Chapter 6 - Rage #2
There's genuine concern in her voice that catches me off guard. We've known each other less than twenty-four hours, yet somehow she's already carved out a space to care about what happens to me.
"Always am," I assure her. "Got too much to lose."
I leave her room with a strange reluctance, aware that I've shared more with her in the past thirty minutes than I have with most people in years.
Something about Claire pulls the truth out of me.
Maybe because she's been lied to enough, maybe because she seems to see beneath the surface to the man I am beneath the cut and the reputation.
I head toward King's office, forcing my mind to shift gears. Tonight isn't about Claire or me or whatever unexpected connection is forming between us. Tonight is about protecting the club, ending the Eagles' threat once and for all.
Tank is waiting outside King's door, his stoic expression giving nothing away.
"You good?" he asks as I approach.
"Yeah. Just checking on our guest."
He gives me a measured look but doesn't comment. We both know I spent longer with Claire than strictly necessary for a security update.
Inside, King sits behind his desk, maps and building schematics spread out before him. Luna stands beside him, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.
Beast, Tank, Steel, Torch, and the prospects are already gathered, waiting for instructions. I take my place against the wall, mentally transitioning from Rage the man to Rage the soldier. This is what I know—strategy, tactics, the brutal clarity of combat.
"Everyone clear on positions?" King asks without preamble.
We nod. We've been over the plan repeatedly since church ended—who goes where, who covers what angle, our defensive perimeter and fall-back positions.
"Steel, report from Cherry Street," King commands.
Steel steps forward. "Increased activity in the last hour. It looks like they're planning to surround the compound."
"As expected," King says with cold satisfaction. "They think they're setting the trap."
"What about Vulture?" I ask. "Any sign of him yet?"
Steel shakes his head. "Not personally. But one of the vans had Millfield plates. They could be bringing him in."
"He'll want to be here for this," Tank says. "It's too personal for him to sit out."
King nods in agreement. "Which is why we need to be ready for anything. Vulture's reckless when he's emotional. If things go south for them, he might try something desperate."
"Like what?" Beast asks.
"Like a suicide run," King says bluntly. "He's been waiting five years to avenge his brother. If he sees that slipping away, he might decide to take as many of us with him as he can."
The room falls silent as we absorb this. Suicide tactics are rare in club warfare. Most men want to live to fight another day. But Vulture's obsession with avenging Talon has only grown over the years, fed by hatred and an increasingly unstable personality.
"What about the women?" Luna asks, her calm voice cutting through the tension. "What time do you want us in the safe room?"
"Five-thirty," King says immediately. "Before sunset. I want you all secured well before the Eagles make their move."
Luna nods, accepting his decision without argument. She understands the gravity of the situation, knows that King needs to focus on the fight without worrying about her safety.
"What about Jenny?" King asks.
Beast nods. "She's getting the safe room prepared now. Extra water, food, medical supplies." His eyes meet mine briefly. "First aid kit for Claire's ribs, too."
I nod my thanks. It's a small detail, but it matters. The acknowledgment that Claire's injuries need ongoing care even during a crisis.
King turns to Luna. "You have access to the cameras from inside?"
"Yes. All external feeds, plus the main internal areas."
"Good. You'll be our eyes. If you spot something we miss, use the comms system. Tank, Beast, and I will have earpieces."
Luna's role is crucial. She'll monitor the new security feeds from inside the safe room, providing real-time intelligence as the attack unfolds.
"Any questions?" King asks, surveying the room.
"Extraction plan if we're compromised?" Shadow asks quietly from his corner.
It's a necessary question, if a grim one. We need to know how to get the women out if the Eagles breach our defenses.
"Underground tunnel from the safe room leads to the storage building on the east side," King replies.
"From there, escape vehicle in place with go-bags.
Route already programmed in the GPS, destination only Luna knows.
" He looks around the room. "That's absolute last resort.
If it comes to that, Luna's in charge. Her orders override all others. "
We nod, accepting this command structure. In a worst-case scenario, Luna would be responsible for getting Jenny, Amelia, and Claire to safety, while we cover their retreat. It's unlikely to come to that, but we plan for every contingency.
"One last thing," King says, his voice dropping slightly. "If any of you get a clean shot at Vulture, take it. No hesitation, no mercy. This ends tonight, one way or another."
The order is unnecessary. We all understand what's at stake, but King says it anyway, making his expectations crystal clear. The Eagles' threat ends tonight. Permanently.
"Dismissed," King says. "Final positions by 5:45. Radio silence except for emergency communications."
We filter out of the office, each moving to our assigned preparations. I catch Tank's arm before he gets too far.
"Claire's intel checked out completely," I say quietly. "She earned our protection."
"No one's saying otherwise."
"Just making it clear. Whatever happens tonight, we get her somewhere safe afterward. New ID, new town, fresh start."
"Already in the works," Tank assures me. "King authorized it this morning. Shadow's making the arrangements with our contact."
Relief flows through me. "Good. She deserves a chance."
Tank's expression shifts, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're getting attached."
It's not a question, and there's no point denying it. "Maybe. What about it?"
"Nothing. Just an observation." He pauses. "Just remember she's leaving after this. That's the safest option for her."
"I know that," I say, perhaps too defensively.
Tank nods, unconvinced but unwilling to push further. "Check your weapons, then get some rest while you can. You look like shit."
"Thanks, brother," I reply dryly.
As Tank walks away, I stand in the hallway, momentarily uncertain of my next move.
I should be checking my gear, reviewing positions, preparing myself mentally for what's coming.
Instead, I find myself thinking about Claire's dream of a second-hand clothing store, about the way her eyes lit up when she talked about it.
I shake my head, forcing the thought away. Tank is right. I'm getting attached to a woman I barely know, a woman who will be gone from my life as soon as this situation is resolved. It's dangerous and stupid, especially with everything at stake tonight.
Still, as I head toward the armory to check my weapons, I can't shake the feeling that something important has changed in the past twenty-four hours. Something that started the moment I saw Claire in that park, refusing to surrender despite her fear.
Whatever it is, I'll have to deal with it after we survive tonight. And we will survive. All of us. I've got a son who needs his father, brothers who need their enforcer, and now, a battered woman who needs the fresh start I've promised her.
Too much to lose. Too much to fight for.
I check my watch: 3:17 PM. Just over two hours until we move the women to the safe room. Just over three until sunset, when the Eagles will make their move.
Time to focus.
Time to become what the club needs me to be.