Page 49 of Victorious: Part I

But I believesheis the strength in our club to end itonce and for all.

With a huge smile lighting my face, I shift my gaze to my brothers. My chest rises and falls with a calmness embracing me now that I haven’t had in days. “All right, now I know we’re all in, we need to make a plan. We’re going to war. Brothers… Church!”

The guys all nod in unison, instantly taking off toward the stairs for the Chapel, and I notice Phoenix staying behind at the bar. He’s newly patched, so he’s technically not allowed access to the Chapel yet. But right now, I need all my men in Church for this. “Phoenix, you too!” I call out.

His eyes light up, a slight smile crossing his face as his sister, Sadie, subtly winks at him, giving him a slight shove away from the bar.

“You got it, Pres!” Phoenix takes off like a rocket. I glance back at Haven, give her a weak smile, dip my chin, and move out toward the Chapel.

She reaches out for my hand, pulling back, her gorgeous brown eyes meeting mine. “Hey, I know you’ve got your brave macho man act on right now, and wedesperatelyneed that. But, when this is all over, and we’ve kicked Javier’s ass, I’m giving you permission to fall apart, okay? I’ll be here to pick up your pieces. Do you understand me?”

The corner of my lips turns up, my hand sliding to her cheek to caress it. “I fucking adore you. I’m okay. I swear. And anyway, I’m supposed to be the strong one in this relationship.”

Haven snorts out a laugh, rolling her eyes. “Oh, baby, please. We all know I’m thetrue Alphain this relationship,” she quips, leans in, pecking my lips abruptly, then spins, almost skipping off like the freak she is.

With a smile on my face, I shake my head, my eyes instinctively shifting to watch her gorgeous ass sway as she scurries away from me.

Exhaling, I spin, then make my way to the Chapel.

Steading my shoulders, I try to wipe Livvy from my mind and focus on the carnage that’s about to unfold head-on on my brothers.

I’m the President of LA-fucking-Defiance, and it’s time to raise some hell!

Chapter Thirteen

ALPHA

As I reach the top of the stairs and enter, all my brothers are at their seats or around the walls of the room, awaiting my arrival. I close the door behind me and walk to the head of the table, taking my seat. With a heavy bang of my gavel, I lean back in my chair, the weight of their stares on me.

Clearing my throat, I sit tall, commanding authority. “Okay, here’s what I know, and trust me, boys, you’renotgonna like any of it.” They sit taller, listening intently, and I continue, “So, by now, I’m sure word’s gotten around that the attack on Livvy was carried out by the nephew of Rico from The Rojas Cartel.”

Rip curls his lip. “How did we miss this Javier kook? Was he just totally like snaking around his uncle or some gnarly shit like that?” Rip chuckles under his breath like he’s making a joke, but I shift my gaze to Loki to take over the conversation from here with the facts he has gathered so far.

Suddenly, a cell beeps, and we all turn to see South widen his eyes. “Shit, sorry, Pres. I know we’re not supposed to have our phones in here. It’s just with Bella being sick at the moment—”

I wave my hand at him in understanding. “I meant what I said out there… family first. Check your message, South. It’s absolutely okay for you to have your phone in here at this time.” I smirk with a slight chuckle. “But Lokiwillhave to wipe it as soon as we leave the Chapel. Just in case.”

South dips his head, reaching for his phone from his jeans pocket. “Got it. Thanks, Pres.” He pulls it out, clearly clicking it onto silent, and glances down to read his message.

Loki cranes his neck, closes his laptop, and continues with the briefing. “I don’t completely understand what you said in your surfer terminology there, Rip, but I got the general gist of it. And I think the answer is yes.” Loki glances across to Montana, who gives a single nod of approval to discuss everything. So, Loki continues, “There’s more at play here than Javier taking over from Rico.”

Ink places his fists on the table, his eyes narrowing. “You saying there’s other players involved? Not just the Cartel?”

Loki tilts his head with a grimace. “Yes, and no. They all fall under the umbrella of the Cartel, but from what we’ve been told, and from what I have been able to source, it seems that before we took out Rico and his men, he put in what can only be described as a…” He glances at me for guidance. “What would you call it, Pres?”

Flaring my nostrils, I huff. “An in-case-of-death plan?”

South lets out an audible sigh, placing his cell back down on the table, his face scrunching as he shifts his attention back to the conversation in the room. He glances up, seeing all eyes on him, and he waves his hand through the air. “Please, continue,” he states, though there’s tension in his tone.

Loki hums under his breath, shifting his focus back to the rest of us. “Yeah, Pres, an ‘in-case-of-death plan’ is probably the right thing to go with. Rico started planning with his nephew, in the event of something happening to him, what Javier should do to keep the Cartel viable, and he has.”

“And then some,” I grumble.

The guys shift uncomfortably around the table, realization hitting them that the fight we won with the Cartel is reigniting.

Only this time, it is much, much bigger.

“So, Javier’s rebuilt. He has more men?” Maverick asks.

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