Chapter Eight
Cotton
I couldn’t sit still. My legs felt like they were on fire, and I kept pacing the room. My fists clenched and unclenched, itching to punch something. I’d hoped after my time in the Navy I’d never feel this way again. My eyes narrowed as I stared out the window, not really seeing anything. It was late afternoon, the sun dipping lower and casting shadows across the room. The dim lighting matched my mood.
“What the hell are you saying?” I asked, glancing at Surge.
He shrugged. “I thought it was easy to understand. Ryan has been in communication with Tyler. I didn’t find anything incriminating, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. I just didn’t dig deep enough.”
“Talk about shitty luck choosing a prospect.”
Fox sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “And you found this how?”
Surge grinned. “Lavinia came and asked me for a favor. Seems she doesn’t want to rely on everyone to keep her safe. She wanted details about Tyler and who he’s been hanging out with. She’s a smart one, and probably a bit ticked no one told her Tyler was already in town.”
“Thanks for that,” I said. “She doesn’t need the stress. I was trying to protect her.”
Surge lifted his hands. “Not my place, I know that, but… Did you ever think leaving her in the dark wasn’t the best option? What if she never heard about Tyler being here? She could have left the compound, completely oblivious, and gotten kidnapped. What then?”
I sighed, knowing he was right. Didn’t mean I had to like it. “Fine.”
Ryan’s betrayal had hit me hard. I’d trusted him. Hell, we all had. Whatever his reasons, it didn’t matter. He’d stepped over the line, and we couldn’t let it slide.
“We need to figure out what the hell’s going on with Ryan,” I said. “If he’s a threat to Lavinia, then I need to know.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Fox asked. “We need to be smart about this. We can’t go off half-cocked and take him out. Not without proof. It’s one thing to beat the hell out of him and toss him out on his ass. But if we’re wrong, we could lose a good man.”
“Not sure he’s good anymore,” I said. “He’s in bed with Tyler. I know it.”
“You might be right,” Surge said. “But Fox is right too. We need proof. We can’t act without it.”
“Then how do we get it?” I asked. “What you already found wasn’t enough?”
“We need to gather evidence discreetly,” Surge said. “I have a few ideas on how we can do that. We can monitor his communications or investigate his recent activities. We’ll have to be careful. We can’t let him know we’re onto him.”
Fox leaned back, his expression grim. “We need to maintain order. If we start taking out our own, we’ll lose the loyalty of the others.”
“I’ll follow your lead,” I said. “I’ll keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn’t know we’re watching.”
“I’ll do the same,” Fox said.
“I’ll get started on the hacking,” Surge said. “I’ll let you know what I find.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I appreciate it.”
Surge gave a nod. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. We’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt the club.”
“I know you will,” I said. “I trust you.”
We couldn’t let Ryan get away with this. We had to protect the club. No matter what.
“I’m not sure I want to know the answer,” Surge said. “But what do we do if Ryan’s guilty?”
“We take him out,” I said. “He’s betrayed us. He has to pay.”
Fox nodded. “Agreed.”
The tension in the room was palpable. We all knew what was at stake.
“I can also set up a GPS tracker on his phone. We’ll know everywhere he goes. If he meets with Tyler again, we’ll be able to follow him,” Surge said. He glanced up, his expression serious. “We’ll need to be careful. If Ryan gets wind of what we’re doing, he could go underground. We can’t afford to lose him. Not until we have enough evidence to take him down.”
I nodded, my respect for Surge growing. If it weren’t for his skills, we may not have known about Ryan until it was too late. If he really was betraying the club, and Lavinia was in danger, then it was better to know now than find out the hard way.
“We’ll need to be patient,” Surge said, his eyes never leaving the screen. “This could take some time. But I’ll make sure we get what we need.”
I leaned back in my chair, my mind racing. We couldn’t afford to make a mistake. Not with so much at stake. But I trusted Surge. If he said he could do it, then I believed him.
“We’ll need to keep this between us,” Surge said. “The fewer people who know, the better. We can’t risk him finding out.”
I nodded. “Agreed. We’ll keep it quiet. Just the three of us. We’ll do whatever it takes. We won’t let him get away with this.”
Surge’s eyes met mine. “We won’t. And when we’re done, he’ll wish he’d never crossed us.”
Fox’s expression turned even more serious, his presence in the room commanding respect. He stood up from the leather chair, crossing his arms over his chest, and stared directly at me and Surge.
He glanced between us, his jaw tightening. I could see the worry in his eyes. Not for himself, but for the club. The man had been through a lot, and he’d always come out on top. It was why he was our president. He had the experience and wisdom to keep us going.
“We’ve had issues in the past when we acted too soon. We’re not making that mistake again.” He didn’t raise his voice, didn’t even sound angry. Just… determined. “We need to keep order. Maintain loyalty. We start acting without proof, and we’ll have a mess on our hands. Right now, the club is strong. We’re united. If we start tearing into each other, we’ll fall apart.”
I nodded. He wasn’t wrong. I didn’t want to wait to make Ryan pay, but I understood Fox’s point. We couldn’t do anything until we were one hundred percent sure he was the one who’d betrayed us.
My mind drifted back to my early days with the club. They’d taken me in when I had nowhere else to go. Gave me a purpose. A family. I’d do anything to protect them. I owed them that much. And more.
“We’ve been through worse. We’ll come out on top. We always do,” Surge said.
I left the clubhouse and went home. No matter how much I wanted this resolved, I knew it wouldn’t happen right away. Instead, I’d focus on Lavinia and work on building a strong relationship with her. The kind that would last.
I found Lavinia in the kitchen. Her hands were wrapped around a cup of tea, her shoulders tense. She had a look of worry on her face, and I hated how much this shit had affected her.
I approached her, doing my best not to startle her. I knew I was a big guy, and I could come across as intimidating. Once I reached her, I placed a hand on her shoulder and sat next to her.
“You all right?” I asked.
She glanced up at me, worry in her eyes. “Is it really bad?”
“Could be. But none of this is your fault. I don’t want you to worry about it. You and the baby are safe here. No one will hurt you. Not Tyler, and not Ryan.”
“Ryan? I thought he was part of the club.”
Shit! So much for not saying anything, but at the same time, I didn’t want her to blindly trust everyone here. Not after what I found out today. If there was even a chance Ryan might hurt her, then I wanted to know.
I leaned back in the chair and stretched my legs out. “He is. Or he was. We’re not sure yet why he did it. He’s been feeding information to Tyler. At least, that’s our best guess. We need proof before we do anything about it. Surge has a plan to help us get what we need. And you can’t tell anyone. I wasn’t supposed to say anything.”
She placed her cup on the table and turned toward me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. You’ve been so kind to me. The entire club has.”
I cupped her cheek. “I don’t want you to think for one second you’re to blame for any of this. You did what you had to in order to keep your baby safe. I can’t fault you for that.”
She placed her hand over mine and gave me a soft smile. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’re not going to find out, either. I’m here for you, Lavinia. Whatever you need.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she sniffled. “I’m sorry. I’m just so overwhelmed right now. I thought I’d be safe here.”
“You are safe here. I promise. We’ll take care of Ryan and Tyler. You don’t need to worry about them.”
She leaned into me, and I wrapped my arms around her, not wanting to move. Being with her like this felt… right. I didn’t want to let her go, but I knew Surge would need my help. I’d be taking a shift watching Ryan, and I needed to make sure I had everything I needed. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, then pulled back.
“I have to go. I’ll be back later tonight. If you need me, you can call. I programmed my number into your phone.” I stood and pulled her to her feet.
She slid her hand into mine, and I led her from the kitchen. Whatever the future held, I wanted to be part of her life. I’d do whatever it took to make sure she and the baby were safe.
* * *
Cotton
The sky hung heavy with gray clouds, casting a dull light over the town. The usual bustle was missing. Instead, only a few folks walked the sidewalks, their faces tight with worry or maybe just cold indifference. Whatever it was, the tension in the air made my skin crawl. I didn’t like the feeling one bit.
I glanced at Lavinia and tightened my grip on her hand. The way she clung to me made my chest ache. She shouldn’t be feeling this way, not after all she’d been through. I’d wanted to give her a reprieve from being at the compound, but I was starting to second-guess my decision. I knew Fangs and Shooter were nearby, helping me keep watch, but things could still go wrong.
My gaze roamed every inch of the street as we walked. I’d learned to be aware of my surroundings in the Navy. It had served me well through the years and had gotten even more important after joining the Hades Abyss MC. Fox and the others depended on me. Right now, the one in danger wasn’t a brother, but my woman.
I clocked the car that had been parked across the street for the last half hour. No one had gotten in or out, and I couldn’t make out who was behind the wheel. That didn’t stop me from trying. I’d noticed small things other people might overlook. Not just the car. Someone had lingered outside the diner for too long before slipping around to the back. The bell above the door jingled non-stop as people came and went. They were probably the only place in the town still thriving on a day like this.
I’d caught Lavinia peering over her shoulder more than once. She’d gripped my hand so hard I hadn’t been sure I’d get feeling back in it. She knew Tyler was in town, and she knew he’d brought trouble with him. I’d tried to keep it from her, not wanting to burden her.
“Don’t worry, sugar,” I said. “No one’s gonna lay a hand on you.”
She tipped her head back, her eyes wide. “You can’t know that for sure.”
Sure I could. I had a bullet for anyone who tried to hurt her.
Lavinia shivered and I knew it wasn’t from the slight chill in the air. The town didn’t feel as welcoming today. I didn’t like it. She tried to tuck in closer to my side. I didn’t blame her for being scared.
We passed the hardware store, and I gave a nod to the older man behind the counter. He waved, then went back to whatever he was doing. I was willing to bet he had a shotgun within reach. He always had when I’d visited before with Fox and the guys.
When we reached the diner, I pushed open the door and waited for Lavinia to go through. When she had a booth, I took a seat across from her. I leaned back and stretched my legs until my boots went under her seat.
I wanted to assure her they wouldn’t be able to hurt her. The truth was Fox still didn’t want to make a damn move until he knew more about what they were dealing with. All I wanted was to put a bullet between every one of their eyes for even looking Lavinia’s way. If anyone had earned a bit of happiness, it was her. She’d had a hard life, and even though I didn’t know what all she’d been through, I’d make damn sure she had a future.
Permanently.
I scanned the town, my eyes darting from one landmark to the next. The hardware store. Doc’s office. The parked car at the end of the street. Something wasn’t right. I just couldn’t figure out what. Not yet. I kept my ears open, listening for anything that might tell me what the hell was going on. It wasn’t until I saw a reflection in the store window across from us that I knew. Tyler Hughes. My lips peeled back in a snarl and I wanted to rip his throat out.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Lavinia said.
“You’re asking a lot.”
“I’m asking you to trust Fox. He’s your club President, so wouldn’t that mean he has a plan?”
I didn’t know if I could. Tyler wasn’t alone. He had Ian Saunders and Greg Myers with him. I’d seen the two of them around before. Even though I hadn’t gotten nearly enough details from Lavinia, I had a feeling they’d both hurt her. After all, he’d been passing her around to his friends, and he was especially close to these two. Whatever they were up to, it wasn’t good. My skin prickled, and I wanted to get Lavinia the hell out of here. They’d both served in the Navy with Tyler. They’d also been dishonorably discharged from what I remembered. Even back then, they’d been evil bastards.
The last I’d heard, Ian and Greg had gone upstate for a job. They hadn’t been back since, but it looked like that had changed. I’d bet they only came back because Tyler had called them. Lavinia’s ex had to have promised them something. They wouldn’t have come running unless they got something out of it. I hated the way Ian and Greg kept an eye on Lavinia. Like they were plotting to take her. She didn’t deserve more pain or suffering.
My grip tightened on Lavinia’s hand, and I felt her wince. I tried to loosen my hold, but it was hard. I wanted to tear the men apart. I’d never felt rage this intense before. Not even when I’d been in the Navy and had to take out some terrorist bastards. I’d never been one to kill in cold blood. They’d always had it coming. Lavinia’s ex and his friends? They had it coming in a big way.
I watched the way they moved, almost like they had some sort of plan. Tyler’s eyes darted around, trying to take in everything at once. Ian and Greg stood close together. Didn’t take a rocket scientist to know they were up to no good. The way they kept glancing at Lavinia had my muscles tensing. I needed to get her out of here, but I didn’t think it would be smart to run. It might set them off, and we’d end up getting hurt.
“Lavinia? You trust me?” I asked.
“Of course.”
“Good. I need you to do exactly what I say. Right now.”
Her eyes widened. “What’s wrong?”
“Tyler isn’t alone. He has Ian and Greg with him. They’re across the street, and I think they’re planning to come after you. They’ve looked your way more than once. We need to get to the bike and head back to the clubhouse.”
She paled, and I wondered if she’d pass out. Now I knew for sure they’d done something to her. Otherwise, why would she react like that to hearing their names? But I wasn’t going to press her for details, especially not right now. I needed to focus on getting us out of here.
I couldn’t carry her and fight off the bastards. I needed her to remain calm. At least until we made it back.
“You want me to run?”
I shook my head. “No. I want you to walk like everything is fine. Understand?”
She nodded. I shot off a quick text to Fangs and Shooter. I needed them to watch our six, but I didn’t want the men alerted to their presence. Assuming they hadn’t already been spotted.
I got up and held out my hand. She took it and let me lead her out of the diner. We went down the sidewalk, and I tried to keep an eye on the men across the street. I didn’t think they’d try anything in broad daylight, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I’d seen men do worse. If they thought no one would stop them, they’d go after Lavinia.
We reached my bike, and I helped her onto the seat. I handed her the helmet I’d brought along, then got on in front of her. I started the engine and took off. I didn’t see the men still standing near the store, but it didn’t mean they were gone. I’d get Lavinia to safety, and then I’d find Fox. He’d need to know what happened, and he’d probably prefer to hear it from me.
“You okay back there?” I asked.
“I’m fine.”
She wasn’t. I knew she was scared, but she didn’t want me to worry. I’d be a hell of a lot more worried if she wasn’t frightened. Lavinia knew what those men were capable of, especially Tyler. I’d never met anyone more evil. The things he’d done to her… it made my stomach churn. I’d never understand how he’d lived with himself. The man had no conscience.
When we reached the clubhouse, I parked the bike and got off. I helped Lavinia down, then led her inside. The guys were all here. Thank fuck. I needed to talk to Fox. I guided her to the bar and motioned to the Prospect, Carlos.
“Get her something to drink,” I said. “Non-alcoholic.”
He nodded, and I looked for Fox. I didn’t care if he was busy. The leader of our club needed to know what I’d seen, and I wasn’t waiting. The longer he hesitated, the more danger Lavinia was in. I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her or the baby.
I positioned myself in front of Lavinia, keeping her behind me. Anyone who wanted to get to her would have to go through me first. My muscles tightened, and I fisted my hands. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought Tyler was close. Didn’t make sense, though. I’d seen him and his buddies back in town. They couldn’t have beat me here. But there was Ryan… We hadn’t ruled out the fact he could be a traitor.
I walked over to Fox and placed my hand on his shoulder. “Fox, we have a problem.”
“What’s going on, Cotton?”
“Tyler isn’t alone. Two of his closest friends, Ian and Greg, are with him. I got Lavinia to the clubhouse, but I have a bad feeling about this. Those bastards are up to something, and I don’t want them anywhere near Lavinia. You need to do something, or I will.”
“I understand your concern. I don’t like the idea of those men in town, or anywhere near you and Lavinia. But we aren’t going to act until I have more intel. I need to know if Ryan is involved.”
I clenched my jaw. He was right. Didn’t mean I had to like it. I wanted to beat the shit out of Tyler. Watching him suffer would give me more satisfaction than anything else I’d ever done.
“Got it,” I said. “But if they come after Lavinia, I’m not going to hold back.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Fox said. “You’re a good man, Cotton. I know you’re frustrated but trust me to handle this. We’ll make sure Lavinia and the baby stay safe. But I have to say I’m glad you didn’t kill Tyler when you rescued Lavinia. If you had, we may not have found out there’s a traitor in our midst. Even though I’m hoping we’re wrong.”
My gaze strayed to Lavinia. I could see the worry in her eyes. I hated it. She deserved better. I’d give her a good life, even if it killed me. I’d protect her with my last breath.
As long as Tyler kept his distance, I’d let Fox handle things. If he came after Lavinia, I’d take him out. I didn’t give a fuck if I had to do it in broad daylight. I’d make sure he couldn’t hurt her or anyone else ever again.
I’d end Tyler and anyone else who tried to take her from me. The need to act gnawed at me, but my hands were tied. For now.
Lavinia meant everything to me. I’d sworn to protect her and our baby. Knowing Tyler was in town made my blood boil. The thought of her ex even breathing the same air had me on edge. But knowing Ian and Greg were here too? I’d kill them myself. Didn’t need the club to do it for me. Lavinia deserved better, and I’d make sure she had it.
It wasn’t just about the danger. I knew if I went after them, if I killed them, it meant going against Fox and the club. Sneaking away to deal with this on my own would piss off all the officers. Especially Fox. I might be able to live with it, but I’d never forgive myself if it hurt Lavinia. She deserved to be here among the old ladies. To have friends and people to lean on. I wasn’t enough.
The calm atmosphere of the clubhouse didn’t ease the tension. The dim lighting, worn furniture, and framed photos on the walls made the place feel like home. But I couldn’t relax. Not while Tyler was in town. I could feel the seconds ticking by. Every moment we waited felt like more time for Tyler to plan his attack.
Waiting around felt like I was stuck in a cage. I’d claw my way out of this hell one way or another.
I took a deep breath before blowing it out. I needed to calm down and focus.
I went over to the bar and poured a shot of whiskey. I downed it, then poured another. The burn did little to ease the turmoil in my head. Maybe I needed to go for a run. Work off some of the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I’d do whatever it took to make sure I didn’t go after Tyler. I’d promised Fox. I didn’t want to let him down.
Couldn’t stop the need to take action. I’d find a way to make it through the next few days. If Fox didn’t make a move soon, I’d take matters into my hands. I wouldn’t let that bastard hurt Lavinia or our baby. No way in hell.
I took another deep breath and blew it out. It didn’t help.
As the sun began to set, I took Lavinia out onto the porch. I settled into one of the rocking chairs and pulled her onto my lap. She didn’t protest. The shadows lengthened, and I saw her cast a glance over her shoulder. What had happened in town earlier, I knew it had her worried. I’d have to reassure her the best I could. I didn’t like her being scared.
I braced my feet against the porch and reached for her hand. She’d been fidgeting since I’d talked to Fox. I rubbed my thumb over the back of her hand and felt her slowly relax.
“It’s going to be all right, Lavinia. I promise.”
She shook her head. “What if it’s not? You saw Tyler and his friends. You know what they’re capable of. What if they come here? I don’t want them to hurt you or the others. I know Fox would fight to protect me, but if it comes down to a war, the club will lose people. I don’t want to be the reason someone dies.”
“Not going to happen. No one is dying. We’ll put Fox’s plan into motion and get rid of the threat. Once we’re sure there aren’t more of them lurking somewhere, we’ll take them out. And if Tyler or any of his friends show up here, we’ll make them regret it. This is my home. My club. Fox’s home and club. We’ll protect what’s ours.”
Her hand went to her belly. “I don’t want our baby harmed.”
I covered her hand with mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll protect you both. You’re safe here, Lavinia. You know the guys will help if needed.”
“I want to believe you, Cotton. I really do. It’s just… If he comes for me, then I’m worried he’ll hurt you to get to me.”
I growled. “Tyler goes near you, and I’ll kill him. I’m not letting him or his friends touch you or the baby. No way in hell. If I have to lock you in the house and keep you there, I damn well will.”
She sighed and leaned against my chest. I stroked her back and breathed her in. I liked having her in my arms. I’d do anything to keep her here. I hated that Tyler had put that fear in her eyes. I wanted to storm out of here and kill him.
“I hate what he’s done to you, Lavinia. I know you’re scared. I don’t like it, but I understand. You’ll be all right.”
“How do you know?” She lifted her head and peered at me.
“I just do. Call it instinct, gut feeling, whatever you want. I’ll have the guys on high alert. If Tyler comes near you, he’ll regret it. I’ll make sure of it. He’s not getting you back. Ever. You’re mine, and I’ll protect what’s mine. If he tries to take you, I’ll kill him. No one will stop me from putting him down.”
She nodded and relaxed against me. I felt the tension drain from her, and I knew she believed me. I wouldn’t lie to her. I’d do whatever it took to keep her and the baby safe. I also knew it wouldn’t be easy. I didn’t know what Tyler, Ian, and Greg had planned. I’d have to wait and see what Fox came up with. He’d promised to help. I just hoped it wasn’t too late.