Page 20 of Ryder's War

Tiffany’s soft voice added, “I’m sure he’ll pull through. Darkness seems strong. Don’t be thinking that they’ll get him walking out of here any time soon, though. Taking a bullet to the back is no joke. They said he was wheezing, so I think the bullet must have nicked his lung.”

Ryder swallowed thickly. “It did. I heard the EMS personnel talking about it on the ride over.”

The minutes slowly turned into hours as the small number of brothers grew into a crowd. They were all moved to another waiting area afterDarkness was taken to an intensive recovery unit for monitoring. Rose showed up, plopped down between Ryder and her father, and turned curious eyes upon them.

It was Tiffany who spoke first. “Darkness made it out of surgery, and we’ve been told he’s doing relatively well. They’re going to monitor him closely for the next twenty-four hours then move him to a private room.”

Looking down, the girl seemed stunned. “I can’t believe he’s down,” she said, her voice hollow. “I never thought I’d see the day when anything could harm him.”

Feeling for the girl, Ryder cupped his hands over hers. “He ain’t made of titanium or nothin’, Rose. We all bleed when you shoot us.”

“You’re all just people. I knew that,” she said, but the tone of her voice suggested otherwise.

Ryder wrapped an arm around her and tugged her close, tucking her head under his chin. Hooking his other arm around Tiffany he pulled her close, too, and she rested her head on his other shoulder. His chest ached when the two of them joined hands. They looked so much like sisters taking strength from each other in their time of need, but it was mostly Rose accepting Tiffany’s consoling.

Ryder had never felt so much as he did at that moment. With Rose and Tiffany pressed against him, their hands linked across his chest, he finally understood what his father had meant about family being both strength and weakness. They made him vulnerable, but they also made him stronger.

Normally, he’d take a walk outside and clear his head, but walking out on his woman and sister wasn’t an option at the moment. He wasn’t used to feeling stuck.

Eventually, they fell asleep, and he relaxed back into the large plush seat, making the best of an uncomfortable situation. Replaying the night’s events in his mind, he pulled out his cell phone and began reviewing images of the warehouse.

The Seven Devils had tagged it with their signs, and that meant they weren’t even trying to hide the fact that they’d been there. On the one hand, it was a shitty thing to do because now the cops knew there was a gang-related property dispute over the venue. It would be one of the places they searched if and when the need arose to face off against his club.

On the other hand, they hadn’t actually bought the property yet. Having the isolated, empty building covered in gang signs and the site of a shootout would mean little more than a side note in the cops’ report. They wouldn’t waste much if any time on this crime or the location attached to it.

Another thought occurred to him. Maybe the Seven Devils were trying to make his club think twice about purchasing the property for other thanwhat Devil stated. A nasty thought flew into Ryder’s head and nested there. Perhaps the Seven Devils were trying to muscle into their territory.

Territory wasn't just about land or business—it was about power, about who got to make the rules. The Devils dealt in flesh and misery, turning women into commodities. Looking at Tiffany and Rose sleeping peacefully beside him, Ryder knew some lines couldn't be crossed. Some wars were worth fighting.

He stilled as the blood in his veins ran cold. Stealing a glance at the women snuggled up to each side of him, he thought of the times they’d butted heads with the Devils. Most of those disagreements had been over the Seven Devils’ stock and trade. They were into the skin trade, providing women for brothels all over Dakota Territory.

Clutching his cell phone, he tried not to wake the girls when he squeezed them closer. He would not let them move into his territory or allow them access to the vulnerable women he was tasked with protecting.

Gazing around at the few remaining brothers who had not been assigned other tasks, Ryder brought his cell phone up to type. He texted Hickory, who was in charge until Darkness was up and about again. Even though the VP was sitting right there across the way from him, it was a more secure method of communication.

Ryder: Why do you think the Devils are interested in the clubhouse?

Hickory: I’ve been thinking about that. They don’t want us to have the warehouse.

Ryder: That warehouse is in an isolated location.

Hickory: Maybe they’re lookin’ to expand into our territory.

Ryder: We can’t let that happen.

Hickory: I already sent word to our attorney this morning to buy it up.

Ryder: Good. If the Devils are willing to shed blood over it, there must be a reason.

Hickory: Agreed.

Daylight broke through the windows, waking the sleeping girls. Tiffany spoke with the nursing station and came straight back.

“They’re telling me he’s stable and resting peacefully. We should get some sleep and come back later in the day.”

Hickory jerked his head toward the door. “Go, get some sleep. Ven and I will stay.”

Without anyone saying a word, Ryder knew it was because they’d never leave a brother open when he was down. They would all take turns keeping watch until Darkness was able to go home.

---