“Get inside,” he barked.
He rushed into the house, ripped open a drawer in the kitchen, and pulled out a burner phone.
“Jax, get to my house now,” Bear’s booming voice ordered his number two.
I sank into one of the old wooden chairs as I listened to his short conversation.
“Bring Brock with you. No one rides alone right now—we have a problem. Get all of the guys and their families to the clubhouse….yes, we’re going on lockdown.” Grabbing my hand, Bear knelt in front of me. “We’ll take care of this. Go upstairs and pack a bag for us.”
My fingertips ran over his short beard as I tried to remember that I had to be strong. “How are we going to be able to handle this? He almost killed me before.”
“You weren’t with me then. Now go.”
Bear
It didn’t take longfor my guys to be on my front porch. I sucked on my cigarette as we tried to figure out what the hell had happened.
“There’s no way in fucking hell Jasper was able to get out from under all the shit we buried him with,” Jax remarked, thumbing at the brown end of his Marlboro Red.
“He is a fucking lawyer, for crying out loud.” I was fuming. I hated that the green light I had put on him in prison hadn’t sent Scarlett’s piece-of-shit ex six feet under like I’d hoped it would.
“You gotta get Scarlett outta here, brother.” Brock looked over at me from his seat on the white railing.
“I’ll call Ryder, see if we can hide out with the Vilas guys again.” It was my only option and we had to act fast.
“We’ll ride with you,” Jaxon boomed as he stood next to me.
I shook my head. “I need you both here. It’s better if the two of us get out of dodge alone and y’all stay and handle business for me here. Once I know Scarlett is safe, I’ll come back and we will put that fucker where he belongs.”
“Aye, brother.”
Chapter 2
Bear
Vilas – 5 miles.
The highway marker was a sign of salvation as I followed Ryder’s truck down the road.
“Almost there, darlin’,” I whispered to Scarlett as her tired eyes fluttered awake.
We pulled off at the familiar exit and made our way to The Unacceptables Bar and Pool Hall, the déjà vu settling in deep from the last time I’d made this drive with my girl. Her ex was really starting to piss me off. I hated running, hated the idea that I was going to have to leave Scarlett in North Carolina while I dealt with our little problem back in Atlanta. I hated everything about the entire situation, but being adaptable was the best defense with a looming threat hot on our tail.
Jasper was smart and had innumerable resources at his disposal; I needed to be smarter, with more cunning and desire to never let something like this happen again.
As we walked into the old, wood-covered saloon, a little of my worry lifted from my shoulders. All the Vilas guys were waiting for us, scattered around tables and at the bar.
“Scarlett!” Raine waddled over, looking like she was about to burst.
Ryder kissed his wife’s cheek before the girls could hug.
“Look at you!” Scarlett exclaimed. “When’s he due?”
Beaming with pride, Raine rubbed her baby bump. “Just about four weeks now.”
“Have y’all picked out a name yet?” I asked, taking a glass of Old Crow from Crickett before hugging their queen.
Crickett snickered. “These two won’t tell anyone what my grandson is going to be named. It’s a secret.” She theatrically rolled her eyes but a smile spread on her lips.
