Page 203 of Lone Star

He lifted his head and stared out across the empty stretch of field that bordered his property. The wind ruffled the winter grasses. Far in the distance, over the hills, vultures circled, crisp black fan shapes against the blue bowl of the sky.

I do have friends. And most of them hate you even more than I do.

That was nothing new. The club had always had enemies, and nasty ones at that. But if what Maddox and Cantrell had said was true…if other parties in the underworld were banding together.

Then a storm was coming.

Not today, not tomorrow. But soon. He swore he could feel the crackle of electricity in the air, smell the ozone. Gray clouds loomed behind him, out of sight, but ready to sweep in and cloak his bright world in darkness.

If that happened, they would be ready.

“I gotta call Ghost,” he murmured to himself. If someone wanted to take on the whole club, then let them come. Let them throw themselves against every chapter, against every mean son of a bitch just itching to get blood on his hands.

“Baby?” Michelle called behind him.

He took one last breath, found a smile – a real one, satisfaction burning through the rage, bringing with it thoughts of victory, of crushing out anyone who would challenge him. Him and his family – his brilliant, ferocious family. And turned back to her, to them. “Coming.”

Walked back toward all the things that mattered, already drawing up a mental list of the ways he’d never fail them again.

THE END