Page 51 of Bear

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Bear

Iease my arm out fromunder Jupiter’s head and sit on the edge of the bed. I can’t just let this slide. The Bayou Bastards need to die. I pull my discarded jeans from the floor along with my black hoodie. I reach for my cut, but decide it’s better left here. After tonight, I’m going to have the nomad chapter riding my ass, as well as Chaos and Anvil—my old prez from the Nashville charter.

What I’m about to do might get me stripped of my colors altogether, but it’s worth it for her. The Bayou Bastards will know better than to fuck with the Kings, and Tink will be safe.

I know I can’t pull Sterling, Ruin, or Saint into this. As the newest patched members, it will be their job to talk me out of going against their prez, and I can’t afford them taking this to Chaos before I’ve had a chance to make things right. But I can’t do this alone either.

I pull out my phone and text Crow and Mako.

Me: I need your help.

It only takes a few beats, and the text speech bubbles start dancing.

Crow: Name it.

Me: I’m going after the Bayou Bastards. It might bring a war down on our heads. I have a plan for that too.

Crow: I got your back, brother. Just don’t cut off any limbs.

Mako: Yeah, I’m in too. Those fuckers need to die.

Me: Good. Meet me at Jupiter’s house in twenty.

Mako: Chaos isn’t going to like this.

Me: It isn’t Chaos’s woman being threatened.

Mako: Fair enough.

I lean over and kiss her forehead. She’s sound asleep after the pills I gave her, but I won’t rest until this is done, until she’s safe.

A few hours after telling her brothers about Bobby Ray, when the shock wore off a little, I helped them set the place to rights, but I’ve been in the bedroom with Jupiter ever since. She won’t eat, and the boys aren’t interested in food either. I probably should have pushed a little harder with that, but the news was a lot for everyone.

Liam is on the couch, staring at the wall where the TV used to be. He doesn’t look up when I come in, but when I head for the door, he asks, “You’re going after them?”

“I am.”

“I want to come,” Tuck says from the stairs.

I whip around, shaking my head. “And get another of Jupiter’s brothers killed? No fucking way, kid.” I pull the knife from the holster at my belt and inspect the blade in the light from the kitchen.

“He was our brother. We have a right to be there. We should be the ones to do it.”

“You ever tortured anyone?” I ask.

Liam pierces me with his gaze.

“No.” Tuck shakes his head, looking shamefaced. As if not prolonging the brutal killing of another human being is something to be ashamed of. “H-have you?”

I smile. “Trust me—you don’t have the stomach for what I’m about to do to these men.”

Tuck shrinks into himself.

“What can we do?” Jeb comes out of his bedroom and stands at the top of the stairs.

“Stay here.”

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