Chapter 4 Lee
LEE
My father, our President, raps his knuckles on the table. The room falls silent.
“Let’s bring this to order. Church is in session,” Stone says, his gaze flinty.
Silver threads through his dark hair now, though he’s still young and fit at just forty-eight.
Since divorcing my mom, he’s had club girls all over him but no real relationships.
I don’t begrudge him that. He could have cheated on her years ago when she first left, but he stayed true until the papers were signed.
He’s a good father and an even better President. Our gazes meet across the table, and I can see that he’s missed nothing. Not the quiet edge in the air, and certainly not the unease of the members around the table.
Tank, our Vice President, opens with the update we all knew was coming. “Summit’s pushin’ again. Rezoning surveys went out last week to every resident in the western neighborhoods—Oakridge, Pinecrest, and all along Iron Way. They’re quiet about it, but they’re laying the groundwork for a takeover.”
Summit Development. That name’s been a curse on our town since the first slick brochure showed up in mailboxes.
All shining smiles and luxury promises, offering to buy up land for big money, claiming they’d bring jobs, growth, and opportunity to our little patch of dust. For a while, it worked.
People sold. Some needed the money. Some didn’t know better. But most? They stayed.
Turns out, Summit wasn’t interested in community.
They wanted control. When the townsfolk didn’t take their offers, they started squeezing—buyouts, harassment, property disputes, fines.
They’d drag old-timers to court over barely legible land rights, tip off inspectors to code violations, and bury folks in red tape and fines until giving up was easier than fighting.
We mostly put a stop to that a few months back. But now? They’re back and they aren’t fucking around.
Cash, our Treasurer, taps his fingers restlessly against the table.
The guy’s a few years younger than me with a face that movie stars would kill to have.
We’d give him shit for it if it wasn’t for the fact he’s the best damned accountant the club has ever had.
He’s been tracking Summit’s finances like a bloodhound.
“They’re losing money, fast. They’ve had six failed buy attempts in the last two months. That’s not counting legal delays from the residents we’ve helped stall. Mrs. Wilson’s property alone has cost them nearly fifty grand in legal fees.”
“And that makes them dangerous,” Duck says, leaning forward. “Corner a wolf and you’d better be ready to bleed.”
White-bearded and barrel-chested, Duck’s retired these days, but he was Sergeant at Arms before Hawk. He’s the kind of man whose words still carry weight when he chooses to speak. There’s nods from those around the table.
“Which is why we’re taking this seriously,” Stone says, glancing at Hawk. “Hawk’s found us a contact—Josie Bright. Lawyer. Quiet, effective, not local enough to scare off.”
Hawk is already scowling from his seat near the door.
Our Sergeant at Arms, the guy is big, and built like a semi with a bad attitude.
Hawk’s responsible for protecting the club from dangers—internal and external.
He enforces the rules, and trust me, you don’t want to be on the receiving end when those rules get broken.
Unless you’re his kids. In which case, you get a free pass.
“The meet will be at Devil’s,” he says, and my jaw tightens.
It makes sense—Devil’s is neutral ground. We can make it appear as if the lawyer is just getting chatted up by one of the club, not taking a proper meeting. But hosting it there will mean putting Kya in Summit’s scope, and I’m not okay with that.
Fuck. This is not where my head needs to be right now.
Bones lifts a brow. “We worried about bugs in the clubhouse?”
Axel shakes his head. “No, but we can’t rule out surveillance. Summit might not be listening to us, but they’re watching. Devil’s got more foot traffic, more noise. Safer to talk there.”
“I’ve got more bad news,” Cash says, shaking his head. “They’re funding three seats in the local election. And they’ve pumped big money into those candidates.”
“Council elections are next week,” Mack, our Secretary, adds. “If Summit gets those seats, they’ll have the numbers to push zoning change through. It’ll gut the local protections. They’ll be able to fast-track demolitions.”
“And the residents will be out on their asses,” I mutter, thinking of the families I’ve known my whole life who’ve lived in those homes for generations.
Stone nods. “Which is why we’re getting ahead of this. This lawyer—Josie—she specializes in land protection, council law, and corruption cases. She’s gonna tell us what legal recourse we have and whether we’ve got the legs for a class action.”
Hawk grunts. “Or if it’s time to stop talking and start punching.”
“No one’s throwing punches yet,” Stone says calmly. “We’re smarter than that.”
“But ready,” Tank adds. “Always ready.”
“What about the construction equipment?” I ask, thinking about our previous tactics. “Last time we had some success disabling their bulldozers to delay the work.”
Axel nods. “Still on the table. But they’ve upped security. Got ex-military types patrolling now, not just rent-a-cops.”
I lean back in my chair, gaze drifting over the old photos on the wall—rides long past, brothers we’ve lost. Summit thinks they’re dealing with townsfolk. They don’t understand that what they’re pushing against is blood, bone, and legacy.
They’re building condos. We’re protecting our people.
And I’ll burn their entire empire down before I let them take another inch.
“One more thing,” Stone adds, his gaze sweeping the room. “Devil’s new owner. Kya Sullivan.”
My shoulders tense at her name.
“What about her?” I ask, trying to keep my voice neutral.
“We need to know where she stands,” Stone says. “Devil trusted her, but this isn’t just about selling beer anymore. If we’re using her place for meetings, we need to be sure she’s solid.”
“She’s solid,” Duck says firmly. “She knows her place and what she owes the club. Girl’s got steel in her spine.”
“May be,” Stone concedes. “But Summit’s got deep pockets. And everyone has a price.”
The implication sends a flare of anger through me. “Not her,” I say, more sharply than intended. “You know her. She’s one of us.”
All eyes turn to me, and I realize I’ve said more than I meant to. Bones raises an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing at his lips.
“She was one of us. She’s been gone a long time.”
My jaw tightens at the unexpected skepticism in my dad’s tone. “Like Duck said, she’s solid.”
“She may be, but until we know for sure, she needs watching,” Stone decides. “Lee, that’s on you. Keep an eye on her, feel her out on Summit. See where her loyalties lie.”
Great. Just what I need—official orders to spend more time around the woman who’s already taking up too much space in my head.
Knew I should have stayed in bed today.
“Church dismissed,” Stone says, pushing back from the table.
As the others rise, Bones claps a hand on my shoulder. “You good?”
“Always.”
He grins, seeing right through me. “Right. So that’s why you nearly bit Stone’s head off at the suggestion your girl might be bought.”
“She’s not my girl,” I growl.
“If you say so,” he laughs, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Course, if she ain’t yours, then you won’t mind me taking her on a date, right?”
The muscle in my jaw ticks, but I keep my expression carefully neutral. “Knock yourself out.”
“Great,” Bones grins, clearly enjoying himself. “I’ll pick her up Friday night. Take her somewhere nice, show her a good time…”
“Do whatever you want,” I say, but my hands clench into fists. Every instinct is screaming at me to tell Bones to back the fuck off, that Kya is off-limits. The thought of another man’s hands on her makes me want to commit murder.
Instead, I force a shrug. “Just don’t come crying to me when she breaks your heart.”
Bones chuckles and heads for the door, leaving me alone with the very real urge to punch something.
The room empties slowly, brothers breaking off into smaller conversations. I stay seated, lost in thought until I realize Stone hasn’t moved either. He’s watching me with that look—the one that says he’s seeing more than I want him to.
“Something on your mind?” I ask when everyone else has cleared out.
He leans back, crossing his arms. “You tell me.”
I meet his gaze, knowing there’s no point playing dumb. “It’s complicated.”
“Always is with women,” he says with a slight head tilt. “Especially the ones who get under your skin.”
“Kya’s not…” I start, then stop myself. No point lying to a man who taught me how to lie. “She’s not what I expected, coming back. She’s different.”
An image of Kya flashes in my mind. Not just the curves and confidence, but the steel in her eyes, the way she held her ground. The woman she’s become is a far cry from the scared kid who showed up on our doorstep that night in the rain.
Stone studies me for a long moment. “Just remember—club comes first. Always has.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?” His eyes search mine. “Because I’ve seen that look before. On Hawk when he met Andi. On Axel with Poppy. It’s the look of a man whose priorities are shifting.”
“My priorities are fine,” I say firmly. “I’ll keep an eye on Kya, but I’m not getting involved. She’s off-limits.”
Stone raises an eyebrow. “Who said anything about getting involved?”
Caught. Damn it.
He stands, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Just be careful, son. Hearts and club business make for messy combinations.”
I don’t have to ask how he knows since I witnessed it firsthand.
“Kya’s not a problem,” I insist, but the words sound hollow even to my ears.
Stone just gives me a look that says he was young once too, and he understands far more than I want him to. “Like I said. Be careful.” He hesitates. “But don’t be afraid to get close if you need to. The club always comes first.”
He leaves me sitting alone in the chapel. Outside, engines roar to life as the brothers head out into the night.
I rub a hand over my face, feeling the weight of the patch on my back. Keeping an eye on Kya is one thing. Keeping my hands to myself might be another problem entirely.
Fuck. This is not what I need right now.
But orders are orders. And Dad’s right—club comes first. Always.