Chapter Eighteen
Logan
Before anyone could make a move to leave, Wire cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the heavy silence.
“Hold up,” he said, his voice gruff. “We need to address something.”
I watched as all eyes turned to him, curiosity and wariness mingling in their expressions. Wire’s gaze locked onto Akira, who had just entered and was now nestled protectively against her father’s side.
“Akira was only taken because she left the compound,” Wire stated bluntly. “If she’d stayed behind those gates, she’d likely be safe right now.”
I felt a twinge of unease at his words. While true, it seemed harsh to point out after everything she’d been through. Akira’s eyes flashed with defiance, but before she could speak, Savior stepped forward.
“Where are you going with this, Wire?” Savior asked, his tone cautious. “We can’t exactly put her on lockdown.”
I could see the reluctance on everyone’s faces at the thought of confining Akira. Trying to cage her would only lead to more trouble.
Wire shook his head, his expression grim. “It’s not just about Akira anymore. Dawson’s family could be in danger too. And Justin’s daughter.”
I glanced at Justin, noting the way his jaw clenched, his usually calm demeanor cracking slightly at the edges.
“Diego’s family might be at risk as well,” Wire continued, his words falling like lead in the pit of my stomach.
The implications of what Wire was saying hit me hard. This wasn’t just about protecting one person anymore. We were potentially looking at a much larger threat, one that could endanger everyone we cared about.
I caught Dawson’s eye, seeing my own concern mirrored in his gaze. His thoughts were undoubtedly with Nora and Taylor, just as mine were with my sister Avery. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders, my instinct to protect warring with the knowledge that we couldn’t possibly guard everyone at all times.
As the tension in the room ratcheted up another notch, I found myself wishing for the simplicity of my job as a paramedic. At least there, I knew exactly what needed to be done in any given situation. But this? This was uncharted territory, and the stakes were higher than ever.
Diego ran a hand through his dark hair, his usually warm eyes now filled with worry. “My family’s too big, man. There’s no way I can get them all in one spot, let alone somewhere secure. You really think they could be at risk?”
Wire’s expression was grim as he replied, “For now, the focus seems to be on people tied to the Dixie Reapers. That puts Dawson’s wife and daughter in the crosshairs.”
I watched Dawson’s face pale at the mention of Nora and Taylor. His jaw clenched, and I could practically see the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out how to keep them safe.
Justin stepped forward, his commanding presence drawing everyone’s attention. “What are you suggesting we do, Wire? So far, only Akira and Logan have been targeted. That could change, I know, especially with Tinker being…” He paused, swallowing hard. “Well, being who he is to me. But I can’t exactly stay home twenty-four seven to watch Kelsey.”
I felt a surge of sympathy for Justin. Being club president was hard enough without having to worry about your kid being in danger. And Kelsey was such a sweet little thing, always laughing and playing when she visited the clubhouse.
“There’s got to be a way to keep them all safe without turning our lives upside down,” I found myself saying, even as I wondered if that was possible.
Wire’s gaze flicked to Savior, and my gut clenched. Whatever was coming next, I knew it wouldn’t be popular.
“We move them all into the compound,” Wire said, his voice firm. “Dawson, Nora, Taylor, Justin, and Kelsey.” His eyes landed on me. “You too, Logan. It’d be safer.”
My heart rate spiked. “What about Avery? My sister has been to our clubhouse plenty. If they’re targeting people connected to us…”
Wire nodded, his expression grim. “Bring her too. Better safe than sorry.”
The silence that followed was deafening. I could feel the tension radiating off every man in the room. Dawson looked like he was going to be sick, while Justin’s face had turned to stone.
Wraith broke the silence with a growl that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “Have you lost your fucking mind? You want to let law enforcement just waltz through our gates and set up camp?”
I winced. I knew he was just looking out for his club and his family, but he could have phrased it a little better.
Wire held up his hands placatingly. “Look, we’re not doing anything illegal these days. It’s not like they’ll find anything to cause problems. Hell, we don’t even throw parties in the clubhouse anymore.”
I watched the others, gauging their reactions. This was a powder keg waiting to blow, and I wasn’t sure which way it would go. Justin didn’t look thrilled with the idea either.
Tempest ran a hand through his hair, his brow furrowed in thought. “I’m not exactly sure this is the greatest idea,” he said slowly, “but I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to innocent women and kids. We could use the rooms in the clubhouse. Put out a notice to all the Reapers, or call Church to let everyone know what’s going on.”
I nodded, relieved someone was offering a concrete solution. The thought of Avery in danger made my stomach churn. I’d do anything to keep her safe, even if it meant ruffling a few feathers.
Venom cleared his throat. “Dawson, why don’t you bring Nora and Taylor to our place? You’re family, after all, and we’ve got the space.”
I watched Dawson’s shoulders relax slightly at his father’s offer. Since Nora had spent quite a bit of time with Ridley, they would probably be more comfortable there.
Before I could voice my agreement, Wraith’s steely gaze locked onto me. The intensity in his eyes made me want to take a step back, but I held my ground.
“And you,” he said, jabbing a finger in my direction. “Over my dead body will you be staying in Akira’s room with her.”
“I would never --” I started to protest, but Wraith’s glare silenced me.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his eyes. “Sir, I assure you, I would never have suggested that. I respect your daughter, and you, far too much for that.”
Wraith held my gaze for a long moment before giving a curt nod. I exhaled slowly, feeling like I’d just passed some sort of test.
As the tension began to rise again, Savior lifted his hand, silencing the room with a single gesture. “This is the second time danger’s come knocking at the Swift Angels’ door, and I’d bet my last dollar it won’t be the last.”
I felt a chill run down my spine at his words. He was right, of course. First Nora, now Akira. It seemed trouble had a way of finding us.
Savior turned to Justin, his expression softening slightly. “Son, in my experience, women tend to bring trouble with them. No offense meant. Just look at what happened when Nora came into the picture.”
I saw Dawson stiffen, his jaw clenching. I knew he’d go to hell and back for Nora and their daughter, but Savior wasn’t wrong. Their love had come at a price.
“Maybe it’s time,” Savior continued, “for the Swift Angels to set up something like what we’ve got. Doesn’t have to be as big, but a safe haven when shit hits the fan.”
The idea sparked something in my mind. A fortress, a sanctuary. Somewhere we could protect our own. I liked it.
“He’s got a point,” I said. “We could use something like that. What if this sort of situation comes up again and we need a place to keep our families safe?”
Dawson nodded. “Yeah, we could build a new clubhouse. Maybe add some apartments or townhomes for temporary lodging. Doesn’t have to be permanent like the Reapers have, but somewhere safe when we need it.”
I could see the wheels turning in Justin’s head as he considered the idea. It was a big step, but after everything that had happened, it felt necessary. I just hoped it would be enough to keep everyone safe in the future.
Savior’s eyes narrowed. “For now, we need to move fast. Warn your families and gather up Kelsey, Nora, Taylor, and Avery. Pack for a few days and bring them to our compound. I’ll have everything set up in the clubhouse by the time you arrive. But fair warning -- our ladies might descend en masse to welcome everyone. They can be… a lot to handle.”
I couldn’t help but smirk, imagining the chaos that would ensue. The Reaper women were a force of nature, fiercely protective and not afraid to speak their minds. Other than Akira, I’d met a few of them already. They’d shown up to help when Nora was in trouble.
Venom snorted, his gruff voice laced with affection. “Your wife’s a Goddamn saint compared to the rest, Savior.”
I watched as Dawson’s eyes lit up with mischief. “You thinking of Mom and Darian specifically, Dad?”
Venom’s head snapped toward his son, eyes narrowing dangerously. “You breathe a word of that to Ridley, and I’ll deny it till my dying day.”
Despite his words, I caught the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. It was nice seeing those two acting close again. From what Dawson had said, when he came clean to his dad about his job and the club, Venom had been far from pleased. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Ridley, Venom might have disowned Dawson.
The tension in the room eased, replaced by camaraderie. I watched as the Reapers started to file out, their leather cuts a sea of black against the fading light. My gaze landed on Diego, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a furrowed brow and tight jaw.
“You okay, man?” I asked, stepping closer to him.
Diego ran a hand through his dark hair, his eyes troubled. “Just thinking about my family. There’s so many of them, you know? Aunts, uncles, cousins… if something happened…”
I nodded, understanding his concern. Diego’s large Hispanic family was a source of both joy and worry for him. An idea struck me, and I voiced it without hesitation.
“What if we sent them on a weekend trip somewhere? Get them out of town for a bit, just as a precaution.”
Diego’s eyes widened slightly. “That’s… not a bad idea, actually. But the cost --”
I waved off his concern. “We can all pitch in a little if we need to. It’s what family does, right?”
A small smile cracked through Diego’s worried expression. “ Gracias, hermano . That means a lot.”
I clapped him on the shoulder, my voice firm with conviction. “Listen, no matter what happens, we’re going to make sure all of our families are safe. That’s a promise.”
“All right, let’s get moving,” Justin called out to the remaining Swift Angels. “We’ve got families to protect.”
I looked over to Akira, who’d remained behind. As far as I was concerned, she was one of the people I needed to keep safe. I knew her dad wouldn’t necessarily agree. He thought that was still his job. She came over to me, taking my hand in hers.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Guess so. It’s just a lot to take in.”
“I get it.” She went up on tiptoe and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “It will be nice having you so close, though. I have to admit, I liked staying with you at your apartment.”
I put my arms around her and pulled her against me. “Maybe once all this is over, we can do that again. Or talk about the possibility of living together?”
Her lips parted and then she smiled. “I think I’d like that. Dad won’t, but he’ll get over it.”
I kissed her again. “Love you, Akira.”
“Love you, too. I better go before Dad comes back in here. No sense causing more issues when there’s enough on our plates. But I’ll see you shortly.”
I watched her walk out and only had one thought. I’m going to marry her someday .