Page 51 of War

“He wouldn’t hurt her, Callan.She was like his sister too.”

“He hurt you.”He jabs a finger toward my jaw.The bruise Tyler left is gone, replaced with the fading marks of Larkin’s assault.

I blanch, shaking my head.“That’s different and you know it.He can be rough, not evil.”

Not to Harley.Not to Harley.Not to Harley.

Holding his hand out, Callan steps forward again, reaching for me.

“Don’t.”I smack his hand away.

“Rogue.”The severe look in his eyes rips me in two.

“No, Callan.”Images of Tyler strapped to that table like that sick bastard, Jarvis, crying out while they puncture him with holes, play through my head.

No.I can’t.

His broad shoulders heave, a hand going to his hip, the other jabbing a finger in my direction.“You know the life, Rogue.You know there’s no way in hell we’re going to let this go.Our pres was meeting with Tyler and ended up in a coma.”

“You know that wasn’t him,” I defend, but my argument sounds ridiculous to my own ears.I know he’s right.Something is off, and we need answers.They deserve answers, but it’s all too…close to home.

“We only know it was Harley who pulled the trigger.”I wipe at my face, hating the water there.

“We don’t know if Tyler planned that, if they were in on it together.Either way, he’ll answer to us,” he says with finality.

“Let me come,” I hedge.

“No.”He shakes his head firmly, walking away from me.

“Let me come,” I repeat, hot on his heels.

“Not happening, Rogue.”

I round his body, halting his departure by placing my hands on his chest.“It makes sense to take me.I can talk our way inside without any bloodshed.There are innocent men there, Callan.Men I care about.”

“We won’t touch Bear.”A twinge of relief sparks then instantly dies.

“And everyone else?There are ol’ ladies at that clubhouse.”

“If the Devils give us Tyler, no one else has to die today.”

A ringing, loud and paralyzing, booms in my ears.“I’m going.”

“Rogue, for fuck’s sake.”

“You either let me come with you or I go alone.Whichever way, I’m going to be there, Callan.”I need to be there.

He clutches both my arms, making me gasp.He tilts my body up toward his face until I have to stand on my tiptoes.“You come as an observer only—unless I instruct otherwise.”

“Okay.”I swallow the brick lodged in my throat.

“If shit turns bad and it comes down to us or them, I’ll kill them all without a second thought and you’ll have to get over that shit because you’re a King now.”His dark eyes flare, matching the warning in his voice.“Whether you want it or not, Rogue, there’s a war coming.”Releasing me, his long strides eat the path to the garage, leaving me rooted to my spot as I try to stop the crack in my chest from splintering further.

Brushing the drops from my cheeks, I gulp at the fresh air, willing my heart to slow, and make my way over to the garage.

Cutter approaches Callan, saying something to him while watching me.Callan looks over his shoulder, following his gaze, his jaw flexing.An unknown loneliness grows like a spore inside my chest the more distance he puts between us.

“Rogue.”Monster winks his greeting, coming to stand beside me.“You coming with us?”

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