Page 3 of Savage Angels

“All right, Prez,” Dirt sighs. “I’ll get everything ready for you. Just say the word.”

“Thanks, brother.”

The thought of finding Kat myself lights a fire in my gut, pushing me to act.

“Before you go…” Judge walks toward us. “We got wind of something. Might not be much, but there’s been chatter about some new players trying to move into our territory. Could be connected to what’s happening with Kat.”

“Keep an eye on it,” I order, my jaw clenched. “Find out who they are and what they want. I want to know everything.”

“Roger that, Prez,” Judge replies.

“Kat,” I whisper, staring out at the dark sky. “Hang on, baby. I’m coming.” And with that, my mind is made up. No matter what it takes, no matter how many miles separate us, I will find her.

***

The sun is on the horizon, casting an ominous orange glow over the near-empty streets of Tourmaline this morning. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing my frustration and fear. I can’t shake the nagging feeling that something is wrong, that Kat is slipping further from my grasp.

“Fuck!” I growl, slamming my fist onto the worn wooden table in the chapel. The pain barely registers as my thoughts race, searching for any clue as to where she could be. My gut churns with the need to find, protect, and make sure she is safe.

Just as I am about to lose it completely, my phone buzzes on the table, the screen lighting up with ‘UNKNOWN.’ Snatching it up, I answered with a forceful, “Hello?”

“Dane,” Tony’s voice comes through, laced with exhaustion. “I got ’em. Kat, Emily, and the kids. They’re safe.”

“Jesus Christ.” I exhale, the relief flooding through me like a tidal wave. I lean back against the chair, suddenly weak in the knees. “Where are they?”

“Safe house in Hawaii,” he explains quickly, sensing my urgency. “Had to keep ’em out of sight, away from prying eyes. It’s been tough getting a secure line, but they’re okay. I promise.”

“Thank fuck,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. But as the relief begins to ebb, frustration takes its place. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me sooner? You know how worried I’ve been? Put my wife on the phone now.”

“Sorry, Dane, I really am,” Tony replies sincerely. “But it had to be done. I couldn’t risk anyone finding out their location. You know how it is. And Salvatore… he wanted me to handle things on this end.”

Salvatore—the name carries weight, but my priority is Kat and my children. I grit my teeth, reining in my anger.

“All right,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “But from now on, I need to be kept in the loop. You hear me? I can’t protect them if I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Understood. It won’t happen again,” Tony promises. “I can’t put her on the phone… she’s not with me.”

“What the fuck?”

“She’s at the safe house. I couldn’t risk her or the others until I know it’s safe. Not only do I have to look out for possible threats, but with her and The Grinders being famous, it’s hard to keep them out of the public eye. The last thing we need is a fan or the paparazzi alerting the world to their whereabouts. If it makes you feel better, she’s as frustrated as you are. Kat sure has a temper, but she understands I’m trying to keep everyone safe.”

“Good,” I reply, my mind racing with a million questions and concerns. But for now, knowing they are safe would have to be enough. It’s what matters most. “Just… take care of ’em, Tony. They mean everything to me. Can’t you buy a burner phone?”

“It’s what I’m calling you on, and I’ve just purchased six more.” Tony pauses, then says, “I’ll guard them with my life.”

“Thanks, Tony. I know. I’m frustrated because I’m not there.” I sigh. “How is everyone holding up?”

Tony chuckles. “They’re all busy talking about another album. Kat is occupied with music, and Emily is feeding everyone, but if they have any downtime, both women make my job almost impossible.”

“That’s my girl.” I laugh as some of the uncertainty leaves me. “What are you doing to keep the kids calm?”

“There’s a pool and a private beach. So far, they’re okay.”

“Tell them I love them.”

“Will do.” Tony ends the call.

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to focus. I can’t let my frustration cloud my judgment. For the club and my family, I need to stay sharp. They depend on me, and I won’t let them down. From now on, I’ll be even more vigilant about staying in touch with Kat and the kids, no matter the distance.

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