“Tag,” Axel explained calmly before I could ask.
When we arrived at the club, Axel and the guys pulled directly into the garage bay with Hank there to pull the large metal door shut before we’d even turned the engine off.
“Okay?” Axel turned to me to ask.
I managed a nod though my heart was still pounding. I climbed down from the large truck and wrapped my arms around myself protectively as Axel lifted Maddox out of his car seat.
Axel moved to stand beside me, taking my hand in his. The gesture nearly made me forget our current circumstances as my heart melted a bit. “Coffee?” he asked me quietly.
“Coffee,” I agreed.
I was surprised to see so many people already there when we entered the main room. Cole, Mack and Ettie, Cal, and Wes and Connie were milling around when Axel and I walked in along with Hank and Tag.
“How you holding up?” Connie asked, approaching with a reassuring smile and a brief hug.
“Not a great way to wake up,” I mumbled. “But I’m okay. Do we know who it is or how many there are?” I asked the room in general.
“Ry’s out scouting,” Wes replied, taking a sip of coffee, his dark gaze steady. Everyone seemed so relaxed, like this happened every day and the effect was contagious. I calmed down as well and went to grab a cup for Axel and me.
“Scar’s with Gracie?” I asked Connie.
She nodded, sitting in Wes’s lap.
I’d managed to eat something and had ingested enough coffee to fuel a jet when Ry swept into the club with a clenched jaw.
I immediately sat up straighter, watching as he walked directly to Cole and Axel, exchanging quiet words.
Axel looked over to me briefly, his face very intentionally devoid of emotion, which I didn’t take as a good sign.
“Oh, shit,” I breathed quietly to no one in particular.
“We’ve got this covered,” Wes’ voice surprised me as he moved into view and sat next to me on the couch.
“I know you do,” I agreed quietly, meaning it.
“He’s been preparing for this eventuality – even without knowing the state of play,”
“And what eventuality would that be?” I asked cautiously.
“Ax can talk to you about it,” he waved his hand dismissively before his expression grew serious. “You’re covered, Soph, by all of us.”
“Thanks, Wes,” I nodded.
“Sophie!” I heard Axel’s deep voice call from the office. “Come here a second!”
I rose to stand with an exasperated huff at his bossy bellow.
“Hey, sis, don’t let him give you any shit,” Wes grinned, lightening the mood.
“Right,” I muttered, tossing a grin back at him as I handed Mad off to Connie.
How anyone thought I could contain a man like Axel was beyond me. But I was more than willing to give it a shot.
I found Axel, Cole and Mack all huddled around Cal’s desk as I leaned on the doorway, eyeing them all with apprehension. “Okay, which one of you is going to tell me what the hell is going on?” I demanded.
They all looked up at me, surprise on their faces at my tone.
Then Axel grinned, clearly liking my sass. “That would be me,” he replied, crooking a finger in my direction.
