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“Did you have to call church so fucking early?” I grumbled, tapping my coffee cup as we waited for the room to fill up.

Optimus reclined in his chair at the head of the table, me sitting directly to his left.

“Had something fresh come in late last night. We need to get this sorted ASAP, so I called your mom and Judge in.” He tapped a pen impatiently on the table.

I screwed up my nose. “It’s weird to hear that.”

He looked up at me with his eyebrows raised. “Why?”

Sipping my coffee, I thought about the question. Why was it weird to hear someone referred to as my mom? I’d spent so long getting used to the idea of it just being me and my dad—if that. “She hasn’t been around since I was a teenager. Doesn’t it get to the point where they forfeit the right to be seen as a parent?”

“I wasn’t around Harlyn for five years. Does that mean I forfeit the right to be called her father?” He didn’t say it like he was offended by my words, but he hit the mark I knew he was aiming for.

“That’s fucking stupid.”

“Exactly my thoughts.”

Bastard.

The doors to the meeting room pushed open and my brothers flooded in, some fresh from workouts with bottles of water and towels, others dressed in the same clothes they were wearing yesterday and half asleep.

Leo wiped the sweat from his brow and took the seat opposite me, to the right of Op. Leo was our Sergeant at Arms. He controlled our security, and in some ways was the voice of reason where dangerous situations were concerned. It was his job to keep us level-headed and above ground.

After all the boys were seated, more figures appeared in the open doorway. Mymotherand Judge with Light standing just behind them. I still hadn’t grasped how much it hurt to see her, how much my body fueled with venom and anger when she was near. I still felt like I was that kid—the kid she had walked out on and left behind.

“Come in.” Optimus ushered them with his hand.

I tried to shake off the bad vibes, gripping my coffee cup in my hand and focusing on the heat that burnt at my palm.

“Came as fast as we could,” Judge explained as Ham and Phil shut the doors behind them. It was strange to have outsiders in church with us. It was usually unheard of, but I guess special situations call for a bending of the rules. That being said, they were still not asked to sit at the table with us, and would have to stand.

My mother gripped Judge’s arm tightly, even from where I was sitting I could see the darkness under her eyes. Lane’s kidnapping had evidently taken an enormous toll on her, cracks were beginning to show in her tough exterior.

“We have a small problem…” Optimus began. “It seems someone has overheard you discussing club matters.”

Judge’s eyes widened and my mom looked around at Light frantically. “We… I don’t know how that would have happened.”

Narrowing his eyes, Op stood. I could tell he was frustrated with this small development but there was something he was holding back.

“Next time you decide to talk about important matters, it would do you good to remember that there are ears everywhere. A hotel bar is not the place to share information.” I almost smirked at his tone. It was like he was scolding a small child, but what they had done was stupid. Club matters were kept for the clubhouse or secured areas, not for open spaces.

I watched Judge. Even though his bushy beard covered much of his face, I could tell that he was upset for being called out in front of our entire club. His free hand was clenched in a tight fist and his jaw was locked tightly. “Obviously, we made a mistake.”

Op laughed, causing me to sit up a little straighter. How he found this amusing, I had no idea.

“That could’ve been the best mistake you’ve ever made.”

Sitting forward, I tapped my finger on the table. “Brother, you been drinking this morning?” The boys chuckled lightly. “Because you ain’t making any sense.”

He walked around the table, ignoring me entirely. “It seems like the person who heard you talking wants to help. And with the intel we’ve gathered through Leo, what we have in mind just might work.”

My mom stood a little taller, breathing in deeply like it was her first breath of air in weeks. They had exhausted their options, coming here and asking us for help was their last resort. If we had said no they would have either had to fight, and possibly lose their lives, or give in to the demands that were being made.

Optimus may have just offered them their way out, and at this point, I wasn’t sure whether I was happy about it or frustrated.

“So…” Judge began, his body now standing a little stronger, more confident.

Light had pushed off the wall which he was leaning against and moved forward, eager to hear the plan that was possibly going to get his woman back.

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