Page 44 of Ace

He pulled up a file on one of the monitors in front of him.“This is a text convo between their president and the guy Thor clocked in your yard.The guy who threw the bomb.”

I scanned the conversation.

Yeah.They knew who and what I was, and they assumed Emma was my old lady.Not that she was yet, but they’d believed it and tried to take us both out.That amounted to a declaration of war on Riptide.

I nodded soberly.“What else you got?”

His fingers flew across the keyboard as he brought up the club’s name, its membership, location, police records, strengths and weaknesses.If there was anything to be found online or on the dark web, he’d found it.Not a pretty picture.These guys were into drugs, arms deals and human trafficking.The worst of the worst.

“Thanks.Church in half hour.Be prepared to fill the club in on all this shit.”

Shadow nodded.“Yes, sir.”

* * *

Emma

I watched the guys troop out to the little cabin out back.An air of solemnity surrounded them.There was no smiling.None of the usual laughing or banter.The prospects held back, watching as the patched members entered in single file.They entered last and closed the doors behind them.

Jasmine had told me that’s where they held their club meetings.She also told me they all got to vote on anything important, and going to war with another club had to be considered important.

Who would have thought a motorcycle club would run on democratic rules?

“I feel like this is my fault.”I stared at the closed door of the cabin.“If I hadn’t gone to Ace that night, Riptide wouldn’t be involved in this.Someone could get hurt badly, maybe even killed.Hell, it’s amazing no one has gotten hurt to this point what with bombs going off and all.”

Jasmine shook her head.“Wouldn’t have made any difference.You just gave them a heads up.Those guys are trying to move into Riptide territory, and my men wouldn’t stand back and let that happen.This just sped up the agenda.”She slanted a look at her sister.“Especially if there’s human trafficking going on.No way they’d stand for that kind of shit going down in their town.”

“Aren’t you worried your dad could get hurt?Or worse.If they go after these guys, it’s not going to end well for someone.”

Jewel shrugged.“Life’s a crap shoot.Sure, Dad could get hurt, but he could also get cancer.Or have a heart attack.Or live to be a hundred and five.We don’t know what the future holds, we just have to live our lives as best we can so when our time comes, we have no regrets.”

Jasmine nodded her agreement.“It’s true.No regrets is the best way to live.These guys have a saying.Death before dishonor.And they live by that.If they die defending something they believe in, they consider it a good way to go.They don’t care if what they need to do to preserve their honor is considered illegal by society.Dad always says justice and the law are two entirely different things.”

I shook my head.“That is one of the deepest, most profound things I’ve ever heard.How did you two get to be so wise so young?”

Jewel giggled, and suddenly looked her age again.“You could credit our awesome dad, but I prefer to think it’s from watching all those television shows.You know, the ones with the hunky young heroes in skintight pants and no shirts, who always save the day.”

“Definitely.Ever watch Captain America?Or the Avengers?”Jasmine pretended to fan herself with her hand.“Hot!”

I smiled despite the tension in my gut.“You two are crazy.”

Jasmine grinned cheekily.“We try.”

“Ace is good at what he does.You don’t have to worry about him.He’ll slay the dragon and be back in time for supper.”Jewel wagged her eyebrows knowingly.“Or you, if that’s what he’s hungry for.”

I felt my face heat up.The walls around here weren’t soundproof, and Ace and I hadn’t been all that quiet.I hadn’t considered who might be within earshot when we made love.

“That was quick.”

I followed Jasmine’s gaze and saw the bikers all trooping out of the church building, heading back to the clubhouse.I wanted to get up and run to Ace, find out what was going on, but I resisted the urge.If I was going to try and fit in here, I had to do things their way.

Huh.When had I decided to try and fit in?

Ace came through the doorway and paced over to me.He held out his hand.“We can talk upstairs.”

I looked at the twins, who nodded silent encouragement.Placing my hand in his, I followed him up the stairs and into his room.He closed the door quietly behind us, still holding my hand.Crossing to the bed, he sat and pulled me down onto his lap.

“You’re going to war with them.”I made it a statement.

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