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I watched in horror as Shannon parked her little Ford Focus in the spot in front of where I used to park, got out, and walked to the front door.
After knocking, she waited for exactly four minutes and fifteen seconds before pulling out her keys and unlocking the door, closing it softly behind her.
“Oh, no.” I moaned.
She stayed in there and didn’t come out.
“No, no, no, nooo,” I whimpered brokenly.
My heart was in my throat, and I could feel the movement of bile slowly rise and settle at the base of my tongue; I could taste the bitterness of it.
“Please, no.” I whimpered.
I hadn’t realized that tears were leaking out of my eyes until Silas put his big arm around me and pulled me deep into his chest, allowing my cheek to settle on his massive chest.
His big beard tickled my cheek, but I didn’t care.
I was too busy watching the devastation in front of me, horrified, as a Hummer that was sleek and beautiful pulled into our lot, turned around, and then stopped right outside the apartment.
One man got out with a giant gas can in his hand, walked up to the front walk and started pouring it out on the wooden paneling that lined the outside the apartment.
The man was of average height and build, dressed in an impeccable pair of slacks, pointy-toed shoes, and a red silk shirt.
His face was covered by a black ski mask, so any other identifying markers couldn’t be detected.
“Why isn’t anybody saying anything?” I asked in surprise. “They have to see what he’s doing, and who the hell wears ski masks anymore?”
I hadn’t meant to yell, but I couldn’t help it.
While Kettle and I were eating a Christmas meal, his sister was being burned alive.
I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. I knew he was about to torch the place. With Kettle’s sister inside. Oh, God. Oh, God.
“Oh, baby.” I said as I thought of Kettle. “Oh, Tiago. I’m so sorry.”
Silas’ hand came up and cradled my head in his big palm, stroking my hair as he watched the rest of the video.
A whimper behind me had me turning to find Baylee standing very close with Blaise in her arms. Minnie stood beside her, holding Baylee to her body. The rest of the MC stood behind them, all watching the scene unfold on the computer in front of me.
“Time to show our hand, Silas. You know exactly who it was.” Dixie said as he came up close to Silas’ free arm and watched a little more closely.
They were heading to a room at the back of the bar. A room that had a large table with chairs surrounding it. There was nothing else in it. Other than the large Dixie Wardens mural on the wall, nothing else decorated the room.
Although I’d only been to the clubhouse for the first time today, I knew instantly that this was where they had all their club meetings. What had my dad used to call it, gospel?
“Yeah,” Silas agreed, giving me a reassuring squeeze before letting me go and standing. “Let’s go to church. Minnie, darlin’, how about you bring out a couple cots. I think we’re going to be a while. No reason y’all can’t all catch some rest while you can. It’s time for us to bring our family together. Kettle’s gonna need the support when he gets back.”
Church was a MC’s version of a business meeting between the members. It’s where all the important decisions were made. Who was told to do what. Where problems were brought forth to be worked through. I always compared it to a judge’s chambers. It was where all the important things were ruled on. Some of them even life and death.
Knowing that arguing would be futile, we all started setting up cots in between the splayed couches and recliners. Some even behind the bar.
I had no intention of sleeping, however. Exactly the opposite, in fact. I wasn’t sleeping until my man was home safe in my arms. Where I could hold him, because I knew he wouldn’t be all right when he got back.
And I was right.
He wasn’t.
CHAPTER 14
