His attention returns to the church. Marisol has a jacket thrown over her body. Patrick and Stryker are standing watch as the EMTs bring a stretcher to take her away.
“Get Genesis to look at that,” Nero nods at my arm. “Don’t think I didn't notice you took a bullet.”
“All they gave a shit about was how many people they could take down. Not who they were hitting. They were aiming ather. The one with the beard, when we catch up to them, he’s fuckingmine.”
“Noted. Get that checked.”
Nero heads back to the clubhouse, two brothers following. I call out to Genesis to come in too. There is no point in being a dickhead about the gunshot. It needs to be dealt with. Last thing I need is an infection.
I text Raven while Genesis cleans and wraps the wound, telling me it was a graze. Easy for him to say, it's hurting like a motherfucker now. I push the pain aside and ask Raven to let me know when they reach the hospital.
Upstairs, Razer and Blaze are already waiting. Stryker comes in and stands at the window, his whole body is coiled and ready to unleash fury all over the first enemy we come across.
Blaze is busy with his laptop, presumably following traffic cams to keep up with the shooters.
I’ve suddenly got déjà vu. Nero stalks to his chair and grabs the back of it, leaning forward. “You get the number?”
Blaze nods and slides a phone across the table. “It’s programmed in, speed dial one.”
“You’re just going to call him?” I ask.
“We can’t kill them without telling them there are traitors in their club.”
“And if Wallen is lying about them not knowing these fuckers are here?” Stryker says without turning. “Making this call could start a real war.”
We all let that sink in. Nero clenches the chair tighter, his knuckles turning white. I’ve never seen him this indecisive before, but he’s right to be cautious. This phone call can make or break the relative handle we have on Storm’s bullshit.
Blaze tells us the number he has is for Viper, their VP. Talking to Viper first is all good and well, but Nero wants to speak to Jackal. President to president. Other clubs would reach out to me first, its the way things are done.
Nero takes a seat and pulls the phone over. He doesn’t ask anyone to leave and quickly runs down where the rest of the council is. Blaze is keeping in touch with everyone on the comms in his ear. It amazes me how he can do five things at once.
I take a seat, swiping my hand down my face. How has my night gone from having a meal on the waterfront with a woman I have complicated feelings about, to this?
I can’t unhear the sound of her screams. After what she’s been through, losing him will break her.
Checking my phone, there is still nothing from Raven and I don’t have Kinsley’s number. They might not have reached the hospital yet but patience is not one of my virtues.
“Everyone keep your shit together,” Nero picks up the phone.
He doesn’t need to tell us that ordinarily, but this is no normal situation.
Nero holds the phone to his ear, and I glance at Stryker. I’ve seen him shut down before, but never this badly. He goes to church a lot. I’m not sure how much he interacts with Colton or Marisol.
A tinny voice answers, ‘yeah’ into the phone.
“This Viper?” Nero asks.
“Who’s this?” he answers.
Nero sets the phone down and puts it on speaker. “Blackhawk Disciples President.”
There is silence on the other end. “What the fuck you calling me for?”
“You know who we are?”
“Heard of you. What do you want?”
“I need to speak to your president.”
