Page 65 of From the Ashes

“Cain, don’t be an idio—”

“Tell Makaylie I love her. Iwillbe seeing her soon,” I interrupt him.

“Cain!” he yells down the line, but I end the call before he has any chance to say another word. I power down the cell, throw it in my duffle bag, then make my way for the front door of the wood log cabin.

I’ve sat.

I’ve waited.

I feel like an animal to the slaughter.

Trapwillfind me if I just sit here and do nothing.

Not anymore.

Now is the time to make a stand.

I will be taking the fight to him.

I willnotwait for a fight to come to me.

One where he could very well beat me.

I need this done on my terms.

I am going to outsmart the bastard.

But to do it, I need a little help from some old friends.

But first, I have to slip past the guards protecting this safe house.

***

As I pull my car up at the NOLA Defiance clubhouse gates, their prospect, Jesse, aims a gun at my windshield with clear intent.

I raise my hand out of my window. “Prospect, it’s Cain from the Bachelors.”

His eyes light up like he’s terrified about what he’s just done as he lowers his weapon and instantly opens the clubhouse gates. “Sorry, brother. Didn’t recognize you. Head on through.”

I dip my head in acknowledgment and drive through to the parking lot. As I slide out of my car, I watch Hurricane and City walk toward me with purpose in their strides. I raise my brow to them as they approach.

Hurricane steps closer. “You okay? We heard shit went down at the Parlor. Heard the Feds took in a bunch of you.”

Craning my neck to the side, I exhale. “Oh yeah, it went down. Hattrick is in custody. Bachelors were shot in the raid. Some are still in the wind. The main problem, for me and you, is fucking Trap.”

Hurricane rubs his bearded chin. “Hmm… he didn’t go down with the ship? Still out in the wild?”

“He’s in the wild, all right, and looking for vengeance. On Defiance and me. He’s coming after us both.”

Hurricane crosses his arms over his chest. “And why’s he comin’ afteryou,Cain?”

Swallowing hard, I figure it’s best to be honest. “I was working with the Feds. I wanted out of the Bachelors—”

“You’re a damn rat?” Hurricane grunts in disgust.

I stand my ground. “Not entirely. I sold out those I knew were doing shit wrong and causing issues. There’s a better way to do business. Those I wanted to protect, those who were doing it right, I went out on a limb for and got them protection.”

Hurricane furrows his brows. “So… you here tellin’ me I need to watch my back? Are the Feds comin’ for the club? Or…” He hesitates.

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