12. Vaughn
Chapter 12
Vaughn
F uming with anger, I storm down the gravel road to Viper's house, my hands clenched into fists. The gravel crunches beneath my boots, matching the pounding rhythm of my heart. Every step fuels the fire burning inside me. I'm furious with myself. I shouldn't have left the Den. Kay is at the hospital alone, vulnerable and exposed. I should be there, protecting my pack not out here at the Serpent compound.
I should be with her.
The image of her lying in the dirt, vulnerable and defenseless, flashes in my mind. Guilt gnaws at me, twisting my insides into knots. I should have stayed by her side, protected her from the threats I know lurk in the shadows.
Damn it, Vaughn. Get it together.
I quicken my pace, urgency driving me forward. I can't change the past, but I can damn well make sure everyone is safe now. And that all starts with bringing Hux home.
With each step, I push myself harder, willing my legs to move faster, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts.
What if something happens to Hux in that basement? What if Kay needs me and I'm not there? What if Creed never forgives me?
The guilt festers, a constant reminder of my failure to protect my pack. But I won't let it consume me. I'll make it right. I'll be there for them now, no matter what it takes.
As I near Viper's house, my determination solidifies into resolve. I'll find a way to fix this. Make this right. And I'll never leave their side again.
That's a promise I intend to keep, no matter what obstacles stand in my way.
The familiar wooden porch comes into view, and I don't bother knocking; instead, I shove the door open, my chest heaving with frustration.
"Vipe!" I bellow, slamming the door behind me. The familiar scents of motor oil and leather fill my nostrils as I spot Viper's cut draped over a chair by the front door, the president's logo staring back at me. He never goes anywhere without his cut, so I know he's here.
"Unc?" I call out again, heading down the stairs to where the club holds church, my footsteps heavy with purpose. I've never been down here; it was always forbidden when I was a pup. Voices travel up from the bottom of the stairs, and my steps falter. The Serpents are having church.
Whatever they were holding a meeting about, they weren't happy.
"We need to put those Hounds in their place," Gears growls. "They can't be allowed to do this in our city."
"We have to be smart about this," my uncle's deep voice counters.
"Yes, pres, we can't go into the Hounds compound without a plan. We need to strike when they least expect it, but we need to strike fast. Too many omegas are going missing. And after losing Shadow, we can't afford to lose anyone else," Ghost inserts, and something slams on the wooden table.
I grit my teeth, struggling with hearing my best friend's voice after all this time. His words echo the same fears and frustrations that have been haunting me these past few days. Hearing Ghost's resolve only strengthens my own. We've been through hell and back together, and I realize all at once that I can't let the club face this alone. Whatever it takes, we'll put an end to this madness, and I'll be right there by Ghost's side, just like old times.
If he lets me.
The disappearances of the omegas weighs heavy on my conscience, and it appears that I may know more than they do.
"But son, we don't know where the Hounds are keeping them. Now is the time for action, we can't sit around and wait for them to reveal the omega's location. We have to strike now. Send a message," Gears growls.
I creep closer, trying to peer around the cracked door. If they attack the Hounds compound they will be making a huge mistake.
"Uncle," I say, announcing myself. The brothers of the MC turn to face me as I enter, a few getting to their feet at the sudden intrusion.
As soon as my uncle's gaze meets mine, his eyes ignite with fury. In an instant, he's on his feet, the chair scraping backwards as he storms towards me. I lift my chin and hold his gaze, my heart drumming in my chest. He grabs my collar and shoves me up against the wall, his breath hot and heavy with anger.
"Vaughn. Why are you here, son?" Viper demands, and my throat constricts at him calling me son. It's too familiar, and brings a lot of things I've long since buried to the surface. But now isn't the time to hash out old wounds.
"I needed to come back," I say, struggling to keep my voice steady.
"You left this family, remember. You have no place at this table." His grip is like a vice, hard and unyielding, but I don't shove him off of me. Instead I meet his dark eyes. "There's something you need to know."
He scoffs, the sound filled with bitterness. "What could you possibly have to say that would matter to me now?"
I look him square in the eyes, the words heavy on my tongue. "My pack is in danger. My alpha was arrested."
"It's the Hounds," Gears growls, his fist slamming on the wooden table.
I spare him a glance before zeroing back in on Viper. "It's not just the gang you have to worry about, Unc. It's the Sterlings."
For a moment, he just stares at me, the anger in his eyes mingling with something else—fear, perhaps, or doubt. But then his grip tightens on my collar.
"Why should I believe you?" he hisses. "You turned your back on us. On me."
My gut turns with guilt. "I didn't have a choice!" I shoot back, feeling the old wounds reopen. "I had to protect you. All of you."
"Protect us?" His laugh is cold and hollow. "You ran away, Vaughn. You abandoned your family."
"I know," I say, my voice breaking. "But I'm here now. Let me help."
He releases me, and I stagger back, my breath coming in sharp gasps. He turns away, his shoulders heaving with suppressed emotion.
"Do you know what it was like after you left?" he asks quietly. "Do you have any idea what you put us through?"
Putting doubts in my uncle's mind about there being a traitor among his brothers definitely put a rift in between the Steel Serpents. But I can't find it in myself to regret my suspicions. Gears has always envied Viper as the president, and who's to say he isn't planning to overthrow him. But Ghost getting hurt was never part of the plan.
My eyes land on his, and the hardness in his gaze feels like a physical blow.
I swallow hard. "I'm sorry. I never meant for it to happen like that."
"Sorry doesn't cut it," Viper snaps, spinning back to face me. "You think you can just walk back in here and everything will be fine?"
"No," I admit. "But I can make things right. If you'll let me."
He narrows his eyes, scrutinizing me, searching for the truth in my words. After a long, tense moment, he steps back, a weary sigh escaping his lips.
"This had better not be another one of your screw-ups, Vaughn," he warns. "Because if it is, I swear..."
"It’s not," I say firmly.
He nods, the fire in his eyes dimming slightly, but the tension between us is still palpable.
"Fine," he mutters. "But don't think for a second that this means you're forgiven. You've got a lot to prove."
"I know," I reply, feeling the weight of my past mistakes pressing down on me. "And I will."
"So why have you come back?" Ghost asks, speaking to me for the first time.
As I meet his gaze, I see the pain and anger etched in the lines of his face. He's been through hell in my absence, and I can't help but feel a pang of guilt for leaving him to bear the burden alone.
But I'm back now, and I'm determined to make things right, no matter the cost. The omegas need us, my pack needs us, and I won't rest until they're all safe.
"I know where the omegas are being held," I declare to the room, my voice carrying a weight of urgency.
All eyes are on me, curiosity mingled with skepticism in their gazes.
There's a moment of stunned silence, broken only by the creaking of an old wooden chair as Ghost leans forward, his expression unreadable. I lift my chin and meet each Serpent's gaze. A few faces are unfamiliar, but Ghost's is who I settle on last.
He looks older, his black hair cropped short and his chin covered with dark stubble. I had expected to see hate in his gray eyes, but a grin so familiar to me tugs at his face. My chest deflates, all my bravado leaving me.
"Good to see you, brother," he says, and I find myself smiling back. I give him a nod of acknowledgment before turning back to Viper. As the president of the Steel Serpents, he has the final say on if they'll act on my information or not. My heart races, knowing that what I say next could change everything.
"The Sterlings are behind it," I continue, my gaze locking with Viper's. "They're keeping the omegas at their estate."
A murmur ripples through the room, disbelief and anger evident on the faces of the MC members.
"How do you know this?" Gears questions, his brow furrowed.
I take a deep breath, my gaze steady on Viper, disregarding the club's VP entirely. "Michelle Sterling has been abducting omegas, targeting them to find Adam the 'perfect' omega to mate. I don't know the full extent of her plan, but they are being held in the basement of the estate, along with my alpha, Hux."
Viper's expression hardens, his dark eyes narrowing. "Owen Huxley?" he questions, his voice low and commanding.
I nod, "Michelle has been manipulating us all to establish the next Generation Sterling pack. And she has decided that Candice Huxley is who she wants as the Sterling's omega." As I speak, I can see the anger and determination growing in Viper's eyes.
"Why would we trust you?" Gears hisses, his eyes narrowed into slits. "What happened? Your little boy toy got bored? Broke your bond and now you want revenge on his family?"
I see red. In an instant, I fly across the table, my hands clamping around Gears' throat. The room erupts into chaos, chairs screeching as they’re pushed back, men shouting and rushing forward.
"Don't speak about shit you don't understand!" I growl, my voice thick with rage.
Gears' face turns crimson as he struggles against my grip, his eyes bulging with a mix of fury and fear. Ghost grabs me from behind, his strong arms pulling me away and tossing me to the ground. I scramble to my feet, but I don't spare Ghost a second look. My vision is tunneled, my focus locked on Gears.
"You slimy fucker," I spit, my voice dripping with venom. "I don't understand how others don't see you for what you are."
Ghost stands between us, his eyes flicking between me and his father, tension radiating off of him. "Enough, Vaughn!" he shouts, his voice a sharp bark that cuts through the noise. "This isn't the time or place. You don't get to come back to my club, my home, and stir up old shit. What the hell has gotten into you?"
I flinch at his tone, but don't respond.
What is there to say?
He doesn't believe that his own father could be a rat.
Gears rises to his feet, coughing and rubbing his throat. His glare is murderous. "You think you can come back here and start throwing accusations around? You're delusional, Vaughn. You're nothing but a runaway coward beta . A stray."
The room is thick with tension, the air practically crackling with hostility. Viper steps forward, his authoritative presence demanding silence. "Both of you, stand down!" he alpha barks, his voice echoing off the walls.
But I can't let it go.
"You don't get it, Viper," I say, my voice low and intense. "Someone in your club has been feeding information to your enemies. Who other than your second. He wants to take your place."
A shocked murmur ripples through the room. Gears' eyes widen, but he quickly masks it with a sneer. "That's a lie," he snaps. "You have no proof."
Viper sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Not this tired accusation, Vaughn. We can't go back to this. Gears and I created this club. A place for alphas to form a brotherhood."
"Brotherhood?" I echo, my voice rising. "How can you talk about brotherhood when your second is stabbing you in the back?"
Gears steps forward, his expression twisted with anger, but his son holds him back. "You're full of shit, Vaughn. You left. You're the one who couldn't handle the pressure of emerging as a lowly beta. Now you're coming back with baseless accusations to fuel some revenge plot for your little boy toy. The club won't back you on this, you're wasting your time."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I stand my ground, my fists clenching at my sides. "This isn't about revenge," I say through gritted teeth. "This is about saving our city. The Sterlings are the real threat here."
Gears steps closer, his face inches from mine, and Ghost's shoulder brushes mine as he stands at alert to stop fists from flying again.
"You're just trying to cause chaos because you couldn't handle the fact that Creed doesn't want you anymore," Gears hisses.
I visibly recoil.
But I refuse to let him get the best of me again. The room feels like it's closing in, the weight of the Serpents stares pressing down on me.
"Enough," Viper says, his voice a low rumble. "This isn't getting us anywhere."
"You're damn right it's not," Gears snaps. "This outsider doesn't deserve to be here. He's the one who turned his back on us. He isn't welcome here." Gears scoffs, looking around the room for support. "You hear this crap, brothers? This is pathetic. He's lost it and he's trying to get us to feed into his delusions."
Viper's gaze shifts between us, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "Vaughn, if you have proof Gears is a rat, now's the time to show it."
I swallow hard, my stomach knotting. "I don't have concrete proof," I admit, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at me. "Regardless. I'm not here to hash out old wounds. Hux is imprisoned with those omegas. Has been for over a week. They're being kept against their will in horrid conditions. That I know for a fact," I hiss. "What's your motto, Unc? Loyalty, honor, and protection—alphas sworn to a pack. A brotherhood that protects the vulnerable. Those omegas need you, and now what? You're going to refuse to help them?"
Viper's expression softens slightly, a flicker of uncertainty passing through his eyes. So I continue. "They're counting on us, Unc," I add, my voice urgent. "We can't turn our backs on them. We've sworn to protect Sterling City, no matter the cost. If we don't act now, who will?"