Chapter Twenty
Harley
N ow that Gabe has come around to trusting everyone, things have been progressing much faster. The only downside is Grayson has been insanely busy with Nerds, so I’ve barely gotten to see him over the last week. Most days, he comes upstairs in the middle of the night and gets a few hours of sleep before disappearing again. Everyone has tried to help them, but it takes them longer trying to explain things to anyone than just doing it themselves.
It’s been a few weeks since we broke into Tammy’s house and checked it out, and she is still MIA. We have cameras set up around her home, but no one has returned.
Now around keeping up on school and watching the warehouse, we are also preparing to take down the warehouse. Gabe has contacted a few other MCs that are allies and are willing to help, along with the Kings of Hearts. Whatever the fuck they are. I guess they have a past with them, and it wasn’t the greatest, but they have an agreement and work together on occasion, and they’re willing to come help us. Which means Gabe is on edge.
One of the other MCs is staying at the club with us, but the rest of those coming will be lodging in some hotels right outside of Jacksonville to keep eyes off of the club, since a bunch of bikers and gang members coming to town all at once would draw a lot of eyes.
Cade, Ryker, and I just finished up our schoolwork for the week since we try to stay ahead of everything to get done with it sooner. Leaving Gabe’s house, we head back over to the club and upstairs to change since we’re going to go for a run. After quickly changing, I head back downstairs planning to check in on Grayson before we go.
When I reach the tech room, the door opens and Grayson walks out, running a frustrated hand through his hair. Glancing up, he spots me and gives me a tired smile. “Hey, beautiful.”
I grin back. “Hi. Cade, Ry, and I are going on a run, but I wanted to come and check on you first. You alright?”
He closes the distance between us and wraps his arms around me, resting his cheek on my head. “Yeah. We got everything worked out. So now it's just waiting until Rage calls a big meeting with everyone so we can go over the game plan.”
Pulling back slightly, I weave my fingers into the hair at the back of his head. He groans, and his eyes fall shut as he continues talking.
“This is going to be happening soon, though. It looks like all the guards are at the warehouse on Sunday nights for some kind of meeting, so hitting them then would be best so we can take them out all at once. Which means it’s happening in three days.” His eyes pop open, and he studies me closely. “Are you ready for that?”
Nodding, I respond, “Yeah. I’ve been ready for a while now. I know we have to be cautious and have plans, but the thought of the girls being there any longer eats away at me. I’ve stayed busy with school and helping where I can or training, but they’re always on the back of my mind.”
“I get it. It’s hard not to think of what they might be enduring right now,” he whispers.
“Hey, what are you two doing?” Ryker calls from behind us as he comes down the hall.
“Talking,” I snark before asking Gray, "Did you want to join us on our run?”
Before he can answer, Ryker interrupts, “No. He needs to eat something and then go take a fucking nap.”
Raising a brow, I glance at him, where he now stands directly next to us with his arms crossed.
“Don’t give me that look, babe. You know it, too. Running is the last thing he needs.” Ryker turns his eyes back to Grayson. “Seriously. Presley made a bunch of food since people are showing up soon. Go eat something and then go take a nap.”
Grayson tries to hide his smile but fails. “Alright, bossy. I was coming to get food anyway.” He shrugs.
Ryker sighs as we all begin down the hall, “I only get bossy when it comes to you two.”
Saying goodbye to Grayson, Ryker and I head outside and meet Bear and Cade in the yard where we all take off for a nice long run that gets the blood pumping in my veins. I can’t help but think about finally getting to do something this weekend.
I know it isn’t going to pretty, but I am so fucking ready. I need this.
Later that night, I convinced myself to go to Ryker’s room and play the piano. Running my fingers over the keys, a smile stretches over my face knowing that Tammy didn’t get to take this from me. It’s still something between my mom and me.
My fingers glide across as I begin playing a classical piece my mom taught me. Admittedly, I struggle through some of the notes, but the more I keep trying the more it comes back to me and I get it down again.
It'll take time to be as good as I used to be, but with practice I know I’ll get there. Even when it hurts to learn and practice without my mom here guiding me, I know I need to keep playing and learning because it does bring me joy, and it’s a way I can always keep her with me.
As the song comes to an end, the first time I have fully played it through without making a mistake, I breathe deeply and blink my eyes open, not even realizing I had closed them.
Someone clears their throat from behind me, and I spin around on the bench to find Colton leaning against the door jam.
“Hey.” I smile at him shyly, not expecting an audience.
“Hi, darlin’. I didn’t mean to be creepin’, but I heard it from down the hall and wanted to see you play. I hope ya don’t mind.” He shrugs as he walks into the room and leans against the wall beside the piano.
Shaking my head, I say, “No, it’s fine. I mean, I’m not really used to playing with others around besides my mom, but I can get used to it. I didn’t even know you were there since I was so lost in the piece I was playing.”
Colton grins as he runs a hand through his beard. “You know, my dad, your grandfather, he played the guitar. I always tried to pick it up so that I could do it with him, but I just never got into it. Now, I think that trait got passed to your mama.”
“That’s awesome. I know that Gabe’s dad was really shitty, but I’d like to know more about your families eventually,” I say with a shrug.
He nods at me. “My dad was not the best, but he was much better than most of the other guys'. He was distant, but when he was around, he was here for me and tried his best to be a father, but the club came first. It did for all our families. The club always came before everything.” His expression darkens slightly.
“They really put the club above their families? Their kids?” I ask, my face twisting in disgust.
“Yeah, darlin’, they did. That’s one of the first things your dad changed. The club is family, which means everyone who is a part of it is family. And their families are family. We all unite together. It’s not just some boys’ club anymore that puts each other above their own kids and wives.”
“I’m glad Gabe wanted to make those changes when he took over the club,” I murmur, staring down at the keys before me.
Colton tips his head in agreement. “Well, it’s ‘bout time for the big meetin’. Most everyone was arrivin’ when I came up here. Want to head on down?” He gestures toward the door.
Exhaling through my nose, I stand. “Yeah, let’s do this.”
Before I can leave the room, Colton stops me with a hand on my shoulder. Glancing up at him, I see the wariness in his eyes as he speaks.
“Be patient with your dad, girly. I know you can handle this. I also know that he knows you can handle this, but he has never done this before. He’s never had someone who's walkin’ 'round with his heart. He has us here at the club. He looks at Presley and Raven as sisters, and he will always worry 'bout them and take care of 'em. He worries about his brothers, too. But you’re different. You bring out instincts in him that he has never had come up before. He is learnin’, and it’s goin’ be a long and hard process.
“So, as we go down this road that leads to countless unknowns and possibilities to get hurt, understand that his panic or overprotectiveness comes from his need to keep you safe and be your father. Not because he doesn’t trust ya or doesn’t think you can handle it.” He sighs before he continues, "Your dad, well, he never wanted kids.”
Something inside of me cracks open with those words, but before I have a chance to react or shut down, he continues.
“His dad was a bastard. His mama wasn’t much better, just worse in different ways than his father, so he’s always said he didn’t want kids. He didn’t know if he could be the father he wanted to be. He has always been terrified he would turn out like his dad. Then you came along, and he didn’t have a chance to adjust. He was thrown in the deep end, and you both have your own issues you have had to work through.
“But now? Now I see how much he loves you and how it would kill him if anything happened to you. So just trust that he is doin’ his best, even when he opens his mouth before fully thinkin’ something through. Be patient with him.”
“I will try my best. Sometimes it’s hard not to just react first and go on the defense,” I chuckle awkwardly.
Colton grins at me. “That would be a similar problem that your dad has, girly.”
Shaking my head with a smile, we start to leave the room, but one more thing stops me. “Is that why he isn’t with Carly?” I say quietly.
Colton lets out a small grunt. “That’s more complicated, but it is one of the reasons, yes. He doesn’t want to ever hold her back,” he explains.
“Even if she can never take her eyes off him? She comforts him whenever she can. She doesn’t do that for the rest of you,” I retort, my brows furrowing.
Laughing, he says, “Well, welcome to the club. We all see what they refuse to. Someday, I have to believe they will finally break down that wall.”
I purse my lips, thinking it over for a moment. Finally, I shrug. “I hope they do because I like her. I like her for him. He deserves someone in his corner,” I remark.
“He sure does, darlin’,” he sighs sadly.
When we get downstairs and into the main room, we find it full of people. Mostly burly bikers that are talking loudly and drinking beer. I don’t see my guys anywhere, but Colton nudges me towards the hallway that goes to Gabe’s office.
Once we get inside the office, we find my guys, Gabe, Stone, Axe, Nerds, and now Colton and me.
Walking over to the opposite side of Gabe’s desk where Ryker and Cade are leaning against the wall and Grayson is sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk, Cade immediately snags me around the waist and pulls my back against his chest. Standing between his legs, I lean back against him as Gabe starts talking.
“Okay, we are just waiting on Vance and his guys to get here, and then we’re going to hold a meeting. We’ll be doing it in the main room, so anyone who isn’t needed needs to go elsewhere soon.”
“The girls, my mom, and Jayce are all at my house and plan to stay there,” Axe says.
Gabe nods in acknowledgement. “Grayson, Nerds, are you guys ready? Most of this will be on your shoulders to explain.”
Grayson’s leg begins to tremble, but he agrees that he is ready along with Nerds. Pulling out of Cade’s arms, causing him to let out a grunt of annoyance, I walk to Gray’s chair and sit down on his lap.
Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I place a kiss on his cheek. “You can do this. You have all the information, now it’s just explaining it all.”
He breathes deeply and wraps his arms tightly around my waist. A single knock comes from the office door, and when Stone pulls it open, Parker pops his head in. “Everyone is here.”
Gabe glances around the room before his eyes land on me. “Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? You can still go to Axe’s house with the girls, and we can handle it.”
Remembering everything Colton said, I attempt to channel the part of me that does understand where he is coming from and not get pissed off at him. Holding his eyes sternly with my own, I respond, “I’ve been ready. I want and need to do this. I’m not doing it alone. It’s all of us together. As a team.”
Blowing out a breath, he stands. “Right. I just had to ask one more time for my own sanity. Let’s get this shit over with.”
When we get out to the main room, Gabe immediately transforms from the soft, kind, family man I have seen a lot of to a hard president who commands respect and attention as he takes over the space. “Listen up! Find a spot to sit or stand. We have a lot of shit to get through, and I’d prefer not to be here all fucking night.”
Colton, Gabe, Nerds, and Grayson all walk to stand in front of the bar while Cade, Ryker, and I stand off to one side, and Stone and Axe stand off to the other side. Noah is in the far corner of the room, by the front door, spinning a switchblade between his fingers as he keeps an eye on everyone.
“You all know that you’re here because we have come across a sex trafficking issue here in Jacksonville. We’ve come to learn that this has been going on for much longer than we thought, and now it’s time that we show them whose town this is. Nerds and Grayson,”—he points to each of them—“have taken the time to compile all the information we could possibly need. So shut the fuck up and pay attention to what they say. Afterwards, you can ask questions, and then we will decide where everyone is going and how this will play out,” Gabe commands the room.
Nerds steps forward and begins talking them through the warehouse, what we’ve discovered, that we believe it’s the only one in Jacksonville, and so on. As he talks, I take the time to glance around the room. I haven’t been introduced to anyone, but there is a large group of bikers, and their cuts say Tennessee, so they made the trip all the way over here just to help us.
There’s another group of bikers that have cuts with North Carolina on them, so they must be one of the more local MCs that Gabe talked about.
And then standing on the opposite side of the room closest to Stone and Axe are ten men. Six of them are in all black tactical gear and are leaning against the wall with their arms crossed. Then there is one guy who is front and center wearing a full suit and has his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his pants.
He stands like he owns the room and fears nothing. His hair is perfectly slicked back, dark like ink above his clean-shaven face. The man directly to his left is also in a suit but without a tie and has his jacket unbuttoned. The other man who is on his right side is in a suit that matches the first man’s perfectly.
They look like they could be brothers. Then the final man is standing on the left side slightly behind the guy with no tie and is in jeans and a hoodie with a—is that a sucker in his mouth?
He meets my eyes and shoots me a wink while flashing his teeth and swirling the sucker around in his mouth. Running my eyes over all of them again, I realize these must be the Kings of Hearts, and if I had to guess, the guy standing front and center is Vance.
It’s easy to assume considering Axe keeps his body slightly turned towards him and has an eye glued to him the entire time. Whatever really happened a few years ago with Presley and them must have been really bad.
I tune back in as Nerds finishes going over all the information we have about guards on duty, the addresses of people who have come and collected people from the warehouse, and what we have observed.
“Are there any questions about everything that Nerds just threw at you?” Gabe asks the room.
A few people have small questions that are easily answered, and then Gabe moves on to who will be going where.
“My team will be at the warehouse along with Vance and his crew,” he says with a nod towards Vance. “Then Savages MC, you will split off into teams of your prez’s choice and head to the addresses we have on the east side of town, while Hardaway MC will do the same but on the west side of town.
“That should cover everything and make it so we can all be prepared to attack all at once, leaving no opportunities for these fuckers to be warned that shit is going down.”
Grayson hands each MC prez a stack of papers that have all the information for each address on them. “Split your guys into groups so each group can go to a house. None of these homes are residences of politicians, police, or judges, where we would need to be concerned with cover-ups, so eliminate and get any victims they may have in their homes to safety,” he says.
“Any victims you find, bring them back here,” Nerds tacks on. “We have a doc on call and also a nurse who will both be here by Sunday to help with anyone who may need help. From there, we will attempt to get information for them and reunite them with their families or help them get set up wherever they would like to be. They will have unlimited options.”
Things get loud again as Gabe ends the meeting and the MCs are deciding who is going to go where. Everyone will need to be at their set location by 10 p.m. on Sunday night. Once they have checked in with Nerds that they’re ready to go, then Nerds will tell everyone when to go into their location.
Gabe walks over and talks with the other MC presidents while everyone else goes their separate ways or visits with people they know. Grayson walks back over to us right as someone else walks up as well.
I feel a possessive hand land on my hip as Cade presses up against my back. The man in the suit who I surmised is Vance looks me up and down as if he is studying an object before running a hand over his chin as his lips slowly tilt up. “You must be the infamous Harley St. James,” he muses.
The intrigue in his voice and the way he seems to be examining me sets me slightly on edge. I raise a brow and take a second to take him in, having to tilt my head back to meet his eyes from where he towers over me.
“And you must be, well, obviously not important enough for me to know who you are since I don’t know your name,” I snark.
Ryker coughs next to me, I’m guessing to cover a laugh as the man’s tilted lips turn into a full smile. He hums with a slight nod. “Vance Brooks. The head of the Brooks Family and the leader of the Kings of Hearts.”
“Can’t say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but I do thank you for your help this weekend,” I respond, keeping my tone brisk.
Vance tilts his head at me. “Hm, very straightforward I see. I believe this weekend will be interesting.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Ryker growls right as Colton, Axe, and Stone join us.
“What’s goin’ on?” Colton asks, as he and Stone subtly make Axe stay behind them.
Vance nods politely at Colton. “Hearing about Rage’s new daughter, I was curious to see her for myself.” Clasping his hands in front of him, he sighs, “Well, we will be out of your hair.” Glancing back at me, his eyes hold an excited gleam as he says, “Looking forward to working with you on Sunday.”
Then he is gone, along with all his men following with a simple flick of his wrist.
Glancing over at Stone and Colton, my eyes move behind them to where Axe is seething with his fists clenched tightly. “Are you okay, Axe?”
His eyes jump from where he was watching them leave to me. “Yeah. I’m going to go check on the girls,” he grumbles before spinning around and heading out the back door.
“He knows that Vance is on our side with all of this, but it doesn’t make it any easier on him.”
“Did Vance do something bad to him?” I ask Colton, frowning slightly.
He shakes his head, hesitating slightly. “Not necessarily. But also, if things hadn’t worked out, it could've ended badly for Axe and Pres. I don’t think Axe will ever be able to let that part go, and I don’t blame him.”
A few hours later, everything has settled, and anyone who isn’t staying here has left. I head out to Gabe’s house, where I will be staying for the weekend, and take a shower before climbing into bed. Not even ten minutes pass before the door opens and all three of my guys come in.
Grinning at them, I say, “Staying here tonight? I don’t think there’s room for all of us on this bed.” I chuckle.
Ryker winks at me. “Don’t worry your pretty head about it. We’ll make it work.”
After they all get undressed, Cade slips in on one side, pulling my back against his chest as Grayson gets in on my other side and scoots close to me. Ryker then flops down between Grayson’s and I’s legs on his stomach, spreading his arms over both of us.
Giggling, I run my hand through his hair and let them all soothe me to sleep knowing this weekend is going to change everything.