Page 71 of Savage Loyalty

The tension between the two groups was palpable, but Grim’s sharp gaze flicked to me, silently asking for confirmation. “He’s right,” I said reluctantly. “The Serpents made this about both clubs. Taking Delilah hits the Reapers and the Vipers. They want us divided. If we don’t work together, they’ll win.”

Grim’s expression was unreadable for a long moment before he finally nodded. “Fine. But we do this on our terms.” He turned to Axel. “Your men follow our lead. No rogue moves. Agreed?”

Axel’s lips curled into a faint sneer, but he nodded. “Agreed.”

Back in the meeting room, the tension was still thick as both groups gathered around the table. Maps were spread out, marked with potential locations where the Serpents could be holding Delilah. The room felt suffocating, the air thick with mistrust and urgency as the Reapers and Vipers exchanged tense glances.

Axel’s lieutenant leaned over, pointing to a warehouse on the outskirts of town. “This one’s the most likely. It’s heavily guarded, and they’ve been moving supplies in and out all week. We’ve been keeping tabs on it for days, and if they’re holding anyone important, it’ll be there.”

Grim leaned forward, his sharp eyes narrowing. “And the others?” he asked, gesturing to the secondary marks on the map.

“Could be decoys or storage facilities,” Axel said. “They’ve been known to use multiple locations to throw people off. Either way, we’ll hit those after the main one.”

“Yes,” I said firmly, my voice cutting through the low murmurs. “We’re not splitting forces. If Delilah’s at the warehouse, that’s where all our firepower needs to be. We hit hard, and we hit fast.”

Torch’s skeptical tone cut in. “And if she’s not there? What then? We’ll have tipped them off, and they’ll scatter like cockroaches.”

I met his gaze, my voice hard as steel. “Then we burn it to the ground and move to the next target. We’re not leaving anything standing. The Serpents want to play games? Fine. But we’re ending this tonight.”

Axel’s lips curled into a faint smirk, his expression equal parts approval and challenge. “For once, we agree on some things, Kane.”

Grim’s deep voice silenced the room. “Alright. We’ll move out night fall. Vipers, you’ll ride with us. If this goes south, we’re all in it together.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, a fragile truce solidifying between the two clubs. Axel nodded, his tone sharp. “Fine by me. But let’s be clear—if anything happens to my sister, this truce is over.”

My jaw tightened, and I met his eyes without flinching. “Understood. But nothing’s going to happen to her. Not on my watch.”

The planning stretched on for hours, every detail scrutinized and debated. The Reapers and Vipers gathered intel from every possible source, piecing together the Serpents’ movements like a deadly puzzle. Axel’s lieutenant highlighted the routes to the warehouse, explaining the best entry points and where guards were likely to be stationed.

“The front entrance is a no-go,” he said, tracing a line on the map. “Too exposed. They’ll have spotters and snipers positioned here and here.” He tapped the perimeter of the warehouse. “We’ll need to come in from the south. There’s a gap in their coverage, but it’s tight. One mistake, and they’ll know we’re coming.”

“What about reinforcements?” Grim asked, his tone sharp. “The Serpents never operate alone. If we hit the warehouse, we’ll have to be ready for backup to roll in.”

Axel leaned back, his expression grim. “They’ve been stretched thin lately. Their alliances are falling apart, and their resources are spread across too many fronts. If we hit hard enough, they won’t have time to organize a proper response.”

“Still,” Chains interjected, “we’ll need someone watching the perimeter. If reinforcements show up, we can’t afford to be caught off guard.”

I nodded. “Snake and Knox, you’ll handle the perimeter with a small team. Stay out of sight and report any movement. The rest of us will hit the main target.”

The room buzzed with tension as the plan came together. Blades were sharpened, guns were cleaned, and ammo was counted. The weight of the coming battle pressed down on everyone, the knowledge that failure wasn’t an option hanging heavy in the air.

As the meeting wound down, Axel leaned across the table, his voice low but firm. “If Delilah’s in there, we get her out first. No distractions, no side missions. Agreed?”

I met his gaze, my voice steady. “Agreed. But if she’s not there, we’re not stopping until we find her.”

Grim’s voice cut through the room. “This isn’t just about Delilah. This is about sending a message. The Serpents think they can take what they want and get away with it. Tonight, we show them they’re wrong.”

The brothers nodded, their resolve solidifying. The Vipers, though tense, mirrored the sentiment. For the first time, two rival clubs stood united against a common enemy.

As the room emptied, I stayed behind, staring at the map spread out in front of me. My fingers traced the mark on the warehouse, my thoughts racing. Every second Delilah was out there, the stakes grew higher. The image of her face—strong, defiant, and always too stubborn for her own good—burned in my mind.

Axel lingered at the edge of the room, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. “You’d better not fuck this up, Kane.”

I didn’t bother looking up. “I’m not the one you should be worried about.”

He huffed a humorless laugh. “If anything happens to her, I’ll kill you myself.”

I stood, meeting his gaze with a cold intensity. “Get in line.”

---