Page 108 of Bleed Me

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Dagger, seething, could barely contain how livid he felt. “How the fuck did this happen?”

The rest of us fell into our chairs in complete disbelief. Our motherfucking enemy now had Art in his hands, again. This was unbelievable because Justice had barely had an opportunity to take a piss without someone with her. And she definitely wasn’t permitted to leave the compound alone. So how the fuck could Art be taken? The rules were different when being a man in a club, and they hadn’t worked out in Art’s favor. Justice was a wedded woman. I, her fucking man, wasn’t taking one chance. Church Eyes was no easy girl to handle, but whatever had happened to her while in captivity made her compliant with my hovering. Her dread made my blood run cold. And now this person had one of our brothers.

Grasping his hair with stress, Lynx slammed into his chair. “I’m not sure how this happened. They said Diesel has blown a circuit.” Trying to collect himself, he stared at Justice and me. “I know you two have needed time with the kids, but I need all hands on deck. Elle will watch over them.”

“In lockdown!” I demanded if I were to leave their side.

“Done.” Then Lynx told everyone in the room, “Everyone is to be ready to hit the road in thirty minutes.” His eyes followed Justice as she slowly stood.

After a moment of silence lingered, she whispered a barely audible, “I’m sorry.” Lynx’s head tilted as if he was sure he wasn’t going to like what she said next. “I just can’t.” Justice started taking off her vest.

My eyes bugged out. “Babe, what are you doing?”

Lynx growled at her, “This is fucking Art I’m talkin’ about.”

Hauntingly, she sighed. “You saying that tells me how much you really don’t get what he and I went through.”

My poor fucking girl.

Lynx rumbled, “I have no time for your bullshit right now.”

I had to bite down a rebuttal. Justice hadn’t ever spewed an ounce of bullshit in her whole entire life, but my Prez was under pressure I couldn’t fathom. I decided to respect that, too, and give him some patience.

When Justice spoke next, she was so calm I knew there was no changing her mind. “Nothing about my kids is bullshit, brother. I love you. I love this club. But I love them more.”

Justice may have never even known she wanted children. But once she had them? There was no stopping her absolute devotion. My wife—my Old Lady, laid her vest on the table, then walked away from the only life she had ever known.

Ah, shit. There’s only one way out of the club. So, I moved my hand to make sure I could grab my gun if needed.

My President glared at me. “Only because she is my sister do you have a chance at forgiveness for how crazy you’re actin’ right now.”

It was plain and simple. “Prez, that woman is my life. There are only two reasons I will ever stay on this earth without her. So, if she wants out of the club, I have to protect her, because my kids are too young to live without me yet.”

Having my back like they always fucking would, all my surrounding brothers nodded with respect. Lynx eyed them. “You all supportin’ this?” They nodded again. “Do we need a vote?” They shook their heads.

Meatball, cucumber calm as always, merely said, “That’s his Old Lady and someone I happen to adore like a daughter. I’d kill him myself if he wasn’t reachin’ for his gun right now.”

Lynx gave a half-smirk and an expression that said, I would do the same.

Dagger blew out a strained breath. His nephew was missing, and the closest to a son he would ever have was about to battle the whole damn club for a girl Dagger himself had rescued a decade earlier. “As Vice President of the Steel Stallions, I hereby officially request a rule change. Only members who want to stay a Stallion remain one. I, for one, only want brothers by my side that want to be there. That makes us unified and deadly. That’s how I see it.”

With respect, I added, “I totally agree. If all she’s doing is worrying about her kids, she ain’t gonna be for shit in a fight.”

Lynx lifted a brow. “Aren’t they your kids, too? Can’t the same be said for you?”

“With Justice watching over them? I’m tight. With my brothers.”

Hands smacking the table told Prez they believed me.

With the motion passed, the meeting ended. I walked by the bunny carrying my kids and headed to my bedroom. Justice was rolling me up a couple sets of clothes for my saddlebags—extra pair of jeans, my black hoodie, socks, and T-shirts. She wouldn’t look at me as I shut the door at my back, but said, “I’m still alive, so I’m guessing you handled that.”

“I handled it.”

Her voice sounded anxious. “I refuse to fail her.”

Sapphire. “You won’t.”