Page 14

Tempest

The phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting me out of a dreamless sleep. I snatched it up, adrenaline already coursing through my veins. Wire’s voice came through the speaker, tight with tension.

“Tempest, we’ve got trouble. Tiger from Twisted Tides just called. Their compound was hit. Hard. They think the cartel’s coming for us next.”

“Fuck. Get to the clubhouse. Now.” I hung up, fingers flying over the keys as I fired off a text to Savior: Need to call Church. ASAP .

Kasen stirred beside me, her sleepy eyes filled with concern. “What’s wrong?”

I swallowed hard, tamping down the urge to pull her close and never let go. “Club business. I need you to stay here. Don’t leave for any reason, got it?”

She nodded, fear flickering across her face. I hated seeing it there, knowing I was the cause.

The night air hit me like a slap as I strode out to my bike. The engine roared to life, a familiar comfort as I tore out of the driveway. My mind raced faster than the speedometer. How the hell had the cartel found us? And more importantly, how were we going to stop them?

The clubhouse loomed ahead, a beacon in the darkness. I barely remembered to kick down the stand before I was off the bike and striding inside. The air in Church was thick with tension and cigarette smoke. Savior’s eyes met mine, hard as flint. Viking leaned against the wall, arms crossed, while Saint paced like a caged animal.

Prophet and Royal burst in behind me, followed by the rest of our brothers. The door slammed shut with a finality that sent a chill down my spine.

Savior’s voice cut through the silence. “All right, Tempest. What the fuck is going on?”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the shitstorm that was about to rain down. “We’ve got cartel trouble headed our way. And it’s my fault.”

Before I could elaborate, the door swung open again. Wire strode in, his face grim, a tablet clutched in his hand like a lifeline. The room fell silent, all eyes locked on him.

I stopped my restless pacing, every muscle in my body coiled tight. Wire’s eyes met mine for a split second, and I saw the gravity of the situation reflected there.

“What’ve you got?” I asked, my voice low and tense.

Wire tapped the tablet, his fingers flying across the screen. “It’s worse than we thought,” he said, his usually calm voice tinged with urgency. “The cartel’s not just running drugs anymore. They’ve diversified. The women on the ship were just the tip of the iceberg.”

“We?” Savior asked.

“Um, yeah. I might have helped Tempest with something tied to the cartel.” Wire cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. I was an ass for putting him in this position.

“Spit it out,” Savior snapped.

Wire’s eyes darted around the room. “Human trafficking,” he said. “They’ve got a sophisticated network spanning the entire Southeast. And now they’re pissed because someone fucked with their operation. More specifically, Tempest and the Twisted Tides did.”

My jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might crack. The pieces were falling into place, and the picture they formed was ugly as hell. The trafficking had been a given, considering what happened to Kasen. But I hadn’t realized it was on such a large scale. And of course, Wire had just thrown a grenade I couldn’t dodge. I’d known I’d have to come clean. Thankfully, Savior hadn’t picked up on what he’d said just yet. Or he was biding his time to ask what the hell Wire meant.

“How connected are we talking?” I asked, dreading the answer.

Wire’s fingers danced across the tablet again. “They’re using the drug routes to move people. Shell companies to launder money. Even got some dirty cops on the payroll. For clarification, none of the cops in our town.” He looked up, his expression grim. “It’s a full-scale operation, boys. And they’ve got resources we can only dream of spanning Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.”

The room erupted into a cacophony of curses and shouted questions. But I barely heard them. My mind was racing, replaying every moment of what happened in Florida. Every decision I’d made. Every mistake.

“Tempest?” Savior’s voice cut through my thoughts. “You got something to add?”

I met his gaze, knowing I was about to light a powder keg. But there was no turning back now. We were all in this mess together, whether they knew it yet or not.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice rough. “I think I know why they’re coming for us. And it’s not gonna be pretty. Just not sure how they found me.”

Back in Florida, I’d had a feeling something would happen. I hadn’t known how it would go down, or if it would even be the cartel. I just knew bad shit was going to head our way. And when I got those feelings, I always paid attention. It had kept me alive this long.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of every eye in the room. “When Kasen and I were in Florida, she got picked up by human traffickers. Turns out they’re tied to the cartel. Didn’t know that until Wire started tracking her for me.”

The following silence was deafening. I could practically hear the gears turning in everyone’s heads as they processed what I’d just said.

Savior leaned forward, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the table. “What the fuck happened, Tempest? Is that what Wire meant about you and the Twisted Tides?”

“I got her back,” I said, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. “And yeah, that’s what he meant. With help from the Twisted Tides MC out of Miami. We took down the operation, rescued Kasen and a bunch of other women.”

Wire stared at the device in his hand. “I’ve been picking up a lot of chatter. They’ve been looking for whoever hit them. I hadn’t heard specific names mentioned, but it’s clear they know who was responsible.”

“How?” Saint asked.

Wire shrugged. “I didn’t detect cameras on board when I was searching for Kasen and found the ship’s signal, but it doesn’t mean they weren’t there. Could have been hidden well enough Tempest wouldn’t have seen them. And if they weren’t accessible other than from the ship itself, I wouldn’t have had access. It’s quite possible they used older tech and not cloud-based. But I’m speculating.”

I nodded, my stomach churning. That would make sense. Of course, we’d also left those men alive on board. Even though it was dark and we’d crept up on them, someone could have noticed our colors or our names. We hadn’t exactly gone incognito. But like Wire had said, it was just speculation. Only the cartel could say for sure how they’d found us. “The Twisted Tides compound was hit. They think the cartel’s coming for us next.”

The room exploded into chaos. Questions and accusations flew like bullets, but I kept my eyes on Savior. His face was a mask of barely contained fury. I knew I needed to say something, but I couldn’t get the words out.

Tank’s chair screeched against the floor as he shot to his feet, the force sending it flying backwards. His face contorted with rage, veins bulging in his neck as he let out a roar. The sound made my ears ring.

“You motherfucker!” he bellowed, advancing on me. “You hid this shit from me? That’s my daughter, you asshole!”

I held my ground, even as Tank’s massive form loomed over me, trembling with the effort of not swinging at me. “I trusted you with Kasen,” he spat, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. “And this is how you repay that trust? By keeping me in the dark when she was in danger?”

“Technically, I was entrusted with every person at the compound. You didn’t exactly hand her over to me or anything.” My excuse was weak at best. I knew what he meant. Regardless of my role in Kasen’s life, first and foremost I was the Sergeant-at-Arms, which means I should have kept her safe. The guilt hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. I’d fucked up, and I knew it. But before I could respond, Savior’s voice cut through the tension.

“Tempest,” he said, his tone icy. His eyes bored into mine, disappointment and anger radiating from him in waves. “You should have fucking told me. I don’t give a shit about the excuses you gave. I had a right to fucking know!”

He was right. I knew it. He knew it. Hell, everyone here did. I glanced over at the Pres. Savior’s gaze never left mine. I could see the wheels turning in his head, weighing my actions against the potential consequences we now faced.

The silence stretched on, thick with tension. I stood there, my heart pounding, waiting for the axe to fall.

Savior’s fist slammed onto the table, the sound like a gunshot in the tense room. “Enough,” he growled, his eyes sweeping over the assembled men. “We can deal with this shit later. Right now, we’ve got bigger problems.”

Wire nodded, his fingers flying over his tablet. “The cartel’s moving fast. I’ve been tracking their transactions the last half hour, and they’re definitely coming our way. We need to lock this place down tight.”

I felt the familiar surge of adrenaline, my body shifting into battle mode. “We’ll need to fortify the perimeter,” I said, my mind racing through potential weak points. “Set up surveillance on all access roads.”

Prophet leaned forward, his face grim. “I’ve got contacts who can get us extra firepower. We’re gonna need it.”

Savior’s eyes narrowed, his expression hard. “Good. Wire, I want eyes on every inch of this compound. Tempest, you and Prophet coordinate our defenses. I’ll text everyone their assignments. As of now, we’re on full lockdown.”

The room buzzed with tightly controlled energy as we hammered out the details. My blood hummed with a mixture of anticipation and dread. This was what I was built for, but the stakes had never been higher.

As the meeting broke up, I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder. I turned to find Tank’s eyes boring into mine, his anger barely contained. “We’re not done,” he growled. “I want the full story. Now.”

I nodded, my throat tight. This wasn’t going to be pretty.

I took a deep breath, meeting Tank’s steely gaze. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

“It happened fast,” I began, my voice low and controlled. “Kasen left the beach house at night while I was asleep. I woke to a scream and found her gone.”

Tank’s massive frame vibrating with barely contained fury. I pressed on, the words spilling out. “I saw her on a small boat, men holding her. She was fighting, but --” I swallowed hard, the memory searing through me. “Wire tracked her location. Got me in touch with the Twisted Tides in Miami.”

Tank’s eyes narrowed. “And you didn’t think to call me?”

“There wasn’t time,” I shot back, feeling my own anger rising. “Every second counted. I chartered a plane, flew to Miami, and met the Twisted Tides. Their President, VP, and SAA joined me on the rescue.”

I could see Tank processing, his enforcer’s mind piecing together the tactical details. “We boarded the cartel’s boat,” I continued. “Got Kasen and the other women out. I wanted to blow the whole thing, but --”

“But what?” Tank growled.

“For one, it wasn’t our territory. The Twisted Tides didn’t seem interested in killing those men, so I followed their lead. It also could have caused more problems down the line. We got them out clean, no bodies left behind. I have no idea how or if the Coast Guard or anyone else patrols those waters. I didn’t need the law breathing down our necks if they managed to piece things together. We left the men alive but knocked out and bound. I guess the cartel went looking when they didn’t show up in Cuba with a shipment.”

Tank’s fist slammed down on the table, making me flinch. “You should’ve told me the second she was safe!”

I met his gaze, unflinching. “You’re right. I fucked up. But she is safe, and now we’ve got a bigger fight on our hands.”

Tank’s eyes blazed with a fury I’d rarely seen, even during our most intense club fights. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my face. “Listen here, Tempest,” he snarled, jabbing a meaty finger into my chest. “If you ever hide shit like that from me again, if my daughter is in danger and no one tells me, heads will fucking roll. Starting with yours.”

I stood my ground, though every instinct screamed to back away. “Understood,” I said, my voice low and tight.

Tank held my gaze for a long moment, then stepped back. The tension in the room was suffocating. Without another word, I turned and strode out of Church, my boots echoing on the hardwood.

The cool night air hit me as I stepped outside, and I sucked in a deep breath. My mind raced, replaying the events of the past week or so. I’d fucked up, no question. Should’ve told the club the second Kasen was safe. But what was done was done.

Now, we had bigger problems. Somehow the cartel knew the Dixie Reapers were involved and they were coming. I lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply as I scanned the compound. We needed to fortify, fast. But more importantly, we needed to figure out how the hell the cartel had connected the dots.

I crushed out my cigarette and headed for my bike. The compound was already buzzing with activity as brothers rushed to secure our defenses. I revved the engine, tearing out onto the dark road.

My mind raced. How had the cartel traced us? The Twisted Tides compound hit first meant they’d followed that lead. But how?

I pulled up to my house, killing the engine. The house was dark, silent. My heart rate spiked. I drew my gun, approaching cautiously.

The door was locked. Good sign. I used my key, easing inside. “Kasen?” I called softly.

No answer. Panic clawed at my throat as I cleared each room. Empty. What the fuck? Right when I was about to call in reinforcements, I saw a note on the fridge.

Went to see my mom .

Son of a bitch! I’d told her to stay put. I stalked my way through the house and back out to my bike. Time to bring my woman home, then spank her ass until she couldn’t sit down. She was about to learn when I said to do something, she’d better damn well do it. Especially when it was to keep her safe.

* * *

Kasen

I sat at the kitchen table of my childhood home and stared at the cup of tea my mom had placed in front of me. I’d been sipping on it, but my stomach was churning so bad I worried I’d throw it up.

“Are you happy?” Mom asked. “I know you had a crush on Tempest for a long time.”

I glanced up at her. “Yeah, but Dad is going to be so mad.”

She sighed and leaned back in her chair. “Honey, I love your dad, but let’s be honest. That man gets mad at the drop of a hat. He’ll get over it. Eventually.”

“That’s the part that worries me,” I mumbled. “Talk about awkward family dinners moving forward.”

Mom laughed softly. “Did I ever tell you how I met your dad?”

“A little. Something about Aunt Lupita sending you to him.”

She nodded. “That’s right. She’d met him before, and when she knew I was in danger, she sent me to him for safekeeping. Although, when she showed up later, finding out Tank and I had fallen for each other pissed her off. And you know how she can be.”

I tipped my head to the side. “Only from what you’ve told us. I still don’t understand why none of us have gotten to meet her.”

“My sister did some bad things. Your dad was so mad at her. Even though he was a protector, I almost expected him to take a swing at her. It took her some time to get herself straightened out.”

“And now?” I asked.

“She calls sometimes. Not often. She fell in love. Got married.” Mom sighed and stared at the table. “She had three miscarriages. Her husband left her for another woman, one he’d knocked up. From what she’s told me over the years, she tried dating other men. Even got married one more time. None of the relationships worked out.”

“So she’s all alone?” That sounded so… sad. Even if she’d done something wrong, it was clear Mom had forgiven her for whatever it was.

“Yeah, she is. I’ve tried to talk her into moving closer to us so we could visit. I think she’s too embarrassed to see the Dixie Reapers. They all know what happened back then. And your dad isn’t the most forgiving man, not when it comes to me anyway. Your Aunt Lupita put me in harm’s way. I could have died, and that’s not something your dad will ever forgive. He still gets upset when she calls.”

“Do you think she’ll ever find love?” I asked.

“I don’t know. She’s closed herself off.” Mom gave me a soft smile. “But I hope that she’ll find happiness someday. Even if children aren’t in her future, it doesn’t mean she can’t have a good life and find a decent man. Some who won’t care about kids.”

I nodded, knowing she was right, and also wishing Aunt Lupita could find someone. Now that I had Tempest, I understood what I’d been missing all this time. My heart broke for my aunt, even though I’d never met her or spoken to her before. I didn’t think Dad would keep us from seeing her. Maybe one day she’d come visit.

A motorcycle pulled up out front and I stood to look out the kitchen window. “Shit.”

“Tempest?” Mom asked, a smirk on her lips.

“Yeah. Think I’m in trouble.”

“You said he told you to stay put. I wondered when he’d show up to drag you back home.” Mom stood and put our cups in the sink. “I’ll just make myself scarce. Time to face the music.”

This was bad. If Mom was leaving, she knew Tempest was going to be furious with me, and it meant he had her blessing to punish me. Damnit.

He pounded on the door and I tried to calm my racing heart. I slowly went to answer it, pulling the door open and staring up at him.

“What exactly did I tell you?”

“Um… To wait for you? Or something like that.”

He gave a humorless bark of laughter. “Yeah, or something like that. Get your ass on the bike, Kasen.”

I meekly did as he said, wondering just how bad this was going to be. And I found out soon enough. We’d barely cleared the front door of our home before he hauled me over to the couch and dragged me down over his knees, ass in the air. The crack of his hand was not only loud but hurt like hell. But the humiliation I felt quickly turned to something else, and my face felt hot. Who’d have ever guessed I’d get turned on by something like a spanking?

I was in so much trouble…