Page 85 of Angel

The woman walked over to them. She took a backpack off of her back. “I’m Ivy,” she told them. “I stayed at the clubhouse with you guys a couple of weeks ago. Did your parents mention me?”

Ollie and Bree nodded, but Aaron shook his head. He hadn’t arrived yet by the time Ivy left.

“You’re the reason we weren’t allowed in the clubhouse for like two weeks,” Bree said accusingly.

“Yeah, well…” Ivy shrugged, letting her words trail off. She pulled a first aid kit out of her backpack. She also pulled out water bottles and protein bars. “Who’s hurt?”

As Ollie and Bree were patched up, Aaron kept a close eye on Scar. Bree wasn’t surprised Aaron had no idea who Scar was. She certainly hadn’t mentioned Scar to him, and she doubted Cage or Angel had either.

“Did you call my mom?” Bree asked Ivy. She knew better than to ask Scar that question.

Ivy nodded. “They were already in the woods. They should be here any minute.”

Bree’s sigh of relief was cut off by Ollie’s gasp of fear. Bree looked up to see a man approach them. He looked rough, his once neatly pressed clothes were torn, but she recognized him even in the dark. Ollie pressed himself closer to Bree and Aaron changed his stance to stand over them more.

Bree, however, had a completely different kind of reaction. She calmly stated, “Uncle Scar, that man hurt Ollie,” and then sat back to watch the carnage.

A cry of agony came from directly in front of them. Cage gripped his gun tighter as he put on a burst of speed. Angel and Bulldog were right behind him.

They came to a halt at the foot of a very large hollowed-out tree. Bree was sitting on the ground with her arms wrapped around Ollie and Aaron standing protectively over them. Ivy was a little to their right with a huge smile on her face and her phone out recording Scar beating the ever-loving shit out of a man Cage didn’t know.

When Bulldog had received a text simply giving coordinates, the entire club had breathed a sigh of relief. Cage had no idea how Scar had found the kids or how he’d even known they were missing, but Cage hadn’t cared. They were safe.

“Pops!” Aaron called out and then ran to him.

Cage holstered his gun in time to catch his son. He wrapped his arms around him and held him tight, the feelings of relief were overwhelming. His son was alive and, from what Cage had seen, unharmed.

He heard Angel rush past them and opened his eyes in time to see her fall on her knees next to Bree. Steel was close behind her.

“It’s all my fault,” he heard Aaron say into his shoulder. “They were hurt because of me.”

Cage took a step back and gripped his son’s face. Tears were pouring down his young cheeks. “It is not your fault. You are not to blame, son.”

Aaron’s height and build portrayed him as older, but he was only sixteen. “I tried to protect them. They drugged me and I couldn’t fight…”

Cage dragged him back to his chest. “You’re safe, they’re safe. You protected them. I have no doubt.”

Aaron continued to cry into his shirt. Cage looked over to see Bree was clinging to Angel just as hard. Angel had shifted so Bree was on her lap. Steel was consoling a whimpering Ollie. The relief of their reunion was soured by the kids’ distress.

Finally, Cage heard Bulldog call out. “That’s enough, Scar. Pretty sure he’s dead.”

Aaron was too large to carry. In order to help cheer Bree and Ollie up, they were given piggyback rides back to the motel by their uncles Ghost and Ranger, who had decided to race. Bets were placed by the other members as further distraction for the teens.

Cage walked ahead with Aaron, but Angel hung back. Bear was examining the man Scar had pulverized to ensure he was actually dead. Ivy was doing something on her phone and grinning to herself about the “extra blood”. If it was anyone other than Scar, Angel would be worried about the potential blackmail material that video held.

Except it was Scar and Scar wasn’t the sort of man to be blackmailed. Hell, Angel didn’t even know his legal name. Only Bulldog knew it, as far as Angel knew.

The pastor and the man Scar had killed needed to be disposed of. The club had their methods. At the rate they were going, Angel was wondering if the club was going to be investing in the swine business soon. There were only so many pig farms in the area they could use without drawing suspicion.

Steel stood silently over the body, staring down at the man who had harmed his adopted son. Angel was pretty sure Steel was wishing for the power to be able to bring the man back to life so he could kill him himself.

Scar and Ivy stood off to the side. They weren’t…together, Angel realized. There was too much of a gap between their bodies. They were both standing very similarly with their arms crossed over their chests and feet spread wide. Angel had to wonder if Scar even wanted Ivy with him or if she just kept showing up where he was.

For some reason, that thought amused Angel.

“Scar,” Steel said shortly.

The silent man walked up to stand on the other side of the body.

---