“I can’t fucking take this bullshit anymore,” Boxer yelled. “They destroyed Jill’s boutique. Now Ire and the women. I want fucking blood.” He and Ire were close. They trained at the gym and entered underground MMA events together. For Boxer, it was a sport. For Ire, it was his chance to beat the crap out of someone. He never lost a match.
I nodded. “You’ll get your blood, brother.” We all fucking wanted revenge, but I needed to keep a level head so my brothers would too.
It wasn’t easy for a volatile man like me to stay calm. For the last several hours, I’d been running on adrenaline. When I saw the women’s condition, I nearly lost my shit. It could’ve been Madeline they got. Fuck, the very thought threatened to unravel me. But I’d held it together, swallowing down bile to not show weakness in front of my brothers and the women.
I nodded at Raul to take over.
He returned a nod and exhaled. “This was a warning. We took two of their men and roughed them up. They retaliated and one-upped us.”
“Fucking pussies,” Boxer roared. “Beating up two women, raping one of them, it’s fucking low. They’re a bunch of animals. I should’ve cut off their guys’ dicks.” He was at the end of his rope. I’d never seen him like this before. Not even when we were in the marines getting shot at in Afghanistan. Seeing Ire before the meeting didn’t help.
Patch had said Ire would need to take it easy for a minimum of one week, two would be better, but Ire had told him he’d be fine after a nap. Crazy son of a bitch. I ordered him to not leave his room until further notice.
“I agree, son. That’s not how we roll. The Dirty Hunters don’t give a fuck about women, only themselves. They’re a young club with no home and weak members. They have to hide because they know we will pick off their herd one by one.” Raul clasped his hands together on the table, jaw ticking.
“What now, Prez?” Track’s calm voice got my attention. He was the peacekeeper during times of duress, somehow keeping the guys levelheaded.
“Right now, I want you all to eat, shower, and rest. Call a kitten if you need some lovin’.” I sure needed to hold my Angel. “Then, we meet back here at noon.” I banged the gavel on the table. “Go do what you need to do.”
Chairs scraped against the floor as they were pushed back, and my brothers filed out. I raised my hand to Raul, Track, and Boxer for them to wait. Once the others were gone, Boxer shut the door.
I cleared my throat as I stood. “I’m going to pay Sheriff Hendricks a little visit. Track, you’re with me. We’ll go later after church.”
“What about the guys?” Raul asked.
“I want you and Boxer to divvy them up to do a sweep of Winters and the surrounding area. The Dirty Fuckers only creep into Bastion at night. We need more manpower, so I’m calling in a marker with the Fallen Soldiers.” The Soldiers were a small MC in Iowa. They owed us big from three years ago. “Now they can help us rid our territory of Hunters like we helped rid theirs of gangbangers.”
The three of them nodded.
“Let’s go eat.” I stalked into the kitchen, where breakfast was in full swing. Eyes flitted my way as I loaded up a plate with enough food to feed Madeline and me. I piled it high with French toast and sausage, drizzled syrup, and then filled two travel mugs with coffee. I ignored my brothers. They didn’t need to worry I’d explode. Not when I had the calm to my storm waiting upstairs for me.
Tina put her hand on my shoulder. “Try to get some rest. It was a long night.” She smiled softly, setting a fork on the plate, and patted my arm. “Let Angel take care of you.”
Take care of me? I’d never had a woman to take care of me before. Never wanted to need one, but I needed Madeline more than air in my lungs.
“Thanks, Tina.” I made my way out, then barked at my brothers, “Don’t be late for church. Noon.”
Grunts echoed in acknowledgment.
Madeline was on her stomach, facing the door with her cell phone in hand when I’d entered the room. Her baby blues were filled with concern when they met mine.
“Storm.” She was off the bed before I kicked the door shut. “I’ve been so worried.” She took the cups from my hand and set them on the dresser.
“Sorry to leave you alone for so long.” I set the plate on the bed and took her into my arms.My sweet Angel.I held her close with my lips on the top of her head, breathing her in and letting her essence soothe me.
“No, I understand.” Her arms wrapped around my waist, squeezing me tight. “Are the women okay? How’s Ire’s head? Is there anything I can do?” She peered up, waiting for my reply.
Talking about what happened was the last thing I wanted to do. I only wanted to be with my girl. Absorb her light before I went back into the dark world. It was going to get ugly around here. Madeline kept the savage part of me at bay. I liked not feeling unhinged or ready to erupt in a volcanic blast. And after what happened to Ire and the women, I was hanging by a thread.
I took her hand and collected the plate. “Grab the coffee, baby.”
“Okay.”
I stretched out on the bed with my back to the pillows along the wall. Madeline set the cups on the nightstand and scooted in next to me.
I forked a bite of French toast and fed it to her. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
She smiled as she chewed. “It’s delicious.”