Page 18

EIGHTEEN

ROGUE

After hanging up the phone with Willow, I'm wide awake, my mind reeling from our conversation. Hearing her voice, thick with emotion as she described her nightmare, brought all my guilt and regret rushing back.

I light a cigarette with shaking hands, taking a long drag as I replay her words in my mind. She saw the conflict in my eyes that night. After all these years, she's starting to understand that I wanted to help her, even if I was too much of a coward to actually do it.

It's more than I deserve, this glimpse of understanding from her. But it gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, there's a chance for us to move forward.

I think about Wren, about how much she's grown to trust me over the past month. Every time I see her, I fall more in love with my daughter. Her quick wit, her infectious laugh, the way her brow furrows in concentration when she's drawing—she's perfect in every way.

And Willow... God, Willow. Seeing her with Wren, witnessing firsthand what an amazing mother she is, it only makes me love her more. If that's even possible. I told her I love her. The words slipped out before I could stop them. But I don't regret it. She deserves to know the truth, even if she's not ready to hear it.

As I'm sitting lost in thought, my phone rings again. I check the caller ID—it's Lorenzo Mariano, the son of Caesar Mariano, a powerful mafia boss who’s part of the Boston Syndicate Elite. Lorenzo and I have been friends for years. His father is an ass, but he’s a great leader.

"Lorenzo, I take it this isn’t a social call?" I say as I answer the call. It’s been a while since I’ve spoken to him.

"Rogue, we've got trouble," Lorenzo says, his voice tense. "I've got word that the Shadow Hawks are planning to make a move against the Saints."

I sit up straight, instantly alert. "What? Are you sure?"

"Positive. One of our informants overheard their plans. They’re planning strategic strikes. Saint’s Mechanics, the bars, and the clubhouse. They’re planning to hit them all at once, Rogue, and Lochlann is leading them."

My blood runs cold at the mention of Lochlann's name. That fucker is back. Christ, I thought he’d be dead by now.

"Shit," I mutter. "Thanks for the heads up, Lorenzo. I owe you one."

"Just be careful," Lorenzo warns before hanging up.

I immediately dial Ghost's number, my mind racing. We’ve known the assholes have been back for a while. They tried this shit already, with us taking out their president, Dread. It seems as though they haven’t learned, and now they have Lochlann in charge, I know they'll stop at nothing to take us down. That fucker thinks he’s smart, that he has the upper hand.

Not a fucking chance.

As the phone rings, I can't help but think of Willow and Wren. I have to keep them safe, no matter what. I won't let Lochlann or anyone else threaten my family again.

Ghost picks up on the third ring. "This better be important, brother. It's the middle of the night."

"It is," I say grimly. "The Shadow Hawks have a new president, and I’ll give you three guesses as to who it is."

Ghost's voice immediately sharpens. "Who?"

"Lochlann," I reply grimly. "And he's planning to hit us hard–the mechanics, the bars, the clubhouse. All at once."

Ghost curses loudly. "How reliable is this intel?"

"It came from Lorenzo Mariano. You know his father's got eyes and ears everywhere."

There's a pause as Ghost absorbs this. "Alright, we need to call an emergency meeting. Get everyone to the clubhouse ASAP. We need to prepare."

"On it," I say, already moving to get dressed.

As I hang up, my mind races. The Shadow Hawks are a serious threat, especially with Lochlann at the helm. But more than that, I'm worried about Willow and Wren. If Lochlann finds out about them...

I shake my head, pushing the thought away. I won't let that happen. I'll do whatever it takes to keep my family safe.

I send a text to the brothers, telling them to get their asses to the clubhouse for Church. The majority of them are already here, as I am, but there’s some who aren’t.

As the last brother enters the chapel, I can feel the tension in the air. The brothers are gathered around, their faces grim as they wait for Ghost to call the meeting to order.

Ghost stands at the head of the table, his expression serious. "Alright, brothers. We've got a situation. The Shadow Hawks are planning to hit us, and hit us hard."

Murmurs of anger and concern ripple through the room.

"Their new president is Lochlann," I add, my voice hard. "And he's not fucking around. They're planning to hit our mechanics, bars, and the clubhouse simultaneously."

"Fuck," Sniper growls. "How do we know this?"

"Got the intel from Lorenzo Mariano," I explain. "His sources are solid."

Ghost nods. "We need to prepare for an all-out war, brothers. We can't let these fuckers catch us off guard."

We spend the next few hours strategizing, planning how to protect our businesses and our people. But even as I contribute to the discussion, my mind keeps drifting back to Willow and Wren.

As the meeting winds down, I pull Ghost aside. "Brother, I need to talk to you about something."

Ghost raises an eyebrow. "What's on your mind?"

I take a deep breath. "It's about Willow and Wren. If Lochlann finds out about them..."

Understanding dawns in Ghost's eyes. "You're worried he'll use them against you."

I nod, my jaw clenched. "I can't let that happen, Ghost. I won't let them get hurt because of me. Not again."

Ghost puts a hand on my shoulder. "We'll protect them, brother. Whatever it takes."

"I need to get them somewhere safe," I say. "Somewhere Lochlann can't find them."

"It’s necessary. But Willow's not going to like it. We’re going on lockdown and that means every woman and child stays here."

I run a hand through my hair in frustration. "I know. But I'd rather have her angry at me than in danger."

"Talk to her," Ghost advises. "Explain the situation. She needs to understand the risk."

I nod, knowing he's right. But the thought of telling Willow about Lochlann, of potentially uprooting her and Wren's lives, makes my stomach churn.

I make my way out of the clubhouse. The need to see Willow and Wren is consuming. I climb on my bike, my mind made up. I need to see them now.

The ride to her house feels longer than usual. My thoughts feel chaotic, a mixture of worry and determination. By the time I pull up in front of her place, the sun is rising.

I hesitate outside Willow's door. I know I'm about to upend her life again. But keeping her and Wren safe has to be my top priority. I take a deep breath and knock.

After a few moments, I hear movement inside. The door opens to reveal Willow, looking sleepy and confused in her pajamas.

"Rogue? What are you doing here so early?" she asks, rubbing her eyes.

"I'm sorry to wake you," I say softly. "But we need to talk. It's important."

Willow's expression turns wary, but she steps back to let me in. "Is everything okay?"

I follow her to the kitchen, where she starts making coffee. As the familiar scent fills the air, I try to figure out how to explain the situation.

"Willow," I start, my voice grave, "there's a threat. To the club, and potentially to you and Wren."

She freezes, her hand halfway to grabbing a mug. "What kind of threat?"

I explain about the Shadow Hawks, about Lochlann taking over as president. With each word, I see the color drain from Willow's face.

"Lochlann?" she whispers, her voice shaking. "He's back?"

I nod grimly. "And he's gunning for us. Which means you and Wren could be in danger if he finds out about you."

Willow sinks into a chair, her eyes wide with fear. "What do we do?"

“Ghost has ordered a lockdown. Everyone goes to the clubhouse and stays there until the threat is over.”

Willow's eyes widen in alarm. "The clubhouse? No, absolutely not. I can't take Wren there."

I run a hand through my hair in frustration. I knew this wasn't going to be easy. "Willow, please. It's the safest place for you both right now. We have security, manpower. We can protect you there."

She shakes her head vehemently. "Protect us? Like you protected me last time?" The words come out harsh, and I see regret flash across her face immediately.

I flinch at the reminder of my past failure. "I know I failed you before," I say softly. "But things are different now. I won't let anything happen to you or Wren. I swear it."

Willow's shoulders slump slightly. "I just... I can't expose Wren to that life, Rogue. The violence, the danger... She's innocent."

I kneel in front of her, taking her hands in mine. "I know, Little Flower. And I hate that I'm putting you in this position. But right now, the clubhouse is the safest place for you both. Please, let me protect you."

She looks at me for a long moment, conflict clear in her eyes. Finally, she sighs. "How long?"

"I don't know," I admit. "Until we neutralize the threat. A few days, maybe a week or two at most."

Willow closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opens them again, there's a steely determination there. "Okay. But I have conditions."

"Anything," I say quickly.

"Wren doesn't see or hear anything violent. No guns, no club business discussed around her. And she doesn't find out who you really are, not like this."

I nod solemnly. "I promise. We'll keep her away from all of that."

Willow stands up, her posture straightening. "Give me an hour to pack and explain things to Wren. I'll tell her we're going on a surprise vacation or something."

As she moves to wake Wren and start packing, I feel a mixture of relief and guilt. I hate disrupting their lives like this, but knowing they'll be safe eases some of the tension in my chest.

An hour later, we're loading bags into her car. I insisted on her driving them instead of having them ride on my bike. Wren is excited about the "surprise trip," chattering happily as we get her settled in the backseat of Willow’s car.

As I start my engine, I watch as Willow turns to me. She’s standing at the car door, her voice low so Wren can't hear. "I'm trusting you, Rogue. Don't make me regret it."

I meet her gaze, trying to convey all the sincerity I feel. "I won't let you down, Willow. Not again. I promise."

As we pull away from Willow's house, I can't help but feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. I'm not just protecting my club now—I'm protecting my family.

We pull into the lot, and I'm relieved to see that most of the bikes are gone. The brothers must be out securing our properties or gathering intel. It'll make it easier to get Willow and Wren settled without too much commotion.

Ghost meets us at the door, his expression serious but kind. "Willow." He nods in greeting. "It's good to see you. I wish it were under better circumstances."

Willow gives him a tight smile. "Thank you for having us," she says politely, but I can hear the strain in her voice.

Ghost kneels down to Wren's level. "And you must be Wren," he says with a warm smile. "I've heard a lot about you."

Wren, suddenly shy, hides partially behind Willow's leg. "Hi," she says quietly.

"We've got a room set up for you and your mom," Ghost tells her. "Want to go check it out?"

Wren looks up at Willow, who nods encouragingly. "Go ahead, Little Bird. I'll be right behind you."

As Ghost leads Wren inside, Willow turns to me. "Rogue, I need you to promise me something."

"Anything," I say immediately.

"Promise me that no matter what happens, you'll get Wren out safely. Even if... even if something happens to me."

My heart clenches at her words. "Nothing's going to happen to you, Little Flower. I won't let it."

She shakes her head. "Just promise me, Rogue. Please."

I take her hands in mine, looking into her eyes. "I promise, Willow. Wren's safety comes first, always."

She nods, seeming satisfied. As we walk into the clubhouse, I can't shake the feeling that this is just the beginning of a very dangerous game. But with Willow and Wren here, the stakes have never been higher. I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe—no matter the cost.

As I lead her and Wren into the clubhouse, there's a tense atmosphere. There aren’t a lot of people here yet, but soon it will be full with my brothers and their families. I show Willow and Wren to their room. It’s not much, but it’s small and clean.

"I know it's not much," I say apologetically, wishing I could give them both more. "But you'll be safe here."

She gives me a soft smile, her hands trembling and her eyes wide. "Thank you."

As Wren explores the room excitedly I turn back to Willow. "I need to go help with preparations," I say quietly. "Will you be okay here?"

"We'll manage," she replies, her body trembling.

I hesitate, then gently touch her cheek. Heat rises through me and I suck in a deep breath. "I meant what I said before, Little Flower. I'll keep you both safe."

She doesn’t pull away from my touch. Fuck, am I making progress? "Just be careful, Rogue,” she whispers.

As I reluctantly pull my hand away from Willow's cheek, I feel a deep ache in my chest. I want nothing more than to stay here with her and Wren, to hold them close and shield them from all the danger lurking outside. But I know I have responsibilities to the club that I can't ignore, especially not now.

"I'll check on you both later," I promise. "Try to get some rest if you can. It's been a long morning."

Willow nods, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and worry. As I turn to leave, Wren's small voice stops me.

"Rogue?" she calls. "Will you come play with me later?"

My heart melts at her innocent request. "Of course, sweetheart," I assure her with a smile. "As soon as I can, okay?"

Wren grins, seemingly satisfied with my answer. I catch Willow's eye one last time before I close the door behind me, trying to convey all the things I can't say out loud. That I love them both more than anything. That I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe.