Page 65 of Monstrosity

"Just this," I tell him honestly. "You, me, the girls, together and safe. That's all I need."

He presses a kiss to my hair. "One more day."

"One more day," I echo.

And as sleep finally claims me, bruised and exhausted in the arms of the man I love, I let myself believe it's true.

One more day and this nightmare ends.

One more day and we can start building our future without looking over our shoulders.

One more day.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Rio

It might be four in the morning, but the clubhouse is quiet as all hell, that deep silence that comes before war.

I've been awake for an hour, running through tonight's plan until I could recite it in my sleep.

Tonight, we hit Bembe's shipment.

Tonight, this threat to my family ends.

Or we die trying.

I slip out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake Dasha.

She needs her sleep—God knows she got little enough last night, tossing and turning, her hand reaching for me even in dreams.

The bruises on her throat have darkened to purple-black, a reminder of how close I came to losing her.

Never again.

I walk downstairs and find the room where the club holdskirkjawide open.

Runes sits at the head of the table, maps spread before him, while Ivar cleans his weapons.

Tor's on his phone, probably checking in with our scouts.

"Morning," Runes greets without looking up. "Coffee's fresh."

I pour a cup, noting my hands are steady.

Good. Can't afford to be nervous today.

"Irish are in position," Tor reports, ending his call. "Doran says they've got eyes on the dock. No unusual movement yet."

"They won't see us coming," I say, settling into my chair. "Bembe thinks he's safe. Thinks his ambush yesterday bought him time."

"Maybe it did," Ivar points out. "He knows we're coming for him now."

"He knew anyway." I pull up the aerial photos of the dock on my tablet. "But knowing and being ready are two different things. He's expecting a few bikers looking for revenge. Not a coordinated strike with Irish backing."

"Speaking of which." Runes slides a phone across to me. "Liam wants confirmation we're still good for tonight."

I dial the number, unsurprised when Liam answers on the first ring.