Page 111 of The Souls We Claim

“Someone made all the decisions for me once before. I don’t think I’m that person anymore,” Ari says, climbing off my lap.

“I know, kitten. But this is also club business.”

“Well.” She picks Lola up off the rug. “Now I’m making it my business too.”

I don’t have the heart to tell her she can’t. Because I like the way she feels safe enough with me to argue. She’s come a long way from the girl who smashed the glass in the kitchen in fear.

I follow her up the stairs, then go to the door and let King in. He’s there with Bates and Switch.

“Where’s everyone else?” I ask. “I wanted a vote on something.”

“In pairs, circling out from the grocery store,” King says as he walks by me. “The store manager is a friend of the club. He’s agreed to give us store and lot footage, to see if Vex can’t get a lead on your brother. Vote’ll have to wait.”

I swallow my frustration. “Then let me get packed up to get Lola and Ari to the clubhouse. They’ll be safer there, and then I can join you.”

Bates pats my shoulder hard. “You aren’t joining us.”

“What?”

“It’s for the best,” Switch says as they head into the kitchen.

“What the fuck do you mean I’m not joining you? He’s my brother. You need me to?—”

“Listen.” King pulls a set of keys out of his cut. “First off, the other Iron Outlaw clubs have been told to converge at the Brotherhood HQ and burn the fuckers to the ground. There will be timed assaults on homes, buildings, and businesses. No one will survive tonight. And second, these are the keys to my dad’s old cabin. Rae and I renovated it, so it’s better than the shithole you might remember. You’re going to go up there with Switch and Bates. You’re going in Switch’s truck. Leave yours here. Switch will take one of your secondary bikes to follow you. We’re going to leave this place looking like it’s lived in.”

“I’m not going to run away from a fight. Never have in my life. Won’t start now.”

King leans forward. “I’ve looked up to you as an older brother my whole life. Never been prouder of anyone than when you enlisted. Prouder still when you earned those medals doing shit a man shouldn’t have to do. I’m not asking you to run away from a fight. I’m asking you to trust us enough to fight for you. Because I’m guessing that vote you wanted is sitting right over there.”

I turn and see Ari holding Lola, who has her head in the crook of her neck. When I turn back, I lower my voice. “I wanted to vote her as my old lady.”

King grins. “How the mighty has fallen. I seem to recall you winding Spark up over his pick of women.”

“Asshole,” I mutter. But there is no malice in it. I know he’s right.

“Take them. Keep them safe. If anything happens, I’ll propose the vote and Bates and Switch can witness it. It will pass. Whatever happens, the club will take care of the two of them.”

And I nod. It will make what I need to do easier. One less thing to worry about.

Because my brother wants me to face him.

I have a suspicion that no matter what King and my Outlaw brothers plan, he will keep coming for me until we’re in a showdown only one of us can win.

And that’s what I intend to do.

33

ARIANNE

“Itold you to stay away from the window, Ari.”

Halo’s stern voice makes me jump. He’s armed to the teeth. There are weapons on his belt and a knife strapped to his thigh. He’s dressed in all black and is even wearing a black beanie.

I let the tiny inch of curtain I pulled back go. “I was just keeping watch. I feel bad that Switch and Bates are out there on their own. Can’t we take them some food or something?”

The trip up to the cabin was frantic. Hastily packed bags, grabbing what little food we had in the fridge and cupboards, and throwing unopened boxes of diapers and formula and baby food into the truck.

Then we travelled in a convoy, Switch travelling ahead to check the road was clear, Bates following up behind to make sure we weren’t being followed. King had been confident that we wouldn’t be, but he’d sent the two of them to be our eyes and ears.