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Phoenix

L ace and I are practicing the moves Raven and the guys showed us earlier while the others take a break. With everything going on, I know how important it is that we learn how to protect ourselves, even if it won't do much good. Having the slightest bit of training could prove valuable in a life-or-death situation. I only hope none of us have to use it.

Mason and Stitch join us in the living room again, giving us pointers as we practice. Thanks to Raven's coaching, we've improved since this morning. She didn't take it easy on us, showing us various ways an attacker might try to incapacitate us. She warmed us up, prepping us for a real attack, and helped us nail down our defensive moves. Then she called the guys in to amp things up. None of them used their full strength on us, but they were all still harder to fend off than Rae.

At first, neither Lace nor I could get out of the grip of any of the guys. It felt hopeless. They were too big, too fast, too strong for us to stand any chance. Then Rae told us we were overthinking. She said we let ourselves get psyched out by the fact that our opponents were so much larger than we were. We had to let that go in order for our training to be effective.

To drive the point home, she squared up with the biggest man in the room, Reaper, telling him not to go easy on her. He didn't.

With every attack, she found a way to release herself, catching him by surprise and using his size against him. Every time he'd catch her in a chokehold or iron grip, she used one of the techniques she showed us to set herself free. During the final demonstration, she got free and used his frustration to her advantage. In no time, she swept her legs under him, knocking him off his feet. He landed with a hard thud, shaking everything in the room.

Everyone watched in awe as Raven stood over the club's enforcer, smirking at her success. She said the key was to stay calm and remember that momentum and precision were our best friends. Freaking out would only make things worse. It would make us forget our training and make our strikes sloppy and less effective.

A well-placed blow using the right force could buy us the time it would take to get away from our attacker. A few seconds could save us, but only if we kept calm. Only if we buried our panic long enough to surprise our opponent with what we learned today.

Stitch takes over my place with Lace as I settle beside Mason on the couch. She's improving. We both are, but every bit of practice is useful. Raven watches, calling out tips for Lace as she struggles against Stitch. Her pointers help, giving Lace an edge as she continues to work herself free of Stitch's hold.

By the time we quit for the night, I finally feel decent about my progress. I doubt I'll be able to take anyone to the ground like Rae did, but I'll at least be able to hold my own for a little while.

Lace disappears to the downstairs bathroom to take a quick shower with Stitch right behind her. Raven follows her lead, heading upstairs to do the same as Reaper trails silently after her. Even inside the house, one of the guys is close by at all times. Just in case.

I hope Dom's crew won't be so ballsy to try anything here, but after Misty, nothing seems too far-fetched for them. It makes me uneasy. Ever since we got the news, I haven't been able to fully relax. I suppose I won't until the business with the Bastards is settled.

My mind starts drifting, showing me possible scenarios between the two clubs. Each is more vicious than the last, none ending happily. There's so much violence and bloodshed. Death and agony. It rips away at my heart, leaving me fearful of what may come.

Some of these guys could get hurt or worse. They could end up dead like Misty. Tossed in the dirt like garbage, waiting to be found. The visual makes my stomach churn. My eyes are already burning, a lump in my throat tight and unwavering. I can't stop the sob that escapes my lips.

Mason immediately gathers me in his arms, pulling me tight to his chest. "Baby, what is it? What's wrong?"

Another tearful sob leaves me as I nuzzle against him. "I'm scared," I choke out. "What if they get to us? What if they get to you guys, and someone gets hurt or killed like Misty?"

"We're not gonna let that happen. Misty wasn't being watched. She was out on her own, stirring up who the fuck knows what, and wound up on the wrong side of a blade. That won't happen to you. We won't let it. I won't let it."

He grabs the sides of my face, tilting my head so I'm looking up at him. "They won't get to you, baby. Not unless hell freezes over and pigs start to fly."

I sniffle, looking into his searing eyes. "What about you and the others?"

A tight smile tugs at his lips. "Come on, give us some credit. We're tough fuckers to take down. It took a horde of them to get to Tweak, and he's still with us. And two of them couldn't take down Reaper in an ambush."

Something in my gaze must give me away. His words are meant to be soothing, but they're working quite the opposite. He runs his thumb over my cheek, adding, "We'll be fine, babe. We know what we're doing. Trust me."

I do trust him. I trust all of them, but that doesn't taper my worry. They've turned into family for me and losing any one of them would crush me.

When I don't reply, Mason pulls me into another hug. "Everything will be okay, Nix. It'll all be okay." It sounds like he's trying to convince himself as much as he is me, and that only makes me worry more.

Before I can process another thought, Mason's phone starts ringing. He slips one hand in his pocket, fishing out the device as his other stays protectively around me. "Yeah," he gruffs into the speaker.

His face contorts as the caller on the other line replies. A cold, hard fury etches itself on his face, and I know something bad has happened. A few more quick words are exchanged, and I watch as Mason's face grows more and more furious with every second. When he ends the call, he storms over to the staircase, keeping me glued to his side.

"Reaper, get down here now!"

Seconds later, the club's enforcer comes barreling down the stairs with my sister close on his heels, hair still wet from her shower. Stitch and Lace emerge from the hallway with wide, concerned eyes.

"What's going on?" Archie asks, approaching from the living room.

Mason's gaze cuts around the room, eyeing each of the Sons while avoiding my gaze. Whatever it is must be bad if he doesn't want to say it in front of me, Raven, and Lace. I squeeze his arm, drawing his attention and looking him straight in his eyes.

"Say it," I beg, refusing to let him keep me in the dark. Whatever this is, it affects all of us, and we deserve to know what's going on.

Mason lets out a heavy sigh, dreading what he's about to reveal. "The Bastards made another move."

His eyes flit to Raven. "They set the bar on fire. Jesse, Miguel, and Bones were inside."

My stomach drops as Lace lets out an anguished cry. I look at Raven, who, for the first time in a long time, looks shaken. Her face is pale as she shakes her head. She looks devastated.

Reaper looks at her as her throat works, unable to get the words out. The ones we're all thinking. "Are they okay?" I ask, dreading the answer.

When Mason's eyes meet mine, I can't read his face. The question hangs between us as everyone waits with bated breath for his response. "Dunno," he says. "Miguel called Bear from inside. Said they were trapped before the line went dead."

My mind starts spinning. They can't be. It's not true. They didn't . . .

"Bear and Viper are headed there now. They wanted one of us to go for backup in case the Bastards are still hanging around," Mason says to Reaper.

"I'll go," he answers with a grunt.

"I'm going with you," Raven says suddenly.

Six pairs of eyes snap to my sister. "The fuck you are," Reaper says with a growl.

Crossing her arms over her chest Raven glares at him. "You gonna stop me?"

An intense staring match ensues, yielding no winner as my sister and Reaper face off. With a loud huff, he finally relents. "Fine. But you stay where I can see you."

My sister gives him a little nod before grabbing her jacket. She and Reaper are heading for the door when I stop them. "Wait."

Their steps falter, and Raven looks back at me, one brow quirked. I look up at Mason as I steady my breath. "I want to go too."

His face pales at my words. "I don't think that's a good idea, baby." The space between us evaporates as he moves closer, shielding me in his arms.

I shake my head, adamant about my decision. "I want to go," I repeat, holding firm. "I need to see it. I have to see—" My voice catches as I force the words from my mouth. "I have to see what they're capable of."

A wave of understanding crashes over Mason as he looks down at me with weary eyes. I need to see what they've done, what they're willing to do to the people I care about. Keeping me in the dark won't do me any favors. It will only make me weak, and I'm sick of feeling weak. I'm sick of feeling helpless.

"I need to see it," I whisper, pleading with Mason through glossy eyes. "Please."

The war inside him rages as he watches me. He knows me, knows why I need this. I can tell from the way he's looking at me, but the protector in him wants to keep me from it as long as he can. My innocence, my naivety, is important to him, but that girl is weak. Right now, I need to be strong. I need to be brave.

For my family.

Mason swallows hard, kissing my forehead. "Okay," he says, grabbing my hand. "We'll go too."