Page 48 of Vengeance

“What stopped him?”

Doc’s silence answered first. “Me,” he finally said.

Chloe frowned. “What?”

“I told him the evidence wasn’t enough. That Dante would bury it, kill the witnesses, and make Savage look like a criminal trying to escape prosecution.”

“Savage was a criminal,” she reminded.

“Yes, but he had lines he wouldn’t cross,” Doc said.

“And Dante didn’t,” she breathed.

“Dante erased the lines.” Doc motioned for her to keep walking. “Savage decided to wait until he had proof no one could dispute.”

“Did he get it?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Doc admitted. “But Dante thinks he did.”

They reached an iron ladder bolted into the rock, and Doc pointed upward. “Open the hatch carefully.” Chloe tucked the flashlight into her waistband and climbed. Her arms trembled as she pushed against the square wooden panel overhead, but it didn’t move. She pushed harder, and nothing happened.

“Doc,” she called.

“It swells when it rains. Use your shoulder,” he ordered. She braced herself beneath it and shoved, and the hatch lifted suddenly, spilling damp leaves and cold night air onto her face. Chloe climbed out into the forest. The tunnel opened beneath a fallen tree hidden by ferns and thick brush. From there, the cabin couldn’t be seen, but smoke drifted above the ridge. Doc emerged behind her and quietly closed the hatch. For one brief moment, the woods were silent before an engine rumbled in the distance.

Chloe’s heart leapt. “Bowie?” Doc tilted his head as the engine grew louder and was joined by another. She was sure that they were hearing motorcycles—a lot of them. Relief nearly dropped her to her knees, but Doc caught her arm.

“Don’t assume anything,” he insisted.

“They have to be ours.”

“Dante owns motorcycles too,” he reminded. He drew his pistol and motioned for Chloe to get behind the fallen tree. The engines thundered closer before cutting off somewhere beyond the ridge, and voices followed. Men moved quickly through the woods, and Chloe strained to hear what was going on.

“Princess!” Her knees weakened. Only one man could make that name sound like both a prayer and a command.

“Dad!” She stood. Doc tried to pull her down, but Chloe tore free.

“Princess!” Bowie shouted again.

“Here!” Branches snapped as several men broke through the trees. Bowie reached her first. He looked like hell. His kutte was open over a black shirt, a rifle hung from one hand, and grief and fury had carved deep lines into his face. He dropped the weapon and grabbed her. Chloe collided with his chest as his arms locked around her so tightly she could barely breathe.

“Jesus Christ,” he whispered against her hair. “Jesus Christ, baby.”

She clutched the back of his kutte. “Vengeance is still inside.”

Bowie stiffened. “Where’s Doc?”

“Here,” Doc answered as he stepped out from behind the tree. More Royal Bastards emerged from the woods. RoadKill was among them, along with Ryder, Spider, Blade, and nearly a dozen brothers Chloe had known most of her life. They looked ready for war.

Bowie held Chloe at arm’s length. “Are you hurt?”

“No,” she lied.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she said again. She was fine. It was Vengeance who needed help.

“Where is Vengeance?” her father asked.