Page 59 of Dagger

As I guide Chloe into the clubhouse, she scans the room, her eyes darting over the groups of brothers scattered around. The tension is thick—everyone’s either pacing, talking in low voices, or bracing themselves for whatever’s coming. It’s not the kind of place anyone would call welcoming right now, but she doesn’t seem fazed. If anything, she looks more curious than anxious.

Then her gaze lands on Jenny, Carlie, and Sophie in the kitchen, and her face softens. The three of them are leaning against the counter, deep in conversation, but they look up when Chloe starts heading their way.

“I’ll be over there,” she says, tilting her head toward them. She adjusts Beast in her arms, who wriggles a little before settling again.

“Go ahead,” I say, watching her as she walks off. The puppy whines softly, but Chloe murmurs something to him, her voice soothing.

Jenny spots her first, her eyes lighting up when she sees Beast. “Oh my God, what is that?” she squeals, abandoning her drink and rushing over.

“It’s a puppy, Jenny,” Sophie says dryly, though she’s grinning as she joins her. “Obviously.”

Chloe laughs, holding Beast out for them to see. “His name’s Beast.”

Jenny gasps dramatically. “He’s adorable!” She reaches out, scratching behind Beast’s ears, and he responds by wagging his tail so hard his whole body shakes.

“Where’d you pick up this little guy?” Carlie asks, running a hand over his damp fur.

Chloe shrugs, smiling. “He found us, I guess. Knocked over the trash, and the rest is history.”

I lean against the wall, watching the scene unfold. The girls are all over the pup, cooing at him like he’s the best thing to walk through the door in weeks. Chloe laughs, looking more relaxed than she has since we left the house.

Good. They all need the distraction.

Beast laps up the attention, his tiny tail a blur as the girls fuss over him. For a moment, the tension in the clubhouse feels lighter, like the storm brewing outside has been pushed back, even if just for a second.

I take a deep breath and push off the wall, heading toward Mason. Whatever’s coming, we’ll face it. But at least for now, Chloe, Jenny, Carlie, Sophie—and even Beast—have found a pocket of normal in the chaos. And that’s more than I could’ve asked for.

As I make my way toward Mason, his sharp gaze lands on me, but then it drops slightly behind me. His expression shifts into something between disbelief and annoyance.

“Is that afucking dog?” he asks, his tone sharp.

I shrug casually, glancing back toward the kitchen where Chloe, Jenny, and Sophie are still fawning over Beast. “Yeah, I think it is.”

Mason’s brow furrows, and he narrows his eyes. “Alright, smartass,” he mutters. “You know what I meant.”

I smirk but don’t bother with a response. Instead, I step closer, dropping my voice so only he can hear. “What’s going on? Did something happen?”

He gives me a hard look, his jaw working before he speaks. “They hit the docks,” he says flatly.

The words hit me like a gut punch. The docks are how we keep the operation running, our lifeline for getting the guns into the country without heat. I clench my fists, but Mason doesn’t give me time to process.

“And it doesn’t stop there,” he continues, his voice lowering. “They hit the cargo area too. Cleaned out a good chunk of the merchandise. They’re pissed and trying to shut us down completely.”

“Shit,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck as I glance around the room. Everyone looks tense, the whole place humming with barely restrained anger.

“If we’re not careful, we’re going to need backup—and fast,” Mason warns, his tone hard. “This isn’t a game anymore. They’re escalating.”

“Who’s behind it?” I ask, though I already have a damn good idea.

Mason’s scowl deepens. “The Russians. Same crew you tangled with. They’re not just sending a message anymore—they’re looking to bury us.”

I glance over my shoulder, my gaze flicking to Chloe. She’s laughing with Jenny and Sophie, holding Beast like he’s the safest thing in the world. She doesn’t have a clue how close this could get to her.

Mason follows my gaze, his expression tightening. “All the old ladies need to stay in the club,” he says firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “No exceptions. We’re locking it down completely.”

I nod, already knowing he’s right. “She’ll stay,” I say. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Mason steps closer, his voice dropping to a near growl. “And keep her close, Dagger. If the Russians find out about her—about the baby—”

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