Page 18 of Colt’s Betrayal

“I'll be fine.”

That doesn't stop me looking back once before I leave.

Kane catches me before I reach the meeting room and jerks his head toward the far end of the clubhouse.

“Chains knows what Jayne was to you.”

The past tense irritates me immediately. “Was?” Kane gives me a flat look. “Not the point.”

“Then get to it.”

“He knows you, and he knows her. If he's thinking beyond impressing Cyrus, he'll know Jayne is one of the few people who can pull your attention away from the club when it matters.”

“She doesn't make me weak, Prez.”

“I didn't say she does. I said Chains might think she does.”

That lands differently. Kane isn't accusing Jayne of anything. He's asking whether Chains knows enough about both of us to use what we feel against me.

“He might.”

“And if he does?”

“He learns he's wrong.”

Kane watches me for a moment. “I need more than that.” I bite back the first response that comes to mind because he deserves one better than anger.

“Check every word she brought us. Watch her if you need to, and watch me too. I'm not asking you to bet Kingdom Come on what I remember about a girl I loved twelve years ago.”

Kane's expression doesn't change, but I know he hears the distinction.

“I'm looking at what she's done now. She called me before she needed anything from us. She came through these gates knowing exactly how people would look at her because of her father. Then she sat across from Raze because she believed three of us were going to ride into an ambush.”

“And you love her, of course.”

It isn't really a question.

“Yeah.”

He nods once. “Then make sure loving her doesn't make you stupid.”

“It won't.”

“Good.”

That's the whole conversation. Inside the meeting room, Blackwater Road is already spread across a map on the table. Kane doesn't waste time debating whether Jayne is trustworthy. He sends brothers out separately to check the area from different directions with strict instructions not to get close enough to spook anyone watching it. The plan comes together quickly once the first calls start coming back.

The logging turnoff exists exactly where Jayne said it would. Dense tree line on both sides, enough cover for men and bikes, narrow enough to control whoever rides through. Chains would know Kane's most likely approach and know that Judge and I would be the two men beside him if Cyrus called for a serious sit-down. Wilder studies the map. “They'll expect three bikes.”

“Then we give them three,” Kane says.

Nobody needs the rest explained twice. Support goes in early. Bikes stay hidden down the logging tracks and side roads with engines killed. Kane, Judge and I ride the route Perdition expects and let them step out far enough to expose themselves before the rest of Kingdom Come closes around them. No rushing in after guns are already on us. No relying on luck. If Raze wants a show, we're going to give him one.

Griz has barely spoken since Jayne arrived, but when Kane starts assigning positions he takes his without hesitation. Wilder does the same. Whatever Chains thought he was breaking when he left, it isn't broken. By the time Kane releases us, several brothers are already out checking access roads and places to hide bikes without being seen from Blackwater.

I return to my room afterward. Jayne is sitting against the headboard, still dressed, with her shoes kicked off beside the bed. She looks up when I come in.

“How bad?”