Page 75 of Axe
“The fuck, Axe?!” Diesel’s voice roared with a fury that had me backing away as he barged into Cal’s office. He didn’t even knock, which told me he was lava hot on the pissed-the-fuck-off scale. “My fuckin’ woman was at your place today! She could have been there when he fucking showed up!”
“Hey. Whoa,” I said pretty calmly as I tossed up my hands in surrender. “I had no idea she was over there today. I’m sorry, man.”
“D, back up and fucking take a breath,” Tank said coming out of nowhere as he placed a firm hand on Diesel’s shoulder.
“I fucking knew she was bad news!” Diesel turned but didn’t leave the room. Instead, he walked to the other side and folded his arms over his chest as he glared at me.
“Tank, call everyone in,” Cal commanded in a normal tone. “Diesel, go fuckin’ drink a beer. Ellie here?” Diesel answered with a jerked nod but didn’t open his mouth. “As soon as we find out how Brand and the prospect are, we’ll sit down to church.”
“Fuckin’ no,” I snapped. “Cal I need that address. I need it right fucking now. I have to get to her.”
“You don’t think that’s what he is expectin’?” He pinned me with a knowing stare. “Hell, that was probably the only reason he came after her. He probably got wind that we were plannin’ somethin’ big, that we’re comin’ after him, and he did this to throw us the fuck off! No. We go in armed, ready, and level fuckin’ headed.”
“Cal,” I gritted out.
Bocca.
Bocca had the damn address. It was like a light bulb went off in my head and for the first time ever, I was about to disobey my president, my leader, my fucking father figure.
I spun on my heels and darted out the door. Cal’s voice roared with rage like I had never heard it before. My name rang out over and over from his mouth and followed me down the hall.
An arm slipped around my neck as I shoved Bocca’s door open. Bocca’s eyes went wide as he looked up to see what all the commotion was. I struggled, but Tank’s arm only tightened around me. I gasped for air, but it was no use. His hand came down on the back of my head and as he pushed forward with a small amount of pressure, I knew I was no match for the big man. I was going down.
Fuck!
“I can’t let you do this. You know this is a bad move. I get you’re scared and you don’t want to lose the woman you care a shit-ton about, but I’m not going to let you go in all amped up and get yourself killed.” Tank’s voice floated softly into my ears.
I knew I couldn’t fight him and as my body grew weaker, I just gave the fuck in. I felt like a loser. A failure. A piece of shit. I felt like I’d let her down.
“Now, sit the fuck down. Calm your ass and go take care of that little boy.” Tank had to be the voice of damn reason right then and I hated it, but I knew he was right.
I nodded and he released his hold right before I passed out. I sucked in a huge breath of air as I doubled over, my hands planted firmly on my knees in an attempt to hold me up.
“I missed something, didn’t I?” Bocca asked.
“Yeah, a fuck of a lot,” Tank said. “Whatever you do, don’t give him that address.”
“Um, okay.” Bocca’s voice held a great deal of confusion.
“Allison,” I coughed out. “He took Allison.”
“Brand and prospect Calvin are down. Don’t know how bad yet. I gotta call everyone in,” Tank said. “You good to watch this jackass?”
“Yeah,” Bocca answered, clearly still trying to process everything that was said.
I walked over to his bed and flopped down. My head hung heavy as I rested my elbows on my knees.
“Hey,” Jessica’s voice said softly after some time had passed. “I think this little guy wanted to check on you. He keeps saying ‘ass’ and I’m assuming that’s you. Then again, you curse like a sailor, so he could have been genuinely sayingass.” Her light, short giggle helped lift my mood, but only slightly.
I cleared my throat and pushed my anxiety and fear down as much as I could.
“Hey, Lil man. Come here.” His little legs couldn’t carry him fast enough to me.
I scooped him up as soon as he was within reach and held him close. I rocked him, whispering over and over again in his ear how it was all going to be okay. I had no idea how I was going to get him to believe it when I wasn’t even sure if I believed it myself.
I had to be strong for him. For her. For the fucking club to get us through this shit.
I knew the wait would be worth it. We would go in not only guns blazing but completely prepared to take every single one of those fuckers down.
