Page 55 of Rise In Arms

I sit up in my chair, a chill running down my back. I haven’t seen Blake since I was in my teens, but when I do see him again, I can’t guarantee I won’t kill him where he stands.

“Trigg,” Prez says like it’s not the first time he’s tried to get my attention. I look up at him. “Did you hear what Tracker said?”

“Uh, yeah, he’s in town. How the fuck did he find her so quick?”

“Don’t know, brother, but something smells off.”

I agree with a nod and turn to Tracker. “How many men do you think were with him?”

“I’d say five.”

“Surely we can take them,” Rhyder says, and I smile at him.

“I like how you think.”

Prez slams the gavel down once again. “No blood needs to be shed, boys. We know why he’s here, and that’s to get Charity back.”

I squeeze my fists on the table, feeling rage rising within. “There’s no way he’s getting anywhere near her,” I growl.

“Not saying that, brother. We just gotta be ready and think about this. Charity is protected here, but when he comes, we’ll be ready for him.”

I look around the table and meet everyone’s eyes, wanting to make what I’m about to say is crystal clear. “I want you all to know that he’s mine, okay? I don’t give a fuck about the other men that are here with him, when it comes down to it, and it’s life or death, I’m gonna be the one taking him down. I need you all to know this. I need to be the one.”

All eyes turn to Prez, and I follow their gazes. It’s Hawke who clears his throat, though. “Look, brother, I’ve been where you are, I get it. We’ve had our women threatened, even used as a pawn to get to us, so we have this. You don’t have to take this all on, on your own.”

I look around the table at my brothers once again. “I appreciate that, and I know I have you boys beside me, but Blake is mine. I’m not negotiating, I’m telling ya.”

Hawke looks at Prez, then Prez looks at Blaze, who says, “Can’t blame the man, Prez. If it was Tess in this situation, I’d want to take him down, too.”

Prez looks at me in thought. “Fine, he’s yours, but if you’re in trouble we’re stepping in.”

I nod. “I can handle that.”

I sit back in my chair, feeling a little lighter knowing that Blake will be mine. “So what’s the plan?”

“We bait him,” Hawke says without hesitating. “If he knows where Charity is, then we wait him out, and he’ll come to us.”

“And then what?” I ask.

Hawke smiles. “Then if he tries to take her, we take him down.”

“I take him down, you mean.”

“Yeah, sorry, brother. You take him down.”

“What if he’s armed,” Bear asks, and I snap my head toward him, wondering why I didn’t think of that. Of course he’ll be armed, you’d have to be dumb as dog shit to enter an MC clubhouse unarmed.

“Rhyder and Torch, you alert us the minute he approaches the gate. We search him and his friends for any firearms before we let ’em in. I want to talk to the fucker.”

“Talk! Ain’t no talking happening here. The only person he’ll be talking to is my fist,” I state, fisting my hand and punching it into my other.

“Be cool, man. Let’s see what his plans are, then you can have him.”

I get up from the table, and growl. “The man put his hands on Charity, raped her for fuck’s sake, and you want to give him an opportunity to talk? Not on my fuckin’ watch.”

“Sit down!” Prez yells. I don’t, I stand there seething, unable to rein in my anger. “Trigger, sit the fuck down before I rip that patch from your cut.”

Bear places his hand on my arm. “Take it easy, brother, Prez is right. We can’t just beat on him as soon as he enters the club, we gotta play it smart.”

I look at Bear, pissed that he’s not with me on this. I narrow my eyes at him. “He raped her, man,” I repeat, grinding my teeth.

He nods. “We know you’re hurting, brother, but he will get what’s coming to him.”

“Trigger!” Prez yells, warning clear in his voice. I look over at him and inhale. “Sit the fuck down.” I take my seat again and run a hand down the back of my neck. “I promise, he will pay for what he’s done.”

I look at Prez and nod. “I’ll take that. For now.”

---