Chapter 10 - Dice
I wake to the sound of pounding on the door, jolted from a deep sleep. Maddie stirs beside me, her eyes flying open, instantly alert.
"What the fuck?" I mutter, disentangling myself from her as the knocking continues, more insistent now.
I hear the doorknob turning, someone trying to force it open. Adrenaline kicks in, and I leap from the bed, rushing to the door before remembering I'm completely naked. I grab a couch cushion from the living room, holding it strategically in front of my junk as I unlock and crack open the door.
Knight stands there, irritation written across his face. His expression quickly changes from annoyance to understanding as he takes in my state of undress and the disheveled apartment behind me.
"Jesus Christ," he says, shaking his head. "You really don't learn, do you?"
I shrug, offering him a shameless grin. "What can I say? I think I just found my someone special."
Knight's eyebrows shoot up. "Special is a big word, brother. You've known her for what, two days?"
"In Dice world, everything moves at warp speed," I counter. "You should know that by now."
He snorts, but there's a hint of amusement beneath his exasperation. "Get dressed. Reaper and Ghost have been up all night. They've got news."
My smile fades. "About Walsh?"
Knight nods grimly. "He's in town. Staying at a rental house on the outskirts of Pine Haven. Our contacts confirmed it's him. Reaper's called all members in. We're sending a message."
My blood runs cold at the thought of Walsh being so close, but a primal part of me welcomes the confrontation. After what his men tried to do to Maddie, I want nothing more than to look the bastard in the eyes before we teach him a lesson about boundaries.
"Give me five minutes," I tell Knight, already mentally cataloging where my clothes ended up last night.
"Make it three." He turns to leave, then pauses. "And Dice? You're playing with fire. James gets out in four days. What exactly is your plan there?"
It's a fair question, one I've been avoiding thinking about. "I'll figure it out."
"Sure you will." He doesn't look convinced. "Three minutes."
I close the door and turn to find Maddie already pulling on her jeans, her movements quick and efficient.
Her hair is a wild tangle around her face, and there's a bruise forming on her collarbone where my mouth got a little too enthusiastic last night.
The sight sends a jolt of possessive pleasure through me.
"Walsh is in town," I say, searching for my boxers. "Some rental house on the outskirts. Reaper's called everyone in."
"I'm coming with you," she says immediately, no room for discussion in her tone.
I find my jeans under the coffee table and pull them on. "You'll have to convince Reaper of that."
"My ass is on the line too," she points out, pulling a fresh shirt from her bag. "Besides, I know Walsh. You don't."
She's right, and I know it. "We'll talk to Reaper. But ultimately, it's his call."
She gives me a look that suggests she's not particularly concerned with what Reaper does or doesn't approve. "We'll see about that."
We finish dressing in record time, though Maddie takes a moment to splash water on her face and attempt to tame her hair. I don't bother. The club has seen me looking worse.
Downstairs, the atmosphere is tense. The full members are gathered around the chapel table, which has been moved to the main room. Knight, the only other prospect besides me, stands slightly apart, listening intently. Reaper is at the head of the table, with Ghost and Blade flanking him.
All eyes turn to us as we descend the stairs. I see the knowing looks, the smirks, the raised eyebrows. Normally, I'd play it up, throw them a cocky grin or some smartass comment. But today, with Walsh in town and the threat level elevated, I keep my expression neutral.
"Nice of you to join us," Reaper says dryly. His gaze shifts to Maddie. "Ms. Brooks, good. You should hear this."
I'm surprised by his inclusion of her, but I don't question it as we approach the table.
"Our intel confirms Walsh is staying at a rental property just outside town," Ghost explains. "It's isolated, minimal neighbors, easy access roads."
"How many men with him?" Maddie asks, all business now.
"At least four that we've confirmed," Blade answers. "Possibly more inside the house."
"What's the plan?" I ask, looking to Reaper.
"Direct approach," he says simply. "We ride to his location, all of us. Show of force. Then we have a... conversation."
"That simple?" Knight sounds skeptical.
"Sometimes the direct route is best," Reaper says. "Walsh came into our territory, tried to abduct someone under our protection. We need to establish boundaries."
"Why is he here?" Wilder asks, looking at Maddie. "Why come himself instead of just sending more men?"
"Because Walsh is the type who hates getting his hands dirty, but loves watching people squirm," Maddie explains. "He enjoys seeing fear in people's eyes when they realize who they've crossed."
"The watch," Ace reminds us, placing the device we recovered last night on the table. "He wants this back."
Maddie nods. "This is the same model as the ones James and I took from him three years ago. We'll give it back as a gesture of good faith, but this is really about his ego. James and I embarrassed him, and in his world, that requires personal retribution."
"We'll give him the watch back," Reaper decides. "And a clear message to leave Pine Haven and stay gone."
"You think he'll listen?" Ghost asks.
"He will if we're persuasive enough," Reaper says, a dangerous edge to his voice.
The plan is straightforward: the entire club will ride to Walsh's rental house in a show of force. Reaper, Blade, and Maddie will approach for the initial conversation, with the rest of us providing visible backup. If things go south, we're ready for that too.
"Just Reaper, Blade, and Maddie?" I question, not liking this arrangement. "I should be there too."
"You're too personally invested," Ghost counters. "We need cool heads in there."
"She's personally invested too," I point out, gesturing to Maddie.
"She's the one Walsh wants," Reaper explains. "Having her there, protected but defiant, sends a message. You, on the other hand, are a wild card."
"I'm going in," I insist, meeting Reaper's gaze directly. It's a risky move, challenging the President this way, but I can't back down. "She's under my protection. I need to be there."
"Fine. But you follow my lead, understand? One word out of line, and there will be consequences."
I nod, accepting the warning. "Understood."
"We leave in twenty minutes," Reaper announces. "Gear up."
As the meeting breaks up, I pull Maddie aside. "You okay with this?"
"More than okay," she says, a determined glint in her eye. "I want to see his face when he realizes he's lost."
"Just stay close to me," I tell her. "No heroics."
She raises an eyebrow. "That's rich, coming from you."
I can't help but grin. "Do as I say, not as I do."
"Not how this works," she says, but she's smiling too.
Twenty minutes later, we're mounted up and ready to go. Maddie rides behind me, her arms wrapped around my waist. The roar of multiple bikes fills the air as we pull out of the clubhouse lot in formation, Reaper leading the procession.
The ride to Walsh's rental takes about fifteen minutes, out past the town limits to a secluded property set back from the main road. It's a modern house, all glass, surrounded by trees. Two black SUVs are parked in the circular drive.
We pull up in a perfect V formation, engines rumbling in unison before cutting out simultaneously. The effect is intimidating as hell, which is exactly the point.
The front door opens before we even dismount. A man in a suit steps out, hand inside his jacket, reaching for a weapon, no doubt.
"That's not Walsh," Maddie murmurs behind me. "Security."
Reaper dismounts first, followed by Blade. I help Maddie off the bike, then join them as they approach the house. The rest of the club remains with their bikes, a wall of leather-clad intimidation.
"We're here to see Walsh," Reaper calls out. "Tell him the Outlaw Order is paying a social call."
The security man speaks into a wrist mic, never taking his eyes off us. After a moment, he nods. "Three of you. The rest stay put."
"Four," I correct him, stepping forward. "These three, plus me."
The man hesitates, then confers with someone via his earpiece. "Fine," he says finally. "Follow me."
The interior of the house is minimalist, expensive, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a view of the surrounding forest. We're led to a large living room where a man sits in a leather armchair, a drink in hand.
Tiernan Walsh is not what I expected. He's in his late forties, slim, with salt-and-pepper hair and the kind of tan that comes from regular vacations on private beaches.
He's dressed casually in slacks and a button-down shirt, but his watch and shoes probably cost more than everything I own combined.
"The infamous Outlaw Order," he says, his Irish accent soft but distinct. "I was wondering when you'd come calling."
His eyes drift to Maddie, standing between Blade and me. "And Ms. Brooks. How lovely to see you again, despite the circumstances."
"Walsh," she acknowledges, her voice cool.
"I understand you've been looking for Ms. Brooks," Reaper says, getting straight to business. "That stops now."
Walsh takes a sip of his drink. "Does it? And why would I agree to that?"
"Because you're in my territory," Reaper's voice is deceptively calm. "And in Pine Haven, what I say goes."
Walsh chuckles. "Ah, the territorial imperative. How quaint."
I feel Maddie tense beside me, but she remains silent, letting Reaper handle the negotiation as planned.
"We have what you want," Reaper continues, nodding to Blade, who produces the watch from last night. "Take it and go. Consider this a professional courtesy."