Chapter Nine #2
“Bully,” Liv says quickly, stepping closer. Her hands come to my chest, grounding me. “He didn’t hurt us. He could’ve, but he didn’t. He kept the others out. He made sure we were safe.”
“Oh, so now he’s a hero?” I snarl. “That piece of shit walks in, touches you, plays protector, and you think that means something?”
Her face hardens. “I’m not saying that. I’m saying he had the chance to do damage and he didn’t.”
“Yet.” My voice is razor-sharp. “But he will. That’s what this is—a move. A warning. A fucking game.”
Behind me, I hear Boss muttering into his phone, pulling strings and calling in favours. Smiler and Taz flank us like guards, eyes scanning for threats.
Liv lowers her voice, trying to steady mine. “He looked me in the eye, Bully. He knew exactly who I was, who I belonged to. And he still walked away. Why?”
“Because he wanted you to tell me.” I meet her eyes, cold and steady. “This? All of this? It wasn’t a favour. It was a fucking message. He touched what’s mine, and now, I’ve got a decision to make.” She flinches at the word ‘mine’ but doesn’t argue.
“I didn’t agree to you using me as a pawn in your macho game,” she says.
I reach up and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, gentler than I feel. “You didn’t, but you left the board, Liv. That’s how he got close.”
She looks away, guilt shadowing her face.
I step back, glancing over to where the guys are. “Boss, get me everything on Dagger’s movements tonight. Who he came with. Who saw him leave.”
“Already on it,” Boss says grimly. “And Pres . . . we got a war coming.”
I nod once, eyes still on Liv.
“No,” she whispers. “You’ve had a warning. Don’t turn it into a war.” Too late, I think, but I don’t say it.
I call church the second we get back, leaving Liv strict instructions to stay in the clubhouse. After tonight, I think she’ll be following my orders.
The table is packed. Everyone who matters is here, patched members only. Doors locked. Voices low. Tension high.
I stand at the head of the table, arms crossed and jaw set. The overhead light casts deep shadows around the room, revealing brooding men ready for the fight, with fists clenched and eyes burning bright.
Boss finishes laying out a map of the area, red X’s marking known Scorpion activity at bars, safe houses, and tonight’s location.
“They knew,” I say, voice low and steady. “They knew Liv was in that bar.” No one speaks. The weight of those words drops like a gavel. “They didn’t go in guns blazing to start a war. They went in to prove a point.”
Taz leans forward, elbows on the table. “A warning.”
Smiler nods. “They wanted her scared. Wanted you rattled.”
“They got close again,” I growl. “That’s the part that matters.”
Silence again, until Boss speaks. “Dagger sent a message. He walked into that bar, got close to your old lady, touched her face, called her his good girl,” he says it with disgust, “and walked away before we even knew he was there. That’s not a warning. That’s a fucking taunt.”
“Liv said he told them to stay hidden until the cops came,” says Taz. “He knew we’d show. He wanted her to survive to deliver the story.”
“And she did,” I mutter bitterly. “Right to my face.” I exhale hard and begin to pace.
The fire inside me is raging again, and I’m barely holding it together.
“This isn’t about territory,” I say. “It’s not about deals or club business.
This was personal. He wanted me to feel powerless.
He wanted to see how far he could reach before I bled. ”
“And?” asks Smiler.
“I’m bleeding.”
The room stiffens.
“So, what’s the play?” Boss asks, voice tight.
I stop pacing and look around the table.
Everyone’s eyes are on me, waiting. “We don’t retaliate tonight.
” I’m met with murmurs, a few raised brows, but no one interrupts.
“We don’t play checkers when Dagger’s playing chess.
He wants fire, we give him fear. We pull his resources apart, piece by piece.
We find his weak link, and then we bury it. ”
“And Liv?” Taz asks carefully.
“She doesn’t leave the clubhouse without two men.
Eyes on her at all times until this is over.
” I clench my fists until my knuckles turn white.
“I want everything we know about Dagger, every side deal, every burner number, every favour he’s called in the last few months.
I want to know who let him into that bar, and I want to know why I didn’t see it coming.
” I slam my fist on the table. “We hit back, but we do it my way.”
Chairs scrape back as I slam the gavel down. Brothers file out, already texting contacts, calling in watchers. Moving like the hive just got poked.
I stare at the map, my brow furrowed. It’s personal. Why? I don’t even know Dagger. And, yeah, the clubs have bad history that dates back since forever, but something about this feels different.
Smiler lingers. “You good, brother?”
“No,” I mutter, “but I will be. Once Dagger learns what it feels like to fear me.”