Page 42 of Ravage

They hadn’t just come to our place of work. They’d come to one of our homes. They weren’t just trying to piss us off. They were making a statement that they could get to us wherever we were, and that shit didn’t fly with me.

“Might be time to show them what’s what.” Even as I said it, I didn’t like the idea. I didn’t want a bloody fight with a club that typically knew its place, but clearly, things had changed, and it was time to set things straight. “They want a fight… we can give it to them.”

“I can’t disagree with you there.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

“Prez is calling church,” Ace answered. “Be at the clubhouse at six, and we will sort things out then.”

“I’ll be there.” Before I hung up, I told him, “Let me know if anything else comes up before then.”

“Will do.”

I ended the call, tossed my phone onto my desk, and let out a long stream of curses. I was still at it when I heard Knox ask, “Who pissed in your coffee this morning?”

He strolled into the office with that smug grin, and for some reason, it irritated me more than usual. I would guess it had something to do with my guilty conscience, but I didn’t need much of an incentive. I had too much going on for his BS. “What do you want?”

“You really need to get laid, brother.”

“Not in the mood for your shit this morning.”

“Yeah. That’s the problem. You’re never in the mood.” He leaned against the side of my desk. “You know, we’ve got club girls for that.”

“I’m good.”

“Suit yourself.”

I glanced up at him as I asked, “You hear about Reaper?”

“What about him?”

I told him about the tag on his garage door and the message. I also told him about church and how Prez wanted us all there at six to sort it out. He rubbed his hand over his jaw. “Damn. I was hoping the hit at the garage was just a fluke.”

“No such luck.”

“You think it’s the Vipers?”

“Looking that way.”

My phone buzzed on my desk. I glanced down; the screen was facing up, and my chest tightened when I saw Emery’s name. I reached for it, hoping I got to it before Knox saw it. That feeling of panic should’ve been enough for me to put an end to the insanity.

Knox was my best friend. He’d put his life on the line for me, and I’d done the same for him. Countless times. Emery was his niece. I’d been a part of their lives since she moved in with him. I helped look after her. They were family, and now, I was putting everything I cared about at risk.

I was lost in my thoughts when Knox asked, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Just got a full day ahead.”

“Don’t we always?”

“Get to work, Knox.”

“I’m going. I’m going.” As he started for the door, he snickered, “You know, you really should think about what I said. A night with one of the girls would do you a world of good.”

“Now, Knox!”

I waited until he closed the door behind him to look down at Emery’s message, and relief washed over me the second I read it.

Emery: