I stay on my feet and my head flows with the impact. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, and I’m sure half of one of my teeth, I laugh.
“Owed? You’re not owed a thing, thinking you are will get you killed.”
“The Lost Souls have always looked down on us, not anymore. We want more than our fifteen percent, we want it all,” he snipes, circling me.
“Don’t you hear what happens to men much bigger and more experienced than you when they go against our club?”
“They give us pointers on their mistakes, we won’t fail, I might even keep you alive to see for yourself.”
“The only thing I’ll see is my club burning yours to the ground.”
There’s nothing presidential about this prick. The chip on his shoulder is bigger than his imagination and it will be his downfall. What happens in between now and my rescue is pure entertainment.
He rushes me from behind and we both land on the floor with a heavy thud.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Oak,” he grates, pushing my head against the concrete floor.
“I think I know my club well enough to know you won’t win.”
He is focused on crushing my head into the floor, he leaves his ribs open and I take advantage. I slam my elbow back and up into his ribs as hard as I can. In seconds, he falls back and I twist around and grab at his cut, anything I can get a hold of.
Slamming my fist into his jaw, he shakes it off and retaliates, landing a solid upper cut. My nose splits open and sends shockwaves into my brain.
I can feel the blood seeping down my cheeks and it angers me. He has taken me and tied me up like an unwanted dog, I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me bleed again.
Feigning defeat, I relax against the floor and lay my arms out and he finds it funny.
“Is that all you got?” he laughs, taunting me.
Straddling my waist, his hands clench around the fabric on my t-shirt and he half lifts me up.
“You wanted to fight me, come on, hit me.”
His gaze bores into me and he doesn’t see my fist swing for his face. My knuckles connect with his cheekbone and it’s the first hit I’ve got on him that properly affects him. I see the moment he loses control and fights through the pain. The scuffling and throwing punches in an already weak state has left me with no energy to match his strength, and the fury oozing from him now, all I can do is not give him the pleasure of closing my eyes and hiding from the blows that he is about to descend down on me.
The sight of his fist flying towards my face is the last thing I see before the blackness envelopes me.
Chapter Fourteen
Cas
Adrenaline is riding high and my brothers are ready to go and bring our taken brother home. The added bonus of shooting shit up fuelling the adrenaline and as well as getting to enjoy the feeling of getting somewhere, my headache is gone.
Oak is coming home and tonight we party and celebrate that fact and the fact that we’re about to wipe out the Devil’s Bastard.
Everyone’s waiting and ready, I climb on my bike and breathe in the fresh air, riding tonight will bring back the freedom my bike gives me.
“Let’s kill the fuckin’ lot!” Sparky yells, revving his bike next to mine.
Each brother revs their bikes in turn and somewhere in the building excitement, time slows and everything changes in a split second.
Screeching tyres blast through the air, Lost Souls heads turn to the main gate and a black van screeches to a halt.
The side door opens and in the blink of an eye, three men jump out with their faces masked and in unison they produce guns.
“Get down!” I yell, a millisecond before they open fire.
Bodies and bikes scatter to the ground and shots ring in our ears. Women and children’s cries can be heard and I quickly look to the door to make sure no one had come outside to see us off. Thankfully, the door is closed and all around us, Lost Souls are reaching for their own guns. Sliding behind my bike that fell in the rush to get to the ground, I pull out one of my guns and open fire. From this view point, my brothers are between me and the gate. I can’t get a good shot in. Half the club are already retaliating, defending our club.
The sound of machine guns stops and the tyres, yet again, screech against the road until they disappear out of range.
Every Lost Soul jumps up and runs for the gate. By the time I join my brother’s shooting after the van, they are long gone. Looking around, everyone seems to be in one piece and moving around, wondering what the hell just happened.
“Check everyone, make sure no one was hit,” I order Sparky.
Heading back to the bar, I fasten my step and check the women and kids, specifically, Alannah and Leo.
The bar is empty and I head for the stairs. Knowing Alannah, she would’ve made sure everyone inside would have got to a safer place when she first heard the shots.
I was right, upstairs in the furthest room from the front, Alannah waits by the door. Her face relaxes when she sees me round the corner and she rushes into my arms. Seeing her and holding her in my arms, I know she is safe. I knew she would’ve been being inside, but I don’t take anything for granted anymore. I haven’t in a long time, round the time Michael betrayed us.
“Is everyone okay in here?” I ask her, pulling away fractionally.
“Yeah, we’re fine. What about outside? Was anyone hit?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head, “I just came to check on you and Leo, please don’t go outside until I tell you that you can when I know it’s clear.”
“I won’t,” she smiles, “What about your plan? Are you still going to leave?”
“I’m not sure, I’ll let you know when I know any more.”
Pressing my lips onto hers, I need to feel her against me in all this upheaval around us.
“I’ll be back soon, keep your eyes on Leo, I don’t want him with anyone but you.”
“Sure.”
I leave Alannah to sort the women and children out and return to my brothers. Noah catches before I get to the bottom of the stairs.
“Me and the men that came with me will line the gate and road and keep watch for the rest of the night. If they come back for round two, we’ll shoot on sight.” He informs me and my trust in him grows.
“Thanks, Noah. Do you think they’ll come back?” I ask, lighting another cigarette.
“I don’t know the newer members, but I wouldn’t put anything past Danny. He’s going for the shock and surprise tactics, he could be waiting for us to chase after them and return for the women and remaining Lost Souls,” he shrugs.
It’s what I was thinking, I pat him on the shoulder and smile.
“I appreciate your words, keep watch on the gate and I’ll send some brother’s out to swap shifts with you in a couple of hours.”
My cell rings and I dig it out of my pocket. I don’t recognise the number but hope it’s the call I’ve been waiting for.
“Yeah?” I answer.
“Fuck your club. Hopefully now you’ll believe we won’t be told what to do?”
Danny.
“I gave you twenty-four hours to save your life and your club, you’ve chosen to die, war it is.”
The line goes dead and the near future has been set.
“Was that Danny?” Sparky asks, coming through the door.
“Yeah,” I sigh, “Shooting and burning shit down isn’t going to work. We’ve got to come at this from a different way.”
“I’m beginning to agree.”
I step outside and breathe in deep, the niggling pain returning to the centre of my forehead. I concentrate on three bullet holes in the outside of the bar walls. Tonight’s fight was too close to our family.
Over my shoulder sits the main house and a plan falls into place. I rattle off a text to Alannah and head for the house.
Inside, it hasn’t changed since Kitty upped and left three years ago. The place is tidy and in good condition but every surface and stic
k of furniture is coated in dust. A chill runs through me remembering Michael. This was his house and everyone knew it. It was the king’s castle on the compound and only the best were allowed to enter.
Throwing open the curtains, the early evening light does little to brighten the room. I watch Alannah cross the lot with Leo on her hip and even in our situation, I can’t help but smile seeing the family I created coming to me.
The front door opens and I backtrack to the hall. Alannah’s eyes are everywhere the further she comes into the house.
“Why are we here, Cas?” she asks, cautiously.
“I want to have this place cleaned up, you and Leo, the women and kids will now stay here and not in the clubhouse. If we’re attacked again like tonight, you’ll be safer here. It’s far enough back that not one bullet would reach from the gates.”
She nods slowly, and leaves the room, heading for the kitchen. I follow her and lean in the doorway.
Her mind is going back to a time when this was her home. A time when she thought she was untouchable. I want that back for her, I want to be the one who offers that security.
“I’m sure Bonnie and Kristen will help. Kristen is driving herself crazy in the clubhouse anyway. This can feel more like a home,” she murmurs.
“Come here.”
Leo plays with her hair as she walks over to me and I take them both in my arms. I’m a Lost Soul and I’m a husband and father. The two can’t survive without the other. I can’t lose either one without losing myself.
“What are you going to do about Oak?”
“After what’s happened, I don’t know right now. I promise you though, he will be coming home.” I vow, “I’m going to fight, the club is going to fight. We’ll kill them all and it will either be for taking our brother or because they killed him.”
Pain falls upon her beautiful face.
“It’s a possibility, babe, but I’m going to do everything I can to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
“I know you will.”
Her trust in me makes me believe anything is possible.
“I’ll send over Bonnie, Kristen and the kids, let me know what you’ll need for this place.”
Through the window, I can see many of the brothers have ventured into the bar and the few lingering around are keeping their eyes everywhere.
“I have to go, stay here and don’t come out tonight, okay?”
“Okay.”
With her promise, I head out and follow the last of my brothers into the bar and whistle loud enough to pierce through their conversations.
It doesn’t take long to gain their attention and for the first time since I’ve been their president, I don’t know what to do.
“We should have been ready for their attack tonight. I should have been ready. Luckily, nobody was hurt and we all live to see another day. We had our own plans to attack and I think now, that we have to think differently. For tonight, I want everyone on guard, Danny could send his men again and if he does, we will be ready. Prospects, I want you all at the gates, if you see head lights, alert everyone. I don’t want any more surprises.”
The prospects follow their orders and it leaves only brothers around me.
“Whatever you need us to do, we’re here, Cas.” Noah vows.
“What I need is a fuckin’ drink,” I mutter, and turn my back on them.
Slade comes around the bar and pours a large whiskey, sliding the glass across the wooden top in my direction.
“Okay, tonight, we keep a watch over our land. Tomorrow, we go back to square one and come up with another plan.”
“Sounds like a plan already, brother,” Sparky offers.
Yeah, a plan that involves doing fuck all for the next ten hours. Meanwhile, who knows what’s happening to Oak.
Chapter Fifteen
Cas
When my cell rings for the first time today, I expect to see Danny’s digits flashing across the screen. When I actually see Denzel’s number, I eagerly answer and breathe a sigh of relief.
“It’s about time you returned my fucking calls,” I growl into the receiver.
“I’ve had my own shit to sort out, Cas. I need you to ride up today, this morning.”
“It’s not a good time for us, I can’t be leaving just now.”
“I know, that’s why I’m calling you in. I’ll see you soon.”
He hangs up on me and it takes every spec of will power not to launch my cell at the wall.
I didn’t get much sleep again last night and it already feels like it is going to be a long ass day.
No one has left the clubhouse since yesterday, they’re all waiting for our next move to be announced.
I join Sparky and Slade at their table and roll my neck to relieve some of the building tension.
“Sit down with Noah and do a search on all the new members of the Devil’s Bastards. Find everything you can on Danny, I want to know what properties he has, what cash he has in the bank, everything.” I start with Slade and move on to Sparky.
“You’re coming with me, Denzel finally got back to me and has ordered me in, now.”
“Sure, I’ll meet you outside in a minute.”
He gets up and no doubt goes in search for Bonnie. I turn back to Slade and call Ricky over from where I can see him over Slade’s shoulder.
He saunters over and takes Sparky seat.
“While we’re gone, Slade’s gonna do his computer shit, I want you everywhere. The women and kids are over at the house, they’re not allowed out until I return. If they need anything important, arrange for someone to do it. I mean it, Ricky, Alannah and my boy is my everything like Kyla is to you. Keep them safe. Sparky won’t be happy either if Bonnie decides to go off on one. Do what you have to, but keep them in the house.”
I love Alannah like there is no tomorrow, like Sparky does with Bonnie but they’re too strong to be told what to do without coming down on them to the point you have to apologize for it after.
“No problem.”
I’ve heard what he did with Pope to Kyla’s ex-dealer. I know what lengths he’ll go to for his woman, I want to make sure he knows that’s how we feel about ours.
“You should take more than Sparky with you, it’s a long ride just the two of you if you hit trouble.” Slade offers.
“Nah, we’ll be fine. The two of us will attract less attention.”
I leave them and head for the house. Ricky will do as I ask, but I owe it to him to make sure Alannah knows the deal before I leave. Sparky is with Bonnie like I thought he would be and looks like he’s having his own dramas. I pass them and find Alannah in the kitchen with Kyla holding Leo and blowing raspberries into his neck. His cheeky laughter is what we will be fighting for, to give the kids a future full of family happiness.
“Babe, I’ve got to leave. Denzel wants to see me.”
“I heard, Bonnie isn’t happy,” she tells me.
“She’s Sparky’s problem. I’ll be there and back. I shouldn’t be too late.”
“Okay, please be careful.” She urges.
“I always am. Stay in the house until I get back, Ricky will bear extreme pain if you don’t,” I warn, loud enough for Kyla to hear too.
Alannah only rolls her eyes at me like I knew she would but Kyla believes every word in shock. I could explain myself to her but I kind of like having at least one woman around here listening to me. It’s only a matter of time before she knows the club inside and out and joins the ass pain alongside our women.
Wrapping my hand around the back of Lana’s neck, I pull her against me and quickly press my lips to hers. She chuckles and pushes me away, “Hurry back,” she winks.
Bonnie storms into the kitchen and barely looks my way. I skip out before she says anything that pisses me off or I say something Sparky might try and make me regret.
Outside, he is waiting to leave and I join him and wrap my bandana around my face, only leaving my eyes uncovered.
Climbing on my bike, we know what we??
?re doing and where we’re going. There’s no need for conversation.
I start the engine and he follows suit. Pulling out onto the main road, Noah is again, keeping watch for the Lost Souls. I nod to him and he nods back. I like him and I have trust in him, I only hope he doesn’t break this new trust.
Our ride begins and we both open our bikes up while the road is empty and it isn’t long before everything around us is forgotten for a second and it’s just us and the road.
The only noticeable changes about Denzel is his bar. He’s owned it for thirty years and he’s kept it up to date with the changing times. As far as he is concerned, a few extra grey hairs and a couple of wrinkles around his eyes, he is the same as he was when I first joined Michael on one of his rides out here for his quarterly meetings.
The bar now has a futuristic vibe to it and the prices are disgusting. Even his office has changed to the chrome and leather fashion design.
“Make this quick, I haven’t got time to be here.” I grunt, taking a seat opposite him and Sparky taking the seat next to me.
“I don’t mind arranging to see you over the phone but what I have to say is for our ears only,” he begins, “I had a visitor last night and it affects us both if it becomes a bigger problem than it already is.”
I can already guess who his visitor was.
“I’m listening.”
“I had the pleasure of meeting with the newly appointed president of the Devil’s Bastards, Danny. I wasn’t too happy he knew about me but I should imagine Linc knew so he would too. Anyway, he turned up here with a business proposal for me.”
“Which was?” I ask, trying to keep a hold on my temper when the prick pauses.
“He wants your business with me and even undercut your fee, not by much but it would still save me money.”
Of course the prick did. He is working his way into everything. He needs to be stopped.
“And what did you tell him?” Sparky asks.
“I laughed at him,” he chuckles, “It might save me money but I don’t think he’d save me a headache working with him. I have been doing business with your club for too many years to throw away on him. We work well, we both make money and we both have a degree of trust in one another.”