Page 37 of Always My Fate

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Peaches

Peaches’ phone rang again while she was still sitting up in bed, heart hammering from Blackie’s last call. The second she saw Glenna’s name, she snatched it up.

“Glenna? Talk to me.”

“Peaches.” Glenna’s voice came through shaky but strong. “We held them off, but everything was bad. War sucks, you know? Horse is okay, just a cut on his head. But we’ve got two of our patches with gunshot wounds, one prospect stabbed in the side, and a few more banged up pretty bad. Rook’s crew took some hits too. They’re patchin’ ’em up here, but we need to get the worst of them towards Longview safely. Back to doctors we trust.”

She was already reaching for her laptop and pulling up the group chat, her free hand rubbing slow circles over her belly where Daniel was kicking hard.

“Listen to me,” she said, voice calm and steady despite the fear clawing at her throat. “We’re not losin’ anyone tonight. You need vehicles, clean inside and out, squeaky clean, low-profile, with good drivers. Send the two worst injured straight to Doc Bode in Longview. Do you have access to a couple of cars?”

“Yeah, the trucks parked to the north missed getting hit. Can I get an address for the doc?” Glenna sounded unflappable, and Peaches grinned.

“I’ll send you a text, make it easier for you to share it out.” She did as she’d said, then flipped over to the old ladies group chat.

*Belle took a hit tonight. We’re gonna want to send extra blankets and first aid kits, with good pain meds in both. Route through the back roads. Eyes open. Who can drive?*

Marlene responded. *I’ve got that covered, already loaded a bunch of stuff into the SUV.*

*Lifesaver, woman. Keep me updated.*

Glenna, still on the call, exhaled in clear relief. “You’re a godsend, Peaches. I’ll get them loaded up.”

“You focus on the chapter’s brothers and your man. Oh, and keep that dog close,” Peaches replied. “You’ve got the transport covered. Tell Horse sooner rather than later. I’m obliged to him, because that win means Blackie’s on his way back to me soon. And don’t forget, the club’s holdin’ strong because of what y’all did tonight.”

She ended the call and kept working, coordinating backup drivers and safe houses in case they needed them. Her back ached, her belly felt tight, and every instinct screamed at her to be out there helping physically, but she pushed the frustration away.

This was what she could do. This was what she would do.

She heard the racket of the helicopter a few minutes later, coming closer and then winding down for a moment or two before resuming the previous howl of noise. That’ll be Blackie.

When he came through the door, bloody and exhausted, she was on the phone finalizing the last pickup point.

He stopped in the doorway, watching her with that mix of awe and fierce love in his eyes.

She met his gaze and continued giving quiet, precise instructions until the last vehicle was confirmed en route. Only then did she hang up and reach for him.

“They’re bringin’ the injured home,” she said softly. “Nobody gets left behind tonight.”

Blackie crossed the room and pulled her into his arms, careful but desperate. “You amaze me, Peaches. Even stuck in this bed, you’re still runnin’ half the damn club.”

She held him tight, breathing him in. “We do this together.”

Outside, the war simmered. But in their house, the queen had stepped up once again.

***

Blackie

Blackie didn’t wait for the cleanup to finish.

The second the immediate threat was neutralized and Horse had solid control of the ranch, he shot off a text to the pilot. Blackie watched as the running lights of the copter came closer, swooping in to land exactly where he’d dropped them all off. He was beyond ready to go home, blood still drying on his knuckles and a fresh bandage wrapped around the graze on his arm. The flight to Longview felt longer than the flight out, when every mile stretched tight with the need to get home.

To get back to Peaches.

He rode his recovered bike home, finally killing the engine in the driveway. He barely acknowledged the prospects on watch before storming up the porch steps and through the front door. His boots left faint bloody prints on the floor, but he didn’t give a shit. He took the stairs two at a time and pushed open the bedroom door.