Page 13 of Unveiled Wounds

“I don’t know where Grace’s head is at about marriage. She’s already done that dance, and I don’t want her to feel like she has to settle. Instead, I’ve been pushing for another baby to gauge her reaction. It’s probably going to bite me in the ass, but I can’t propose with doubts she’s going to say no.”

“She won’t say no, but she’s going to kill you when she finds out. Do you even want another baby, or are you just dangling that out there?”

“I wouldn’t mind either way, although I’d like more time just the three of us.” He sighed, and then leaned forward, leveling a gaze at me. “If I propose, is that going to set Meredith back?”

I thought about it for a minute before I gave him my answer. “I don’t think so. We’re already married, and if she ever wants a real wedding, I’ll give her one.” A thought crossed my mind. “You going to ask Gerry for permission?”

“Fuck no. The less I have to deal with that stupid fuck, the better off I’ll be.” He shot me a murderous look, but all I did was smile wider. “The only person I’ll ask is Aunt E.”

We both chuckled at his predicament, but our good humor died a quick, painful death when his cell phone rang. I watched as he picked it up from his desk.

“It’s the prospect.” Sabre instantly stood from his chair, and I followed suit, waiting to see what was going on. “Yeah,” he answered, putting it on speaker. His tone betrayed the worrythat was clearly written on his face. I didn’t need a mirror to know that I probably looked the same.

“Prez, the cartel’s here.”

That was all I heard before I ran out of his office, yelling for the enforcers and anyone able to ride right now. Sabre was right on my heels, but I didn’t wait for him as I took off on my bike. The only person on my mind was Meredith.

***

I was the first one to pull into the Old McMillan parking lot. I probably should have waited for the rest of the brothers to get into formation, but the only thing on my mind was getting there as soon as possible. Grace’s SUV was sitting in the lot, and the prospect had parked his bike next to her. There was a black SUV with black tinted windows parked in front of the main door.

Sabre pulled in next to me. He threw his helmet off and immediately started separating the brothers into two groups. Half would come with me through the front door, and the other half would head with him towards the trees. I didn’t care who was with me. They could handle themselves, but I was about two seconds from ripping through the entrance and causing mass destruction.

“We need them alive,” Sabre reminded me before he ran. Pretty and Wreck followed him. I shook my head, clearing my mind before I made my way to the entrance. I threw the main door open. “Mer?” I called out, but she didn’t respond.

Pulling my gun from the back of my jeans, I opened the second set of doors into the main ballroom. “Mer?” I called out, but this time, I heard signs of a struggle. “Mer?” I called out again, hurrying around the tables that were still set up. I didn’t hear the brothers behind me, but I knew they had spread out.

I was the first to find them. Meredith was on the ground, crawling towards the door, but the cartel soldier had a hand wrapped around her ankle. Every time she tried to move forward, she’d kick at him, but he didn’t release her. There was blood covering the floor, and I didn’t know which one of them it belonged to. I’d rip him apart when I got the chance if it was hers.

I ran around the table, approaching from behind. “Get your fucking hands off my wife,” I said, the barrel of my gun against his temple. He instantly stopped moving, releasing her ankle. “Baby, you alright?” I called out to her, trying to calm down and think rationally. I really wanted to fire, but Sabre wanted answers. Truthfully, I did too, but I’d take death first. I wasn’t picky.

She held up her thumb, laying flat on the floor.

“You hurt?” I asked her.

“I had it under control, Jonathan.” I didn’t know if she was laughing or crying. There was no sound to distinguish which, but her back bounced with the motion.

“Don’t think about touching that gun. I’ll drop you where you lie,” Deadzone said, and I refocused on the situation at hand. I had to be their VP before I could be her husband.

“Dead, if he even fucking moves, put a bullet between his eyes. I’ll ask forgiveness later.” I tucked my gun back into the waistband of my jeans and sat on the floor next to my wife.

“Yeah, VP. You alright, girlie pop?”

“Peachy keen.” The muffled sound came from underneath her hair, but it was music to my ears.

Lacing our fingers, I took a breath. “It’s just me, baby.”

“It was too close. Don’t let them see me break,” she whispered, squeezing my hand in return.

I didn’t know how long I had, so I started issuing orders. “Twig, Berry, call Grease for a couple of cars and some tarps. Ourguest needs a personal escort to the Playroom. Op, call Thunder. Give him the basics, but once Aunt E’s appointment is over, they are to head straight back to the clubhouse. No lunch.”

There was a flurry of activity as the men complied, but I didn’t move from my spot on the floor, holding my wife’s hand.

“Damn, Buster. What did you do?”

“That’s a fuckton of blood. Think it’s still attached?”

“Didn’t you see the knife in his hand? Buster did good.”

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