Page 51 of Savage Angels

But I will be damned if I let anyone take away what is mine without a fight.

I hit the button to dial Sal’s number and wait for him to answer.

“Dane?”

“Sal, we have a problem. Lombardi’s men tried to take me out. There will be retaliation for this shit.”

“Jesus Christ,” Sal replies. “You okay?”

“Fine, but Howie from Betty’s didn’t make it,” I tell him, my voice thick with anger and grief. “We’re going to war.”

“Understood,” Sal responds. “We’ll be ready.”

“Good. I’ll keep you updated, and Sal, be careful.” I hang up and try to keep my emotions in check. Right now, there is something else I need to do—break the news to Kat.

Six of my men follow me home, my mind racing with thoughts of how to tell her. She’s been through so much already, and Howie’s death will hit her hard. But she deserves to know the truth from me before it spreads through town.

“Hey, babe,” I call out as I walk through the door, my voice strained. “We need to talk.”

Kat looks up from where she sits on the couch, her eyes widening with concern when she sees the grim expression on my face. “What’s wrong?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I take a deep breath. “Howie’s dead, Kat.” The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Someone tried to take me out today, and he got caught in the crossfire.”

Her green eyes fill with tears as she stares at me, heartbreak etched across her face. “No,” she whispers, shaking her head in disbelief. “Howie… he was like family to us.”

I nod, my throat tight with emotion. “I know, darlin’. I’m so sorry.”

“Are you okay?” Her voice cracks. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

Shaking my head, I sit next to her on the couch and pull her onto my lap. “No. They missed.”

Kat lets out a shaky breath and wraps her arms around my neck. We stay like that, wrapped in each other’s arms until Jesse comes running into the room.

“Are you two having alone time?” he asks.

Kat laughs and looks at him. “No, son. Daddy’s just had a bad day. He needs a hug.”

Kat gets off my lap, and Jesse climbs on.

“Are you sad, Daddy?”

Holding him close, I shake my head. “No, Jesse. How could I be when I have you, your sister, and your brothers.”

“What about Mom?”

Winking at Kat, I say, “Ahh, yes, and your mom.”

Chapter Eighteen

Dane

The stench of oil and sweat hangs heavy in the air as I stand beside Kade, my sergeant-at-arms, in the dimly lit garage. The Chicago chapter of our family and the Savage Angels MC have gathered for an emergency Church meeting to discuss the shitstorm that is about to rain down on us. The Lombardi family has crossed a fucking line, trying to kill me, and I will be damned if we do not hit them back hard.

“All right, brothers, let’s get this started,” I bark, slamming my fist on the makeshift table before us. “As most of you know, the Lombardis tried to take me out.”

Anger ripples through the group, the tension in the room crackling like a live wire.

“Enough!” I roar, silencing the room. “We aren’t going sit around and wait for them to strike again. We’re going to hit them hard.” The determination in my voice echoes off the walls, reverberating with the rumble of bikes outside.

---