Page 56 of May 11

He brought his arm down to his side, the pistol in his hand. The Havlin members moved as one, each of them armed.

More men stepped out of the two vehicles. Two. Four. Six men.

"You need to gather your men and leave, or I'll bring war down on Los Li." Jagger left the cigarette in his mouth. "With us comes Bantorus and Moroad. One phone call will have Killere, Ronacks, Slags, Tarkio, and Avery Falls Motorcycle Club on the road. Los Li has dealt with one or the other of us over the last thirty years. Don't fuck with us."

As the two faced off, every man witnessing the exchange tuned into Jagger. There was nothing more to say. Los Li needed to bow down and accept the conditions. Havlin wasn't going to let Fentanyl destroy their community.

Even if Los Li tried to take control of the meeting, they would lose. Havlin had more manpower. Inside and outside of the prison cells. They weren't in Mexico. They were in Seaglass Cove.

No Motorcycle Club would let Los Li regain the power they had years ago.

"You need to get the fuck out of Seaglass Cove." Jagger took the cigarette from his mouth and flicked it to the ground. "You've got two minutes."

A soft rustle blew on the wind as each Havlin Motorcycle Club member showed their firearm.

The leader for Los Li tapped his chin to his chest, pivoted, and lumbered back to the car. In under a minute, the clearing was free of the strong arm of the Mexican Mafia.

Only when his men were safe did Jagger turn and face everyone. "Mount up."

"Do you think they'll leave?" asked Link.

"Time will tell." Wire straddled his bike.

An all-out war would put his life at a standstill. His business would suffer. His relationship would die. All his focus would center on Havlin.

He pulled out, following Jagger and Bane. Dio rolled in beside him, riding the highway north.

He wasn't ready to give up on Cora. Summer was flying by. Soon, her job at the coffee shop would be over. She'd want to pursue the search for her brother.

Whether her brother turned out to belong to the club or not, he wasn't a member of the Seaglass Cove Chapter. He lived elsewhere, so Cora would pack up her Sprinter van and hit the road alone.

His chest tightened. He wasn't ready for that to happen. He had no idea how to stop the world and keep her wrapped around him.

Pulled in different directions, he rode toward home. Toward one more night with Cora.

Chapter Twenty Five

THE DRIFTWOOD ON THE front door of Whale's Tail rattled. Brooke turned around, opening the view for Cora. She yelped in surprise.

Wire strode inside, soaking Cora in his gaze.

Unshed tears burned her eyes at the relief of seeing him. She hurried around the counter and fell into his embrace.

He caught her, kissing her hard. She wrapped her arms around his neck, determined not to let him go.

Her feet left the floor, making her dizzy. She cupped his face, pulling back. She had to see him.

"You're okay?" she whispered.

"Yeah, babe." He set her down, rubbing his hands down her sides. "Let's go home."

"Your home?" She grabbed his hand, not ready to let go of him.

He nodded, walking her toward the door. That meant the danger was gone or stopped. Excitement filled her. She couldn't wait to go back to Wire's house.

She stopped, pulling him back. "I need to get my purse and take off my apron."

Wire let her go. She hurried to the back room. Dania and her daughter had left a half hour ago. Because the Havlin men hadn't returned, she and Brooke stayed in the shop until they knew it was safe.