Page 24 of Angel

Fuck. Cage should not be so proud of that fact. “What’s our plan for going after the Pythons?”

“There isn’t one.”

Cage whirled around at Steel. “Why the fuck not? Scar is back. Send him if you won’t send us! Fuck it, I’m going?—”

Steel raised a single eyebrow and ordered, “Stop. You’re not going anywhere, and Scar isn’t some cannon to be set loose on our enemies. We need intel, Cage, before we can make a decision. I won’t go off half-cocked. I warned King he wasn’t prepared for a war with us, and I stand by that.”

In the past, Cage had always admired Steel’s calm demeanor. It took a lot to knock the twenty-year Marine veteran off of his game. Last May, Cage had sided with Steel against going storming the Heaven Haven Community where Bulldog’s Abby had been held against her will for sixteen years. Bulldog had wanted the community destroyed, but Steel had encouraged caution. He’d wanted information first.

As a military man, Cage understood. Wars were not won by running off, as Steel had put it, half-cocked and unprepared. That was how good men died. He got it—but never before had it infuriated him to the point where Cage seriously debated on going against a superior’s orders.

Mutiny was not a word that he took lightly.

Cage’s eyes landed on Bulldog. He understood the other man’s fury in a way he hadn’t before. He understood why Scar had sacrificed himself and his place in the MC to prevent Bulldog from doing it.

Bulldog’s eyes lifted to meet Cage’s, and something passed between them. An understanding coupled with sympathy. Bulldog knew exactly how Cage felt just then.

“We need to worry more about protecting Mount Grove than we do destroying the Pythons.” Carlos brought everyone’s attention to him. “Today, they drove a car, which has been impounded, and did not wear their cuts. We need a way to safeguard the town.”

“Maybe we can build a dome around it like that TV show,” Bear suggested.

Ghost rolled his eyes. “Under the Dome and only the first two seasons were worth watching.”

“And completely unrealistic,” Carlos added.

“I’m working on security for each club building. I’m going to outfit them all with a panic button.” Keys continued to type on his keyboard as he spoke and did not look up at any of them. “I also am going to put a tracker on each ol’ lady and club kid. Something simple but disguised. Like a piece of jewelry. I’m working on building an SOS app too, but it’s not ready yet. Hopefully by the morning.”

“You need to eat and sleep too,” Steel reminded Keys.

Keys just shrugged.

“We’re also opening the two trailers to club family,” Bulldog told the group. “We have spare rooms in the clubhouse as well as in some of our own homes. I’m going to encourage any family who lives in Mount Grove to come stay on club property until we sort out the Python threat.” Bulldog looked pointedly at his brother.

Carlos rolled his eyes. “Mom and Zoe are packing what we’ll need. They’ll be here within the hour.”

“Same goes with your police force families,” Steel told Carlos. “If they don’t feel safe in their own homes, bring them here. We’ll figure out the space and food later.”

Carlos nodded his appreciation. Then the new sheriff turned to his brother. “I do have one question, though: since when is Scar back?”

When Bree and Angel first moved into their new house nearly a year ago, Bree had been so excited to have her own room. She’d painted and furnished it just how she wanted. Even with how excited she was to finally have a space and a room to call her own, there had been some nights when she’d seek Angel out. Those nights had become less and less frequent as the months had moved on, as she’d healed and gotten stronger.

Angel was not surprised in the least when Bree came rolling into her bedroom. She threw the covers down to make room for Bree and waited patiently for Bree to transfer herself out of her chair and onto the mattress. This was one of the reasons Angel had not bought a high bed.

After Bree got herself situated, Angel threw the covers over her. Bree rolled to her side so she was facing Angel.

Angel reached out and touched her face. “How are you doing, baby?”

“I’m worried.”

“What about?” Angel knew better than to give deceptive assurances by saying something cliché like “I’d never allow anyone to harm you.” The events of their day had already proven that statement false.

“You killed that man and I…” Her young voice trailed off. “Are we going to jail?”

Angel shook her head. “No, baby. It was self-defense. And last I heard, the man you shot was on his way to the hospital.”

“What if he dies?” She looked so small, nothing like the vibrant, vivacious teen Angel had seen her become over the past year.

“I’m going to be honest with you, Bree. He might die. If he does, then know you did the right thing. You saved not only me but also yourself. There is nothing to be ashamed about. It was his actions that led to his death, not yours.”

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