Page 22

Rome

“I need you to protect your mama, sister, and brothers. I’m leaving you in charge of them here, son. I know you can do this. Protect our family, my boy,” Dad whispers as he pulls back from the crushing hug.

I nod stoically, even if I feel nothing but nerves and shakes. I’d never let my dad see that, though. He’s the strongest, toughest man I’ve ever seen. I won’t show weaknesses to him. I just wish I was going with them. I can’t wait until I’m old enough to prospect. I want to be on this ride, having my uncles and dad's backs. I hate being stuck here, not knowing what’s happening. I know I’m only a kid, but I still wish I was there with them.

“I should be going on this one as well,” Mom growls at Dad as he pulls her into a kiss. I quickly roll my eyes but turn my head. As much as I hate watching it, I love seeing how much they love each other.

“One of us has to be here for our family, Pet.”

“Just promise me you’ll come home to us.” After he promises to come home, he kisses each of the triplets on the head before stepping over to Rae, who's not even trying to hold back the tears.

Mama calls her a daddy's girl, but I just call her a girl. If I were a girl, I could show how worried and upset I am, but I can’t. I’m the man when Dad's gone, so I have to stay strong.

“What’s the tears for my sweet girl? It’s just a little ride. I won’t even swerve. Swear it!” He smiles while wiping the tears from her face.

“I just don’t want you to go,” she cries before throwing herself into his arms.

I look around at my aunts, uncles, and cousins, all hugging and some crying harder than others. Not all of them know what’s going on, and I don’t even know all the details, but we know we are going into lockdown and don’t know for how long. That can’t be good.

As we watch all the club members load up and ride out, I can’t help but long for the day when it’s me riding out, watching my family's back. I look up at Uncle Cutter, who’s standing beside me. I know he wishes he could ride out with them too, but his shop needs him here too much.

“Alright, ladies, let's head to the safe room,” he announces, ushering everyone in the front door. I step through the door and hear Uncle Cutter, Drift, and Vice step in and lock it behind us. I don’t think anything about following my family through the room toward the basement doors where the safe room is located until I hear a grunt and thump on the floor behind me. As I turn, all the air in my body leaves me at the sight of Uncle Cutter on the floor.

“What the fuck is going on?” Aunt Piper yells, rushing back across the room.

“This is where all you bitches stop asking the questions and start fucking listening. There's been a change of plans.”

I can't believe what is happening right in front of my eyes.

“Vice, what's going on? Why are you holding a gun at us?” Aunt Sunny asks, but Mama speaks up as well.

“I knew you fuckers were up to something. You’ve both been slinking in here looking all fucking creepy and Dommer-like for weeks now. Should have fucking known.”

“Shut the fuck up! I’m so fucking sick of what this fucking club has come to. All about you fucking cunts and nothing to do with what we all started, what we built here,” Vice growls, waving the gun.

“You mean what Hayden and Hitter and every other member but you two fuckers built? Where have you guys been since the start of this club? I’ll tell you, on the road. Gone. Places to places. Bitches to bitches. Don't sit there like you did fucking all for this club. Y’all never even came back when war was declared,” Aunt Piper yells.

“Declared because of you women and whatever fucking holy cunt you got in between those thighs. I will never understand how each of them fell. How my so-called brothers could take in the traitorous bitch that got OUR brOTHER KILLED!!!” Drift screams at us, and I flinch. I’ve heard the story of what he’s referring to, though, and it's bullshit. Uncle Dread saved Aunt Izzy. We all know that. It was her asshole of a brother, not her, that did it.

“I-I didn't mean for that to…” Aunt Izzy starts but is cut off by a shot. The fucker shot a hole through the floor beside her foot.

“Only warning. I don't want to hear from any of you, but especially not from you ,” Vice seethes.

I don't know what to do or what's going to happen. I want to ask what they plan to do with us, but I’m afraid if I speak up, he’ll shoot me or someone else, and I can't risk that. It isn't long before there's a knock on the door. As Drift opens the door, I hear Beck- dang it, I mean Lyra gasp at the men walking through the clubhouse doors.

“Oh, no! I know you two! You were at my house… in my kitchen. Asking questions about my girl,” Tizzy gasps.

“Yours is coming. Took me weeks to get rid of that headache, bitch,” one of the newcomers says.

“You sold me out? Who are the guys meeting if you had this planned all along?” Lyra nearly screams.

“Oh, don't worry, they will get what's coming to them, but don't worry about them being hurt. We wanted to make sure they came back here unharmed to witness their little brats all alone and with no mommies,” one of the strange fucker mocks. My hands twitch to grab the knife hooked to my back. My favorite one my dad got me for my birthday last year.

“Please, just take me. I’ll go easy. Just leave everyone else alone,” Lyra says with tears pouring down her face.

“You’ve made us hunt, and wait, and fail for THREE FUCKING YEARS! And you’ve been here all along. Now all your friends will pray the price for you. Just a little added suffering,” he finishes, laughing. “Now, women, outside now and in the van. Any sudden movements and the kids will lie in a pile of blood for their fathers to find.”

No one argues. I have to sit and watch as my mom and all my aunts are led outside the safety of our home, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. I want to yell, to scream, to kill all these stupid people who are trying to take my family. My mom must see it in my face because she makes eye contact with me before she's yanked away.

“Take care of them. You have to protect all of them now, my sweet baby boy. Call and get Cutter help. Protect this home,” she says as the stupid tears roll down my face.

“Come on, bitch!” The fucker grabs her by the arm and yanks hard, making her stumble. They all chuckle, and that just makes me want to kill them more.

“Watch that bitch right there. She’s a deceiving little whore,” Vice tells the guys.

“This wee little thing here?” one of the fucker asks before sliding his hands down Mom's back and squeezing her ass. That mother fucker! I take a step forward, but stop when I hear Mom.

“I hope you got what you were looking for, big guy, because that's the last ass you’ll ever feel with that hand. I’ll be sure to saw it off later. You’ll have your own case on my trophy wall.”

“Ohh you will, will you? Then I might want to make it worth it.” He chuckles before grabbing her ass again and then moving up toward her top area.

No fucking way. I grab the knife and charge at him, not caring what happens to me. I get right next to him and slice the arm holding my mom. I hurry, trying to stab, but he twists just in time, and I only get a slice across his stomach. He growls and charges me. I feel a fist hit my face, and then I’m sliding across the floor.

“NO!!!! DON'T FUCKING TOUCH MY SON!” I hear my mom yell. I turn just in time to see her grab the gun from the guy beside her. She points at the one that hit me and fires. She hits him right between the eyes, and the minute his body hits the floor, the room erupts into chaos.

Mom is able to get a shot at Drift, catching him in the chest before the gun is pulled from her hand, and she is pistol-whipped over the head. She goes to the floor, and I try to scramble to catch her. I’m not close enough, though, and the men start grabbing for the struggling women and hauling them out the door.

Vice walks out behind all the women, and I’m still trying to get to them. He turns back and looks at Drift’s lifeless body before turning to look at me. He raises his gun, pointing it at my chest. I stop in my tracks.

“They’ve taken everything from me now. Drift was the only thing I had left. Now, I’m going to take someone important from her. Bet you're wishing those crazy fuckers never took your spoiled ass in, huh?” He gives me a sad smirk.

“Even if you kill me today, I would never regret coming here. I would never regret experiencing the unconditional love that my mom and dad have shown me. You’ve already fucked up. You can kill me or not. Either way, my dad, club's crazy ass Loki… he’s coming for you. He won't stop until he’s drained every drop of blood from your body. So shoot me, fucker, if you have the balls.” I know I shouldn't taunt him, but I’m so mad. How could he do this to us? He smirks again, and I can see it in his eyes. He wants to pull it. Maybe the little bit of humanity he has left in him is what's causing him to hesitate.

Either way, I don't realize that Uncle Cutter has come back to, and taken that moment to pick up his own gun and fire. I hear Vice yell, and then another shot rings out. He got him in the arm and in the thigh. Vice goes down in the doorway. He turns to look at the van outside holding the men who took our moms.

“Get me out of here! You have to help me!”

“Our deal here is done. Good luck, traitor.” I hear someone say before a door closes, and then the unmistakable sound of tires burning out.

“Fuck, Fuck, Fuck! Rome, I need you to tie that betraying mother fucker up! Get all the kids into the safe room, and don’t leave their side!” Uncle Cutter says, walking toward me as he rubs the back of his head. When he pulls his hand away, I notice a shit ton of blood.

“What are you going to do?” I ask, feeling lost, so lost. He sighs before replying.

“Call in the calvary.”