32. Havoc
Havoc
The clubhouse is a war tent. Guns are laid out on every surface. A map of the city marking the Iron Sinners operational strongholds is up on the TV behind the bar so we can go over the plan again.
Every member is stirring.
Restless.
Running on coffee and adrenaline as we prepare to take the fight to our rivals.
We’ve been at war with the Iron Sinners for years. Playing this game with Titan and his men. Chipping away, seeing who breaks first. But neither club has officially crossed the line we are about to. Once we start, there’s no going back.
I tuck a gun into the holster at my ankle, ready to make this final stand. The room is buzzing, so I know I’m not the only one who feels it.
An end nearing .
A beginning we all hope to see this time tomorrow.
The patch bunnies are in their rooms, sticking to the hallway where the kitchen sits. They avoid the main body of the clubhouse on days like this without anyone having to ask them to. Blood is in the air, even if the battle is yet to begin.
Old ladies stick to the other side of the clubhouse. Tempe, Reagan, Luna, and the kids will spend the day in the ranked members’ quarters.
Steel and Legacy don’t want the kids around this many weapons, but it’s safer to pull everyone into the clubhouse at a time like this so we don’t have to stretch our protection efforts too thin across the compound.
If anyone needs anything, Tempe pops out to grab it.
But the girls keep the kids occupied with movies and distractions.
Aimee is the only one of the old ladies lingering with the men. She sits on a stool in the back of the room, running through the plan with Chaos for the tenth time this morning.
Titan requested Aimee come alone, but Chaos will be giving Aimee a ride to the meetup, so he has an excuse to linger. I thought about trying to hide other men around the building where they’re meeting, but I wouldn’t put it past Titan to have already taken precautions.
It makes me uneasy, but it’s also for the best. The more effort Titan puts into retrieving Aimee, the less he’ll be focused on us when we make a move .
Chaos meets my gaze over the top of Aimee’s head, and he nods, indicating she’s ready. I nod back, but there’s more in my gesture.
Don’t let her out of your sight.
Don’t let her get hurt.
Stick to the plan.
Chaos dips his chin in understanding, and I know, if I can trust anyone, it’s him.
He would take the fall for any of us. He’s done it before.
And for Aimee, I have no doubt he’d happily go to prison or take a bullet if it meant protecting her.
I sweep through the room, stopping at each group of members and breaking down the plan again.
I confirm everyone is clear on their positions and what they need to hit.
The meeting between Aimee and Titan is at high noon on the Strip, so we don’t have the luxury of operating under the cover of night.
After briefing everyone inside, I head out to the front porch to touch base with Steel. “We roll out in forty-five minutes.”
“What about Chaos and Aimee?” He watches prospects load a van out front.
“They leave in thirty.”
Steel nods, and when I don’t say more, his gaze cuts in my direction. “It’s the middle of the Strip. She’ll be fine.”
“I know.” I refuse to accept any alternative.
“Titan must think he can convince her to go willingly. It’s the only reason he’d choose a public setting like he did. ”
“He knows she’d do anything to save her father.” I pop my knuckles. “But she trusts me.”
Steel nods. “I’m going to check on Tempe and Austin. Get the men ready.”
I nod, finding my way to the van to double-check everything is loaded as planned. Then I find Ghost to run through the surveillance he’ll have on Aimee while she’s meeting with Titan. Finally, I find Patch.
Worst-case scenario, he needs to be there if things go sideways.
By the time I walk back into the clubhouse, Aimee is standing at the back slider fiddling with the hem of her shirt. Her gaze is on the distance, and I sense her mind is as well.
I can only imagine what’s going through it, knowing she’ll be facing Titan in less than an hour. We might have saved her from him, but she never actually escaped. Until she does this, she won’t have closure, and she’ll always be running.
I wrap my arms around her waist and rest my chin on the top of her head. She leans into my body, not saying anything as she reaches for me. With two fingers, I spin her ring around her finger.
“What’s Christmas morning like around the clubhouse?” she asks. “Apart from the ridiculous decorations.”
“You’ll find out.”
She hums, and I don’t like that it sounds like she’s asking because she doesn’t think she will. After a long moment, she turns in my arms. Her gaze drops to her ring as she slips it off.
“I need you to hold onto this.”
When she tries to hand it to me, I step back. “No.”
“I can’t show up wearing it, Levi. You know Titan will notice, and it will just cause more problems.”
Aimee grabs my hand, shoving the ring into my palm, and even if she’s not actually giving it back, it sure as fuck feels like it.
Still, she’s right. If Titan sees a ring from me on her finger, I have no idea what he’ll do. We can’t risk it.
“I’ll be wearing it again by sunset,” she promises, but her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, and her words feel like a lie, whether she means for them to or not.
Across the room, Chaos calls out for her.
“It’s time.”
Aimee nods, watching Chaos linger in the hallway across the room.
“Listen to me.” I tip her chin up, meeting her gaze. “Chaos will take you in and bring you out. Titan knows you only agreed to talk to him. But it’s not going to stop him from trying to get in your head.”
“I’m capable of handling Titan.”
“I know you are.” I brush my thumb over her chin. “Don’t go off script. Chaos will be with you the entire time. You can trust him.”
She swallows hard. “Get my father out of there, Levi. No matter what happens. I can deal with Titan. But you need to keep your promise to me and get my father out. ”
“I promise.” Grabbing the sides of her face, I dip my forehead to hers. “Tonight, I’m putting this ring back on your finger, Aimee. We’re going in, and we’re ending this once and for all.”
“I know.” Her eyes close, and I wish she didn’t feel so distant.
Even when she wraps her arms around my shoulders and lifts on her toes to kiss me, there’s space between us. But I try not to think about it as I claim her mouth. As I tangle my fingers in her silky, brown hair.
Her fierceness subsides just long enough for her to go soft in my arms. But as quickly as she melts, she pulls away.
“I love you.” I squeeze her hands.
“I love you too.”
Aimee walks around me, and I watch the back of her head as she meets Chaos at the other side of the room. But she doesn’t look back, even as Chaos offers me a final nod.
Aimee walks away, into the hands of my enemies.
And I’m the one who sent her there.