Page 48 of Victorious: Part I

A chill floods through me as we enter the clubroom, usually bustling with chaos and vibrancy, the somber nature instantly shows me the mood they’re all in. As they spot me, their sympathetic eyes tell me everything I need to know.

They’renotin fight mode.

But I need them to be.

Because we don’t know when the Cartel will come at us again.

Plus, with everything I just heard—they will.

And a Rojas always kicks you when you’re down—right now, this club couldn’t be any lower.

So, I need to step up and fix shit. Because if the Cartel comes for us, we need to be fucking mentally prepared to tackle them head-on and with all pistons firing.

Pressing a gentle kiss on Haven’s cheek, I detach from her and make my way to the center of the clubroom, all eyes follow me as I stand tall, proud, ready for action. Crossing my arms across my chest, I curl up my lip in my distaste for the Cartel and begin, “I’m not gonna lie, the last twenty-four hours have been rough. We lost one of our own, and that burns at the very fabric of Defiance. But we will get time to mourn. Wewillhonor Livvy and do it right. But now, our club,our family,is still in danger.”

I shift my gaze purposely to Montana so he knows I’m including his mother when I say that.

“So, we push whatever fucking emotion we have to the back, and weuse it as fuelto fight this fight. The Cartel isn’t going to stop here. We know from the shit they’ve pulled in the past that they don’t give a flying fuck who they hurt to win. It’s not a game to them—it’s an obsession. About being on top.” I shake my head in undeniable rage.

“Well, I’m here to tell you now, I’m not stopping this time until I knowfor surewe’ve done the job right. I don’t want any casualties along the way. None of you are replaceable.” I stop, letting out a heavy breath with the realization as it hits me. So, I turn and look at my guys with sincerity as I continue, “But, I can’t promise you there won’t be any on the way either.”

Glancing around the room at my club, at my brothers, I stop at Maverick standing beside his pregnant Old Lady and look him square in the eyes. “This fight could be quick, or it could end up a bloody, gory, torturous mess. I just don’t know. But Iamhere, standing before you, as your president, and as a man who just lost a member ofhisfamily, telling you that family comes first… every damn time.”

Sniffing back my emotion, I glance over my shoulder at Poppy, and she nods at me to keep going. So, I turn back, my eyes connecting with Maverick once more. “Mav, if you want to sit this one out so you’re guaranteed to see the birth of your first child,I swear to you,there will be absolutely no penalties. No one will hold it against you, and if you and Sadie leave once the war begins, when it is over, you’ll be welcomed back with open arms.”

Everyone turns to face them, and Sadie smiles at Maverick, already knowing his answer. He leans in, gently kissing her, not even needing to discuss it between them. She gives him a silent nod, and then he glances back at me, determination etched in his face. “Thank you, Pres. I appreciate that, but as you said, family comes first, and while Sadie and my little sister, Clover, are my family, so is every single other fucker in this clubhouse. And if I left knowing you were all here fighting, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. So, I stay.”

Montana nudges Maverick in the arm, a cheeky grin crossing his face as the two friends stand beside each other.

I continue the rounds, moving to Dutch, the oldest member of our club. “Dutch, if you and Ellie—”

“Fuck off!”he blurts out, interrupting me before I even finish, causing the rest of the club to burst into a fit of laughter. “Don’t be ageist, Pres. I may be old, but I can still fight. I’ve been here longer than you guys have known how to wank. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

“Jesus, Dad!” Rhyan groans, Montana chuckling as he wraps his arm around his Old Lady.

Dutch scoffs. “What? I saidtheywere wanking, not me.”

“Mom, control your husband.” Rhyan chuckles.

Ellie shakes her head, sliding her hand up Dutch’s chest. “I’veneverbeen able to control your father, honey. You should know that from when you started dating Montana.”

Montana snorts out a laugh, nodding a little too aggressively, and Dutch glares at him. “Don’t forget, I’mreeealgood at making concrete boots if you piss me off, kid.” Montana instantly stops, straightening his posture.

“Dad, stop scaring my boyfriend!” Rhyan groans again. Everyone chuckles at how Dutch can still make Montana sweat.

Dutch grins, turning back to face me. “I think you get the picture, Alpha. We might be a dysfunctional bunch, but if one of us is going to fight, we all do. What the Cartel did to you, to all of us…” Dutch’s eyes mist up as he grits his teeth. “Nah. Those prissy-ass Cartel cunts don’t get away with it. We fucking nail them to the ground this time.”

A roar of cheering echoes through the clubhouse, a synchronization of unity, my chest instantly flooding with pride. My club. My brothers. My family. They are prepared to fight or go down in a blaze of glory to seek our vengeance.

My eyes shift to Poppy, my pride and joy, who looks so much like her mother. The excitement washing over her face, seeing everyone rise to the occasion, makes her beam.

For her mother.

For her.

This war escalated when Rico stole Poppy from me and inserted her into The Nest. When he made me believe I saw my own flesh and blood singed to nothing but ash.

I don’t think Rico knew what he was creating when he took Poppy. The amazing fighter she would become. The spirit she would insert back into this club when she finally came back home. The Cartel may not know it, but they thought Poppy was the catalyst to start the war.

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