by Dark Angel
"Yes," I lie to appease her. I know I'll never leave the farmhouse, and I know deep in my heart that even though it might be the wrong decision, I'm as committed to these guys as ever.
It’s not something I can control.
Or even something that I want to control.
Chapter 13
Wade
I've called a meeting at my compound.
It's time to strategize about what our next moves will be considering The Iron Legion is making their presence more known and not in a good way. I know the other guys are itching to protect their families as well. After all, that's what this is about ... family, and territory.
A rough gang has entered our home and we have to see them out, dead or alive. I will not stop until every one of them is dead or scared off for all of time. That's my job as leader of the crew and I'll protect everyone.
These guys think they can just ride into town and do whatever the fuck they please? Yeah, they’re in for a rude awakening. They’ve been fucking with The Order for too long now, and it’s time they pay the price for that.
Standing here in front of this band of roughnecks and people who have seen the hard side of life reminds me of my dad. He ran a crew as well, and even though every one of these guys look like hard ass criminals, they all have heart and loyalty. Ultimately these are the people who would give you the shirt off their backs if it came to that.
Money is nothing and family is everything here.
They are unlike The Iron Legion who are out to kill and that's it. To me, that is not integrity or anything worth looking up to. Everyone can pull a trigger. Only a few can do it and retain honor.
"We have to formulate a plan to grind these assholes into dust,” I start, slowly looking around the room. “I have some idea of what will happen but I welcome your thoughts," I say this to the sea of faces looking at me.
I'm proud to be part of this clan of generations. The Order has been around for years. And that will not end under my watch.
I'm standing on the stairs so that I can speak to everyone. The VIPS and I have already met and agreed that the other guys should be in on this. Some of them are young, some of them are foolish, but all of them are loyal. Besides, the newest members often have the best ideas.
"We could just bomb them all," one guy speaks up.
"Or attack them in the night."
"I say we scout every last one of them out and burn them with gasoline."
Man, these guys have some gnarly ideas. I look up at Zeva who's sitting on the balcony, her legs hanging off. She looks perfect in her little jean skirt and boots. I look at her and then back to the many faces staring up at me. Any one of these guys could die at any time and each of them knows it…and yet they are here. They are all willing to fight and to put their lives on the line to protect the others. To protect me.
It's this attitude that’s our bond.
I'm grateful for every member and, though I’d like to avoid war, it has come to this. Zeva is staring down at the crowd and I think about how I could lose her too. And that makes this war insufferable.
No, we can't have war, we need to plan an ambush and stop it before it starts. The idea of losing Zeva and having ongoing fighting is just too much to bear, and so I don't even let my mind go there.
"I think you might be right,” I start, and the whole room quiets down to hear my words. “We should have our scouts find their location and then we'll take them by surprise. We need to make sure we get rid of their lookouts first, then we move fast and put a bullet in their skulls."
Stone says, "Everyone make sure you have your weapon of choice and any backups you need. We'll visit the artillery room next."
At that, all the guys cheer and they follow Stone out of the room. They head straight to the locked cavernous basement, where everything from hand grenades to shotguns and rifles are stored.
I sit down at the kitchen island with Alex and Jason, and we make a map of the areas where we think The Iron Legion is camped. There's plenty of coverage for our men to hide and I don't think we'll have a problem surprising them.
"We'll only have once chance at this, so we can't screw it up."
"We won't," Jason says.
"Alright, well, you have to make sure the captains keep their crew in line. This is fucking serious. As a matter of fact, I'd like to send the new guys in last. They need to see how it's done. Even one noise will screw our plan.” I run my tongue between my lips, imagining the warpath I’m putting everyone on, and I feel myself hesitate. “The news guys aren’t that experienced. Maybe we should station them in town?" I don’t want the blood of young kids on my hands. These guys are loyal, and they’d die for me – I’d just rather avoid that. I have enough blood on my hands as it is.
"Not a bad idea. I'll tell the captains. The new guys will be disappointed, though.”
“Well, fuck ‘em,” Alex chimes in. “This isn’t paintball. They have to earn their rank. And we’re looking out for ‘em."
"Yeah," I agree. "Plus, I don't want to have their amateur blood on my hands."
"Okay," they agree, and I look at the map down on the counter. If the Legion has camped out where I think, we have the attack all staged out.
Just as we're wrapping up I feel Zeva's hands tuck around my waist. My stomach contracts and I have that intense feeling of connection with her. All I want to do is to drag her upstairs and to make love to her as many times as I can before this war starts for good.
I need to cherish these moments with Zeva, because as much as I hate to admit it, they may be my last. She will be safe of course but I'll be on the front lines and I'm prepared to die for this cause…but I'm not ready to leave Zeva alone in this harsh, cold world where who knows who would protect her.
I shiver to think of her not having me, but as her arms lovingly squeeze me and my cock gets hard, I let all the worries go and try to focus on all the positive things.
I have Zeva with me here, and that’s everything I need. Once we get the fucking Iron legion out of town, my worries will be over, and the sooner I can get on with my life.
And after this, my life will be … Zeva.
I don’t know how or why it happened, but the bond the four of us forged is…well, it’s fucking special. I’m not one to use fancy words, and I sure as hell don’t like having a rosy view of the world. But with Zeva, I can’t help but feel hopeful about the future.
Alex and Jason pull me aside, then, and I feel my lips turning into a thin line as I notice the concern on their faces.
“Wade, man…we get that you are trying to prepare everybody. But you seem hesitant about the whole thing,” Jason tells me, and I keep a blank expression as I hear his word. “Why? We can take them down. It will be easy.”
It’s always easy, isn’t it?
Until it starts to rain blood.
Chapter 14
Alex
We're finally alone at the compound as everyone has trickled out. The meeting was full of drama with some members being for a war and some members preferring to keep the peace. It's always a delicate balance—that line between life and death, but ultimately for me, I think war is necessary. You have to show your strength up front otherwise people will find your weakness and manipulate it.
"Wade, if we don't go to war that means letting this rival gang just come through our town to do God knows what. They've been killing people, the leaders of other gangs. What makes you think they won't do the same to you?" I'm increasingly becoming more for the war.
I can tell Wade is thinking of Zeva; we all are. She is up in his room now, changing I think. It was her dad who was murdered because he was the leader. Thoughts of war bring back that memory. None of us would ever consider having this conversation in front of Zeva. We want to protect her and to shield her from thoughts of her family and from further violence. But from my perspective, the Iron Legion is a band of hardened criminals. They look for the fight. They look to kill. "Alex, I know you think these kinds of people have
to be stopped," Wade says. "They don't deserve any special freedoms and if they come to our town they better be escorted out or they will die trying."
"Damn right." I'm amped for battle. I'm always ready to fight. "We have to ambush them and stop it before it starts. They are dangerous motherfuckers."
Wade pours himself a drink out of the bottle of whiskey sitting on the counter.
"I know Alex. I get what you're saying," he says. The battle lines are drawn. I see that. But do you know why I'm the new president? It's because of the war Zeva's dad was in. He died for war and now look at her, all by herself. People have girlfriends, wives, and families. It's important to remember that and to avoid war if it can be done. That's why I'm the leader. Because I consider both sides."
He's right about Zeva. I imagine she's upstairs taking a shower or a nap or something. I am constantly thinking about her. I want to go to her now and comfort her and fuck her and help her to forget all of this drama. At least she's in the house with us so we know she is safe. Her safety is of utmost importance now.
"I know Wade and that's really good to consider both sides. But you guys know where I stand."
Jason takes the whiskey and pours one long sip of it into his mouth directly from the bottle.
"I think," he says. "That we need to observe caution above all things. Let them make the first move. See if it's really worth fighting for. If we are the instigators then we will have the whole town against us."
"And if they come for one of us in the meantime?" I'm growing irritated at Jason's level-headedness. I'm ready to fight and to wipe these fuckers off the map.
"Then that means retaliation, in due course. And the punishment has to fit the crime."
"And just what do you think that will do to Zeva?" I ask feeling pissed off at Jason.
"She will be more protected without a battle that's for damn sure."
"Oh yeah? You think doing nothing will protect her?"
"We are not doing nothing. We are being smart."
"Guys, just stop it," now Wade's getting mad. All of us have a different point of view. I am not in charge, but if I were, we would be on our way to find them right now.
"Then Wade, tell us, what are your opinions on this?" Jason is so against fighting.
He sighs the long sigh of a man who has a lot on his mind. Basically, lives are at stake and blood is on his hands. It's no wonder Wade is considering all of his options. I would hate to be in his position. I'm perfectly happy being third. And maybe I remain at third rank because my personality is more explosive and I get anxious to fight.
Wade sips his dark drink. We all need something to take the edge off, at least until we can take out our angst on Zeva. Her body is better tasting than any top-shelf whiskey on the market. I want to be tasting her right now. But instead, I'm embroiled in a fight between friends that will probably never end. I will always be for going to war and Jason will be against it. It's just how we are.
"My position is this. I want to protect everyone and their families. Ultimately I want to keep our territory and our businesses in good form without people dying. We will always have to deal with rival gangs and we need to keep our reputation strong and our legacy long. Also, now I have a vested interest in Zeva and keeping her safe so that complicates things. I am torn between ideas of safety and love and duty to family and club."
He's right but Jason and I go at it anyway.
"You see Jason he doesn't want the war and neither do I."
"That is not what he said. Wade is saying we have a duty to keep our club safe and the notoriety strong."
We go back and forth like this for a while with Wade in the middle just scratching his head.
Chapter 15
Jason
I hear her before I see her.
"What are you guys yelling about? I could hear you all the way from upstairs. Is everything okay?"
I go to her and slide my arms around her taut waist. "Hey, we were just ... going through things."
"It seems like it was more than just that,” she tells us, her eyes filled with worry. War hasn’t even started, and it’s already taking a toll on her.
Wade comes over to her with a shot of whiskey. "Here," he says. "I've needed it to deal with these two and so will you," he tells me with a grin. I don’t know how he keeps his cool under pressure.
She leans up to kiss him lightly on the lips, and then takes her shot like a pro. I walk up to her, kiss her, and taste the smoky flavor of the liquid mingled in with her own taste. Thoughts of war and Alex and his position on it fly out the window as I have my arms around the most gorgeous girl in the world. I know she can feel my erection behind her and I press it up close to her body to get her thinking of me…not that she could ever stop.
She turns to face me, "Tell me the truth. What is going on?"
"The boys here were just going over whether we should battle The Iron Legion or not. They can't seem to agree on anything."
"Why do you have to consider war at all?" She asks us, but in her eyes I can see the truth—after what happened to her father, she wants justice as well.
"Zeva…they’re the Iron Legion. Murderers and criminals, the lot of ‘em. They are on their way here, and they will most definitely come after Wade," Alex says, still trying to make his case in point.
A sad expression comes over her face. "I know, I know…it’s just that…oh God."
Wade comforts her but we can see the sadness taking over her eyes.
"It's okay Zeva," Wade says. "It's not going to be like last time. We have way more weapons than they do. Plus, we're better reinforced this time and it's our territory, we know the lay of the land better than anybody."
"I know," she practically whispers.
See, this is the whole scenario I've been trying to avoid. I don't want to go to war because of people like Zeva. The last battle was not too long ago and she lost everything. I don't think this town can take another incident like that. I'm all for politics. If Wade can smooth things over without raising a weapon then that is the best route. That is obviously the best route.
"Do you guys see what I'm saying? Just look at how hurt she is. Do you want to do that to people? Have more war and strife? Wade, man, I just don't think it's a good call."
I'm trying to stifle my desire to take Zeva in my arms and bring her up to Wade's bedroom so that I can prove to her that the world isn’t just a fucked up place. It can be a good place. And as long as she's with us, the world can be safe. I want nothing more than to lie in bed with her all, and this whole thing with The Iron Legion coming to town has distracted me from my main focus, which is always Zeva. I can’t believe I’m saying, but I’m falling for her.
Hard.
"Why are you even in this life?” she asks us then. “People die young and for what? For some deluded sense of pride? Look what happened to my family. My father is gone forever. Yours are too. You would do that to me, to us, again?"
"Zeva," Alex whispers. "Don’t say it like that. I want war, but it's only so that we can protect you."
"You could protect me more by making the Honeypot legit and abandoning this lifestyle," she says, and there’s no feigning our surprise.
"Is this something you really want us to consider?" I ask. I would never have dreamed that she would think we could abandon this lifestyle. It's all I've ever known and the MC is like family.
"Is it?" Wade asks. None of us can imagine a life without the Order, but I also know none of us can imagine a life without Zeva.
"I just think...it would be safer." Her eyes fill with tears and I melt at the sight. A beautiful girl crying makes me weak at the knees. Or, scratch that, a beautiful girl like Zeva.
All I want to do is wrap her up in my safe arms and reassure her that all is right with the world.
She continues as the tears slowly spread down her cheeks.
"I always wanted my father to legitimize the Order, you know, to make things safe. But he thought I was foolish and then he ... died.
I was right all along, I know it. And I'm right about this. You guys can't guarantee anything. If you go to war, or stay in this life, then you might be signing your own death certificates."
A shiver goes up my spine, cold as ice. Maybe it's an intuitive response, maybe it's the mention of her father, our former leader, who is now six feet under, but her words make me consider my own death for just a moment.
We all look at each other. We know she's right. But we can't abandon the Order either.
"It's okay Zeva, we have this covered," Wade tries his best to sound confident, but I can tell she has found a dent in his arms.
She looks at all of us, individually, "The thing is, I'm starting to care in a real way about each of you and…about what we have here."
We wait, the moment suspended in mid-air. We want to hear her say it.
"I'm falling in love, with each one of you. And I want this to last. And I'm terrified of what will happen."
I hold her as Alex kisses her, and Wade brings her in for a hug.
"It's alright Zeva. We love you too,” he says, and it suddenly becomes real. Too real. I can feel that bond. We are meant to be together. Three best friends, hardened riders, and one beautiful centerpiece, Zeva.
"Definitely," Wade agrees.
"You know…it’s the truth. I've fallen for you you," Alex says.
"So," I say. "This is really happening. I am cool with this," I kiss her cheek. "As long as I get some one on one time."
She pulls me in for a long, deep kiss. "Of course, I think that can be arranged for each of you."
And so…this is how it happens.
Come hell or high water…
She's ours.
Chapter 16
Zeva
“Come with me, I want to show you something,” Wade says, taking my hand and beginning to lead me out of the room. The four of us make our way to a set of stairs leading down into what I assume is the basement. I quirk an eyebrow at him, but he says nothing, leading me down the stairs as Jason and Alex follow behind. He opens a door at the bottom of the stairs and as I step in, I gasp at the sight before me.