Page 21 of Where We Promise

I had warned them.

Every single, fucking one of my men that came here, that if they touched Pen, they’d be dead on the spot. It was the primary rule when we’d arrived in Stone Rider territory. Respect their club and keep their distance from Penelope.

Simple fucking rules.

Rules, Bones and Kline had blatantly ignored.

I exited the cabin, veering toward my bike, but someone rode up over the hill from the Stone Riders club, stopping next to me.

Wes shoved his boot down, lowering the kickstand for his bike.

“What’s your plan?”

I straddled the seat and gripped the handlebars. “You were there when I gave the warning.”

Wes dipped his head, then looked off toward the house where my club was set up.

“You go in and murder two members in front of everyone, it won’t set an example. It will insight a riot. Your club is hanging by a thread as it is.”

My jaw worked as I tried to rein in the anger surging through me.

“What am I supposed to do then? It can’t go unchecked.”

Wes stepped closer; his leather jacket still had the stitch marks of when he was president. I was curious if it bothered him that he’d lost the spot to Killian.

“First of all, you need to figure out a way to keep Penelope safe. Obviously, there’s bad blood, or anger…whatever the fuck, but your word alone isn’t working. You need to do something that shows she’s untouchable, and then I would wait, and when it’s time to strike, I’d make it look like an accident.”

That held some merit, but I didn’t want the fuckers near Pen in the meantime and more importantly what was I supposed to do to show them she was untouchable?

“I need ideas.” I voiced out loud, staring at the ground.

Wes patted my back and gestured toward the Stone Riders clubhouse.

“Let’s go talk to Killian; he might have some thoughts.”

I dismounted and stared at the cabin, worry tightening my chest.

“I’ll put Harris on watching Pen. He’s a good guy, the only one I trust to watch Cali when she leaves for town, or goes anywhere,” Wes offered, pulling out his phone.

I instantly relaxed and followed him to the club.

The club was quieter than I’d seen it in the past, with just a few prospects milling about and old timers. Wes led us through the back hall until we rounded the corner. He must have texted Killian because the leader walked out of the office and continued until the three of us were shut inside the church doors.

“You gonna kill ‘em?” Killian asked, pulling out a chair. A sinister smile tilted his lips as he set his phone in front of him on the table.

“He tried to, but I stopped him,” Wes answered, taking a seat across from Killian.

“Wes talked me into waiting…but I need help figuring out what to do so the club will respect her. Right now, they’re pissed at Luke and see her as the next viable option to take out that anger.”

Wes glanced down at the table, likely in thought. Killian clicked his tongue and slid his phone around in front of him.

“Give her your patch.”

Wes shook his head. “You weren’t there, these fuckers wanted to hurt her. I don’t think a patch will do it.”

I nodded in agreement, regardless that the patch was essentially our version of a wedding ring, with Pen, it wouldn’t hold the same value. Not being pregnant with Luke’s baby.

“She’s knocked up with his VP’s baby…a patch won’t mean shit,” Wes continued, still voicing his thoughts.

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