Page 111 of The Loves We Lost

“Do you think he’ll make cupcakes for the ride?”

I smile. “I’m sure if you asked him, he might.”

“Okay. Do you think I could get a puppy now that I live here?”

I open my mouth to basically tell her she can have whatever she wants ...

“No,” Vi says, her voice rough with sleep.

“You got x-ray sleep ears?” I ask.

Vi rolls over, and I tuck her under my other arm. “I heard the wordpuppyand knew who was doing the asking. And you, little miss, are being sneaky asking for a puppy again when you know I already said no.”

Avery pouts, her little lip sticking out. “But I’d love them so much.”

And I immediately want to buy her an entire shelter, sixty-three dogs. I’ll even throw in half a dozen cats and a pony.

“What the heck have x-rays and sleep ears got to do with each other?” Vi asks.

“You know what I meant.” My phone rings and I groan. “I need to get that.”

I reach over Avery and grab the phone, bring it to my ear. “Hello.”

“The club’s being raided.” It’s Spark. “We’re surrounded and being rounded up. I’m next. Discrete only.” Then he hangs up.

“Shit,” I mutter as I quickly send out a message to all the brothers to get the word out.

“You said a bad word, Daddy.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Don’t you say it.” I kiss Vi. “I gotta go.”

I scramble into clothes and do as Spark warns. Discrete only. I switch out my usual untraceable weapons with one that is legally purchased. I keep these in case of home invasion. Last thing I need if I shoot some fucker for breaking into my house is to later be arrested for using an illegal weapon.

“Will you be okay?” I ask Vi.

“We’ll be fine. Avery and I have a playdate over at Noah’s with Sarah and Rebecca in an hour.”

I kiss her, then Avery. “I’ll call you later.”

“Take care of yourself. I’m not going to ask what’s happened. But come back whole to me tonight,” Vi says.

“I will. I promise.”

The ride to the clubhouse is a blur. I catch up to Switch on the way, and we travel side by side. When I pull up, there are FBI and ATF vans everywhere, and the clubhouse is taped off.

“Fuck me,” I mutter to Switch.

King, Clutch, Spark, Vex, and three prospects are on their knees in the lot. Blood drips from a cut above Clutch’s eye. I hear shouting about abuse of authority and demanding to know what the grounds are for them being there.

I lift the tape to go beneath it.

“Hey. Stay back behind the tape,” an agent yells.

I study him for a heartbeat.

“I told you to stay behind the tape,” he repeats.

“Aw, it’s so cute that you think I give a shit about anything you say.” I’m about to walk beneath the tape when Halo grabs me around the middle.