“Call Righteous.Find out if there’s any trouble at the club. Let them know to be ready fortrouble,” said Lord.
He headed back outto his bike, swinging his leg over the seat. Before starting the engine, helooked to Tarmac, waiting for an answer.
“No trouble at home,boss.”
Lord kicked his biketo life and had one destination in mind. Even if the VP had been screwing with hishead, he’d feel better knowing Ally was safe. Maybe he’d change his mind and bringher back to the clubhouse for his peace of mind.
Only his headlightson the asphalt ahead cut the pitch darkness. There didn’t even seem to be amoon tonight. They were far off, no signs of civilization for miles. He couldn’tbelieve how unsettled he felt. For decades, he’d lived on a fine line of lifeand death. Nothing much gave him pause because he didn’t givea shit about himself or anyone else.
Ally changedeverything.
He wanted to wakeup tomorrow because she made him want more out of life. That girl would becomehis old lady. They’d make a family together. Lord would make sure his kids wereraised properly so they didn’t turn out fucked-up like him as adults.
Lord took a breathas he rode, keeping up the punishing pace. He’d lived through countless disappointments,even came close to ending his own life on a few occasions. But he wouldn’t be ableto come back from losing Ally. You couldn’t kiss the sunshine and return to thedarkness unscathed. It would destroy him.
First, he’d killevery single Skull Nation and their families, but he probably wouldn’t stopthere. Her death would turn him into a devil. And he’d welcome a bullet when hisrampage was over just to end the pain. The way his life had panned out, he almostexpected fate to steal her away from him.
Fuck, that hotel had been far out. Was that their plan allalong? Lead him away from his woman?
As much as he didn’twant to announce Ally’s location in case that VP had been blowing smoke up hisass, he had to be safe.
Lord slowed downand pulled into a lookout point along the side of the highway. The otherbrothers joined him moments later.
Reaper walked upto his side. “What’s the trouble? Your bike?”
He shook his head.“You heard what he said. I’m not going to pretend everything’s good. I’m callingRancher to be safe.” After pulling out his cell, he dialed his old friend. Hehated the fact he could have put the man and his family at risk. It had neverbeen his intention.
The phone keptringing. It was after midnight, so he was probably sleeping. Or dead. Fuck!
Lord pocketed thephone, his chest tight. He was forty years old, and this shitcouldn’t be good for his health. “Reaper, give theclub a call. Ask a couple patches to ride out to Rancher’s place. It ain’t far. Tell them to do some recon, make sure everything’son the up and up until we get there.”
“Will do.”
He headed back onthe road, feeling somewhat relieved knowing things would be handled until hegot home.
They’d been drivingclose to an hour but everything was becoming familiar now. They were close toRancher’s place in the country. At least there was no fire in the sky. He wasn’tsure what he expected next to Armageddon. The night was just as dark out hereas on the road. Rancher owned hundreds of acres, a mix of forest and farmland.It felt calm, like any other evening.
Lord smiled to himselfas they neared the ranch. That VP was just messing with his head. Lord wouldhave done the same thing if he’d been close to death at the hands of his enemy.
He wasn’t sure ifhe should let them sleep or wake the whole damn house justbecause he wanted to bring Ally home to the club. When he saw the faint light onin an upstairs window, he was glad for it. Someone was awake, so that meant hecould steal his woman away without being a complete asshole.Maybe he’d claim her ass tonight. Make her his in every way. Just thinking abouther aroused him. Imagining all those soft curves, warm and comfortable in bed,were calling his name. Sleep was starting to pull at him, but his determinedfocus and the cold night air kept him alert.
He slowed down andentered the winding front path to the house. No sign of the Straight to HellMC. All must have checked out.
Reaper pulled upalongside him.
They all stopped theirbikes within plenty of distance to not wake the entire house with the roar oftheir engines. “You called the club?”
“Yeah, they said they’dcome do a round. That was a while ago.”
His headlightsreflected off something metallic. There was one bike in front of the house. Maybeit was Rancher’s.
He turned off hisHarley and walked toward the old farmhouse, his hand on the butt of the gun inhis waistband. The dry grass crunched under each footfall. The light in thewindow went black. His hackles began to rise, and he sure as hell hoped his intuitionwas wrong.
There was anotherbike. Neither were from his club. He didn’t like this one fuckingbit.
He nodded to hismen to flank the house.
Brick came upbeside him as they approached the door. They weren’t small men. He mouthed thecount of three, then they both rammed the door with the sides of their bodies. Ittook two firm strikes, then it flew back against the wall with a crack.
The lights wereout and Brick nearly tripped over a body in the foyer. He aimed a smallflashlight on the floor. It wasn’t one of theirs. He wasn’t sure if that wasgood or bad considering how quiet the house was.
“Skull Nation,”Brick whispered.
They proceeded deeperinto the house. The glow from oven light highlighted another body, but this onestarted moving as they entered, so he instinctively drew his gun.
“Boss…”
He dropped down toone knee. It was Tank, his hands clutching his stomach. There was fucking blood everywhere. “What happened?”
“Skull Nation. They’reout back. The barn…”
“Shit! You’re going be fine, Tank. Hang on.”
Tank was one of thebiggest guys in the club. A real force. He’d single-handedly
