Riot stepped up. “We hit their place. No mercy. No mistakes.”
Link nodded beside him, already running through plans and backup.
I met their eyes. “Lucy’s counting on us. Every brother here knows what’s at stake. We got her home. Now, we make damn sure the Fangs remember who owns this town.”
The brothers roared in agreement, filling me with pride. Engines revved louder, brothers mounting their bikes. I swung my leg over mine, feeling the hum beneath me, allowing it to settle my nerves.
The night air bit cold as the bikes tore out of the garage, headlights slicing through the darkness. The rumble was deafening, a chorus of iron and leather fuelled by fury and resolve.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, gripping the handlebars tighter. Every mile we rode, I burned with the need to see her again. But would she want to be with me after I left her behind?
I pushed that thought down. There was no room for doubt, only the road ahead.
The night swallowed us whole, the roar of engines carving through the silence as we closed the distance. I kept my eyes sharp, scanning the shadows that stretched beyond the headlights, waiting for any sign of the Fangs.
The closer we got, the thicker the air felt. Like the whole world was holding its breath.
Ahead, the faint outline of the compound emerged, cold metal and harsh lights slicing through the darkness. We slowed, slipping off the bikes, weapons ready. It was the moment we’d been preparing for.
The air tasted thick with smoke and anger as we rolled up to the Fangs’ hideout. Betrayal wasn’t just an insult, it was a death sentence. The Fangs thought they could steal ground, snatch Lucy, and walk away untouched. They were dead wrong.
We moved like shadows. It was more than a fight, it was a message. My voice was cold steel as I addressed the gathered club. “They crossed a line. They betrayed us. Tonight, we make them pay.”
The first door was locked, but Riot’s nimble fingers had it open before I could count to ten. Inside, shadows flickered, figures scrambling, caught off guard. We moved like thunder, swift and overwhelming. A shout, Fangs trying to regroup, broke through the chaos, but our presence was a hammer blow. Every strike was precise, a reminder, loyalty is everything.
The Fangs scattered, chaos rippling through their ranks like wildfire. Tonight, they remembered who ruled these streets. I wasn’t finished, not yet. I would take every one of those bastards down.
By the time the compound lay quiet, we gathered on the cracked asphalt. Victory tasted bitter, because even in triumph, there was loss. I scanned the faces of my brothers, some fierce, some haunted, all changed. Lucy was safe, but the scars ran deep. The club had struck back hard, but the war wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Guilt clawed at me again, leaving Lucy behind to keep her safe, knowing she’d hate me for it. But it was the only way. The only way I could protect her and protect what was left of us.
Riot clapped me on the shoulder and said, “We made a statement. Now we hold the line.”
I nodded, eyes drifting back to the shadows where the Fangs had fled. They’d regroup, they’d strike again. But we were ready. Because it was more than a fight for turf, it was about family. And family never backs down.
Chapter 43
Lucy
Aletter had been left on my pillow.
Lucy,
If you’re reading this, I’ve already fucked up. I left you behind. Doesn’t matter why, it looks like I used you last night and then walked away. But I didn’t.
I failed Caleb. I wasn’t there when it counted. I can’t let that happen with you.
You’re the only thing I’ve got left to protect. That’s why I left you. Not because I think you’re weak, but because I need you alive when I come back.
