Page 36 of Atlas (The Chaos Demons MC #6)

Anita

The second we pull into the compound, Atlas disappears straight into Church, slower than usual but still stubborn as hell. He’s barely been out of a hospital bed, but he’s already throwing himself into strategy. Typical.

Tom slips his hand into mine, anchoring me, his thumb tracing small circles across my knuckles. “He’ll be okay,” he murmurs, trying to reassure me.

I shake my head. “You heard what the doctor said. They haven’t ruled out a bleed on the brain. He shouldn’t even be standing , let alone charging into their little war room.”

Tom draws me in gently, brushing his lips against mine, his voice a soft murmur against my skin. “I love how much you care about these guys,” he says. “Even when they drive you insane.”

Before I can reply, my phone rings.

My heart sinks the second I see the name on the screen.

Damien.

I let out a frustrated breath. “It’s him.”

Tom’s hand tightens in mine. “Answer it. Ignoring him will only cause problems.”

I hit speaker and lift the phone, already dreading his voice. “Now isn’t a good time,” I snap, trying to keep my tone controlled.

His smug voice cuts through instantly. “I suppose you’re in a flap over lover boy.”

My whole body goes still. Tom’s arm slips from around me as he steps away, already heading for Church to inform the guys.

“What?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“The biker,” he clarifies, laughing like this is some kind of joke. “Last I heard, he wasn’t in a good way.”

My stomach lurches. I follow Tom across the room, watching him tap on the Church door and duck inside.

My voice hardens. “And what the hell do you know about that?”

His chuckle makes my blood run cold. “Jesus, haven’t you figured it out yet? I’ve had his bitch for nearly twelve hours.”

I stop dead. The air leaves my lungs in a rush.

No.

No, no, no.

I step into Church blindly, the men all turning to look at me as I place the phone on the table. “You have Rue?” I say, every word scraping out of my throat.

“That must’ve stung,” Damien says. “When he dropped you for her. She’s got that soft thing going on. Sweet. Innocent. Not your usual competition.”

“I don’t understand.” My voice trembles, and I hate it.

“You never did,” he spits. “That’s half the problem. Kasey took my money. Atlas took my wife. And now you want to take Leo? You all think you’re untouchable.”

“So you took Rue to punish us?” My mind is racing, but nothing makes sense. “This is about Leo?”

“No. This is about power,” he snaps. “Rue means everything to the biker. And the biker—he still means something to you, doesn’t he?”

I flinch.

“Here’s how this goes,” he continues, low and cruel. “Drop the fight for Leo. Get me my money back. Do that, and I let the girl go. If not . . .” He pauses. And that pause says everything. “If not, I’ll make her pay. Again. And again. And again. Until I get what I want.”

The line goes dead.

I stare at the phone like it might explode, the world muffled under the roar in my ears.

No one speaks.

I can’t breathe.

Tom steps beside me, his hand coming to my back, but I barely feel it.

This is all him. Damien.

And if I don’t stop this, if I don’t figure out how to fix what’s broken, Rue’s going to suffer for everything.

I lift my eyes to Atlas, who’s already halfway out his seat, his jaw clenched so tight, I’m surprised his teeth don’t shatter.

“We need a plan,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.

Rue

The room is silent except for the ticking of the old pipes attached to the ceiling, and the soft shuffle of my own restless pacing. It’s cold, damp, and reeks of mildew. There’s a thin mattress in the corner and a single, bare bulb that buzzes overhead. No windows. Just walls and silence.

My throat aches from thirst. My lips are cracked. They haven’t given me water in hours, maybe longer. I’ve lost track of time. My head throbs from where someone knocked me sideways getting me out of the van. My hands shake, but I ball them into fists to stop the tremble.

And I need to pee.

I press my thighs together, rocking slightly on my heels, but I can’t hold it much longer.

Swallowing what’s left of my pride, I walk to the door and knock.

Nothing.

I knock again, louder. “Hello? I . . . I need to use the bathroom.”

Silence.

Then a few heavy footsteps approach. The door creaks open, just a few inches. A man peers through the gap. One of the ones who dragged me out of the van. Crooked nose. Yellow teeth. The same dirty hoodie he wore when he laughed as I cried.

“What do you want?”

I force myself to speak, even though my voice comes out hoarse. “Please. I need to go. To the bathroom.”

He disappears without a word, and for a second, I think he’s gone for good. But then the door opens wider, and he shoves something into the room, a bucket.

A fucking bucket.

I blink at it, unsure if this is a joke.

“You’ve got five minutes,” he says. “Make it quick.”

He doesn’t move.

I wrap my arms around myself. “Can you . . . turn around or something?”

His grin stretches wide. “Nah. I’m good right here.”

Shame floods my chest, hot and suffocating.

I don’t move.

“I said five minutes,” he snaps, stepping farther inside.

I freeze, heart thudding so hard I can barely hear. Every bone in my body screams not to do this, but my bladder won’t wait.

So, I turn away, shaking, dragging the bucket into the farthest corner, trying to shield myself with my back. My hands tremble as I pull down my jeans.

He laughs behind me. A sharp, ugly laugh that makes my skin crawl.

Tears sting my eyes, but I don’t let them fall. Not here. Not in front of him. Not when I need every ounce of dignity I’ve got left.

When I’m done, I stand slowly, not turning around. My breath hitches as I whisper, “Are you proud of yourself?”

“There’s no shame in pissing,” the man drawls, lifting the bucket with a greasy grin. “Some freaks pay to watch that shit.” His eyes rake over me, slow and revolting. “Hell, I’d let you piss on me.”

I stiffen, jaw clenched, stomach churning.

“What the fuck’s going on?” a voice snaps from the doorway.

The man jumps, spinning on his heel. Damien steps into view, calm but cold.

“Girl needed the bathroom,” the man mumbles, hurrying out with the bucket like a rat escaping a trap.

“Apologies,” Damien says, stepping into the room like he owns the air in it. “The amenities aren’t five-star.” He smirks, tucking his hands into his pockets. “How’s that hope holding up?”

I glare at him. “I don’t even know why I’m here.”

He tilts his head. “Sure, you do.”

“No, I really don’t,” I snap, heat rising in my throat. “I’ve done nothing to you.”

“But you’re connected, Rue.” His voice softens, mockingly gentle. “To Kasey, to Anita, and especially to him .”

I shake my head, exasperated. “So, what?”

He sighs like I’m being difficult. “Your sister stole from me. Anita’s trying to take my son. And Atlas,” his eyes narrow, “took my wife.”

I freeze. “This is about revenge?”

“No,” he says coolly. “It’s about leverage.” He steps closer. “Anita loves your biker, and if he asks her to back off for your safety, she will.”

My heart stutters. “Atlas would never ask her to do that. He’s not like you.”

Damien chuckles. “That’s the problem with men like him.

Honourable. Predictable. Easy to manipulate.

” His eyes gleam. “So, if he won’t ask her to stand down, well .

. . maybe you’ll be less valuable than I thought.

And hope?” He leans in, just enough to make me flinch.

“Hope fades real fucking fast when no one comes.”

He walks out, slamming the door behind him.

Atlas

The door creaks as I push out of the club and into the dying light.

The air’s cooler now, carrying that scent of dust and oil, summer rain somewhere in the distance.

I drag a hand over my face and inhale deeply, trying to keep it together.

Rue’s gone, and the weight of not protecting her, is sitting heavy in my chest.

Footsteps approach, soft and hesitant. I don’t turn.

“You okay?” Anita’s voice is quiet but tight, like she’s holding something in.

I nod once. “No,” I admit, “but I will be.”

She stands beside me in silence for a moment, arms crossed, staring out at the gravel lot like it holds answers.

“I never meant for any of this,” she says suddenly, her voice cracking.

“This is my fight with Damien. It’s my mess.

And now, he’s pulling Rue into it, and you—” She stops herself, like if she says more, it might all unravel.

I glance at her. “Stop.”

Her brows furrow. “Atlas—”

“This isn’t your fault.” My voice is steady, firm. “Damien’s the kind of man who’ll use anyone to get what he wants. You didn’t choose this war. He brought it to you.”

Tears well in her eyes, and I see the guilt eating her alive. “You keep fighting for Leo,” I tell her. “You hear me? That kid deserves better than a man like that for a father. You’re his safe place, Nita. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for wanting to protect him.”

She nods slowly, wiping under her eyes. “Thank you.”

We fall quiet again, and I glance sideways at her. There’s history between us, old, frayed, but still threaded with something tender.

I clear my throat. “You and Tom?”

She blinks at me. “What?”

“Is there something there?”

A beat passes. Her lips twitch into a soft smile. “Yeah. There is.”

I nod, letting it settle in my chest. It doesn’t ache like I thought it might. In fact, it feels right.

“I’m happy for you,” I say, meaning it. “You deserve good things, Anita. Someone who shows up for you. Don’t let fear make you push it away.”

Her eyes shimmer again. “You really mean that?”

“Yeah,” I say. “Grab it with both hands.”

The silence between us shifts. Not heavy, not awkward, just full of things we’ve said, and things we no longer need to. I squeeze her shoulder gently, turning to head inside. I can already feel the rumble of engines firing up inside me.

It’s time to get my old lady back home where she belongs.

I go back into church, the weight of my presence pulling all eyes my way.

My brothers are already gathered around the table, maps and burner phones scattered. Tom trails in behind Anita, and Kasey’s already here perched on the edge of a chair, arms crossed tight, eyes full of fear.

Outsiders. In church.

If anyone needed proof this shit was serious, it’s that. We don’t let outsiders in, not even the women we love. But no one says a word, all too focussed on what we need to do.

I walk to my place at the table and rest my hands on the wood, letting the silence settle before I speak.

“I’m claiming Rue,” I say firmly. It’s not the way I planned to announce it, hell, I haven’t even had a chance to discuss it with Rue.

But if she’s mine, the club will go above and beyond to get her back.

“You heard the man,” says Axel, slapping me roughly on the back. “His old lady’s been taken, and we gotta get her back.”

Fletch leans forward, his jaw tight. “I’ve got a list of every place he’s been known to frequent. Every bar, every office, damn, we even got his friends and family on this thing,” he says, turning his laptop towards me. I scan my eyes over it. Nothing stands out.

“There’s another week before the custody hearing,” says Tom.

I shake my head. “She can’t wait a week. She’ll never last that long.”

“And who knows what he’ll do if he think’s we’re not following his demands,” adds Kasey, wrapping her arms around herself.

“He thinks if Atlas tells me to back off, I will,” mutters Anita, glancing my way.

I shake my head. “Not happening.”

“There’s no guarantee he’ll even hand her over if that happens,” says Axel. “He ain’t gonna leave her able to speak and tell the police what he did.”

“We bring her home. And then we help Nita get full custody of Leo. That bastard should never see him again,” snaps Kasey.

“But you can’t do anything to him before the hearing,” says Tom.

“It’ll look to suspicious.” He fixes me with a stare that tells me he’s gonna make sure Anita wins the battle and Damien never upsets her again.

“If we run his plates, it’s possible ANPR systems have him driving to and from the place he’s keeping Rue. ”

“I know a guy,” says Fletch, pulling out his mobile and stepping from the room.

“We’re going to rattle his cage,” I say, tapping the table. “Make him panic. He wants us quiet and desperate. Instead, we make noise. We show him what it feels like when you come for someone who’s ours.”

Grizz nods, cracking his knuckles. “It’s about time.”

“We go to every place, including his office, and make noise,” Axel orders. “Tell everyone we want to speak to him. Get them all worried.”

I look around the table, at these men I trust with my life. Then I say the words that start everything.

“Let’s bring her home.”