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I tore through the mountain roads, my Harley's engine roaring beneath me like a lion. My knuckles ached from gripping the handlebars too tight. I leaned into a sharp curve, the bike's tires biting into asphalt as I pushed it harder than was smart.

Venom showing up in Ironridge wasn't just a visit. It was a deliberate provocation, a blatant violation of every unwritten rule between rival MCs. Presidents didn't casually stroll into enemy territory without an army at their backs unless they were making a statement or had an ace hidden up their sleeve. Neither option boded well for the Heavy Kings.

I downshifted hard, the bike growling beneath me as I navigated another hairpin turn. My father's voice echoed in my head: "A man who comes to you on your turf either respects you more than anyone else or fears you less than everyone else." Considering our history, I was betting on the latter.

The image of my father's mangled body after his "accident" flashed before my eyes. We'd never found proof that Venom had orchestrated it, but everyone knew. The same way everyone knew Venom had personally put three bullets into my uncle's chest years later. Our blood feud with the Iron Serpents ran decades deep, each side tallying their dead, waiting for the ledger to balance.

The bike crested a hill, and I forced myself to ease off the throttle. Racing into whatever situation awaited me half-cocked and furious wouldn't help anyone. I needed to think, to plan. I pulled into a scenic overlook, the lights of Ironridge twinkling below like fallen stars. The town looked peaceful, unaware of the storm building in its center.

What advantage did he believe he had that would justify this risk? The Iron Serpents outnumbered us, but not by enough to risk open war. They had connections with larger outlaw organizations, but so did we. This wasn't about power—it was about something specific. Something Venom wanted.

Or someone.

I yanked my phone from my pocket, fingers clumsy with cold as I pulled up Thor's contact. The message I sent was simple: "Status update. All quiet at cabin? Ryder check in recently?"

The three minutes I waited for Thor's response stretched like hours. My breathing sounded harsh in the quiet mountain air. A car passed on the highway below, its headlights cutting through the darkness.

Thor's reply lit up the screen: "All quiet at tavern. Venom, Jesse, one other. Professional, not looking for fight. Haven't heard from Ryder since check-in two hours ago."

Two hours. A lot could happen in two hours.

I thumbed a quick response: "Try Ryder again. Now. I'm ten minutes out."

The knot in my gut tightened as I shoved the phone back in my pocket and swung onto the bike. I gunned the engine harder than necessary, the Harley's chrome pipes announcing my approach to anyone within a mile radius. Let them hear me coming. Let them know.

***

I entered King's Tavern through the back door, stepping into a scene I never thought I’d witness. The usual Friday crowd was gone, replaced by the controlled chaos of an MC standoff. My brothers had formed a perimeter, their faces hard as granite, hands close to their weapons. And sitting at my table, in my chair, with a smile that had haunted me since my father's funeral, was Jax "Venom" Malone himself.

The air felt electric, charged with violence. Thor stood at the bar, his massive frame coiled tight like a spring about to snap. A subtle nod from him told me everything was secure, but the tension in his jaw warned of his barely leashed rage. Beside him, Tyson leaned against the counter, his posture deceptively casual, eyes sharp and calculating as they tracked every movement in the room.

The rest of my men had positioned themselves strategically throughout the tavern. Dex by the front door, Cooper watching the windows, Wiz and two others creating a loose circle around the Serpents. No one spoke, but the message was clear: they weren't leaving without my say-so.

I let my gaze settle on our unwelcome visitors. Venom sat with the relaxed posture of a man in his own living room rather than enemy territory. His gray eyes, cold as mountain ice, tracked my entrance with predatory interest. His cut was pristine, the Iron Serpents patch prominently displayed alongside president markings. Unlike most of us, Venom had always preferred a cleaner look—no beard, hair neatly styled, as if dressing for a business meeting rather than an MC confrontation.

To his right stood Jesse, fidgeting like he always did, his eyes darting nervously around the room, weight shifting from foot to foot. The meth he perpetually rode was evident in the constant movement of his fingers, tapping against his thigh. Unlike his brother's calculated control, Jesse radiated unpredictability—a rabid dog straining at its leash.

It made me sick to think that Mia had suffered at his wretched hands.

The third Serpent was Rex Miller, Venom's sergeant-at-arms and the man rumored to have pulled the trigger on my uncle. His weathered face bore the scars of countless fights, and his eyes followed my every move with professional assessment. Unlike Jesse, Rex stood perfectly still, his hand casually resting near his waistband where I knew he was carrying.

I walked toward them with measured steps. My heart hammered in my chest, but my face revealed nothing.

"Duke Carson," Venom drawled, his voice carrying easily in the silent room. "Kind of you to join us in your . . . establishment." His lips curved in what might have passed for a friendly smile if not for the coldness behind it.

"You're a long way from Coldwater, Venom," I replied coolly. "State your business."

Our eyes locked across the table, decades of hatred compressed into a single glance. The last time we'd been this close, we'd been at my uncle's funeral, Venom having the audacity to show up to "pay respects" to the man his crew had gunned down.

His lips curled into that familiar cold smile that never reached his eyes. "I've always appreciated your directness, Duke. No small talk, straight to business." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Care to join me? This is a conversation best had sitting down."

I remained standing. "I'm comfortable where I am."

Venom shrugged, unbothered. "As you wish." He ran a finger along the edge of the wooden table, as if checking for dust. "I've come with a proposition. The Heavy Kings have had a good run, but times change." His gaze lifted to mine, steady and unflinching. "I'm here to discuss the terms of your . . . retirement."

A tense silence followed his words. From the corner of my eye, I saw Thor shift his weight forward, only to be stilled by Tyson's subtle hand gesture. The rest of my brothers remained motionless, waiting for my response.

I couldn't help but laugh—a harsh, dismissive sound that echoed in the quiet tavern. "You rode all this way to tell jokes?"

Jesse's face flushed with anger at my dismissal, but Venom remained unruffled. He leaned back in my chair, spreading his hands in a gesture of mock sincerity.

"No jokes, Duke. Just reality." His tone was conversational, as if discussing the weather rather than the dismantling of my club. "The Heavy Kings' time is coming to an end. You can make it easy or hard on yourselves, but the outcome remains the same."

"Is that right?" I kept my voice even, though my blood boiled. "And what exactly makes you think we'd hand over anything to the Serpents?"

"Because you're smart," Venom replied simply. "Smart enough to know when you're beaten. Smart enough to recognize when the cost of fighting becomes too high."

The tavern felt suddenly smaller, the air heavier. Behind me, I sensed my brothers exchanging glances, the silent questions passing between them.

"If we're talking about costs," I said, "then you should consider the price of sitting where you are right now. Most men wouldn't risk walking into rival territory without an army at their backs."

Venom's smile widened a fraction. "And yet here I am, with just two brothers."

"You must be getting stupider in your old age," I countered, drawing a muffled snort from Thor and a twitch from Jesse.

Venom's eyes hardened momentarily before his mask of amusement returned. "Always the tough guy, Carson. Your father was the same way—right until the end."

My fingers curled into fists at my sides, knuckles white with restraint.

"You don't speak his name," I said, each word precise and deadly quiet. "Not here. Not ever."

Our eyes locked, neither of us willing to look away first. The tavern seemed to hold its breath around us.

After a long moment, Venom broke the staring contest, reaching casually into his cut. Every Heavy King tensed, hands moving to weapons, but he merely pulled out his phone.

"You know what your problem is, Duke?" he asked, glancing at the screen before looking back at me. "You care too much. About this town, about your so-called brothers." His thumb hovered over the screen. "About certain . . . strays you've taken in recently."

Ice formed in my veins as his implication registered.

His voice lowered. "I have something—or rather, someone—you've been hiding."

He turned the phone screen toward me. The screen showed a map marker, pinpointing the exact location of my cabin. The cabin where I'd left Mia with Ryder hours earlier.

"Impressive place," Venom commented casually. "Remote. Defensible. Perfect for keeping secrets." His thumb moved to the call button. "But not quite remote enough."

Venom's thumb pressed the call button, and he set the phone on the table between us, switching it to speaker mode. The ringtone echoed in the silent tavern, each tone feeling like a hammer blow against my chest.

I wanted to lunge across the table, to wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze until that smug smile vanished forever. But I stood frozen, unable to move, unable to breathe, as the ringing stopped and a voice answered.

Ryder.

The entire room went silent.

"I've got her, just like we planned." His words hit me like a physical blow, stealing the air from my lungs. In the background, I could hear Mia's muffled protests and Diesel's agitated barking. The betrayal tasted like copper in my mouth—hot and metallic, like I'd bitten my tongue during a fight. Only this wound went much deeper.

"Everything secure?" Venom asked casually, as if inquiring about a routine delivery.

"Yeah," Ryder replied, his voice carrying a nervous edge despite the confidence he was trying to project. "No problems at all. She didn't suspect anything. Barely even fought back." A pause, then: "When are you coming?"

I stared at the phone, my mind struggling to process what was happening. Ryder. The prospect I'd personally vouched for. The kid I'd been giving a second chance. He'd sold Mia out to the Serpents, to Jesse—the man she'd fled from in terror.

A strangled sound erupted beside me as Thor lunged forward with a roar that seemed to shake the foundations of the building. "You fucking traitor! I'll tear your goddamn throat out!"

Tyson moved with surprising speed for his usually measured demeanor, catching Thor's massive arm and pulling him back with help from another member. His face had gone pale as death, eyes wide with shock before narrowing into focused calculation.

"Easy there, big man," Jesse taunted, his high-pitched, unhinged laughter cutting through the heavy silence. His body twitched with manic energy as he pointed at me. "Bet you wish you'd been nicer to your prospect now, huh, Carson? Turns out all it took was a little cash and the promise he wouldn't end up like the last guy who crossed us."

My hands curled into fists so tight I could feel my nails cutting into my palms. The pain helped ground me, kept me from losing control when control was the only currency I had left.

I managed to keep my voice controlled despite the raging mix of fear and fury inside me. "What do you want?" Each word felt like it was being dragged over gravel.

Around me, my brothers had shifted closer, a wall of leather and loyalty. I could feel their rage vibrating in the air, matching the pulse pounding in my temples. Across the room, Dex had moved his hand to rest openly on his weapon, his eyes seeking mine for a signal.

Venom leaned in, his eyes cold and calculating as he replied, "It's simple. The Heavy Kings are finished." He gestured broadly around the tavern. "I want everything—your territory, your businesses, your supply routes. You sign it all over to me, or your little girlfriend dies slowly while Jesse here makes her regret ever leaving Coldwater."

The ultimatum hit like a sledgehammer. Not just Mia's life, but everything the Heavy Kings had built over decades. My father's legacy. The brotherhood that had defined my entire existence.

"You're suggesting we just hand over our colors? Our charter?" Tyson asked, his voice calm despite the situation. Always the strategist, buying time, assessing options.

"By noon tomorrow," Venom confirmed with a nod. "Every deed, every account number, every supply contact. The Heavy Kings dissolve, and the territory becomes Serpent domain. You guys all just fuck off. Find someplace else to be boy scouts." His eyes never left mine. "A small price to pay for the girl's life, wouldn't you say, Duke?"

I could feel the disbelief and fury in my brothers' eyes; I could almost feel the weight of their loyalty as Thor and Tyson moved to stand directly at my side. The three of us had grown up together, fought together, bled together. We'd built the modern Heavy Kings with our hands and backs.

"You're asking me to choose between my club and Mia," I stated grimly, needing to hear it spoken aloud.

Venom merely shrugged, spreading his hands in a gesture of mock helplessness. "No choice at all, really. By tomorrow night, I'll have both." His confidence was absolute. "The only question is whether the girl lives or dies in the process."

Through the phone, we could hear Mia's breathing, quick and frightened. Diesel's growls had subsided to anxious whines.

"He's scared," Ryder's voice came through, presumably talking about the dog. "Should I take him outside?"

"Keep him there," Venom commanded. "Insurance that our guest behaves herself."

My mind raced, assessing options, angles, possibilities. The location of my cabin was remote, defensible but also isolated. A direct assault would put Mia in immediate danger. If Ryder was truly working with the Serpents, he'd have informed them of our security measures, our protocols.

"Let me talk to her," I demanded, my voice low.

Venom considered this for a moment, then nodded to the phone. "Put her on."

There was a rustling sound, then Mia's voice came through, shaky but determined. "Duke, don't! They'll kill me anyway!"

Her words were cut off by the sickening sound of impact and her cry of pain that turned my vision red with fury. I surged forward before I could stop myself, only Tyson's quick hand on my arm keeping me from lunging across the table.

"Now, now," Jesse chided, grinning widely. "That's no way to talk to your saviors, is it, baby girl?"

"That's enough," Venom said sharply to Jesse, before turning his attention back to me. "You see our dilemma, Duke. Your little stray has a mouth on her. Makes it hard to guarantee her safety if she keeps . . . provoking responses."

"You touch her again—" I started, my voice dropping to a dangerous register.

"You'll what?" Venom interrupted, genuine curiosity in his tone. "Storm my compound with your diminished numbers? Trade your territory for damaged goods?" He leaned forward. "Face reality, Carson. I've won."

I stared at him, seeing not just the man before me but the shadow that had haunted my family for decades. The man suspected of orchestrating my father's fatal "accident," the man who'd ordered my uncle's execution, who'd spent years chipping away at the Heavy Kings' power and influence.

Now he wanted everything. Maybe he’d always wanted it all.

"How do I know she's still alive after I give you what you want?" I asked, forcing my brain back to strategic thinking despite the blood pounding in my ears.

Venom smiled appreciatively, like a teacher whose student had asked a good question. "You don't. That's the beauty of leverage—it requires a measure of faith." He gestured to the phone. "But I'm not unreasonable. Once the transfer is complete, you'll get coordinates. You can pick her up yourself—alone, of course."

"And we're just supposed to ride away? Leave Ironridge to the Serpents?" Thor growled, his voice vibrating with barely contained violence.

"You can go wherever you want, as long as it's far from here," Venom replied easily. "California's nice this time of year. Or maybe Alaska, if you prefer the cold." His smile was shark-like. "The point is, the Heavy Kings cease to exist, and the Serpents expand our territory."

The Heavy Kings around the room had gone deadly still, their faces registering various stages of shock, rage, and disbelief. Cooper had moved closer to the bar, his hand resting near the shotgun I knew was mounted underneath. Burns and two others had subtly repositioned to block the exit, while Dex was clearly calculating odds, his eyes moving from Serpent to Serpent.

"Twenty-four hours," Venom continued, tapping his watch. "By this time tomorrow, I want everything signed over—the tavern, the auto shop, the tattoo parlor, your supplying contacts, your protection clients. Everything." He tilted his head. "In return, Mia Delgado lives."

"And if I refuse?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

Venom's smile never wavered. "Then Jesse gets his ex-girlfriend back, and he's been very . . . creative in describing what he'd like to do with her." He nodded toward his brother, whose eyes had taken on a hungry, predatory gleam. "Doubt she’d survive the first night. Or the dog."

The image his words conjured—Mia in Jesse's hands—made my blood run cold. The thought of Mia suffering that fate because of me was unbearable.

Through the phone speaker, I could hear Mia's breathing, faster now. "Duke," she called out suddenly, her voice stronger despite what had clearly been a harsh blow. "Don't give them anything! They—"

Another impact sound cut her off, followed by a whimper that carved itself into my memory. Diesel barked frantically in the background.

"Shut her up," Venom snapped into the phone.

"Already did," Ryder replied, his voice sounding strained. "Don’t worry. She's only bleeding a little."

Something in me snapped at those words. The careful control I'd been maintaining cracked, allowing a glimpse of the rage beneath. "I'm going to kill you," I promised quietly, looking directly at Venom. "Not today, maybe not tomorrow, but I will end you for this."

Venom appeared genuinely amused by my threat. "Dramatic as always, Carson. But practical matters first—do we have a deal? Your club for the girl?"

I felt the weight of every eye in the room on me. My brothers, waiting for direction. The Serpents, waiting for surrender. And somewhere miles away, Mia, waiting for either salvation or abandonment.

"I'll need to discuss it with my officers," I said finally.

"Of course," Venom agreed magnanimously, rising from my chair at last. "Take all the time you need—within the next twenty-four hours, that is." He nodded to Rex and Jesse, who began moving toward the door. "I'll be waiting at our compound in Coldwater. All the paperwork ready to sign."

He picked up the phone, speaking directly into it. "Keep our guest comfortable, but secure. And Ryder? If anyone approaches that cabin besides me, kill her immediately. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," came the obedient reply before Venom ended the call.

The Iron Serpents president straightened his cut with theatrical precision, brushing an imaginary speck from the leather. "I admire your loyalty, Duke, misplaced though it is. You have twenty-four hours to deliver everything—access codes, property deeds, bank accounts, supply routes, every last detail. Then maybe—maybe—your girl lives."

He nodded to his men, who began backing toward the door, Rex keeping his watchful eyes on the Heavy Kings while Jesse continued to smirk, clearly enjoying the situation.

He paused at the doorway. "Oh, and Duke? Consider this a generous offer. I could have simply taken everything by force."

Then they were gone, the door swinging shut behind them, leaving behind a silence so heavy it seemed to press against my chest, making it hard to breathe.

I turned to face my stunned brothers, my expression grim but determined. I recognized the questions in their eyes, the disbelief, the anger, the uncertainty about what came next.

"Get everyone here," I ordered, my voice steady despite the chaos raging inside me. "Now. We're going to war."

***

The tavern felt unnaturally quiet after the Serpents left. The only sounds were the humming of the refrigerators behind the bar and the occasional creak of leather as men shifted uncomfortably. The air still carried the lingering scent of our enemies—expensive cologne mixed with cigarettes and arrogance.

I moved to the bar and poured myself two fingers of whiskey, downing it in one burning swallow. The alcohol did nothing to dull the image of Mia in danger, her cry of pain echoing in my head alongside Ryder's betrayal.

"Should we go after them?" Cooper finally asked, breaking the silence. His hand still rested near the shotgun under the bar.

"And do what?" Tyson countered quietly. "They're back in their territory by now. And they have Mia."

"Fucking Ryder," Thor growled, slamming his fist into the nearest table hard enough to crack the wood. "I knew that kid was weak, but this?" He shook his head, disgust evident in every line of his massive frame. "When I get my hands on him—"

"Get in line," Burns muttered, lighting a cigarette with shaking hands. The older member had been with the Heavy Kings since my father's time. "But first, we need to figure out what we're doing about the girl."

The question hung in the air, all eyes returning to me. My mind raced through scenarios, each more desperate than the last. Giving in to Venom's demands would mean the end of everything my father had built, everything I'd sacrificed for. But refusing meant Mia's death—slow, painful, and inevitable at Jesse's hands.

"Prez," Dex said carefully, using my title as a reminder of my position. "We need your call on this."

I felt Thor's massive hand land on my shoulder, a weight both reassuring and demanding. His voice, when it came, was gruff but certain.

"We don't abandon our own," he said firmly. "Not for territory, not for money, not for anything."

I looked up at him, surprised by the conviction in his tone. Thor had been wary of Mia at first, suspicious of her connection to the Serpents, protective of the club's security. Yet here he stood, unequivocally supporting her.

"She's one of us now," Thor continued, reading my expression. "Has been since you brought her in. And we don't let Serpents take what's ours." He squeezed my shoulder hard enough to hurt. "Whatever you decide, I'm with you."

Tyson nodded, his tactical mind already working through options. "Venom's overplayed his hand," he said quietly. "He thinks he's backed us into a corner, but he's exposed himself too. Coming into our territory personally, revealing Ryder as his inside man . . ." He shook his head. "It's sloppy. Desperate, even."

"Desperate how?" I asked, latching onto his analysis.

"Think about it," Tyson continued, moving to the map of Ironridge and surrounding areas that hung framed behind the bar. "Why now? Why risk everything on this play?" He tapped the area marking Coldwater, the Serpents' territory. "Something's pushing him. Someone."

"The Cartel," Cooper suggested. "Heard rumors they've been squeezing the Serpents on their meth distribution."

"Maybe," Tyson acknowledged. "Or the Mayans from the south. Either way, Venom needs our territory and resources fast. That's leverage we can use."

I watched as my brothers began gathering around, forming a tight circle of leather and loyalty. One by one, others stepped forward, each statement of support building upon the last.

"I've got three guys who can start surveillance on the Serpents' compound immediately," Dex offered, his usual quiet competence a balm to the chaos of the moment.

Burns crushed out his cigarette decisively. "My cousin works Coldwater PD. Might be able to get some intel on patrol patterns, give us a window."

Even the youngest prospects, barely patched in, moved closer, eager to prove themselves in the coming fight. One kid—couldn't have been more than twenty-two, with a fresh tattoo peeking above his collar—spoke up nervously.

"I don't know Mia," he said, "but I know what the Heavy Kings stand for. We don't let anyone take what's ours."

I studied each face, reading the determination there. These men had pledged their lives to the club, to each other, to me. They were willing to risk everything, not just for territory or reputation, but for a woman many of them barely knew—because she mattered to me, and that was enough.

The realization struck me with unexpected force. This was what separated us from the Serpents, what my father had built the Heavy Kings upon. Not just power or profit, but a genuine brotherhood that extended protection to all who fell under our care.

I took a deep breath and pushed off from the bar, standing tall as every eye fixed on me.

"You've miscalculated, Venom," I said quietly, as if the Serpents' president could still hear me. Then louder, addressing my brothers directly: "And he has miscalculated. He thinks he's forcing me to choose between the woman I love and my club."

The admission hung in the air—the first time I'd acknowledged aloud how I felt about Mia. No one seemed surprised.

I took a deliberate step forward, my voice growing stronger with each word. "But he's wrong. There is no choice here. If we abandon Mia, then the Heavy Kings aren't worth saving. So yes, I'd give him the whole damn thing—the club, the territory, all of it—if that's what it took to get her back safely."

A shocked murmur rippled through the room, but I held up my hand for silence.

"But that's not the play," I continued, my resolve hardening. "Because whatever we might give him today, we'd be coming for it tomorrow. And we're coming for Mia first."

Thor's face split into a fierce grin, while Tyson nodded approvingly, already three steps ahead in planning.

"So what's the plan, prez?" Cooper asked, the uncertainty in the room transforming into focused energy.

"First, we assume Ryder's told them everything—security codes, protocols, schedules. We change it all, immediately." I turned to Tyson. "I want new communication channels set up within the hour. Nothing that Ryder might know about."

Tyson nodded, already pulling out his phone. "Done."

"Dex," I continued, "get eyes on the Serpents' compound. I want to know every vehicle that enters or leaves, every guard rotation, every blind spot."

"On it," Dex confirmed, already moving toward the door, signaling to two trusted members to follow.

"Thor, secure our businesses. Double the guards at the auto shop and tattoo parlor. Anyone not essential to our immediate plans needs to be protecting our assets from opportunistic moves by the Serpents."

Thor cracked his knuckles, eager for action. "Consider it handled."

I walked to the map that Tyson had been studying, tracing the route between Ironridge and the Serpents' compound in Coldwater. "Venom expects me to gather our assets and surrender them. He's given us twenty-four hours because he thinks we'll spend it preparing for a transition."

"But instead?" Burns prompted.

"Instead, we use that time to plan a rescue and counterattack." I tapped the location of my cabin. "Ryder's holding Mia here, but he's expecting backup from the Serpents. They won't leave him alone with her for long."

"Which means we have a window," Tyson concluded, coming to stand beside me. "If we move fast enough, we might be able to get to Mia before they relocate her to the compound."

"Exactly," I confirmed. "But we need to be smart about this. Ryder knows our approach routes, our tactics. He'll be watching, and his orders are to kill Mia if he sees any of us coming."

The room fell silent as the reality of our situation sank in. Mia's life hung by the thinnest of threads, dependent on our ability to outthink both Ryder and the Serpents.

"What about someone he wouldn't recognize?" suggested a voice from the back. A tall, lanky prospect named Ellis stepped forward, nervously adjusting his cut. "I just patched in last month, after Ryder went to watch the cabin. He's never seen me."

I considered this. "Good thought, but he'd be suspicious of any strangers approaching."

"What about Lena from the tattoo shop?" Cooper suggested. "She could play a lost tourist or something. Get close enough to scope the place out at least."

"Too risky," Thor growled. "If Ryder makes her, Mia's dead."

Ideas bounced around the room, each considered and discarded as too dangerous or impractical. Time was ticking, and with each passing minute, the chance of the Serpents moving Mia increased.

Then Tyson snapped his fingers, his eyes lighting up with that particular gleam that meant he'd seen a path forward.

"We're thinking about this wrong," he said, turning to me. "We're assuming we need to approach the cabin undetected."

"We do," I replied, confused. "Any sign of Heavy Kings, and Ryder pulls the trigger."

"But what if," Tyson continued slowly, "we want him to see us coming?"

The room went quiet as his implication sank in.

"A diversion," I realized, the beginnings of a plan taking shape.

"More than that," Tyson explained, his voice dropping as he stepped closer to our inner circle. "A full tactical misdirection." He pointed to various locations on the map. "We make Venom think we're preparing to surrender. Meanwhile, we position our forces here, here, and here—visible enough to draw attention, but far enough from the cabin that Ryder won't feel immediately threatened."

"While someone else approaches from the blind side," Thor finished, catching on.

"Someone who knows the terrain better than Ryder," I added, my mind racing ahead. "Someone who can get to Mia while everyone's attention is focused elsewhere. Me."

The plan wasn't perfect. It carried significant risks, chief among them the possibility that Ryder would panic and hurt Mia anyway. But it was better than surrender, and better than doing nothing while precious time slipped away.

"It could work," Tyson affirmed, already refining the details in his mind. "But we need to move fast. Coordinate perfectly."

I nodded, decision made. "Burns, get your cousin on the phone. We need everything he can give us on Serpent movements." I turned to Thor. "Secure our perimeter here, then select a team for the visible approach. They need to be convincing without being threatening."

"Cooper, inventory our weapons. Anything we might need for both the diversion and the extraction." I looked around at the remaining members. "The rest of you, prepare for the possibility that this escalates beyond a simple rescue. If we get Mia out but have to go to war with the Serpents in the process, I want us ready."

The Heavy Kings would not abandon one of their own. We would not bow to threats or intimidation. We would fight—for Mia, for our territory, for everything we believed in.

"Listen up," I called, drawing all eyes to me once more. "In twenty-four hours, Venom expects me to arrive at his compound ready to surrender everything we've built. Instead, I'm going to be handing him the biggest mistake of his life."

Thor raised his beer bottle in a toast. "To bringing our girl home."

"And sending the Serpents back to hell," Burns added.

I raised my own bottle, looking each of my brothers in the eye. Men who had chosen this life, who had sworn oaths to our brotherhood, who were now preparing to risk everything not just for territory or profit, but for loyalty and honor.

"For the Heavy Kings," I said firmly. "And for Mia."