“God. Do Eden and them know what’s going on?” Viper asks.
“Yes, and they’re keeping Dad calm, which is a job on its own. I have to go, but once you know when Shadow’s going to land, let me know and I’ll tell the guys.”
“Will do. Thanks, Peyton.” He hangs up, tosses me my phone and pulls out his own, stepping away to call Eden.
“Simon said the jet is ready to go as soon as you get there,” Bullet announces, drawing my attention. “Once Viper’s off the phone, Sniper, you and he will go with Shadow to the airfield. If this is an ambush, I want two of you there to handle it with him. Take one of the SUVs and not your bikes.” Sniper and I both nod.
“I’m going straight there. I’ll buy anything I need when I get there. You’ll call any of the MCs in that area and let them know?”
“Already sent a text,” Bullet assures me. “We have allies out that way and they said one call and they’ll be there to protect your families. They already have word out to be on the lookout.”
I nod, but before I can say anything else, Stone’s phone starts to ring. He answers quickly. “What’s wrong?” he demands. He stiffens then curses. “Are you alright? The baby?” He listens, his eyes going harder and colder with every second. “Where are you?” He looks at King. “Syn went to stay with the Lanes, and Sage’s photoshoot got postponed so she’s on her way there now too. Someone tried to shoot Syn, but Loki knocked her down and both dogs covered her and Alice Lane. She was in the middle of town shopping with Alice. It’s a small town and Brady andCarter Lane went after the shooter, but he got away. Syn’s at the hospital now while they check on her and the baby.”
“This isn’t a coincidence,” I state tightly, looking around.
King nodded. “I’m calling Brady and Carter and telling one of them to make sure that one of them gets to the airport to get Sage. She’s an open target when she gets off that plane.” His phone is already to his ear.
Torque’s phone starts to ring, and he curses, his face going hard. “Izzy, are you alright?” he asks carefully. He listens, and he looks over at us. “Someone tried to take out Izzy while she was working with Zeb in the middle of his lot where his garage is located. Missed them, but Zeb got a graze to the side of his head. He’s at the hospital getting checked out.”
“Motherfucker,” Bullet hisses. “But she’s alright? Is she alone?”
Torque repeats the question and listens before answering, “The guys at the shop have her inside and in a room with no windows with someone guarding her while the cops handle shit. Baby, are you sure you’re alright?”
It takes another couple of minutes before the calls stop and we’re all standing there, seething with rage. “Vlad just made his statement,” Bullet announces grimly.
“And he knows we’re not going to do anything about it but run to them,” King states furiously. “The fucker. I can’t wait to blow his fucking head off.”
“We need to be smart about this,” Sniper states firmly. “He’s expecting us to be angry, act irrationally. If we all go running, we’re going to leave ourselves short. I want to protect our women and children too, but I also don’t want to run into this. Shadow, you need to get to your little girl and your pregnant wife, no question. Stone, you too if you need to. But the rest of us, if your women are alright, we need to call on our allies, onthe people we trust and have them protect them so we can bring them home.”
“I hate to say that he’s right,” Torque huffs. “Izzy told me the same thing and not to come. She’s safe and Zeb has already told her that he’s going to hire security until the shooter is caught.”
“Brady said that he’s going to pick up Sage personally and have one of his men with her and the Lanes at all times until they have it figured out. He also has a spot that they can take both Sage and Syn to hide them out until we can bring them home,” King adds tightly, glancing at Stone. “What’s Syn saying?”
“She said that they want to keep her overnight for observation. Her blood pressure is up, and she’s still early enough in her pregnancy she could lose the baby. The dog jumping on her could cause early labor as well, but Syn insists that she’s fine and the baby will be too. She told me not to come. She has connections there from the law enforcement and FBI contacts she has out there that can help Brady and Carter keep them all safe.” He thrusts a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Go see your woman and make sure she and the baby are alright,” Bullet orders. “Once you’re both okay with their security and know that everyone is alright, get back here. If we have to hire private planes to do it, the club will cover it. King, Torque, Viper, are you all alright to stay here until things get sorted out? We’ll work to get security and protection for them all.”
“Sage told me to stay so I’ll stay,” King answers, but I can tell he’s not happy about it. I’m just anxious to get going, but I have to be rational about this. Vlad and his men are probably watching us.
“Izzy too,” Torque agrees with much the same expression on his face.
“Eden is fine, and Sadie is pissed that someone would try to kill Macy, so it’s a bit of a struggle to keep her from going nuclear, but Eden’s got her,” Viper adds. “I’m staying, but Shadow, as soon as you get there, you call in every favor you got to protect them all.” It’s a statement, even an order, not a question.
I nod. “I’m on it.”
“Good. Everyone, get going, and report in regularly. As far as anyone is concerned, there were issues with the babies, which makes sense considering who you’re both going to see and everyone else is staying. It’s believable and we leave it at that. Sniper, it’s time you and I get down to figuring out a few things.” He hugs Stone and then hugs me quickly. “Give your baby girl a hug for me,” he orders me gruffly.
I nod, and I’m heading for the door. Vlad made a very grave mistake in attacking my little girl. I will move heaven and earth to find him now, and I’ll enjoy killing him as painfully as possible.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
HULK
Time to call her bluff.
“You sure you’reup to this?” Bullet asks as he moves the rolling stool closer to the bed I’m currently sitting up in. Avery rigged up a way to allow me to sit this way and not pull or irritate all the stitches and wounds on my back. I’m grateful for that, but fuck, I am done with staying in this thing. I want to get into my room again and have a fucking shower. I don’t know how anyone can stand to be so close to me with how ripe I smell.
“I don’t have much else to do in here,” I grumble.
