“Hey, Amelia,” Cherry greets.
“Mornin’, Teach,” I say with a nod her way.
She groans. “Ugh, don’t remind me.”
Cherry and I chuckle at her obviously nursing a hangover.
“Fun night?” I ask with a tease.
“Too fun. I swear Blaze does this on purpose to throw me off-kilter. That man likes to keep me on my toes whenever he gets the chance.” She pours two cups of coffee, and I shoot Cherry a conspiratorial wink. We know damn well just how crazy Blaze gets when he parties hard.
“You know it’s afternoon, right?” I ask, and she groans again.
“He’s lucky I don’t pour this coffee on him for how I feel after the shots he insisted I take. I’ll see you two later.”
“Later,” I call and bust out laughing with Cherry once Teach is out of earshot.
“She looked like death. Poor woman.” Cherry snickers, and I nod.
“I don’t think she realizes that after she has a few, she’s just as bad as Blaze.”
Cherry shakes her head. “Nope, she totally doesn’t. I’m glad Blaze found her.”
“Me, too,” I say, shoveling the last of my food in my mouth. I chew, then move to rinse my plate and stick it in the dishwasher. “I’m headed outside. I need some sunshine in my life.”
“I’ll be out in a while,” she calls as I stride out the back door. I need some fresh air, and a walk around the property will do me some good.
My phone lights up with a text.
Ripper: Intel says blowback is on the way. We’re locking down shop.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“What is it?” Odin asks. I’ve been sitting outside with Cherry and O, shooting the shit for most of the afternoon.
I text Ripper back before saying anything.
Chaos: Hollywood on lockdown too?
“RBMC is going on lockdown. Ripper got wind of possible blowback, and he thinks it’s on the way.”
“I need to let Viking know,” Odin replies, his face grim.
I nod as I read the incoming text.
Ripper: No. She and the kid weren’t home when Powerhouse picked up his sister.
“Double fuck,” I say aloud.
“What now?” Odin asks, not used to me dropping random f-bombs.
“Hollywood and her kid aren’t at the club with them. She wasn’t home when Powerhouse went by so that means they could be in danger if whoever’s coming knows where the club’s families live.”
Rather than respond, Odin hollers at the twins. They come jogging over. He turns to me, “You still have your Hummer out?”
“Yeah, it’s parked on the side of the building.” I had Frost go with me to grab my bike, so I could have both vehicles here for now. It was presumptuous of me to think Hollywood would agree to see me again, but I’ve always been the glass-half-full type of guy when I want something.
“Bet.” He then orders the twins, “You two, follow Chaos and watch his back. Stay sharp.” He doesn’t give them any other details since they’re still prospects. They should be getting patched soon, though, since they’ve paid their dues to the club.
“Not a problem,” Rage agrees, and then he and Karma head for their bikes to wait for me.
“Appreciate it,” I murmur.
“Of course.” Odin fist-bumps me. “I’m going to let Vike know what’s going down.” He tugs Cherry to his side. “Come on, babe, you need to be inside, not out in the open. Just in case anyone shows up around here.”
“Be careful, Chaos,” she orders me, wearing a worried smile.
“I’ll be back before you know it. Get your butt inside with your ol’ man,” I respond and take off in a jog toward my SUV. I can’t get to Hollywood and Trixie fast enough. If anything happens to them, I’ll be devastated.
I climb inside and grab my weapon out of my center console. It’s always locked, so no one can just pop in and access anything I keep inside. It’s one of the many customizations I had done when I bought this vehicle. I load the magazine and grab a spare to rest on my lap while I’m driving. Hopefully, I won’t need it, but it’s there if I do.
I haul ass out of the parking lot with the twins hot on my heels. I try calling Hollywood, but no one answers. She doesn’t have a cell phone, and I’m assuming it’s because she’s been so strict about saving her cash. Luckily, Powerhouse’s sister has a home phone at their apartment, but it doesn’t help if no one answers it. I keep trying, but it just rings over and over. Not being able to speak with her has my gut churning.
I press on the gas, silently praying the law isn’t around to pull me over. I’m not concerned about a freaking ticket—hell, I deserve one for breaking the speed limit. I only care about the time it’d use up from me getting to Hollywood and Trixie in time.
I speed into the apartment parking lot, chest heaving as I pull the vehicle to a stop. I jump out of my imposing Hummer, slamming the door as the twins stop their bikes along either side. I’m about to head for the stairs when my name’s called, stealing my attention.
“Chaos?” It’s said with confusion. I meet Hollywood’s confused stare as the little girl at her side cheers and runs for me.
“Come here, sweetheart. I need to get you two out of here.” I open the back door and help the squirt climb inside.
“Yaay, we’re going with you again!” Trixie happily exclaims.
“Okay, if you say so,” Hollywood agrees without a fight, brows lowered as she quickly hops into the passenger side.
“Who are those guys?” Trixie asks, pointing to the twins. She sticks her tongue out at them, making them laugh.
“Shh, Trixie. Not now,” Hollywood shushes her while watching me silently.
I don’t say anything as I peel out of the parking lot and drive for a few moments. Once I’m confident no one has followed us, I flash her a relieved glance. I’m thankful I got to them in time before something serious could’ve happened. “I got a message from the bar. Some stuff may be going down, and I needed to make sure you two are safe.”
Trixie perks up. “We’re great. I was swinging. Can we get chicken nuggets?”
With a chuckle, I give in. “Yeah, squirt, you got it.”
Hollywood offers me a tender smile, but her gaze quickly turns serious. “Is everyone else okay?”
I shrug, pulling into the nearest drive-thru for food. “I hope they are, but we won’t know for a while.”
The screen on my dash lights up with a text from Prez.
Prez: LOCKDOWN.
I jot out a quick response, letting him know we’re all right and on our way.
“It’s that bad?” Hollywood gestures to where the text was just displayed for everyone to read.
I hand the employee some cash and take our food. I drive off without the change, handing the bags to the bossy little girl in the back seat. “It could be. Better to be safe than sorry.”
“Where will we go?” she asks. “We’re not part of your club. I’ve never even been there before.”
I smirk. She might not have been there in the past, but it was definitely on my to-do list. I was planning to take my time with her before my brothers got involved, but lockdown has sped things up a bit. “You’re with me, that’s all the club cares about. You’ll be welcomed, have no doubt in my mind.”