Page 2 of Brooks

“Damn Pistons,” Dax muttered under his breath as we parked our bikes. The sound of our engines echoed in the parking lot, a low growl fading away until it disappeared. The gasoline odor mixed with sweat and leather permeated the room.

“Let’s get this over with,” I said, my voice heavy. I knew we needed to inform our President about the Pistons’ bold move, but part of me dreaded his reaction. The tension between our clubs had been steadily building for the better half of two years, and this could be the spark that ignited an all-out war.

Dax nodded, and together, we entered the clubhouse. The familiar sights and sounds filled my senses - the low murmur of conversations, the clink of glass bottles, the flicker of neon lights. But the atmosphere was charged.

“Brooks, Dax,” our President, Hawk, called out, motioning us over to where he sat. His dark eyes narrowed as he studied our faces, sensing the urgency in our approach. “What’s going on?”

“The Pistons have been offering protection to our merchants at a lower price. They’re trying to take our turf.” I said, struggling to keep my anger in check.

Hawk's eyes flashed with cold fury. The space we were in seemed to get smaller, the air growing thicker and hard to take in.

“Those bastards,” Hawk growled, slamming his fist on the bar top. The sound echoed through the clubhouse like a gunshot, silencing all other conversations. “We’ve been protecting these people for years, and they think they can just waltz in and steal what’s rightfully ours?”

“We reminded him of our record,” Dax interjected, his voice tight. “He agreed to stick with us, but we need to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Hawk nodded, his jaw clenched as he considered our words. “We need to send a message to the Pistons that we won’t back down.”

His gaze swept over both Dax and me, and a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins. We were the Red Devils, and we would not be pushed around.

“Let’s show them who they’re messing with,” I said, my anger boiling over. The tension in the room was palpable. Every member of our club united in their determination to protect our territory and our family.

“Damn right,” Hawk agreed, rising from his chair. “We’ll plan our next move tonight. They’ll regret crossing us.”

As we prepared for the confrontation ahead, my thoughts turned to Tina and Kennedy, the two most important people in my life. I’d do anything to keep them safe, even if it meant going to war. For them, for the Red Devils, we’d face whatever challenges lay ahead, our brotherhood unbreakable. And together, we’d make the Pistons pay.

2

The sun was setting as I stood in front of the Red Devils clubhouse, my heart pounding. It hadn’t been an easy decision to make, but it was necessary. Our club’s survival depended on it. I took a deep breath and clenched my fists, knowing that what I was about to do would test every ounce of my loyalty and determination.

“Brooks,” Hawk called out to me from behind, his voice tense but steady. “You sure you’re up for this? Delivering the message to Scar ain’t gonna be a walk in the park.”

I turned to face him, meeting his concerned gaze. “I’m good,” I replied, my voice firm. “The Pistons need to know we won’t back down. They’ve been pushing us too far for too long.”

Hawk nodded. “All right, then. We’ll have your back, just in case things go south. But I’d rather not spill any blood tonight if we can help it.”

“Me neither,” I agreed. The weight of responsibility settled onto my shoulders. “But they need to understand that we won’t give up our territory without a fight.”

“Damn straight,” Hawk said, slapping me on the back. “Now let’s get ready. The meeting’s set for tonight at that old warehouse on the outskirts of town. Neutral ground.”

“Neutral ground” - I couldn’t help but snort at the idea. There was nothing neutral about the tension between the Red Devils and the Pistons. This meeting would be anything but friendly.

“Let’s arm up, boys!” I shouted to the rest of the gang, who were gathered around, watching us. “We’re heading into enemy territory, and I don’t want anyone caught off guard.”

As the men dispersed to grab their weapons, I glanced at my own holster, feeling the reassuring weight of my pistol tucked securely against my side. It wasn’t that I wanted to use it, but I knew the Pistons wouldn’t hesitate if they saw an opportunity.

“Hey,” Hawk said, his voice low as he approached me. “I know you’ve got a lot on your mind with all this, but remember, we’re doing this for our family. For the club.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah, I know. I just... I hope this is the right move.”

“Me too,” he admitted, his eyes dark and serious. “But I trust you, Brooks. And I know the rest of the guys do, too. We’ll get through this. Together.”

With that, we turned and followed the rest of the Red Devils out of the clubhouse, each step bringing us closer to the unknown dangers that awaited us at the warehouse - and to the man who could either be our salvation or our downfall: Scar.

The roar of our engines echoed through the night as we rode down the desolate stretch of highway. The wind whipped against my face, but it did nothing to alleviate the unease that settled in my gut. Hawk rode beside me, his unwavering presence a reassurance I couldn’t put into words.

“Almost there,” he shouted over the noise.

“Hope Scar’s ready for this,” I muttered.

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