Page 83 of Jack

“Afraid not,” Dad replies. “Step into the hall with me, son. Your mom will sit with Lily.”

Dad’s jaw clinches. This isn’t about Lily’s medical condition. It’s about what happened that night. Club business. Good. I need something to do.

I push to my feet and kiss Mom’s forehead. “Talk to her, please.”

“I will.” Mom takes my place by the bed. She holds Lily’s hand and presses the back to her cheek. “Hey, sweet girl.”

Mom launches into a funny story about the kids of a few club members. They’re probably the ones at Lily’s table during Thanksgiving dinner. It’s good. She needs to hear happy stories. I wish I could stay and listen, too.

Dad taps my arm. I turn away from the bed and follow him across the hall. Lily’s room is at the end of the hallway. A small waiting room is just across the hall. It’s perfect for when larger groups come to visit. It appears to be perfect for a club meeting, too. Not all of my brothers are here. A few have day jobs they can’t easily get time off from. Most of the club officers and myclosest friends fill the room. Their sad expressions already set the mood.

“Just go ahead and give me the bad news.” I brace myself. The universe is about to run over me again.

“The Sheriff’s Office wrapped up the investigation at your house this morning. They wanted to search the entire property, but our lawyers were able to keep the warrant at just your house and outbuildings,” Dad says.

Of course, the Sheriff’s Office got a search warrant. I knew they would. It’s fine. There’s nothing illegal at my house. As long as they stay out of Nick’s office and lab, everything should be fine. Nick stores all the information for the club and Ariel’s Angels. Our little rescue mission isn’t exactly legal.

My parents tried to work with the cops to help women after my sister was killed. There was so much legal red tape to cut through. They weren’t helping anybody. Cops have so many laws they have to respect that their hands are tied in most situations. Ours aren’t.

“I’m glad the cops are off of club property now. This isn’t what I need to know today. Dad and my club brothers can handle this. They don’t need me. Lily does.

I toss my hands up. “Just tell me y’all got ‘em.”

“I highly doubt we got them all,” Hendrix says.

“Look, son.” Dad put a hand on my shoulder. “Lily wasn’t the only one shot that night.”

No one has mentioned this. I quickly scan the room to see who’s missing. This isn’t half of our members.

“Who? How many?” I ask.

“Just Lily and Sandman,” Worley Bird replies.

Sandman is our Sergeant At Arms. Some clubs call the position Enforcer. Sandman and Dad have been friends since middle school.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” I lock eyes with my cousin. He’s been with the most.

“Sandman was shot in the shoulder. He’s fine, already at home. Your priority was to Lily. So, we waited to tell you,” Jay says.

He’s right, and I appreciate it.

“Okay. How many were there? How many did we get? How many got away?” My eyes harden. “And who are they?”

Midnight Maverick did this. They skip that part and tell me the rest.

“One was killed on property. It’s why it’s taken this long to get the cops out.” Worley Bird stands on Dad’s other side.

“A cop’s bullet got him, not us,” Rodeo adds.

“Captured two. Cops are holding them in Memphis for now,” Dad says.

“Memphis? Why?” Memphis is about two hours away.

“So we don’t storm the Sheriff’s Office and take them,” Cloudy says.

I swear, Cloudy comes up with some insane ideas. It’s not like we live in the 1800s. But he could be right. Some people around here would think that’s what we’d do.

“Mavericks?” I plainly ask since no one is going to say it.

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