But by the time we heard? The only thing left was cleanup and maybe collecting evidence—if Hell’s Army had been sloppy enough to leave any. Which I highly doubt.
The Reapers are—were—a bigger club than us, even bigger than the Nomads. That’s why losing their alliance a couple of weeks ago had stung so damn much.
Even though we all knew this kind of retaliation was coming eventually, it doesn’t make a difference. Not when dozens of their women and kids are now missing. Not when we all know exactly what kind of hell that usually means.
I hadn’t expected Wolf and Dad to come tearing through the compound looking like ghosts when the news hit. Hair wild. Faces gray.
It wasn’t until I told them Charlotte was probably in her new room that they finally stopped looking like they were about tolose their damn minds. Wolf, at least. Dad? Dad looked like he was about to break.
He couldn’t find Mama anywhere. Panic written all over his face like he’d just been told the world ended.
So I took a guess. Told him she was probably with Charlotte. It was the safest assumption. One I prayed for. Considering Mama had been the first person I texted that morning after leaving Charlotte alone to explore the space.
She’s also the only one who knows what I’ve been doing. Not everything, but enough pieces of it.
I know I should be thinking about what this attack means for us. How we probably need to recalibrate and adjust our plans with Blaze and Mihai.
But all I can think of—all I’ve been thinking since before the damn sun rose—is Charlotte. The way her body caved inward, shaking with near-violent heaves.
My own damn chest exploded when her arms moved, forming a protective shield around her breasts. My knees almost gave out when her other hand slid between her thighs.
I couldn’t stop the apparition of the younger Charlotte forming right in front of me. My mind was playing tricks, because I was suddenly in the main hall. Where the damn lights were not dim enough to hide the sin I’d committed against her.
My masochistic brain reminded me I was simply recalling that horrifying night. Charlotte was reliving it.
I’m yanked out of my spiraling thoughts when I hear the roar of my Prez.
“Church, now!”
I jump up from the couch in the main hall, but my strides are slow and weary. Brothers zip past me, eager to get an update on whatever the hell is happening. I’m slow enough to finally hear multiple engines rumbling outside.
Finally. Healer walks in first, his face stony yet pale. A grim-looking Hound passes him, gaze locked on his hands as he shoves his gloves off.
Spike, Bulldog, and Scar silently walk in behind them, eyes still carrying whatever dread that place instilled in them. They don’t look up at me. No one utters a word.
I sigh heavily, my eyes squeezing shut.
Church finally commences. All the brothers gathered around. Even prospects. And I know why. We can’t run this in isolation anymore.
The large screen behind Wolf shows a proprietary chat thread. And I instantly know Bug is probably connected too.
Wolf quickly explains exactly how we plan to align our forces with the Nomads and Mihai’s men. He’s been busy this past week, coordinating with him and his men.
I’ve barely even seen him. From what I know, he’s been building a secondary and an additional two backup armories in the compound that no one knows about except for me.
Then he says something shocking.
“Mihai Rosca wants us to beef up our numbers. Slowly… discreetly. Blaze already agreed yesterday, and Nomads are already up by three of Mihai’s men.”
A wave of apprehension rolls in. With an all-out war with the Hell’s Army, this is asking too much from the brothers. Trusting the Roscas will not be easy—if not impossible.
Considering they could easily infect our clubs with this excuse of war.
Wolf sighs. “I know it’s asking a lot, but… I don’t see another way out of this. Our club could be next, and… we’re not prepared. Not yet.”
“Are you actually asking, Prez?” I ask, arms crossed.
His head snaps in my direction, but he remains silent. He thinks I’m defying him, or stirring up the status quo. But it’s not that. I need his assertion. We need it.
