Page 5

Pippen

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

I woke from a dead sleep, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew something was wrong. I could feel it. Reaching for my phone, I checked to make sure he didn’t call. Seeing nothing, I got up and walked into the living room, unable to get the feeling of dread to ease.

The apartment was eerily quiet, the shadows cast by the moonlight created ghostly silhouettes on the walls. The stillness of the night was unsettling and amplified the anxiety that gnawed at me. I glanced at the clock, seeing it was just past three in the morning. The witching hour, as they called it. A time when the world felt suspended between dreams and reality and when the mind was most susceptible to its darkest fears.

I sat down on the couch, trying to calm my frantic heartbeat. “It’s just a feeling,” I told myself. “There’s no reason to believe something is wrong.” But the rational part of my mind couldn’t silence the growing sense of foreboding. I picked up my phone again, scrolling through the messages, hoping for some reassurance.

Nothing.

Not a single notification.

I decided to make myself a cup of tea, hoping the warm drink would soothe my nerves. As the kettle boiled, I stared out the window, the street outside deserted and silent. The trees swayed gently with the night breeze, their branches whispering secrets to the night. I wished I could understand those whispers. Maybe they held the answers to my unease.

The tea did little to calm me. I needed to understand what was happening. I walked back to the couch, my mind racing with possibilities. Had something happened to him? Why hadn’t he called or messaged? Was he in trouble? My thoughts spiraled, each one feeding the growing panic within me.

I tried calling him, the ringing of the phone sounding unbearably loud in the quiet room. It went straight to voicemail. My heart sank. I left a message, my voice trembling as I tried to sound calm. “Hey, it’s me. Just checking in. Call me when you get this.” I hung up and stared at the phone, willing it to ring.

It didn’t.

Minutes felt like hours as I sat there, waiting. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible had happened. I tried to distract myself, flipping through channels on the TV, but nothing could hold my attention. Every sound, every shadow, seemed to be a harbinger of bad news.

“You’re up early?” Shadow muttered sleepily when he walked past me into the kitchen.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“Me either,” he replied. “Don’t sleep well without Joan. You want to talk about it?”

“No,” I said, getting to my feet. “I’m gonna go for a walk.”

I hoped the fresh air would clear my head. I grabbed my jacket and stepped outside; the cool night air wrapped around me like a shroud. The city was asleep, the streets empty and silent. I walked aimlessly, my mind still racing with thoughts of him.

I found myself at the park, a place we discovered shortly after renting the apartment. Danika loved it. So did Danny. It was peaceful, the silence almost comforting. I sat on a bench as memories of happier times flooded my mind. I remembered the laughter, the joy, the moments of pure contentment. But tonight, those memories were overshadowed by the fear of the unknown.

I checked my phone again.

Nothing. The feeling of dread was overwhelming now, suffocating me.

I needed to hear his voice.

To know that he was safe.

Montana

St. John’s Presbyterian Hospital, New York.

It took a few hours, but the first responders found him.

Somehow, that lucky son of a bitch survived a seven-story building falling on him. He was barely hanging on, but he was alive. Now it was up to Valhalla to make sure he stayed that way. With Bane off doing God knows what, Valhalla was the only doctor we could technically trust.

If that bitch knew what was good for her, she’d better fucking make sure the kid survived.

“Mercy,” I muttered, looking about the room. “Send out an alert to all the chapters. Clubs are on lockdown.”

“Already did, brother,” Mercy whispered. “But the only one who has responded is the Alabama Chapter. Something is going on, boss, and I don’t like it. What about the Golden Skulls?”

“They won’t listen to me.”

“Until Reaper hears Sypher’s fate, he won’t think clearly, and you know it. You need to call Ghost and let him know so he can lock down the clubhouse.”

He was right.

Right now, Reaper was sitting next to Ace, Chipper, and Trout. All four men looked worse for wear, but the solemn looks in their eyes told me all I needed to know. They only cared about Sypher.

This was a massive clusterfuck.

With Reaper out until Sypher’s fate was known, that left me to handle what would come next and it didn’t take a fucking genius to figure that shit out.

Standing up straighter, I squared my shoulders and said, “Listen up, everyone. I figure we have less than an hour before this shit hits the airwaves. Until we know what Sypher’s fate is, we have to think preemptively. I’m locking down the clubhouse. Reaper, I need your permission to call Ghost so he can do the same.”

Reaper nodded, rubbing his hands down his face. “Have him contact the Tennessee Chapter too.”

“Mercy, make the fucking call,” I ordered as my VP already had his phone to his ear. “The rest of you, I want this floor secured. Only hospital personnel working to save Sypher is allowed on this floor. Fury, go find the hospital administrator and pave the way. Give him whatever he fucking wants.”

But before Fury could move an inch, Maxim Fedorov walked into the waiting room and sneered, “It’s all over the news. The table got an anonymous call. They know Sypher was in the building. They issued the order. Ten million for the first person to kill Sypher.”

“Fuck,” I sighed as Reaper grinned.

“So, war it is.”

Looking at the Golden Skulls’ president, I nodded. “They want a fucking war, then let’s give them one.”

Over the next few hours, Reaper and I started making calls, issuing orders and formulating a plan, when Valhalla walked into the waiting room looking like total dog shit.

“He’s alive.”

“Can he be moved?” I interrupted, not needing to hear anything else. Alive was alive in my book and that’s all that mattered.

“No, he can’t be fucking moved, you inconsiderate ass. I had a fucking drill in his head not even an hour ago to relieve the pressure on his brain. That’s not mentioning all the other shit we had to do to keep him alive!”

“Is he stable?” I sneered.

“For now, but he’s in critical condition.”

“Then we are moving him.”

“No, you are not.” Ace glared, slowly looking up at me. “He’s my brother and as Bailey, Charlie and I are the only blood family Danny has here, we decide what happens with our brother. Not you or Reaper.”

“STOP!” Val shouted, getting all of our attention. “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear. If you move Sypher, he will die. This isn’t a fucking game. I removed a piece of the kid’s skull. His brain is exposed. Under no circumstance is he allowed to be moved. So all of you better figure out another way to protect him.”

With that, the woman did an about-face and left the waiting room.

Looking at Reaper, I shook my head and quipped, “Custer’s last stand?”

“I was thinking shootout at the OK Corral?”

“Works for me.” I nodded. “Trout and Payne, if shit goes sideways, I don’t care what Val says. Get that kid out of here. As for the rest of you, go find a motherfucker and kill him.”

Looking at Reaper, he asked, reaching for his guns, checking the clips, “You ready for this, fucknuts?”

Reaching for mine, I muttered, “Just stay out of my way. I wouldn’t want to accidentally shoot you in the crossfire.”

“Anything happens to my brother, I will kill you both,” Ace snarked before he left the room with the rest of Harbor Security, ready for war.

“He’s a moody bastard, isn’t he?” Fury quipped.

“You have no idea,” Bailey groaned, walking past the man.

Moving slowly down the long hallway, the silence was deafening. St. John’s Presbyterian had just become ground zero for the start of a fucking war the table would not win. Not if I had anything to do with it. Bad enough those fucks thought they could handcuff the Biker Federation by taking the seat away from me, but when they issued a kill order on a fucking kid who spent his fucking life providing them with security, well that was something I wouldn’t allow. Contrary to popular belief, I didn’t hold with using kids to bring people to heel, and though Sypher was technically a patched brother in the Golden Skulls, most of the Biker Federation still saw him as a kid.

Myself included.

Call the Biker Federation what you want, but the fucking table was in for a rude awakening if anyone harmed one fucking hair on that kid’s head. Even I fucking knew the Biker Federation outnumbered the underworld six to one.

The odds were in our favor.

The dim fluorescent lights flickered intermittently, casting long shadows along the sterile, white walls of the hospital hallway as Reaper and I moved at a deliberately slow pace, our boots echoing softly against the linoleum floor. Each step we took was measured, each breath controlled, as we scanned the mostly deserted corridor for any sign of the men sent to kill Sypher.

My heart pounded in my chest; a rhythm matched by the steady thrum of tension that coursed through my veins. After the last few months of revelations, I was so ready to release some of the pent-up hostile energy I had bubbling under my skin. Even I knew a man could only take so much before he broke, and I was at my limit.

The stillness of the hospital unnerved me. It was a stark contrast to the chaotic whirlwind that had brought me here. My mind replayed the events of the night before, the tense buildup of worry, the fucking phone call that told us what we already suspected, and then the race against time to stop the inevitable. It was all too much even for the strongest of men. Now, the grim reality of retributive justice marred these hallowed halls of healing. For soon, these white walls would run red with blood.

Every room I passed seemed to hold its breath, the silence broken only by the occasional beep of a distant monitor or the hushed whispers of nurses tending to their patients. My hand hovered near the concealed holster at my hip, fingers itching for the familiar grip of my weapon. I knew that violence had no place in this sanctuary, but the threat against the kid left me no choice.

No one was touching that kid.

Ever.

Turning a corner, my eyes narrowed when I spotted a figure in the distance. The man was dressed inconspicuously, as he blended into the environment with practiced ease. But I knew better. I recognized the son of a bitch’s predatory stance, the cold determination in the man’s eyes.

Shaking my head, I smirked.

This was who the fucking table sent? This was the assassin, the harbinger of death sent to sever the thread of Sypher’s life.

Summoning every ounce of resolve, I advanced slowly, my muscles coiled like a spring ready to unleash. I could almost hear the ticking of an unseen clock, counting down the precious moments before confrontation. As I closed in, the assassin turned, and our gazes locked in a silent acknowledgment of the inevitable clash.

In that suspended instant, time seemed to stretch. The world narrowed into the thin strip of hallway between us. My thoughts were a maelstrom of loyalty, anger, and the unyielding promise of protection. I had come too far, sacrificed too much, to let Sypher fall prey to this merciless hunter. So, when Death creeped up behind the fucker and grabbed his head in a tight lock, he stiffened and I smiled. “Mr. Blue, I would like you to meet Reaper.”

His eyes widened and I watched as Death claimed his first victim.

After helping Reaper stuff Mr. Blue into a storage closet, we headed back down the hallway.

“They fucking sent the Primary Brothers.”

“The what?” Reaper questioned.

“The Primary Brothers,” I groaned, shaking my head. “There are three of them. Well, now two. Blue, Red and Yellow.”

Stopping dead in his tracks, Reaper scoffed, looking at me like I was the stupidest person on the fucking planet. “You’re fucking with me. That cannot be their names.”

Chuckling, I nodded. “Not very inventive, but proficient. The table uses them often. They are good, but apparently not that damn good.”

“I feel insulted,” Reaper snarked, looking back at the storage closet. “My son could have killed that fucker in his sleep and he’s five.”

Smirking, I added, “York’s got a nasty temper. Boy would have toyed with the fucker just for shits and giggles.”

“So that’s the reach of the table, then? A box of crayons.”

“I wish,” I groaned. “The Primary Brothers are one of five groups the table contracts with. We need to find the other two Primary Brothers fast, because when they learn their brother is dead, they will notify the table and then the kill order will go wide.”

“What do you mean, wide?”

“Worldwide.”

“Fuck this shit,” Reaper said, reaching for his phone. “We don’t have time to play the table’s stupid game. I want this shit over with now. The table can get fucked. I’m not going to lose that kid because some fucking assholes want to keep the power they have.”

“What are you doing?”

“Killing two birds with one stone. I’m ending this shit show now.”

“How?”

“The table likes playing games. Let’s see how they fare against the Brotherhood.”

Yanking the phone out of his hand, I snarled, “You cannot call them. Those fuckers are only loyal to themselves. For all we know they could be working for the table.”

Reaper smiled menacingly at me as a trickle of unease had the hair standing up on the back of my neck and that’s when I realized Reaper knew more than he was letting on.

Looking right at me, Reaper grinned. “You want to know why the table stays the fuck away from my club? It’s not because they are afraid of me. It’s because they know I hold the keys to the fires of Hell.”

“Reaper, you do this and it’s game over. The underworld will retaliate. The table is the only thing holding the underworld together. With no law and order, chaos will ensue. It will be a free-for-all.”

“Good,” the asshole snarked. “Maybe a little death and destruction is what this fucking world needs.”

“We can do this,” I growled. “Together. No more games. No more secrets. It’s what you’ve wanted from day one. Well, I’m bending the fucking knee. But don’t make that fucking call.”

Lowering his phone, the asshole took a good long look at me, then said, “We do this my way.”

Swallowing loudly, I growled and handed him back his phone. “Fine. You are in charge.”

Smiling, Reaper chuckled. “Bet that hurt, didn’t it?”

Turning away from him, I sneered, “I fucking hate you.”

Ellery

Silver Shadows’ clubhouse, Diamond Creek, Nebraska.

Two weeks had passed since Danny and Dante departed from Diamond Creek, embarking on a journey to Oklahoma City with Danika in order to seek medical attention from Dr. Melissa Jefferson. When Nav suggested her, I immediately looked her up online, curious to see what she was like. I was keen to understand the qualities and characteristics that set her apart from others and made her so unique. With a therapist already in Diamond Creek, I wanted my friends to stay close by in case they needed me.

I missed them.

Upon reviewing her impressive qualifications and experience, I fully grasped their decision to secure the most exceptional care for their daughter, following the trauma she had endured. Dr. Jefferson, a specialist in pediatric trauma, dealt daily with children whose eyes held the weight of unspeakable experiences. It wasn’t easy raising a child who didn’t speak. The constant worry gnawed at me, and I envied the readily available help little Danika would receive.

The day Ryder and I wed, amidst the celebratory bustle and fragrance of flowers, Tabby uttered her first word in two years—a tender ‘ Mama .’ Hearing her little voice nearly shattered my heart to pieces but in the best way possible.

Since then, she had added more words, but only to Ryder and me.

She was more animated around the clubhouse now. Communicating in her own way with all the brothers. They never pushed her for words, all taking the time to learn her tells.

Sitting in the main room, I looked around at the women here.

My girlfriends. The best girlfriends I had ever had, other than Jessie. Three of us, all old ladies, having babies we would raise together. I even considered the club girls friends.

I never thought I would find happiness like this. But then to have Danny and Dante show up out of the blue… I sighed, thinking about everything.I didn’t realize how much I missed them until I saw them here. It was almost like time evaporated and everything was perfect in my world.

I just wished they could stay.

The brothers were all in church tonight. The officers had church weekly, but the patched brothers attended only once a month. So, the women sat out here in the main room with the prospects.

And Bane.

Dr. August Lansing.

He was a bit intimidating. King invited him into church, but he declined. He explained he was taking a sabbatical from all club bullshit, not just his own.

I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

I was the reason he was here. My parents had forged his name on some medical forms in hopes of having me found mentally ill.

“Excuse me, ladies, I need to change the channel,” Bane said, switching the cartoons the girls were watching to the news.

“Live in New York City, this is Maya Saunders, reporting from where the Harbor Security Building on fifth just exploded. Details are still coming in, but preliminary reports tell us there was one victim. We are unsure if the victim is still alive or if they are deceased. Stay with us for minute-by-minute reporting at WNYC-10. Back to you, Jeff.”

The scene on the television was one I wasn’t unfamiliar with, growing up in Manhattan. I just prayed whoever was injured wasn’t someone I knew.

“Who was it?”

I looked up and saw Bane with his phone to his ear. His club, the Soulless Sinners, was based in New York City. I was sure he was worried about his friends.

“What the fuck was he doing there?”

We could only hear one side of the conversation but all of us were on the edge of our seats waiting for information.

“They’re in church. They should be out soon. Has anyone found Pippen?”

That had me shooting up out of my seat and rushing to Bane.

“Who was it?” I asked, pulling on his arm, no longer intimidated by the grouchy older man. “What about Dante?”

Holding his hand over the phone, he scowled down at me. “Pippen is fine. He wasn’t even in New York. No one knows where he is.”

Except I knew.

“What about Danny?” When he gave me a confused look, I remembered to use his club name. “Sypher. What about Sypher?”

Bane frowned and stated in an unemotional tone, “Sypher was the victim that was injured. He’s in the hospital.”

“Oh God. No.”

I couldn’t stop the tears that immediately spilled from my eyes. My nose burned with the realization that my best friend was in a building when it exploded.

His words to me before he left rushed forward in my mind.

“If anything should happen to me. I need you to give this to King and tell him I said, time’s up. He will know what that means.”

Running over to my bag, I dug for my wallet and pulled out the small Microdrive Danny gave me. Fisting my hand around the drive, I looked at the church doors.

I was about to do something that I was told never to do. Ryder explained that I was never allowed to interrupt church unless someone was dying. And Danny could be dying.

“Ellie?” I barely heard my name being called.

I knew my friends would be worried about me. They saw me with Danny. They understood how close we were.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my raging heart and walked toward the church doors. I had no intention of knocking or being denied. Danny had trusted me with this. I knew it was important.

Pulling the church doors open, I walked in. If growing up in New York had taught me anything, it was to never show weakness when I barged into a room I didn’t belong in. I walked into that room like I had every right to be there. Despite the tears running down my face.

“Ellie, what are you doing?” I vaguely heard my husband ask, but I ignored him and walked straight over to King.

“Ellie, honey, what’s wrong?”

“There was an explosion.” I closed my eyes, trying so hard to get the words out quickly. “Danny,” I choked out.

Ryder came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. Someone moved, I didn’t know who, the only person I could see was King, as Ryder sat in the chair and pulled me into his lap.

King knelt on the floor in front of us. “What happened to Danny?”

“The Harbor Security Building on 5 th exploded. Sypher was in it. He’s in the hospital,” Bane explained for me. He had followed me into the room and stood in the doorway.

“Fuck. I told him whatever he was gonna do wouldn’t work.”

I looked at my husband. “You knew?” I sneered.

“I didn’t know anything, baby. I just knew he was planning something. He didn’t tell me what.”

“Fuck.” King bowed his head.

“He asked me to give you something, King.”

King’s head snapped up and he locked eyes with mine. I reached out, taking his hand in mine as I slipped the drive into his hand and curled his fingers around it.

“He said to tell you, time’s up.”

“Fuck!” King cursed, jumping to his feet as he tightened his hand around the drive and yelled, “AMBER!”