Page 24 of Hell on Wheels

Patriot’s hand was dangling in the air next to his hip like some gunslinger in a Wild West movie. Weapons were strapped to his shoulders and in both fists. He wasn’t playing around. I had my 9mm firmly in my grip, ready to unleash fury the second this went south. Grim rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. I stood my ground, ready for whatever was about to go down.

Kane snarled as he focused on the gate and the men straight ahead, clearly a threat.

I blinked, my vision blurring a little on the edges.

My head ached from the booze last night, and I knew getting drunk hadn’t been a great idea. Those shots in the bar with Lark were only the beginning. I consumed half a bottle of Jack, pouring some of the liquor onto her body and licking it from her skin. Didn’t regret tasting her or the whiskey, only the headache and poor vision that resulted from it.

“This doesn’t have to be hard, Grim. Just let me have my property.”

He could fuck off with that shit. Human beings weren’t objects to trade around or sell. I fucking hated this guy.

Right as I was about to answer Angel, I heard the voice of my little dove. She didn’t listen.Goddamn.

“Fuck,” Patriot cursed as Kane lowered to the ground, flicking his ears as his gaze went from me to Lark and back to the gate.

This was about to get ugly.

“I’m not going anywhere with you, Angel.” I had to give her credit. She sounded courageous, and not the least bit fazed.

“Not really much of a choice,la maldita perra.”

I didn’t know a lot of Spanish, but thanks to a few buddies in the Corps, I learned my share of curse words.

“Don’t call her that again,” I warned.

“Open the gate, Grim,” Angel ordered, stepping closer as his men tensed.

His leg almost buckled from under him, and I smiled.

A sardonic and deadly grin appeared on Grim’s face. I would have been afraid if I was Angel. “Not gonna happen. This ismyproperty. You want to negotiate? Take it up with Salazar.”

“You’re gonna regret that choice,” Angel warned.

“I doubt it,” Grim challenged.

Around me, more Royal Bastards slowly came into view. Every one of them was armed and ready to defend the Crossroads.

Fuck.

Made me feel like I was back on active duty.

Each of these bikers would die protecting their compound, brothers, and way of life. Fucking beautiful to witness.

The ground rumbled beneath our feet, and I thought we might have been having a damn earthquake when a semi-truck approached, hauling ass toward the gate. Thefuck? The engine roared as it closed in, too close to prevent the inevitable. The massive beast rounded the corner of the compound fast and then smashed through the gate and into the front entrance as chaos exploded around us.

Angel Mackenzie ordered a fucking semi to crash into the Royal Bastards MC compound.Heads are gonna roll, man.

“Motherfucker!” I heard Patriot yell.

“Take cover!” Grim ordered.

I ran for Lark and snatched her around the middle as gunfire erupted, bullets spraying in our direction from behind the truck. We hit the ground and rolled as I cradled her against my chest, hoping none of those bullets found their way to my new woman. For a few seconds, my ears rang. Panic exploded in my chest as the past resurfaced, smoke billowing into the air and combining with the heat the same way it had overseas the day I lost my brothers in the terrorist attack.

My vision tunneled as I hauled air into my lungs, refusing to let the past overtake the present. With a snarl, I crouched, pulling Lark with me. I tugged her behind a black SUV for cover. Frantic, I checked her over for injuries, relieved when she seemed no more than a little shaken up.

“He has to die, Flint.”

Her voice didn’t even waver when she said the words.

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