I sit in the chair, the nurse helping him into my arms and I hold him to my chest, careful not to disturb the wires taped into his little nose. Annie watches on with a huge smile and peace in her soul. Meanwhile, all I’m feeling is rage from being lied to. I swore to protect my son from the world, and that includes his mother.
Chapter Forty
Leo
The three-day ride was as expected. Long and ass numbing. Heavy rain set us back a few hours until we were able to ride again. It doesn’t help when Holly sporadically answers my calls or replies to my texts. She’s tired but she always answers when I’m on the road.
JJ and I are the first to arrive at the meet point with a few hours to spare. We decided to get something to eat and that’s where we’re still sat when I see Tank and his VP ride by.
“The party’s about to start.” JJ grins.
“I just need to make a call.”
Scrolling down to my mom’s number, I hit call on our way outside. It’s warm out today and I tip my head back to feel the heat on my face while waiting for mom to answer.
I’m about to hang up when she picks up. “Hey, my love. You okay?”
“I’m good. I’m about to sit with the chapters. I’m just calling to check on Hols, she doesn’t seem…”
“She’s okay, Leo. Roman is keeping her up all hours, but I’m having him and Rayna tonight so she’ll be back to herself soon enough.”
“You don’t think there’s something else going on with her I should be worried about?”
Her laughter fills the line. “No, my son. She has two kids to look after, one being a baby who is keeping her on her toes at the moment. I’m keeping a close eye on her, don’t worry. Concentrate on what you’re there to do. I’ve got you covered here at home.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
The call ends and I store my phone away. We cross the street, and the bar is quiet when we step inside. The owner throws sharp glances our way but after I’ve put down a fat wad of cash, he leaves us to it.
After greetings are made, we take our seats. “How are we all doing?” I begin.
“I think I can speak for everyone when I say we’re all tired and our backs and asses hurt. Are you going to tell us why you had us make this ride?” Wyatt asks.
I lean forward on the table and meet each of their gazes before saying, “Each of your clubhouses are no more than a hundred miles from a Hog’s base. They’ve become a problem and if we don’t deal with them now, we’ll end up in a war that we don’t want to spend money on or lose brothers to.”
“I take it you have a plan having had us ride all the way out here,” Tack asks.
I nod. “Each of you will go home and prepare to blow up the nearest Hog base to you. It’s up to you how it goes, who does what, but the plan is to hit them all at the same time. So coordination is fuckin’ key.”
“You’re talkin’ about a massacre?” Tack says.
JJ snorts. “Are you sayin’ you’re gonna lose sleep over it?”
Tack looks away and keeps his mouth shut.
It’s Creep who asks, “Why isn’t Luca here?”
“He’s handling his own shit,” is all I say.
“We’re all handling our own shit, Leo. What makes him different to us?”
I pin my glare on Creep. “I didn’t say he was different, did I. If one or all of you fail, I will call Luca in to do what you couldn’t.”
The insult stings as it was intended and Creep shuts his mouth, but only for a matter of seconds. “I wasn’t digging him out, it’s just…”
JJ cuts him off. “It’s just nothing. Luca isn’t your business or your fuckin’ concern.”
Before this gets out of hand, I say, “You have until a week Saturday to prepare.”
