Chapter Thirteen
Dagger
My asshole was clenching like a motherfucker.
“What the fuck does Dell want with her?” I muttered to myself.
Freya craned her neck to study my ex-wife and the love of my life, having a powwow before turning back to me wearing a smirk. “Mom will be clueing her in.”
My ass clenched again, and I scraped a hand down my face. “Fuckin’ great.”
Freya laughed, and my throat went dry as I watched her entire face light up. I pulled back, still holding her at arm’s length while I studied my daughter’s gorgeous face.
The last time I saw Freya in person was when she and her mother stormed the clubhouse to collect her stuff. Back then, tension was etched into her features, probably because of the shitty way I’d treated her. Now, Freya’s expression was calm, content, and relaxed, and I didn’t mind admitting I felt relieved.
“You look good, Frey,” I murmured. “You seem happy.”
My girl beamed at me. “I am, Dad. I love my job.” She looked me dead in the eye and said in a low tone, “And I love Colt, too. He’s good to me.”
My heart sank when I thought how close I’d come to screwing up my and my daughter’s relationship in ways that were permanent.
I’d always doted on my girl and went over and above to protect her. Since she’d left, I’d had time to reflect and realized I’d gone over the top.
Dipping my chin, I caught Freya’s gaze. “The grapevine told me shit between you both was rocky at first.”
Freya shrugged. “It was hard to settle initially. I mean, he did keep disappearing on me, and we were under a lot of pressure. But things got way better pretty quickly. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else now. I miss everyone here, but I like Virginia. It feels like it’s where I’m meant to be.”
Sliding my hands down her arms, I took her hands in mine.
Something sharp caught my skin. I looked down, and my forehead creased as my stare caught on the glimmer of a ring. “What the fuck’s this?” I lifted her hand up to study the huge diamond on her finger.
Freya raised her chin defiantly. “Colt asked me to marry him, and I said yes. It’s not official yet, though our moms know. Things between us were fraught, so I thought it would be better to tell you face-to-face.”
I released Freya’s fingers, my hand raising rub at the ache shooting through my chest.
It hurt that I was the last to know my baby girl was getting wed, but it hurt more knowing I only had myself to blame.
The day I walked into Colt’s room and saw him with Freya was a blur. His betrayal flipped a switch inside me and took me back to the time Iris was snatched. Back when it happened, I swore my daughter would never be subjected to danger. I made a vow that she’d never know what it was like to be violated and abused because she was part of an MC.
I loved and respected my men, but I knew if Freya ended up with one of them, she’d always have the threat of danger in her life. The thought of her being hurt, the same way Iris was, made my blood run cold.
My youngest was beautiful and so damned smart she even intimidated me sometimes. I wanted her to live a life where she was free and clear of MC bullshit, but it blinded me from seeing Freya’s wants and needs.
And that was where I fell down on the one job that was more important than being an MC prez.
Being a father.
I bent my neck to regard Freya. “I’m sorry I made it so you couldn’t tell me, sweetheart.”
She blinked. “Who is this John Stone who keeps apologizing to people? I’ve heard you say sorry more times in the last few weeks than I have in a lifetime.”
“A man’s never too old to learn lessons,” I advised her gravely, dipping my chin again. “When do ya think you’ll get married?”
“We don’t know yet,” she replied wistfully. “We’re in no rush. I don’t have time to plan a wedding at the moment because my internship is so full-on. Caroline, Colt’s mom, said she would do it for us, but her idea of a wedding and mine are very different. She’d jet five hundred people out to Lake Como for the society wedding of the year if she had her way, if only to stick it to Colt’s dad.”
“I wanna pay, Freya,” I insisted. “It’s tradition for a father to drop some cash on his daughter’s wedding.”
Freya’s eyes rounded. “Huh?”
“I didn’t deal with it well, but I’ve had time to think. You could do a lot worse than Colt. I’m pig-headed, but you’re my only daughter, and I love ya, Frey. Have the wedding you want. I’ll pick up the tab.”
She gazed up at me, her mouth gaping slightly.
I couldn’t blame her for being shocked. I’d done a complete one-eighty in a matter of months. One minute, I was half-killing her boyfriend, the next minute, asking to pay for their wedding.
I’d had time to think and came to the conclusion that if I wanted Freya in my life, I’d have to accept her relationship.
Colt had given up his patch for my girl, so his devotion to her wasn’t in question. Even I’d noticed her lifelong crush on him, and it had always been clear how much he admired and respected her, too. I hated to admit it, but they suited each other. Both of them were so fucking smart they made my head spin. They challenged each other, and for Freya and Colt and their big ol’ brains, being challenged was their love language.
Having Leesy around for the last few weeks made me understand how empty life could be without the person you loved, and so help me, I didn’t want that for my Freya. Not one fiber of my being wanted my daughter to live half a life yearning for the one person who made her whole. And if it was the same for Stone women as it was for the men, she’d love Colt hard, fast, and forever.
Freya’s eyes softened. “Thank you. I think I want an old-fashioned club wedding. I’ll talk to Colt, and when we’ve decided for sure, I’ll let you know.” She rolled up on her toes and kissed my cheek before stepping back and returning to her seat.
My eyes followed her, a small smile playing around my mouth.
“Yo, Prez,” Atlas’s voice boomed from the bar. “We gonna go light the grill any time soon? My stomach feels like my throat’s been goddamned cut.”
Turning on my heel, I sauntered toward the officers who were shooting the shit with Billy as he popped the tops off bottles of beer before sliding them across the counter.
He gave me a chin lift as I approached, holding a bottle out toward me. “This one’s extra cold, boss. It’s got your name on it.”
I took it and immediately raised it to my mouth, taking a deep pull. Lowering the bottle, I smacked my lips and sighed with appreciation. “Thanks, Prospect.”
Cash jerked his chin toward the table where Elise and his mom were chatting like long-lost sisters. “What’s goin’ on there?”
My eyes followed his. “Son, your guess is as good as mine.”
“Knowing Mom the way I do, she’s probably layin’ it out,” Bowie muttered.
“Yeah,” I concurred. “That’s what I’m damned well afraid of. Adele’s gotta mouth on her; she’ll have Elise runnin’ for the door any second now.”
Cash chuckled. “S’okay, Pop. I’ll tackle your woman to the floor.”
“Good luck with that,” Breaker interjected. “She’ll kick your ass.”
“And I’ll fuckin’ help her,” Atlas told him, eyes hardening on my eldest. “What ya talkin’ like that for, ya little scrotum. Tackle my ma-in-law, and I’ll tackle your skinny ass right on back.” He narrowed his eyes on Cash, muttering, “Fucknut,” under his breath.
“Fat ass,” Cash bandied back.
“Psycho,” Atlas retorted.
Cash laughed before crowing, “Abnormal dick.”
My lips twitched at Atlas’s shocked expression.
“I can’t believe you fuckin’ went there,” my SAA said accusingly.
Cash shrugged. “It’s like a third fuckin’ leg, and what do you expect when you give all of us constant shit? If you’re gonna give it, you gotta learn to take it.”
Atlas sniffed. “Thought you were my bud.”
Cash leaned toward Atlas and tried to get him in a headlock, except Atlas—who moved quick for a big guy—side-stepped, and managed to get Cash’s head under his beefy, muscular arm instead.
“Surrender!” he bellowed.
Bowie barked a laugh.
Breaker shook his head, smiling.
I chuckled.
Cash let out a long whine, and he began to struggle, shouting, “Fuck you!”
“Now, now, now,” Atlas reprimanded, digging his knuckles into Cash’s head. “There’s kids present.”
Cash cursed loudly.
A high-pitched squeal sounded, and as if on cue, Sunny and Kady bounded over with Jolly Batman bouncing around Sunny’s feet, his tail swishing back and forth.
My little Sunshine’s eyes shone at the prospect of a play fight. She looked at Kady and breathed, “Oh my Gods,” as she clapped her hands excitedly, “Assless. Are you gon’ kicks Uncle Cash’s ass? Can I fights, too?” She brought her fists up in front of her face and moved into a cute little defensive position. “Look, Auntie Soph teached me.”
Bowie closed his eyes and shook his head with exasperation. “Don’t say ass, Sunny. Your mom’ll flip.”
Cash tried to wriggle out of Atlas’s hold, but the big man held on tight.
“Save me, Sunny,” Xan wailed, trying to land a kick on the SAA’s leg. “He’s hurting me.”
Sunny scowled, punched her hands to her hips, and demanded, “Gets off him, Assless. You’re a big, fat meanie.”
“He started it, Sunshine,” the big man boomed. “Cashy baby was bein’ a di—an asshol–err, he was bein’ a douche.”
“But you can’t hurts him,” Sunny argued, stomping toward the guys and resuming her defensive stance. “You’re fatter than him, and you mights make him cry.”
Kady’s eyes rounded.
Bowie stifled his chuckle with his hand.
I barked a laugh.
“That’s it, Sunny, you tell him,” Cash called over, his voice muffled by Atlas’s meaty hand across his face. “He’s a big ol’ bully. You gonna save your uncle Cash’s life?”
Atlas pulled Cash’s neck a bit tighter, and he crowed, “Tell me I’m the mighty master, and I rule the world.” Looking over at Sunny, he shot her a mean look. “Or I’ll kick your skinny ass, and then it’s Sunny Sunshine’s turn and her mangy mutt.”
Kady’s jaw dropped.
Sunny let out a shocked gasp, her grey eyes going huge. “Oh my Gods. You’re dispicitable.”
Jolly Batman arched up on his paws, his hair standing on end, and he bared his teeth at the SAA with a low growl.
Cash cursed again. “Get him, Sunny. Show him who’s boss.”
The SAA squeezed Xan’s neck harder.
Suddenly, a loud screech filled the ether.
I whipped my head around, and my heart leaped as I watched Sunny fly through the air with one leg straight and the other one folded up, a la Bruce Lee. She let out a war cry as she sailed toward the two idiots who were play-fighting.
“Now, look here, Sunsh—” Atlas began but was cut off when Sunny’s foot clipped the side of his knee. He let out a loud “Oof.” Then, he slowly crumpled to the floor, his face turning a sickly shade of green.
Sunny landed square on her feet. “I won! I won!” she sang, wiggling her little ass in a victory dance. “I beats Asslessssssss.”
JB let out a loud bark before lowering his head and baring his teeth at the SAA, who was groaning from the floor.
Sunny giggled. “Did you see me, Granddaddy John? I gots Assless good.”
I barked a laugh. “Good girl, but remember what I said, go for the nuts next time.”
Sunny looked up at me, her eyes shining, and she nodded eagerly.
Bowie’s eyes widened with horror as his gaze became glued to Atlas moaning on the floor, holding his knee. “Sunny! What have I told you about those high kicks? Jesus, you broke Atlas.”
I busted out a laugh.
Sunny’s bottom lip popped out, and she stared down at her shoes. “Buts he was being mean.”
Atlas groaned from the direction of my feet. “Fuuuck. My leg.”
The music lowered, and Abe’s voice drifted toward us. “What the hell’s goin’ on?” I looked up just as he and Mason shouldered their way through the crowd, who were watching us, laughing. “Get the fuck up, Atlas,” he ordered. “Stop pissin’ around.”
“He can’t,” Cash replied, laughter lacing his tone. “Sunshine just kicked the shit outta him. Fucked his knee up.” My eldest nodded toward the floor. “Asshole’s not goin’ anywhere.”
I laughed harder.
“Whaddya mean Sunshine kicked the fuck outta him?” Abe questioned, his eyes turning to my granddaughter. “What did you do, Sunny?”
By then, my baby girl must’ve suspected she’d fucked up because her bottom lip began to wobble, and moisture welled in her eyes. “He was bein’ a meanie,” she jabbered. “He cussed at me, and Grandma Dell hasn’t got the cussy box, so I tolds him off, and he was mean to Jolly Batman, and my daddy saids that yous gotsa fights fires with fires, so I kicked him like Mr. Miyagi.” She did a little wax-on, wax-off motion with her hand, then began to breathe fast and deep as her little face scrunched up. “ I’m sorry! ” she wailed.
The sound of heels clattering on wood sounded.
I turned to see a posse of ol’ ladies flouncing our way, and they didn’t look happy. “Oh shit,” I breathed. “Hold onto your hats.”
“What on earth happened,” Sophie demanded. She walked toward Atlas and crouched down to examine his knee. “How the hell did you do that?”
“Sunny kicked his ass,” Cash declared.
Abe hooted.
Biting down my laughter, I covered my mouth with my hand.
“Oh my God,” Layla said, her tone anguished as her gaze cut from Atlas to her daughter and then back again. “What have I told you about those kicks, Sunny?”
The little girl’s face scrunched up, and she let out another pained wail.
“It was his own fault,” Bowie informed his woman. “Atlas got in her face.”
Layla’s head snapped toward Bowie. “What do you mean he got in her face?”
Bowie shrugged. “He was only funnin’ around.”
His ol’ lady’s eyes narrowed on the SAA.
“Jesus, Dan,” Sophie murmured as she got to her feet. “It’s bad enough you and Cash play fighting like you’re ten-year-olds, but then you fall even lower by starting shit with a child, and get your ass kicked. I can’t believe you.”
“Well, I can’t exactly hit her back, can I, woman?” Atlas muttered from the floor.
Cash barked a laugh.
I guffawed.
Abe snorted. “She’d probably kick your ass if you tried—again.”
I exchanged a look with my bud, my lips twitching like a motherfucker.
Roars of laughter, hoots, and hollers filled the air as the rest of the men began to give Atlas some shit.
Gingerly, my SAA got to his feet, testing his weight on his knee, and winced.
Just then, my cell phone pinged. My throat went dry as the sound of multiple notifications filled the room.
Immediately, I knew something was wrong.
I glanced at Atlas, who was going for his phone, his lips set in an angry line. My heart gave a hard thud, and I pulled my cell from my pocket and read the one word typed in capitals on the screen.
MAYDAY.
My head shot up as the sound of a single gunshot permeated the walls.
What the fuck?
“Weapons out!” Atlas ordered. “We’re hittin’ the parking lot, but wait for the command.” He turned to Soph. “Women and kids down the Cell, now. Don’t come up until I tell you it’s safe for—” He was interrupted by a beam of sunlight illuminating the room as some of the men burst outside. “Get that fuckin’ door closed,” he bellowed.
Screams and shouts went up as gunfire hit the bar from outside.
My heart plummeted as bodies dived for cover.
The men at the door hit the deck—or maybe were put down by a bullet, and within seconds, the place turned into utter chaos. Men leaped to their feet and jostled into position by the windows. Shouts and orders filled the air, drowning out the women’s screams as the brothers yelled instructions to each other. Then, the deafening booms of gunshots sounded as the Demons began to return fire.
Reaching for my weapon, I turned to run toward the window, but I felt something tug at my jeans. I looked down to see Sunny and Kady at my legs.
“Granddaddy John,” Sunny whimpered. “I’m scared.”
My skin began to itch at the mere thought of the fuckers outside putting my babies at risk, but instead of hulking out, I crouched down, my hand going to Sunny’s back to pull her in safe. “Where’s your mom?” I asked as if to myself. “She needs to get you outta here.”
My eyes fell on the women all crouched behind a table, protecting themselves from the gunfire, but no Layla. Frantically, I searched among the tables and chairs scattered across the floor until I spied my daughter-in-law crawling toward us. “Sunny,” she shrieked.
“Stay back, Layla,” I cautioned. “Take cover.” As the words left my mouth, another round of loud gunfire exploded through the still-open door.
Suddenly, a figure pushed me out of the way. I let out an “oof” as I fell onto my ass from my crouching position. My head jerked up to see Leesy shielding Sunny and Kady with her body, bullets flying all around her.
“Get down, woman,” I roared, heart racing at the thought of Elise or Sunny getting shot.
Mouth agape, I took in Leesy as she dived for the floor, a hand covering each of the girls’ heads to protect them as they hit the deck.
“Get the door shut, John,” Elise yelled, a split second after they landed. “We’re sitting ducks.”
“Stay the fuck down,” I commanded, getting to my hands and knees. With one last glance back to check Leesy and Sunny were safe, I began to crawl toward the goddamned door, which was swinging in the breeze.
Broken glass dug into my palms as I scrambled across the wooden floor, but I was so intent on getting the doors closed, I hardly noticed. My eyes fell on Tex, who was lying with his back on the floor. His eyes were closed, and blood pooled around him.
My heart gave a hard thud, and I looked up, frantically trying to find help. “Tex caught a bullet,” I called out amongst the chaos. “Somebody get over here and stem the blood flow.”
“On it, boss,” Reno called out, lowering onto his stomach and sliding toward us.
“Get up,” I instructed. “There’s glass on the floor.”
Reno got to his feet as he approached Tex but stayed crouched low. He whipped his cut off, pulled his tee over his head, and used it to press down on Tex’s gunshot wound, trying to stem the blood. Reno looked up at me. “He needs a doctor.”
“Can you get him down the medical wing?” Sophie called over.
“Stay where you are, Stitch,” Atlas ordered. “Prez, we need this door closed now!”
Looking around, I took in everybody’s position, my mind going over what we needed to do and in what order.
Atlas was right. Getting the door closed took priority. After the last shoot-out at Sparky’s wake, we’d replaced the windows with bulletproof glass, which meant that once the door was closed, we’d be better protected and could fight back with some semblance of power.
The problem was that we needed cover to close the door, but we needed the door closed to get cover.
Fuck me.
My eyes fell on Breaker. My youngest boy had his ass on the floor and his back to the wall. He looked at me with blank eyes, and I knew the soldier had surfaced.
“We need cover, Kit,” I told him.
“It’s the Sinners,” he scraped out as he got to his feet and stalked toward the corridor leading to the kitchen. I heard the click of his safety coming off before he said, “Looks like they’re finally retaliating.”
“I’ll go with him,” Cash offered, appearing at my side.
“Me too,” Shotgun parroted from behind him.
“Be careful,” I warned. “And follow Breaker’s lead.”
I turned back toward Atlas. “The second things go quiet, get that door fucking closed and lock it.” Turning back toward the room, I spotted Arrow loading his gun. “Brother, get down the basement. I want firepower and ammo brought up. When you’ve done that, I want you up on the roof with me for a game of shoot the head off an asshole. First to five wins.”
Arrow jerked a nod. He waited for a lull in the shooting before disappearing down the corridor leading to the stairs with Abe on his tail.
“John,” a voice called.
My head whipped around to see that Elise had Kady and Sunny’s hands in hers. “The Cell’s down there, right?” She nodded toward the corridor Arrow had just gone down.
The sound of gunfire started up again, and a flurry of bullets pinged through the room, the ricochets bouncing off the walls. Shouts went up as people ran for cover.
Elise tucked the girls into her for safety.
Whoever was firing could only shoot down the middle of the room. As long as we kept to the walls on either side, we’d be golden. The corridor leading to the Cell was at the far end of the bar but directly in the center. It meant we couldn’t get the women and kids down there without the risk of them catching a bullet.
“You gotta wait until there’s a lull, Leesy,” I ordered. “Get the girls and the women down there, but wait for my signal. Breaker’s out there with some men. Let’s hope they can disable the shooters.”
“They can only fire down the center because of the angle of the door,” Elise pointed out. “Can we block the mouth of the corridor with tables and crawl behind them? We need to get Tex some medical help, and the girls are frightened. I want to get them safe in your panic room.”
“On it,” Reno said, gently laying Tex back down on the floor.
“Use the thick oak tables,” I instructed. “I don’t want bullets getting through to the women and kids.”
Reno nodded as he got to his feet and skirted the wall toward the back of the room, pulling heavy tables with him as he went. He flipped the first table on its side and pushed it hard toward the center of the room before doing it again with the second one.
Men crouched around the windows and hugged the walls, taking shots whenever they got a chance before pulling back to take cover. Smoke filled the air from so many weapons being discharged, and the sound of glass splintering rang in my ears as unrelenting gunfire peppered back through the bar.
One of the men let out a cry as he got hit in the shoulder.
Stalking toward him, I dragged him down, looking around to make sure nobody else was injured.
“I’m outta ammo,” somebody yelled.
“I’m runnin’ low,” another man shouted.
“We didn’t expect to get fuckin’ ambushed in the middle of the damned day,” Atlas retorted. “Arrow and Abe are down the basement gettin’ more firepower. Make every shot count.”
“Got it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Blood pounded through my ears as men rushed around, shouting instructions. Not one man freaked out or buckled under the pressure. Everyone knew what needed to be done, and they got on with it. Not for the first time, I sent up a prayer of thanks that we’d made a conscious decision only to take trained men.
A loud boom pulsed through the air.
I whipped my head around to see Billy standing behind the bar, aiming a shotgun through the doors.
“It’s like déjà vu,” he yelled, letting out a hoot. “I fuckin’ love this place. It’s the shit. Haven’t had fun like this since the last damned time those fuckers shot us up.” He clicked the barrel into place, pointed the shotgun through the doors, and fired another round with a loud boom .
“Ammo’s here,” Atlas shouted.
The boys hooted and hollered.
“Keep on those fuckers, Billy,” I ordered. “Cover Abe and Arrow.”
Billy replied with another cock of the gun, followed by a blast.
Within seconds, Arrow was by my side, throwing weapons and ammo from a giant plastic container on wheels to the boys who were shooting from the windows.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Bowie crowed as he caught a rifle from Arrow and loaded it up. Getting into a firing position, he peered through the sight and started taking potshots at the men outside.
“The women are gettin’ their asses out with the kids,” Atlas muttered from beside me.
Glancing back, I caught Elise’s eye. She was encouraging Sunny and Kady to crawl around the back of the tables that Reno had positioned in front of the corridor. I grabbed two handguns and some ammo and ran down the side of the room toward the women who were crawling out of the bar to safety.
“Leesy, here,” I called over, crouching and skidding the weapons over the floor to her. “Give one to Layla; she’s a good shooter. You still fire a gun?”
“Yeah,” she replied, catching hold of the weapons, then the ammo.
“Lock yourselves in, and don’t come out until one of us comes for you. Got it, baby?”
She stared at me, her expression one of concern. “Be careful, John. Please.”
I shot her a reassuring grin. “Always. Look after the women and kids, baby. I’ll come get you soon.”
She smiled back at me, and it hit me deep because, for a second, I saw the girl I loved down to my bones, back when we held the world in the palms of our hands.
“Go, Leesy,” I implored. “Get safe.”
She nodded, dropped to her knees, and crawled behind the table.
I breathed a sigh of relief before stalking back across the room toward Arrow. “Wanna come shootin’?”
His lips thinned. “Try and fuckin’ stop me, boss.”
We both grabbed rifles and hurried toward the stairs leading up to the roof when Atlas called out, “Prez.”
I paused and craned my neck.
“Don’t fuckin’ miss,” he snarled.
My thoughts turned to Sunny and Kady, remembering their scared, pale faces. Memories of Elise leaping over to shield them flashed through my mind, and a steely sense of determination tightened my gut.
“No more pussyfootin’ around and waiting for them to bring shit to us, Atlas,” I bit out, squaring my shoulders. “If it’s a war the Sinners want, then that’s exactly what they’re gonna get.”