***
Steel stood infront of the brothers, listening to them scream, curse, and pound their fists into anything they could find, even if it was another brother. After letting them blow off some steam, Steel slammed the gavel on the wooden block. “I’m gonna take it that we’re all in agreement for war?” Voices clamored and chairs were knocked over. Again he slammed the gavel down. “To comply with the bylaws, we gotta take a vote. All in favor of declaring war on the Demon Riders of Johnstown, Iowa, say ‘Aye.’”
A resounding “Aye” reverberated off the concrete walls. “Then it’s settled,” Paco said. “Steel’s gonna name the brothers who’ll go on this mission. The Insurgents are banding with us. We need some brothers here to protect the club and give the fuckin’ Skull Crushers a beat-down.”
“We’re gonna meet up with the Insurgents in Pinewood Springs. We’ll leave early in the morning. Diablo, Muerto, Sangre, Goldie, Chains, Army, Crow, Brutus, and Cueball will be coming with me. Since Paco’s the VP, he’ll stay behind and run things until we get back. For the brothers who are going with me to Pinewood Springs, we’ll leave at three in the morning, which should get us into Pinewood at about seven. No partying or heavy boozing, but fucking’s always good.”
Whistles and guffaws circled around the room.
“When do we leave for Johnstown?” Sangre asked.
Steel shrugged. “I’m gonna work out the details with Hawk and Banger when we get to Pinewood, but I’d say we’ll probably leave tomorrow night, rest up for a day, and then attack at night.” He wiped the sheen above his upper lip. “We need to get our ammo, guns, and other weapons ready. Obviously we’re taking the SUVs and pickups. Can’t have our cams announcing us.” He leaned against the wall, his thumbs hooked in his belt loops.
A solemnness fell over the members as they contemplated the enormity of the task ahead. Going to war was always a last resort for most MCs, and it wasn’t something the Night Rebels jumped into lightly, but their backs had been forced against the wall, and they had no intention of backing down. The brothers knew that some of the ones going may not come back alive, and that many may be wounded, but it was a consequence in their world. The threat of war was omnipresent, always lurking in the shadows, waiting to appear. Violence and uncertainty were as much a part of the outlaw world as were loyalty, love, and mutual trust.
It was late when Steel got home, and the house was enshrouded in darkness. He went into the kitchen and took out a large bottled water, guzzling it down. The declaration of war weighed heavily on him. He didn’t want to lose any of his brothers; they were his family more than his own brother and sister. A thrill of excitement rode down his spine as he thought of putting an end to the supply of drugs in the county. Their actions would also tell other MCs not to set up shop in Alina.All I have to do is find out who the distributor is and fucking burn his ass.
He climbed the stairs and stopped in front of Chenoa’s bedroom door, quietly turning the handle and opening it. He heard her deep breathing and went to the side of her bed, staring down at her. She looked peaceful. Not wanting to wake her, he put his hand over her hair but didn’t touch it. “May the Holy People watch over you, sunshine. The universe walks with you and you walk with it,” he said under his breath before he turned away and closed her door.
When he walked into his room, he saw Breanna snuggled under the covers, a hint of vanilla and apricot wafting in the air. He took off his cut and hung it on the back of a chair, then went over to the bed and sat on the edge of it. He pulled off his boots and stripped out of his jeans and boxers, then slipped under the covers. She stirred and turned around, smiling when her sleepy gaze landed on his. She ran her fingertips up and down his arm. “Hey,” she breathed.
“Hey.” He slid closer to her, drawing her to him. His dick hardened when he felt her naked skin under his calloused hands. “Everything go okay tonight with Chenoa?” He skimmed his fingers across her face.
She scooted up so her face was closer to his. “It was fine. We ordered pizza and salad, went online and bought a lot of makeup with your credit card, and watched a movie.”
He chuckled. “Glad my credit card entertained you.” He kissed her forehead.
“Are things good at the club? Did you fix whatever problem you had?”
“Not yet, baby.” He pressed her closer to him. “I gotta go outta town for a little bit.”
“When?”
“Early in the morning.”
“So soon?”
“Yeah. I want you to take Chenoa over to Mika’s tomorrow. I don’t want her staying alone while I’m gone. I’ll call and talk to Mika about it. I’ll call Chenoa too. I didn’t mean to get home so late. I wanted to talk to her before she went to bed.”
“She had so much fun spending your money that it wore her out.” She laughed and peppered kisses on his throat. “I’m scared.” Her breath was warm against his skin.
“I know.”
“I feel that something big is going down. Am I right?”
He tilted his head down and glided his lips over hers. “It’s club business, babe. You know that.”
“Promise me you’ll come home? I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”
“I’ll be fine. There’s no way I’m ready to pack it in.” He lightly tickled her back, loving the feel of her goose bumps as they pebbled under his fingertips.
“I can stay with Chenoa if you’d like. I can come over here until you get back.”
“I’d love that, babe, but Mika would shit a brick if I let that happen. She’s been pissed enough over Chenoa living with me, and I don’t want her saying a bunch of shit to you or Chenoa. It’s only for a few days.” He let his fingers skim across her rounded ass. “I love you for offering to help.” The truth was that he’d much rather have Breanna with Chenoa than her staying with Mika and Roy, as he didn’t trust either of them to monitor her the way he’d been doing it, but he didn’t have a choice.
Her palm skated across his hardened dick.
“Touching me there is gonna bring you some rough fucking, baby,” he joked as he lightly pulled her hair.
