Page 37 of Razor
Pierce nodded, his expression serious."The Abyss has resources we don't.And their president respects you after that arms deal you brokered last year."
My phone vibrated against the table—another text from Ophelia.I checked it quickly: "All quiet.Fury still patrolling.Miss you."My chest tightened at those last two words, the reaction still unfamiliar enough to throw me off balance.I typed back a brief reassurance before returning my attention to the men waiting for my next instructions.
"We need to move on two fronts simultaneously," I continued, laying out photos I'd compiled of Tyler, his father, and the uncle who served as police chief in their county."Protection of my family is priority one.But we also need to gather intelligence on these three.Know their movements, their weaknesses, their pressure points."
"I can handle surveillance on the ex," Pierce volunteered immediately."I'm good at staying invisible."
Loch snorted."Better than running your mouth, at least."But his tone lacked real bite, and he was already studying the photos with professional interest."Police chief's going to be tricky.Cops notice when they're being watched."
"That's where Hades Abyss comes in," I explained."They have contacts in law enforcement two counties over.Can get us intel without direct surveillance."
The plan was taking shape, becoming more concrete with each brother's input.What had started as a desperate need to protect Ophelia and Dante was evolving into a larger change within the club itself—a shift in priorities that placed family security at the center instead of treating it like an afterthought.
"This goes beyond just protecting your old lady," Loch observed, his perceptiveness cutting through to the heart of the matter."You're changing the whole foundation of how we operate."
"Maybe it needs changing," I said simply."Maybe it's been needing it for a long time."
Pierce straightened, a new resolve evident in his posture."I believe in this.In what we're doing.It feels...right."
"Don't get sentimental on us now," Loch drawled, but there was no mistaking the commitment in his eyes as he slid his reassembled weapon into his holster."So, we're really doing this?Taking on Mustang, bringing in The Abyss, restructuring the club around family protection?"
I nodded once, decisive."We're really doing this."
Loch's trademark smirk returned as he stood, extending his hand across the table."Well then, Calculator, guess we better make damn sure we don't fuck it up."
As we clasped hands, sealing our alliance with the grip of brothers committed to a cause, I felt the weight of responsibility settling more firmly on my shoulders.One week ago, I'd been a lone wolf, the club's numbers man with no attachments beyond brotherhood.Now I stood at the center of a growing coalition, driven by a family I'd never expected to have—a family worth fighting for, worth changing everything for.
And God help anyone who tried to take that away from me.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Razor
I cut the engine of my Harley, letting silence envelop the abandoned gas station like a shroud.Midnight cast long shadows across the cracked concrete, the skeletal remains of gas pumps standing like forgotten sentinels against the darkness.The place had been closed for years, making it perfect for conversations that couldn't happen at the clubhouse or anywhere Mustang might have eyes.I lit a cigarette, the flame briefly illuminating my face before I snapped the lighter shut.The cherry glowed red in the darkness as I inhaled, the only point of light besides the distant stars and the occasional sweep of headlights on the highway half a mile away.
The burner phone in my pocket vibrated—a text from Ophelia confirming that Socket had arrived to relieve Fury for the overnight shift.I'd memorized the protection rotation, knew exactly who should be watching my family at any given moment, but her confirmation still eased the pressure in my chest.Four days since she'd sensed someone watching them, and I'd transformed from club treasurer to rebellion leader, gathering allies like ammunition for a war I hadn't chosen but wouldn't hesitate to fight.
Headlights appeared in the distance, twin beams cutting through the darkness.I straightened, one hand instinctively moving toward the gun holstered at my hip before I recognized the distinctive rumble of Torque's motorcycle.He approached cautiously, circling the perimeter of the gas station once before pulling up alongside my bike.Always thorough, always checking for threats—one of the reasons I'd wanted him on my side.
He killed his engine and dismounted in one fluid motion, removing his helmet to reveal eyes that swept the surroundings with military precision before settling on me.
"Calculator," he greeted, using my club nickname with the familiarity of a decade's brotherhood."Unusual meeting spot."
"Unusual times," I replied, offering him a cigarette from my pack.He accepted with a nod, leaning in as I struck another match.The flame briefly illuminated the lines of tension around his eyes, the set of his jaw that spoke of recent troubles.
"Heard you've been busy," he said after taking a deep drag, smoke curling around his face in the still night air."Building plans behind Mustang's back."
I didn't bother denying it."Building protection for what matters," I corrected."My family.The club's future."
"Family," he repeated, the word hanging heavy between us."Your new wife and her kid."
"Ophelia and Dante," I confirmed, their names feeling natural on my tongue despite the newness of them in my life."Someone's been watching our house.Ophelia spotted them four days ago."
Torque's expression hardened immediately."Confirmed threat?"
"To her, yes.She survived her abusive ex for years by recognizing danger before it struck.When she says someone was there, I believe her."I took another drag, watching his reaction carefully."Mustang doesn't."
"Mustang wouldn't," Torque muttered, his voice dropping to a dangerous register."Not if it came from a woman."
