30. Crusher
Chapter 30
Crusher
I snap the picture of Rory and Ryan sleeping and text it to Diesel. When Dani couldn’t find him in Dakota’s room, she woke Dakota who explained that Ryan missed his mom . Diesel is planning on keeping Rory, but if he doesn’t make it work he may have a revolt on his hands. Those two love each other. I hope for Diesel’s sake he can make it work. Rory’s a good woman. My hand moves up to the side of my face and I grin remembering her slap at the hospital.
She’s also got a hell of an arm on her.
Diesel doesn’t reply to my text, but then I didn’t expect him to. The trip wore him out today and he still insisted on doing three hours of therapy after that. He practiced the exercises they gave him to help his vocal cords and cognizant recognition. It sounded like a bunch of crap to me, but apparently Diesel is aware of the words he wants to use, but sometimes uses the wrong ones. The therapists are training him to think over each word before choosing them, as well as helping his vocal cords to make the sounds again.
The man has a long road ahead of him, but he’s pushing himself like crazy. He’s already aced hurdles they thought would only be reachable a month from now. Then again, the doctors don’t know Diesel. Plus, Diesel’s on a mission. He’s going to get back to his family and seek revenge and he’ll do it much sooner than anyone thought possible. That picture I sent him will just be added incentive. Thank God the doctors had the nurses working his legs and arms while he was in the coma. If they hadn’t, his recovery would have been much harder. He’s taking steps now—small ones and he falls back into his wheelchair afterwards, but that’s still a huge milestone. Diesel has plans and most of them revolve around that woman lying in his bed and his little boy.
I move out of the room and nod to Rebel who I have stationed by their door. Until we find King and destroy him and everything he thinks he has, Rory and Ryan will be watched constantly. I have two men staying with Diesel at the rehab facility and made sure he has his weapons with him. He’s as safe as I can make him, but I’ll feel better when he gets back home. Fuck, I’ll feel better when he steps back up as president. I took over out of necessity, but I don’t want this damn job. Some men slide into the role like a second skin. Me? My fucking skin breaks out in hives and itches like a motherfucker. If it wasn’t for Dani opening her legs and showing me heaven anytime I demand it, I’d be going insane. She’s complaining now that I keep her walking bowlegged. She’s not wrong . The damn woman will probably grieve when things go back to normal, though. The thought makes me grin. I look down the hall to our bedroom and wish I could join her right now. I still have a few other things to do first. I’ve taken over as president so that means duty over pleasure, even though Dani is the sweetest pleasure I’ve ever known in my life. This shit gets over, I’m moving my family back to our lake house and forbidding the men to come around for a fucking month.
I walk into the office which used to be an old classroom, but we’ve done a good job of converting the place. The clubhouse is new. The old elementary school was up for auction and the club got it for a steal. I’m sure the county would have tried to block our purchase if they’d known, but sucks for them they didn’t. Diesel made these moves before he left and it was fucking genius. It gives the club all the room we need, a huge area outside and a gating system that would rival a prison. We’ve still got some work on the garage, but for the most part it’s a sweet set up.
I called a meeting on my way over here. There are things we need to do to get ready. I don’t know where King is at, but I do know he’s definitely planning something. The minute he finds out we have Rory and Ryan—all bets are off.
Scorpion, Fury, and Gunner are all waiting on me when I get there. I do a double take when I see Devil. It’s good to see the bastard. He’s been back for a while, but he hasn’t been active with church since he returned. He had a fuck of a lot of healing to do himself. He lost an eye and still has a slight limp, but that’s improving. The best thing to see is that shit-eating smile that’s spread over his face.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” I say with a smirk, reaching out to slap my hand against his as they clasp and slap him on the shoulder.
“Kiss my ass,” he laughs. “I’ve been here, it’s good to have you back, though. How’s our boy?”
“I got him settled and have a few prospects on him. He’s not happy, but the way he’s pushing it, he’ll be back here in no time. Which is part of the reason for this meeting. Gunner?” I yell as I go and take my seat at the head of the table. That’s another thing that makes my damn skin itch. Fury is in my seat. I’m sick of being in Diesel’s chair. I can’t wait until that changes.
“Yo,” Gunner says, looking as tired as I feel.
“I know we’ve turned that old science lab into a gym, but I need you to get some prospects to help you fix that empty maintenance room up for a private area for Diesel. He needs a place for his rehab here, and he won’t feel comfortable doing that shit in front of others. He hates his limitations and he sure as fuck doesn’t want us to see him at his weakest.”
“Like any of us would fucking care,” Devil growls. I raise my eyebrow at him, because we both know he pulled the same shit. He gets the meaning of my look and flips me off, making me almost laugh. I’m too damn tired however, to give into it.
“I’ll get it done,” Gunner responds and I nod.
“Scorpion, have you had any luck figuring out King’s movements?”
“Still doing some research. We know the bastard took his stepbrother’s private jet to visit him. He came back a week later, but there’s been very limited movement since. We’re monitoring his place and I’ve hacked into what accounts I’ve been able to get access to. Still, there’s nothing big and no red flags—at least not yet.”
“Fuck, that’s not good. You know he’s not letting Rory and Ryan go that easily and the minute he finds out that Diesel is alive…” I break off, rubbing the back of my neck
“Yeah,” Fury growls.
“Check under every fucking stone and do it hard and fast. If King does so much as pull his dick out to piss off his back porch I want to hear about it. We’re about to go to war boys and when we do, I want to make sure the only ones left standing are us. You get me?”
Everyone shows their agreement and then my gaze centers on Devil. He knows what’s coming.
“Dragon called,” he says. “I want him. He’s mine. No one else’s, you get me?”
I frown.
“I can’t be sure he’s still involved…” I start, but I’m lying.
“Bullshit,” Devil says, calling me on my bluff. “If Ryan told Dragon that a man named Wolf helped kill his mother, then Wolf is in it up to his fucking eyeballs. Eyeballs that I’m going to rip out one by one,” he says, and I don’t doubt that he’s planning on doing that—hell, he’s probably dreaming about it and I can’t blame him a bit. “Have we talked to Rory about any of it?”
“No. She lost a baby and putting the pieces together, she lost that baby protecting Ryan. She needs to heal and Diesel wants us to go slow there. I… I may have Dani talk to her.”
“That’d be a good move. Dani’s been through hell herself, she can help Rory,” Gunner says in agreement. He’s right, I know he is, but that doesn’t make it easier. Talking about the past may bring shit up that Dani has buried. I hate even the thought of making that happen. I’ve dedicated my fucking life to destroying her demons. I don’t want to bring them back.
I just may not have a choice this time.
“How is Diesel, really?” this comes from Fury and I think about how to answer him.
“Physically he’s improving. He’s compartmentalizing shit and dealing with it slowly. He wants revenge, but first on his list is Rory and Ryan.”
“He loves the woman?” Scorpion asks, sounding shocked. Then again, he would. Diesel—the Diesel we all remember—swore off women completely. Of course, Rory is no ordinary woman.
“I didn’t ask him to share his feelings over a glass of wine, but she definitely means something to him.”
“The baby… was it his?” Devil asks.
“That’s the million-dollar question. If I was a betting man, I’d say yes, but again I’m not getting into that. We prepare for war and we prepare to go hard. The rest of the shit, Diesel and Rory will have to work that out. We just need to make sure they get that chance.”
I stare around the table at my brothers. They might be my second family, but they’re home. This club is home. I’ve been in war before, with different brothers, but my confidence in them was just as strong as it is with these guys. We’ll win this war.
I just hope we do it without casualties.