Page 71 of Hell & Back

“I can’t and I’m thinking I’m going to stay here until I’m normal again.” He wasn’t brave enough to tell her he was debating leaving town. He was aware that leaving town to fuck like a crazy person until he was sane again was more about his peace of mind than making things easier on Kylie.

“Worst-case scenario. What if this is your new normal? Are you going to hide from me forever? Does it mean you’ll never come home?” That was his Kylie. She didn’t pull any punches. She was fearless.

“I don’t know. All I do know is that I can’t be with you while I’m like this.”

Before either of them could say anything further, Jed banged on the door again. “Come on, man, we’re waiting on you! Move your ass!”

They stared at each other in silence, neither one happy with the outcome of this talk.

“I’m sorry, Kylie. I wish things were different.” He gritted his teeth and willed himself to move. “I gotta go.” He opened the door before he lost what little will he had left. He wanted nothing more than to go back in there, drop to his knees and beg for her forgiveness. Then, if he were lucky enough to get it, he would hold her tight, tell her he loved her like she was the breath he needed to live and make love to her until all of this was just a bad memory. He couldn’t do that, though. Right now he wasn’t sure he could make love slow, sweet and gentle, all things she needed at this point in her pregnancy.

He took a drink of his now cold coffee as he walked down the hall and almost choked. Damn it. No coffee for him. He took his seat next to Tuck and avoided making eye contact. Afraid his friend would be able to tell that he’d just spoken to Kylie and left her broken hearted.

“Glad you could join us.” Race smacked the gavel and called the meeting to order.

DARREN

“I got a call from Preacher this morning,” Race began the meeting. “He called to say that he heard we have a beef with the Phantoms and knew that we planned on going after them and their cartel buddies. He’s got a beef with the same cartel and needs to make a statement. He wants in on whatever we plan.”

“How does he know about that?” Dagger asked. “We got a rat or a mole again?”

“Who?”

“Bellamy?”

“She never talks about the club with her brother.”

“That you know of,” Dagger pushed, grinning from ear to ear.

There he goes. Stirring shit again. Darren wondered how Race kept from shooting him half the time.

“Fuck you.” Race pulled out his phone to make a call. He put it on speaker when it started to ring. “How the fuck did you know we’re going after the Phantom Furies?”

“Because I’m going after the cartel they’re working with and my guys saw your guys watching the Phantoms. I’m at the gate. I’ll be there tonight so we can coordinate our efforts.”

“Fuck me,” Race rubbed a hand across his mouth.

“I’ll leave that to my sister.” The line went dead with Preacher having the last word.

“Ever since Bellamy and I started dancing around each other he’s been keeping an eye on Redemption. After Bling got shot up, he’s had people here pretty much all the time from what I can figure. They see shit and report back to him.”

“What the fuck?” Trick asked.

Race shrugged. “I know. I can’t stand the thought of a crime lord in another city having eyes on the club, but then again, I know he’ll do anything in his power to keep Bellamy safe. He can keep those eyes on her only until we finish things with the Phantoms. Once that’s finished, that’ll end and Preacher and I are going to have words. I don’t want him or any of his men left in Redemption or it’ll be considered a hostile act.”

Darren knew Preacher and Race had a contentious relationship, but did their best to get along for Bellamy’s sake. Preacher was very close to his little sister and would do anything for her, including take Race out if he thought it was warranted. Thank God Bellamy was madly in love with their president. The thing was if she ever wanted him taken out, she could easily do it herself. Preacher made sure she knew how to handle a gun. All she’d need him for would be for the clean up. No one would ever know what happened. And that was some scary shit.

“How do you feel about teaming up with Preacher?” Chris asked.

Race took a moment, rubbed his thumb along his lower lip then replied, “I’m not a fan of anything to do with Preacher, but…” he paused. “If we both have the same goal in mind, taking out the drugs that keep trying to hit our streets, it might be worth it to join forces with him and his crew. ”

As far as Darren was concerned, the more men involved, the quicker and more complete the destruction of the Phantoms would be. The way he saw it, taking out the cartel’s business was a bonus. All he wanted was to get his hands on Crockett and RIP. He’d come up with a plan on how to get even and it required them being taken alive.

“Chance still coming with his club?” Maverick asked.

“Yes. They’ll be here tonight.”

“Sounds like we’re going to have a full house,” Tulsa commented.

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