Page 22 of Chaplain

He shuts the door before I can reach him. The deadbolt clicks into place, and I'm locked in.

I scream his name and pound on the door over and over until my hand aches and my legs give out. But my voice never wavers. Crumpled on the floor, I'm still screaming his name despite hearing his engine rev and drive away.

I've been so stupid. Even after he told me about putting the club at risk in the past, about their questioning of his loyalty, after seeing him struggle to allow himself the slightest bit of happiness for himself, I've asked him to do the very thing he's sworn he could never do again.

He's not going to call on his brothers for help. He's going into the stash house alone. And I'm the one who's sent him there.

I'm the one responsible.

12

Diesel

Eden's desperate pleas ring in my ears as I tear away from her apartment. It breaks my fucking heart to hear her in pain. Every instinct screams at me to turn back, to pull her into my arms and reassure her it will all be okay. But I can't make that promise - not if I'm going to save her brother.

Getting to Gabe means hitting the Iron Demons stash house tonight before they move him. Which also means going in alone, without backup. If I tip off the club, word could get back to the Demons. I can't risk that, not with the kid's life on the line.

Eden's face, streaked with tears, haunts me. She begged me not to do this. But it's the only way. I failed the club once before and won't make the same mistake again. Not when Eden needs me.

As I speed through the dark streets, doubt creeps in. The last time I defied orders, I nearly destroyed everything. The MC still whispers that I put myself above the club. If I survive tonight, what punishment will I face this time?

I shake off the thought. Eden and her brother are innocent in all this. If protecting them costs me my place with the Dark Angels, so be it. Some things are more important.

Up ahead, the warehouse looms. I cut the engine and dismount, checking my Glock. Fear tries to take root, but I push it down. Too much is riding on me walking out of that building with the kid.

One way or another, I'm getting Gabe back to Eden tonight. I won't fail her - no matter what that means, sacrificing. With a steadying breath, I slip into the shadows. The time has come to pay my debt.

Creeping through the dark warehouse, I'm gripped by indecision. Going in alone without the club goes against everything I swore after last time. But the thought of Eden's desperation propels me forward.

Up ahead, voices drift from a dimly lit room. I pause, senses on high alert. Bursting in guns blazing could get the kid killed. I need to get closer and assess the situation.

Edging near the doorway, I scan the room. A group of Demons, at least five by my count, watch over a figure slumped in a chair - Gabe. He's roughed up but alive.

I don't recognize any of their faces, and half aren't patched, which makes them even more dangerous. Desperate men will do anything.

One patched member laughs. "Boss wants this message delivered loud and clear. No one steals from us." Dread sinks into my stomach. They mean to make an example of the boy.

Ice trickles down my spine. I'm one man with one gun. Even with surprise on my side, the odds are stacked against me. Calling in the club would guarantee backup...but also put the Demons on high alert, escalating the risk to Gabe.

In my gut, I know what I have to do. With a steadying breath, I pull out my burn phone, keeping a wary eye on the doorway.Quickly, I send a 911 text to a buddy on the force, then another to the club's emergency alert chain. No details, just the address. They'll both come loaded for war.

I pocket the phone and grip my gun. This won't wipe my slate clean, but it's a step. I can be loyal to the Dark Angels and still protect my woman and her family. I don't have to choose anymore. The cops will make the bust, taking the glory away from the club. I'll pay for that with my patch. But if I play this right, they'll still get the chance to raise a little hell.

The Demons won't know what hit them when my brothers roll in. And I'll be right here, guarding our hostage until they arrive. It's time I embrace what I am - not a traitor or a saint, but an outlaw bound by blood as equally as love.

With backup on the way, I steel myself and step into the doorway, gun raised. I wait for the moment one of the fuckers notices me before I play my hand.

"Nobody fucking move!"

The Demons whirl towards me in unison, hands flying to their own weapons. I have seconds before this erupts in a hail of bullets.

"You're gonna let the kid walk out of here," I say, glaring at the senior member. "Do that, and the rest of you fuckers might make it out alive."

The leader laughs sharply, though his eyes show a flicker of unease. "You're bluffing, brother. We've got eyes on your club. They're all sitting around right now, fucking thumbs up their asses. One man isn't going to get us all before we blow the kid's brains out."

Gabe's head raises, and I catch the flicker of fear in his eyes.

I give a wolfish grin back to the group. "You sure about that? I've got one very motivated hacker who wants his nephew back, and he's not playing by club rules." It's not exactly true, but I need to sell this.

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