Page 19

19

Raven

I double-check my list as I head inside the grocery store. For a shabby little biker bar, the place actually stays pretty busy most of the time, and our regulars love the food. I would never have pegged Archie as the chefy type, but the guy has skills on the flat top.

I'm cruising through the produce section when I spot a familiar head of hair belonging to Lace. "Hey, girl," she calls, looking at my cart. "Bar run?"

"You know it."

"Nice. Want some company?" she asks.

"Sure. Why not."

We wind our way through the store, checking off items on each of our lists and making small talk as we go. Usually, that's not my thing—chit-chat, girl talk—but I don't mind so much with Lace. She's cool, very down to Earth, with a stable head on her shoulders. Plus, she took Phoenix under her wing when we first got here, so the chick has my respect.

The conversation turns heavy when I ask about the club's current situation. I still don't have all the details, but Jesse hasn't been trying to hide things from me as much as he used to. The guys are worried about one of their rivals making a power play. What that means exactly, I'm not sure, but J and Viper both said we need to be vigilant.

They said to steer clear of Dom and his guys if I happen to see them around town. Viper didn't say it, but I know since their last meeting, the watch he put on Nix and me has gotten tighter. I don't have to turn my back to know that wherever I go, at least one of the guys is trailing me.

We're standing in the checkout line when Lace drops her voice, answering my question, "I don't know what's up exactly. My uncle hasn't said anything besides, 'Keep your eyes and ears open and make sure all your doors and windows stay locked.' He even suggested I stay with him for a while until things cool down." Her eyes are drawn with worry.

Things must be bad if Bear suggested she stay with him. I'm shocked Viper hasn't insisted Nix and I come back to the clubhouse. I guess having one of his guys living right next door is the only reason he hasn't done so.

My mind starts to drift, wondering what's going on with the club. I'm so deep in thought that I barely register what I'm doing as I check out with Lace right behind me. I'm still zoned out when we step outside.

We're about to part ways in the lot when the side door of a van opens up in front of us. Four men hop out and block our path. My stomach drops when I see who their ring leader is.

Dom.

He shoots me a sinister smile as he gives Lace a once-over. "Damn. Viper sure knows how to pick 'em."

I glare at him, stepping between him and Lace, daring the bastard to try something.

He laughs, raising his eyes as he turns his beady gaze toward me, moving closer. "Mmmm, Wild Thing, we meet again."

Before I can respond, Stitch and Tweak appear out of nowhere. "Fuck off, Dom. They have nothin' to do with this!" Stitch yells, shooting the men a withering look.

Dom turns to his cronies with a smirk, then back to us. "Oh, come on, now. We were just havin' a little fun. Just wanted to take a couple of your sweetbutts for a ride."

His crew lets out a loud chorus of laughter, further pissing me off. Stitch looks deadly as he growls back, "They aren't yours."

Another round of howling laughter comes from the fuckers by the van. "Oh, yeah?" Dom taunts. "Are they yours then? Or does your Prez keep the pretty ones for himself?"

Ew.

Guess it's a good thing he doesn't know who I am. I have a feeling he's got big beef with Viper, and if he knew I was Viper's kid, who knows what he'd do?

Dom cranes his neck around Stitch, looking past me as he sets his sights on Lace's petite form. His lips form into a cruel smile. "I bet that sweet one back there ain't as innocent as she looks. I bet she's awful wild in the sack."

He knows what he's doing, knows what buttons to push to drive Stitch over the edge. The next thing I register is all hell breaking loose. Stitch takes a swing at Dom, setting off the rest of his crew. All of them pounce, throwing swings as Stitch and his brother hold them off.

I push Lace out of the way, urging her toward her car and away from the mayhem. Tossing my shit in her backseat, I tell her to call Bear and head straight for the clubhouse. As soon as she's gone, I run back to the guys.

In no time, several more of Viper's crew speed into the parking lot to join the fray. I hang back, watching as the men exchange blow after blow. A small crowd is starting to form, and it's only a matter of time before the police will be called if they haven't been already.

Viper's crew starts to overwhelm Dom and his men. He sees it, too, and like an animal backed into a corner, he does something desperate. I see him whip something out of his jacket pocket. It glints silver in the sunshine.

I realize what he's about to do, but before I can scream to warn the guys, he strikes, plunging his knife into the side of Tweak's abdomen. As he pulls back, blood starts pouring from Tweak's torso.

Someone in the crowd screams, and sirens sound in the distance. Dom and his gang pile into their van, peeling out of the lot seconds later. I'm frozen in place. I've never seen someone get stabbed before.

I didn't run with the friendliest people back in New Mexico. Many had records, nearly all liked to fight, and a few had scars from gunshots and stab wounds, but I'd never seen it happen. Never watched as blood drained from their bodies and the life slowly faded from their eyes until now.

I snap back to reality as Stitch and some of the others carry Tweak my way. He's passed out and clammy, no doubt in shock, but still alive. They've stopped the bleeding for now, but he needs a doctor fast.

"Raven, where's your car? We need to get Tweak to Doc now," Stitch tells me.

I shake myself out of my stupor, leading them quickly to my car. Once Tweak and Stitch are inside, I hit the gas. "Head to Viper's," Stitch tells me, holding pressure on his brother's wound.

"What? He needs a hospital."

Stitch shakes his head. "They ask too many questions at hospitals. Doc's already on his way to Viper's."

I take my eyes off the road to glance at my backseat. Tweak is still breathing, but he looks like death warmed over. "He needs surgery. He needs a hospital," I argue.

"Doc's gonna fix him up enough so we can get him to a hospital out of town. Just get us to Viper's house now!" He takes a shaky breath before adding quietly, "Please."

Against my better judgment, I follow his command, racing to the clubhouse. As soon as I stop in front of the house, Bear, Viper, Hammer, and Doc race outside to collect Tweak.

It's madness inside the clubhouse as Doc starts working on Tweak on top of the dining room table. He's pale and clammy, still passed out from the blood loss, but alive for now.

The rest of the guys show up covered in wounds of their own. The evidence of the brawl is painted on their skin—busted lips and cheeks, black eyes, scrapes, and bruises. There's no hiding it, and to my horror, I see Phoenix enter the living room from the kitchen.

I had no idea she was here. She wasn't supposed to be. She shouldn't see this.

Her eyes are wide with terror at the scene in front of her. It's too late, though. I can't shield her from this. She'll have lots of questions, and I don't have a clue what the hell I'm going to tell her.

"What happened?" she asks as Lace clings to her side, tears rolling down her face.

I say nothing, grasping at straws for some explanation for what led to this that won't destroy my sister's bubble of happiness in our new life here.

"Is he—" Lace asks quietly, staring at Tweak. "Is he dying?"

"Doc's gonna try to prevent that," I tell her, hoping like hell he succeeds.

She looks around the room, frantically searching. "Stitch? Where is he? Is he—"

"He's fine," I say, noting the relief that washes over her.

As soon as the words leave my lips, Stitch appears from the bathroom with hands full of gauze and bandages. He passes them off to Doc and the others before checking over Lace, making sure she's okay. His shirt is still stained with his brother's blood, turning the once-white cotton red.

Lace sees it right away, grasping for him, lifting the fabric to see where his wound is. Her hands shake as they traverse the planes of his torso. "Where are you hurt? There's so much blood," she cries.

Stitch grabs her wrists gently. "It's not mine. I'm okay."

A strangled breath escapes Lace's lungs before she launches her arms around his neck. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry," she sobs against him.

He comforts her, telling her it's not her fault, holding her tightly for as long as he can spare. The moment passes before he rushes back to help his brother, but it's undeniable—there are strong feelings between the two of them. The look in each of their eyes when they saw one another, the fear they felt, proves there's definitely something there.

Nix pulls Lace further from the chaos, wrapping her back in her arms and comforting her as we continue watching Doc work. Suddenly, she grabs my hand, and panic mars her face. I'm sure she's put two and two together about how this turn of events came to pass.

Her question takes me by surprise. "Where's Raptor?"

I look around the room and notice he's one of the few who are absent. I shake my head. "I don't know, Nix. He wasn't there."

Worry lines mar her face. "I hope he's okay," she whispers.

I squeeze her hand tightly. "He is, Nix. I'm sure he is. He's tough. Nothing's gonna hurt him." As I speak the words, I will myself to believe them. If something happened to him, I don't think Phoenix would ever recover.

Whatever is blossoming between them has dug deep already. I'm not even sure she realizes it yet. To have that ripped away so soon . . . I can't imagine what that would do to her. The only thing I know for sure is that Dom and his crew just started a war, and things are bound to get a whole lot worse before they get better.