Page 81 of Desert Heat

“I can’t forget her.”

“I can’t forget, Savvy either.”

I whistled between my teeth. “Taking her now will only escalate the war between the Clubs. Sure, I was with her under his nose and Savvy would die before confessing it to her old man and his Club. But taking her hostage isn’t something to do lightly. We’ll need to move our women and kids outta state to the safe houses at another Charter. We need to tell the other Bastards it’s on. I don’t want their help though. We got this on our own. I don’t need anyone to fight my wars.”

“You need the other Chapter’s blessing though.”

“And we’ll get it.”

“Savannah?”

“I’m wifing that shit someday. Then, I’m taking his Club–disbanding it.

Everything The Outlaws have will be ours. I’m sick of their shit, thinking I’m soft just because Tarak stepped back.”

“I’ll make the calls. Set the meet in case the girls don’t leave Bradbury willingly. I can’t do this love torn shit anymore and I know brandi still loves me. You think Savvy is gonna just let you show up at her door and pack he up?”

“No, Savvy is gonna fight like hell,” I grinned. “And I wouldn’t want to any other way. Good thing we have the Vegas chapter at our back with one being a Justice of the Peace. It’ll be all buttoned up and legal with now way out for her. I’ll marry her next week if that’s what it takes to keep her with me.”

“She’s gonna leave scratches all over your back.”

“Fucking, right,” I nodded as Tank went back inside. Tipping my head up to the sky, I made my first vow to her. “I’m coming back for you, Savvy. This time there’s no going back. You’re the final chess piece on the board, baby girl and I only play to win.”

The stars didn’t respond. She was somewhere out there tonight and if I ever find out Dean touched her, I’d slay him too.

It was hard as fuck staying away from my girl this past year, but I had Club shit to deal with and I loved her enough to respect her wishes to ‘find herself’ and all that Oprah bullshit. But time was up. I couldn’t wait anymore. That’s how I know what we had was love, cause I waited long enough to take it back.

“When are we leaving?” Tank came back outside with a glass of Whiskey in hand.

“In a few days, I need to wrap up some business here.”

“We driven’?”

“That depends. Only if we listen to my playlist this time. That fucking drive was brutal last time with you crying like a baby singing Whitney.”

“So?” He grunted, taking a long sip of his drink. “That shit was cathartic. I never knew how much shit I’d been holding onto.”

“Yeah, you definitely let it all out.” I shook my head at the memory.

“Fuck off. I saw you crying too.”

“Bullshit.” I rounded on him, giving his shoulder a playful shove. “We’ve both come a long way since Bradbury. I’m proud as fuck of you, Tank. The guys are too.”

“Savannah wasn’t the only one who figured out who she was. Maybe it’s the air up north. Its cleaner? Has more oxygen or some shit? Who the fuck knows? But I starting seeing shit clear as day.”

“I always knew who I was and what I wanted. Now I’m going back to get it,” I grinned. “I’m real proud of you bro. Real fucking proud. You’re gonna be the first Royal Bastard to hold a degree.”

Tank smiled. “Who knew I’d be so fucking good with numbers and shit?”

“You’ll be running all the books soon. Helping us bridge out into more legit business.”

“I hope she’ll see me as someone more than a tatted up biker dude who kills people.”

“Damn, that sounded harsh. We are a family, a brotherhood. We take care of our own and do what we have to in order to survive. Brandi gets that.”

“I need to show you something. He places his whiskey down and digs into his jean pocket.”

“Bruh? Seriously?” Tank opens the lid of a black velvet box, revealing a huge princess cut stone.

---