Page 7 of Blade (Spartan Watchmen MC #5)

He punched in a code, and the door swung open to reveal a small room lined with supplies. Weapons, ammunition, food, water, medical equipment. Everything needed to survive a siege.

"If anything happens," he instructed, guiding her inside, "anything at all, you come in here and lock the door. The code to get in from this side is 7-4-2-9. Can you remember that?"

She nodded. "7-4-2-9."

"Good girl," he said automatically. “Say it again.”

“7-4-2-9”

“Good girl.” This time, she didn't try to hide her reaction to the praise. Her eyes darkened slightly, and she swayed toward him almost imperceptibly.

Blade pretended not to notice, though his body sure as hell did. Not the time, not the place.

"The room is soundproof," he continued. "There's a satellite phone that will connect directly to the clubhouse if needed. Enough supplies for a week. Bathroom through that door. It's small, but it'll keep you alive."

"What about you?" she asked, concern in her voice. "Where will you be if I'm in here?"

"Dealing with the threat," he said simply.

She frowned. "You mean you'd be out there? Alone? Against, who knows how many of them?"

"It's what I do," he reminded her.

"No," she said firmly, surprising him. "I'm not hiding in here while you get yourself killed trying to protect me."

"Lily—"

"Don't 'Lily' me," she interrupted. "I'm not some helpless damsel. I can help. I can fight."

Blade raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes," she insisted. "My dad was in the military, too. Marine Corps. He taught me to shoot before I could drive."

That was new information. "Your dad, the one who killed someone to protect your mom?"

She nodded. "He made sure I could protect myself."

Blade considered this. Having her armed and ready might not be a bad idea, actually. Better than her being defenseless if someone got past him.

"Show me," he said, selecting a Beretta from a rack on the wall. He checked that it was unloaded, then handed it to her. "Field strip it."

Without hesitation, Lily released the magazine, checked the chamber, then began breaking down the handgun with practiced efficiency. Her small hands moved with confidence, disassembling the weapon in under thirty seconds.

Blade was impressed despite himself. "Not bad. Now put it back together."

She did so just as efficiently, her movements smooth and practiced. When she was done, she handed the reassembled weapon back to him.

"Satisfied?" she asked, a hint of smugness in her tone.

"For now," he conceded. "But handling a weapon is different from using it in combat. If it comes to that, you follow my lead. No heroics. No trying to save me. Your job is to stay alive. Understood?"

She hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Understood."

"Good," he said, leading her back out of the safe room. "Now, let's secure the rest of the cabin." His phone buzzed, and he looked down at the camera. Good. Rampage’s truck was barreling down the road towards him.

As they moved through the house, checking windows, setting up defensive positions, Blade found himself continually surprised by Lily. She moved with purpose, asking intelligent questions, offering suggestions.

This wasn't the same frightened woman he'd found at the motel. This was someone who'd found her strength again. Someone determined to survive.

It was... attractive as hell, if he was being honest with himself.

Which was a problem, because the last thing either of them needed was for him to act on the growing attraction he felt for her right now. She was vulnerable, traumatized, and under his protection.

Focus, man. There are people trying to kill her. This is not the time to get distracted.

A knock at the door jolted him from his thoughts. Three short raps, followed by two long ones. The club's signal.

"Stay back," he told Lily, drawing his weapon as he approached the door. He’d seen it was Rampage’s truck, but the video wasn’t clear enough to see who was behind the wheel.

Just in case, he checked the peephole, confirming it was indeed Rampage, then opened the door just enough to let the other man slip inside.

Rampage was massive, even by MC standards. Six-foot-six and built like a tank. Despite his size, he moved with surprising grace, a result of his years as a Delta Force operative.

"Brother," Rampage greeted Blade, then turned to Lily with a gentle smile that seemed out of place on his intimidating face. "Ma'am."

"This is Rampage," Blade introduced. "Road Captain for the Spartan Watchmen."

"Lily," she replied, offering her hand.

Rampage engulfed her small hand in his massive one, his touch careful. "Heard a lot about you, little one. Good to finally meet you."

"You too," she said, seeming only slightly intimidated by his size.

"Brought the supplies," Rampage said, turning back to Blade.

He hefted a duffel bag onto the kitchen counter.

"Extra ammo, comms, night vision, those motion sensors you like.

And the other things you asked for." He unzipped the bag, revealing the promised items. But Blade's attention was caught by a smaller bag tucked inside.

"Is that for her?" he asked, pointing to it.

Rampage grinned. "Savage said to grab a wide variety of items," He pulled out the smaller bag and handed it to Lily. "For you."

Lily took it hesitantly, peeking inside. Her eyes widened, and a genuine smile bloomed on her face, the first Blade had seen since bringing her here.

"Thank you," she said to Rampage, her voice thick with emotion.

Blade glanced at the bag's contents. Coloring books and pencils. Playdough, a building block set, a couple Barbie dolls with outfits. A small, plush unicorn. And a purple pacifier and matching sippy cup. And of course, a variety of snacks and candy.

Savannah must have helped pick the items. She would know what a little might need or want.

Rampage scratched his beard, looking slightly embarrassed by her gratitude. "Weren't my idea, but you're welcome all the same."

Lily clutched the bag to her chest, looking between the two men. "I'll just... put these in my room."

Blade nodded, and she limped down the hallway, her injured ankle clearly bothering her again.

Once she was out of earshot, Rampage's expression turned serious. "Savage sent me with a message too. Said to tell you there's been a development with Tim."

Blade tensed. "They found him?"

"Not exactly," Rampage said grimly. "They found a finger. Left on the clubhouse doorstep this morning with a note."

"What did it say?"

"'She’s next,'" Rampage quoted. "Pretty clear they mean her."

Blade's hands clenched into fists. "Do they know where she is?"

"That's the million-dollar question," Rampage agreed. "Savage is working on it. In the meantime, he said to tell you to be ready to move. Safe house is being prepared. Rewriting the plan, Valhalla is too obvious. We’re concerned they’ll set up a trap and you won’t make it there."

"I’m not moving her until we know who the leak is," Blade insisted.

"For all we know, they could be waiting for us at the safe house, too. The only way to get to me here is through Valhalla, which isn’t happening or down the road out front which is heavily monitored.

Going to take the ATV out and set up more motion sensors around the property and a few more trail cams."

Rampage nodded. "Figured you'd say that. That's why I brought a little insurance." He reached into the duffel bag and pulled out a small black case. "Latest gen tracking devices. Plant one on any visitor, and Savage can track them back to whoever's pulling the strings."

"Smart," Blade acknowledged. "What about the club officers? Any suspicions?"

""Nothing concrete," Rampage said, lowering his voice though Lily was still out of earshot. "But Hammer's been acting... off. Taking calls in private. Making excuses to leave club meetings early."

Blade frowned. Hammer was a transfer from another chapter. One they were close to and trusted. "I hope it’s not him," Blade said. "But we can’t rule out anything. Keep an eye on him."

"Understood," Rampage agreed. "What about her?" He nodded toward the hallway where Lily had disappeared. "Is she holding up okay?"

Blade considered the question. "Better than expected, all things considered. She's stronger than she looks."

"She'd have to be, to survive what she has," Rampage observed. "Just... be careful, brother."

"Meaning what?" Blade asked sharply.

Rampage held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Meaning she's been through hell. And you... well, you're you. Not exactly known for your gentle bedside manner."

"I can be gentle when the situation calls for it," Blade defended.

"I'm sure you can," Rampage said, though he didn't sound entirely convinced. "Just saying, she's likely to get attached. Trauma bonding and all that. Don't make it worse by playing Daddy if you're not planning to follow through."

Blade bristled at the implication. "I know what I'm doing."

"Do you?" Rampage challenged. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're getting attached too. And that could cloud your judgment when it matters most."

Before Blade could respond, Lily reappeared in the hallway, and both men immediately straightened, ending their conversation.

"Everything okay?" she asked, looking between them.

"Fine," Blade assured her. "Just discussing security measures."

She didn't look entirely convinced but didn't press the issue.

Rampage checked his watch. "I should head out. Need to report back to Savage." He turned to Lily. "You take care, little one. And don't let this grumpy bastard boss you around too much." He winked.

A small smile tugged at her lips. "I'll try."

Rampage clapped Blade on the shoulder. "Watch your six, brother. And call if you need backup. I can be here in twenty."

Blade nodded. "Appreciate it."

After a few more instructions about the equipment, Rampage left.

Blade locked the door behind him, double-checking the deadbolt. When he turned around, Lily was watching him, her expression unreadable.

"There's more, isn't there?" she asked quietly. "More than you told me earlier."

He considered lying, but what was the point? She deserved to know the full extent of the danger. "Yeah," he admitted. "There's more."

"Tell me," she said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.

Blade sighed. "They found one of Tim's fingers at the clubhouse this morning. With a note. 'She’s next.'"

He expected her to panic, to cry, to break down again. Instead, she straightened her spine, her expression hardening. "They won't stop, will they? Not until they find me."

"No," he confirmed. "They won't."

She nodded, as if coming to a decision. "Then we can't just hide. We need to fight back."

Blade studied her, impressed by her resolve despite the gravity of their situation. "That's the plan. But you need to be prepared for what that means."

"I am," she said firmly. Then, more softly, "I have to be."

He moved closer to her, drawn by something in her expression. The vulnerability beneath the determination, a need for reassurance.

"You're not alone in this," he reminded her. "I'm not going anywhere."

She looked up at him, searching his face as if trying to determine if he meant it. Whatever she saw there must have satisfied her, because she nodded once, decisively.

"Thank you," she said. In that moment, with her eyes blazing and her chin lifted in defiance, she was the most beautiful thing Blade had ever seen. And the most dangerous to his carefully constructed walls.

Rampage was right. He was getting attached. And that could get them both killed if he wasn't careful.

But as he looked down at Lily, this small, fierce woman who'd endured so much and still found the strength to stand tall, he knew it was already too late to guard his heart.

God help them both.