Page 64 of The Oath We Take

Wraith looks over to where the firefighters are putting out the last of the flames. “What do you know? Where are Haynes and Charmer?”

Atom points to the bodies. “It was deliberate. I’m certain they’re gonna find traces of accelerant.”

“Ah, shit,” Butcher says. “Two fucking good men.”

I feel sick to my stomach that they died simply for showing up to protect me. No inanimate object is worth someone else’s life, that includes my bar. But I also see that my life will always be game, just because of my relationship to Butcher Deeks.

At some point, when there is a reckoning between Dad, Atom, and I, I need to make him understand that I’ll be safer with Atom than anyone else.

“I’ll make the arrangements with the families,” Catfish says.

“Haynes was weeks away from becoming a brother. Give his family what we’d give a patched-in member,” Butcher says, referring to the money the club gives the families of fallen brothers.

“The front doors to the bar were unlocked and open,” Atom says. “The covers were off the smoke detectors and piled outside the front door. I’m sure if you check, the batteries will be gone too. There was no alarm going off when I got here. They must have managed to turn that off too. The sprinklers never came on either. Several systems in the bar, designed to alert and prevent the spread of fire, never activated.”

“Fuck,” Catfish mutters.

“Then I agree with Ember. It’s not safe for her to be with you, Butcher,” Wraith says. “Until we’re certain whether they wanted her to die in this fire to send a message to those refusing to pay, or as a message to you that they won’t be messed with. Having you both under the same roof is a bad idea.”

Dad lets go of me and stands up straight. “If you think I’m leaving my daughter out in the cold while we sit around, scratching our asses, you’re sorely mistaken.”

“Dad. It’s fine. I’ll go to Quinn’s.”

Dad stares at me for a second. “Quinn? Who also got threatened by the fucking Bratva for cash she can’t afford to pay? Yeah, I really want you over there hanging out with her like a sitting duck for the next fire.”

“I should go and check on others who might have been hit tonight,” Wraith says. “Do a patrol of Quinn’s, Margie’s…some of the others.”

“They keep wrecking the places they want money from, they’re going to have no targets left,” I say, finding some dark gallows humor.

“Not funny, Ember,” Dad says.

“How did they know to hit tonight while we were hunting them down?” Catfish asks.

Dad glances at me, then back to Catfish. “We’ll figure that out later.”

Atom stands and helps me to my feet. “I agree with all of you. Ember shouldn’t be with Butcher. Not right now, until we know more. And, Butcher, I get why you don’t want Ember out in the wind.” He turns to face me, and I see the compassion in his eyes as he helps me navigate my way through this. “And I get why you’d be happier over at Quinn’s. So, here’s a thought. We can’t fix shit tonight. We all need some sleep. I know a place you can hide that no one, not even most of you guys, knows about.” He turns to face my father. “It’s deep in the ranch. I’ll ride her there myself. We’ll take the horses because you can’t make it on foot.”

Dad looks up at the night sky. “It’s dark. Dangerous. There’re wild animals.”

“And we’re both extremely experienced riders,” Atom says. “I know that land like the back of my hand. I’ll keep her safe.”

“Wait,” I say. “What about my bar? My staff? They need to know. I need to talk with them.”

“Send them a text saying the bar caught fire, so they know they aren’t needed for work or clean up. Call ’em first thing in the morning,” Wraith says.

“But there are going to be things to do. Forms. Statements.” I reach for Atom’s hand, and thankfully, he’s thinking for both of us when he avoids it and reaches into his cut to get a cigarette and lights it.

He takes a long draw on it, then blows it out in a steady stream. “And we’ll figure out a plan to get them done from where we are. I grabbed your laptop. If we need to come into town, we can.”

Dad purses his lips, unconvinced. “But if we’re together, it’s easier for Wraith to organize a schedule to provide security.”

Grudge points to Haynes and Charmer. “Not sure a schedule will be enough. They obviously know something we don’t.”

“Be easier if we were just looking out for you tonight,” Wraith says.

“We should call lockdown,” Dad says.

Catfish nods. “Maybe. But we need to acknowledge they are bigger than us in size. Given their aggression levels, even the clubhouse may no longer be safe.”

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