Page 49 of Bound by Affliction
19
Green
“Hit me.”Sitting around the church table in the clubhouse and inhaling the smells of home does something to center me in a way I haven’t felt since Leah was found. The dented wood of the large table speaks of years of experience and decisions. The walls lined with pictures and our emblem make this place oursanctuary.
Being away from the clubhouse for so long, I almost forgot the air of power this room holds. The brothers around the table all sit back in their chairs giving our president, Cruz, his time to talk. Damn it feels good to be back and even better because my woman is withme.
Leah’s with Bristyl, and inside this clubhouse she is safe. That’s what I think the calm is. It’s knowing that within the walls of this compound, the outside is blocked off from her, and no one can come in and inflict pain on her; that is where the calm is. It’s like the weight of that responsibility, while still on my shoulders because she’s mine, is lighter in a way. No one will hurt Leah again.Ever.
“Talked to the prez of Red Devils,” Cruz starts out, clasping his hands in front of him. “He’s got two rogues.” Alertness comes. “They’re pissed about what happened to Nick, Poe, and Len and didn’t like the way their prez handled the situation. Theyreacted.”
“Fuck,” Igroan.
“Pretty much. Guys names are Jonny and Troy. They were very close to those three, according to their prez. Jonny is the leader of the two, and Troy is the puppet. Prez wouldn’t tell me much more about them, and I was surprised at what I got. Bottom line, they’re after your girl, wanna see her pay. And they want Bristyl to pay aswell.”
“What the fuck?” Cooper booms from the left of his father. “Fuck them if they think they’re gettin’ their hands on mygirl.”
“Second that.” I wave my hand. “Not fuckin’happenin’.”
“We agree,” GT, the vice president, speaks. “They will be taken out. Buzz has some intel, and we’re suitin’ up tomorrow and headin’ out first touch ofdaylight.”
“Back to Florida?” Iask.
“Yep, just outside of where you were. Fuckers used a prepaid phone thinkin’ they wouldn’t be found. Problem is they used a credit card to pay for the fuckin’ phone in the firstplace.”
“Idiots.”
“Pretty much.” GT adds, “So we roll out at dawn, take these fuckers out, and get back beforenightfall.”
For the next hour, we make plans; looking at aerials of their location and even watch the fuckers on some security footage that Buzz hacked into. We know every place they’ve been in the last five days— what restaurants, dive bars, and hookers they’ve hurt. They’ll pay for that too. Buzz even found footage of these two breaking into Leah’s place, pissing me off royally. Her door was way too fucking easy to getopen.
These two are dumb fucks thinking their phones were untraceable. You have to go through a lot to get them discreet nowadays. Or at least have a man in your pocket who will get you one with notrace.
Tomorrow, we end them and make Leah and Bristyl safe. Forgood.
* * *
Leah sitson the bed in my room at the clubhouse, her focus pulling from the magazine she's reading and coming to me. My room isn’t anything to scream about. Wood paneled walls with some Ravage things hung and then some posters. A bathroom is attached to every room in Ravage on the main floor. A dresser, television, and a bed round out theplace.
But there’s something about seeing my woman in my space that tips my world. She’s part of my family whether she likes it or not, and I couldn’t be fucking happier aboutthat.
Normally, I stay at my apartment just down the road, but when Leah was hurt and I stayed with her, I closed out my lease and had my brothers bring my shit here. That’s what all the boxes in the corner are. The couch and chair are MIA, but I’m sure they’ll turnup.
After the day we’ve had, I should just go to sleep so I’m ready for tomorrow, but we have shit to discuss and it needs to be done before then. As she tosses the magazine to the side she moves her body so she’s sitting cross-legged, waiting for me to sit. I do, but instead of letting her keep her distance and space, I pull her into my arms and on mylap.
She lays her head on my chest and curls into me. Fucking love when she doesthat.
“You know what I feared when I couldn’t find you?” I start, and feel her body tense. “I thought they got to you again. Thought they were hurting you and I’d find you bloody and dead somewhere. Thought our time was over. Thought I failedyou.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I didn’t mean forthat.”
“Tell me why. Why did you need to sneak around?” The knot in my chest tightens as the long pause is too much. “Leah?”
“You were around all the time, and I didn’t have a chance to think. Even in the bathroom, I knew you were right outside and I needed some space.” She raises up to meet my gaze. “You can’t tell me that you would’ve let me go alone because I know youwouldn’t.”
“There…”
Her index finger comes to my lips. “Please let me get this out.” I nod once, giving her thisplay.
