“Okay, so we’re not going to be long today but we’ve got a job to do in four days that we need to go over,” Blaze says as he sits down in his seat and slaps a folder on the table. Kodiak shakes his head.
“I’m sorry but what? After what fucking happened last night, you really think it’s a good idea to take a job?”
Blaze sighs. “I don’t know but this mother and her children need our help and we only have a limited window to get them out.”
“Why?” Chance asks, scowling and on edge like the rest of us.
“Because they will be traveling through Baton Rouge in four days, on their way to relatives in Arizona and we’re going to get them out when they stop at a gas station right outside of town.”
Everyone starts talking, all at once, arguing with Blaze about why this is a terrible idea and while I agree with them, my mind jumps back to my phone call from Warren and the threats he made. Listening to them bicker about this seems so fucking stupid when I think about the things he vowed to do if I said a word about our conversation and I wish that his promise of violence made it easier to keep it to myself but it doesn’t. These are my brothers and every cell in my body is screaming at me to open my mouth and tell them what is going on. How would he even know if I did say something? He mentioned having a photo of Rowan and me together and I clench my fists as I think about him, standing outside the clubhouse and watching us together.
Fuck.
We need more security and we need tighter patrols around the clubhouse but, of course, I can’t say any of this to my brothers without telling them about the phone call.
“Okay,” Blaze barks, dragging my attention to him once again. “I understand y’all are concerned about us going out to do this job but one thing we are not going to do is let this animal control us. This club has always helped people and that is what we’re going to do now, Warren be damned. He doesn’t get to control our lives and that includes Fuzz and Piper’s wedding in two days. We are going to fucking party and celebrate them without looking over our shoulder and being scared. Do I make myself clear?”
Everyone nods and he turns to me.
“Streak, did you find anything on the surveillance videos?”
I shake my head. “Only if you’re into complete and total darkness.”
“Fuck,” he sighs and scrubs his hand down his face, the stress of this whole situation shining in his eyes as he turns to Storm. “And what about you? Did Rodriguez have any information for us?”
Storm begins recounting everything he told me upstairs about Warren and the club’s owner and I lean back in my chair, wondering how much hell we’re in for from Warren before this whole thing ends and the one thought that dogs me more than any other is wondering who will be left standing after the smoke clears.
Chapter Fifteen
Warren
I take a drag of my cigarette, the smoke burning my lungs, as I scan the clubhouse parking lot but it is nothing compared to the rage burning through my chest as I watch them all gather to celebrate Fuzz and Piper renewing their vows. All day I’ve sat here, watching them as they set things up, laughing and having fun as they talked about what a special day it is for the happy couple.
How fucking sweet.
So sweet I want to hurl.
When I first heard of this wedding, a part of me hated the idea of letting them take a break from the panic and paranoia I’ve instilled in all of their hearts and minds, especially after how well my stunt at the nightclub went, but after taking some time to think about it, I decided this was better. It’s my little gift to them, the only small instance of charity they’ll see from me in this game we’ve been playing. So, let them celebrate and be happy for this one moment. Let them live and remember what their lives were like before I came to get my revenge and let them get a glimpse of a normal life before I rip it all away.
Brutally.
Violently.
In a pool of blood.
It’s what they deserve. No, actually. Now that I think about it, it’s not anywhere close to what they deserve but it will have to do because if I had my way, I would lock them all away and make them live the rest of their lives in slow, agonizing pain but it’s just not practical. I clench my teeth so hard that my jaw aches as I watch Fuzz step up to the end of the aisle in his cut with Streak and Smith by his side. He rubs his hands together, waiting for his bride to join him as all of his brothers and their wives look on with smiles on their faces.
Not for long, though.
God, what I wouldn’t give to carve those grins from their faces.
It won’t be the same but I’m certain that the wedding gift I got for the happy couple will do a good job of erasing the joy from every face in the room. Except mine, of course. I grin as I think about them opening it. Fuck, I wish I could be there to watch it all go down but sadly, I can’t. That’s okay, though. Just knowing the horror they’ll feel when they see what I’ve given them gives me a little piece of happiness, one that will sustain me for a little while until I can launch my next attack.
I am so close to ending this, so close to getting the one thing I have wanted more than anything else in the world for as long as I can remember - vengeance… justice. There is a pounding in my ears and my hands shake, rage coursing through my veins as I think about what they did to me, everything they took from me. I used to fucking be somebody and then they came into my life, tearing it all apart. My thoughts drift to the plans I still have in store for them and my smile grows. It’s taken me a hell of a long time to put all of this together and most days, I hate how long I had to draw this out. I want action and I want it now but my drive to inflict the most pain, the most suffering possible, keeps me going. Now, this is almost over and when I’m done, they’ll be left with the same thing I have.
Nothing.
The music swells and the clubhouse doors open to reveal Piper in her wedding dress with Blaze by her side, beaming out at the rest of the crowd and I grip the steering wheel in front of me as my smile matches his. They are all happy now but they have no idea what I have in store for them and all I can think is, let the games begin.
Chapter Sixteen
Rowan
“Wyatt,” Piper says, her voice cracking and tears shining in her eyes as she peeks up from the little notecard in her hand at her husband. “The first time we stood up at an altar like this and vowed to love each other for the rest of our lives, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into or just how hard it would be to fulfill those vows. We couldn’t have predicted the trials in store for us or the pain that would follow but, as cliché as it sounds, I would do it all again to wind up here with you now. I’ve loved you with the innocence of a girl and as I stand before you as the woman I am now, that love has only gotten stronger. Now that we’re back together and beginning our life as husband and wife again, I can’t wait to see everything the future has in store for us. I’m certain that it won’t always be easy but I know we’ll always face the storm together, with your hand in mine.”
Blaze, who is officiating this little shindig, clears his throat, dabbing at his eyes and I can’t help but smile at what a softie he is. He nods to Fuzz, who turns to his wife.