Page 113 of Traitor

No. No. No.

“He’s still alive.”

Little Ricky punched the air in victory. “I knew it! I knew he wasn’t leaving us without saying goodbye. Let’s find him and take motherfuckin’ Comedian out!”

I wasn’t throwing my fists up in excitement. I had the sensation that I’d just tripped and was beginning to fall. It didn’t matter what I did; I’d never be able to catch myself. Grey had faked his death because, in his mind, it ended the war. In actuality though, it was just beginning.

Fuck you, Grey.

I turned back around to face the bikers and my family. Dakota and Nate were holding Kate upright, while everyone else looked up at me with matching expressions of shock and confusion.

“What are we gonna do, Pres?” Torch asked.

“Don’t call me that shit,” I ordered. “I can help, but I can’t—” I lost my train of thought and fell silent. I’d watched Grey lead SPMC my entire life, but I didn’t know that I was capable of filling even one of his shoes. I didn’t even own a fucking motorcycle. That should’ve been their biggest indicator that they had the wrong guy.

I wanted a life with Lauren—sitting on our front porch swing, watching the babies run around the yard. I fucking deserved that—I’d given him everything. Anytime he’d snapped his fingers, I’d come running. Now, he got to play dead while I once again stepped in to fix his mistakes.

Life was dangerous enough as a detective, how in the actual fuck was I supposed to lead an outlaw MC?

Lauren put her hand over mine and squeezed. “You’re the boss now, Tex. We’ve tried it on the other side and gotten nowhere. You’re the only one that can end this.”

I had no idea where Grey was, but if he’d been here right now, he’d have laughed his ass off at the thought of me running his club. Maybe that had been his plan all along—to retire on some goddamn beach and leave me to clean up his mess.

Little Ricky looked over at the girls. “Caparina.Hail Mary. The last thing Grey said to me was to tell you both everything. Meet your brother, Michael Quinn, President of the Silent Phoenix MC.”

I wasn’t sure I would’ve dropped that on them after just finding out that their father was still alive, but Little Ricky seemed to think that now was a good time for all the skeletons to come out of the closet.

I thought Kate was going to pass out from hyperventilating, while Dakota just gave me a chin tip, like the little badass she was. “Thank the god of thunder! I was starting to get stressed out that I was going to have to go after these guys alone and my shooting skills still leave a lot to be desired. Plus, what are the odds I could even find maternity ninja wear?”

Zane interjected, “Excuse me? You’re not fucking going anywhere—you’re pregnant.”

Kate wheezed out, “We’re going after them?”

I nodded and faced the club, even though everything in me screamed to grab my wife and haul ass out of the country. This was my club now. Grey’s good little soldier was once again going to have to step up to the motherfucking plate. “Michael Sullivan, Sr., otherwise known as Comedian, is club enemy number one and should be shot on sight. I’m calling in the other chapters. As of today, SPMC is at war with the Sons of Death—and this time they aren’t going to know what fucking hit them.”

One of the prospects let out a whoop from the back before yelling, “I’m in!”

Jeremy nodded. “You’ll need my help—I’m in.”

Little Ricky grinned. “In it to win it, Pres.”

Torch agreed. “You know I’m behind you.”

One by one, every biker pledged their loyalty to me, solidifying my position as President. A position I never fucking wanted.

Zane watched with a bemused expression before announcing, “Count me in. Get me a patch and a bike and I’ll ride wherever the fuck you want me to.”

“I’m in,” Lauren’s voice was quieter, but her loyalty packed a much bigger punch.

I shook my head. “Darlin’, you’re staying out of this one. I’m not going to risk losing you or the babies.”

She held her ring finger up against mine. “You see these? We made vows, Mike. You go, I follow. That’s the way this works.”

I leaned down and kissed her lips fiercely as Dakota remarked, “See, she’s knocked up and she gets to participate. I’m in. I’ll obviously be Captain America, but you may all call me Cap for short. What do you say, Big Guy?”

Zane sighed and pulled her into his side protectively. “Fine, but no guns. I just got my shoulder back to normal.”

I laughed in spite of the absolute insanity of it all. This morning when I woke up, I’d been a cop and grieving son. Now, I was in charge of the club and declaring war on the man who’d raised me.

---