Page 73 of Darkness

Atomic chortles, and I tilt my head in response. “Yeah, so I keep hearing. Will be interesting to see how that one plays out.”

“For sure. Right now, though, I need beer.” We chuckle as Crow takes off toward the bar. Is he… whistling? No, that’s—

An explosion rocks through the front of the clubhouse, sending me flying with the blast of the shock wave. My ears ring as I stumble to my feet. Dust and debris fill the air, clogging my eyes. My head vibrates and pounds. Concrete and rubble trip my feet as I stagger, trying to gain my bearings. Daylight smacks me square in the eyes, blinding me as it streams inside the clubhouse for the very first time. Part of the front wall is gone. What the fuck?

I pant for breath and cough, my lungs and throat filled with dust and the taste of metal. Bringing my blood-soaked hand up to shield my eyes, I take in the chaos. The entry of the bunker has collapsed. Under the rubble, a pair of legs stick out. There’s no way whoever is under that slab of concrete is alive.

My heart rapid-fires in my chest as I realize my club is under attack in the middle of the damn day. Whoever is behind this is banking on my weakness. I’m forced to fight while being blinded by daylight.

“Defensive positions,” I bellow to anyone still alive.

The back of the bunker is intact, and I rush back, ushering dust and blood-covered survivors with me to find some form of cover. My eyes flash over to the kitchen, where Eva is with the club girls. They’re huddled together behind a sofa, dirty but seemingly unharmed. “Trix, get all the women downstairs, now!” I can’t fight and think about Eva. Trixie and Pepper each grab one of Eva’s arms and start rushing her toward the stairs, and Stacey and Freya follow. Eva screams out, fighting the girls, but they’re stronger together and move her fast.

“Nycto!” Eva’s shrill voice churns my stomach as I pull out my gun. “Nycto, please… be safe!” she yells.

Trixie yanks her down the stairs and out of my sight. All I want right now is to protect her and tell her everything’s going to be all right, but it may not be. We’re in the open, under attack. I have no idea what’s coming. I don’t have time to call Torque for backup. We may all be dead before he gets here. I don’t want Eva to watch me die fighting for her.

Judgment day has arrived.

Void slides in at my side, and we upend the pool table. I take note of my other brothers’ positions around the room, finding shelter where they can. All have their guns drawn.

My eyes shift to Void. He ducks as the first bullet rings through the air. Gritting my teeth, I check around the side of the reinforced pool table as Andrés’s lackeys swarm the clubhouse. The sun shines brightly behind them, casting their faces into shadows. My eyes sting from the intrusion of light, so I squint, trying to calm my nerves.

Andrés has done this on purpose.

Daylight.

It unsettles me.

Rattles me.

But I need to be strong. I won’t let this bastard get the better of me.

I pull my sunglasses out from the inside of my cut. By some miracle, they’re still intact. A smirk crosses my face as I put them on a gunfire rains through the bunker.

Void holds his hand out to me, and we fist bump, then take off on either side of the pool table.

I draw my gun high, aiming at the first asshole I see. One of Andrés’s lackeys turns to face me as I rush past him, aiming my gun at his kneecap. Before he registers what’s happening, I pull the trigger, and his knee explodes. Needing to get my hands dirty, I run up behind him as he screams in pain. Blood gushes from his knee as I move in, grip him in a headlock, then snap his neck before he has a second to react. The crack resonates up my body, sending a wave of pleasure rolling through me. I drop his corpse to the floor as a bullet whizzes past my ear. I turn quickly, pull my gun up, and shoot. The bullet lands in the middle of the second shooter’s chest. He grasps at his chest and falls.

I keep moving.

Anarchy surrounds us.

Brothers fighting Andrés’s lackey assholes.

Bullets pummeling into bodies.

Punches being thrown.

It’s a cacophony of chaos.

Blood splashes on my cut as Void shoots a lackey at close range next to me, his brain matter exploding all over my president patch. Another one bites the dust. Void dips his head as I flip him the bird. He chuckles, then takes off in the other direction.

Suddenly, my head snaps to the side as a fist slams into my face. Blood and spit fly out of my mouth, and my glasses shatter as pain explodes through my cheek and jaw. I try to fight back, but the lackey is too quick and slams a punch to my stomach, followed by his shoulder pushing me back. I let out a loud grunt as he winds me, almost knocking me over. His body pushes me up against the wall, slamming my back into the concrete. Sunlight beams into my eyes, blinding me from seeing the next punch, which smacks me right in the side of my head. I hunch to the side, the pain reverberating through my scalp. This fucker is getting me good, but I won’t let him beat me.

I can’t see.

The sun’s too bright.

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