Page 22 of Unveiled Wounds

“Anyone want to bet the Red Shadow still has feelings for his baby mama?” Wreck commented dryly.

“Pulse was their son. What if he feels guilty about how all that fucking shit went down?” Pretty snapped his fingers.

Thunder wasn’t happy at that revelation.

“You can’t deny it,” Wreck said to him. “The most powerful man south of the border wouldn’t put an order of protection onhis marketing girl. Fuck, he wouldn’t even think about Meredith. I would bet anything that when he had lunch with Flo, he put two and two together. Those orders of protection are for his baby mama’s nieces.”

“I don’t have to like it.” Thunder crossed his arms over his chest.

“We haven’t told them yet, but the three of them are on lockdown until we can get this situation under control. I’m also closing the gates. No guests of any kind,” Sabre said. “I don’t like any of this.”

I’d been riding high, ready to put all of this past us, but Sabre’s words reminded me there was still friction between the club and Meredith. There was a pain in my chest that I tried to rub away as a lump settled in my throat. My eyes lowered to the table. I didn’t bother looking at anyone because if I was right, it would crush me. “I’m begging. Help me protect my wife. You don’t have to like her, nor accept her. You don’t have to vote her in. All I’m asking is that you help me protect the person who makes me whole. I’ve tried to live without her, and you all know how that worked out. When this is over, I’ll have my tattoo burned, and we’ll leave.”

“I won’t speak for everyone else, but I got no problem with girlie pop. Most of you complain that she’s not Flo, but when it mattered today, she stepped up. If you can’t see past the differences, at least give her credit for that.”

I nodded at DeadZone, hoping he knew how much that meant to me. I would never tell him because he would just shrug it off, but if he ever had a woman, I’d protect her like my own.

“Yeah, no matter what your opinion is, give her credit for that. I’ve known stronger men who’ve cracked at the first sign of trouble. She handled business and gave Flo enough time to run.” Op rubbed a hand over his face.

I nodded at Op, a silent thank you for acknowledging Meredith’s courageousness.

Twig knocked his knuckle against the table. “My tattoo hides the scars on my back. Meredith stood in the middle of the yard with hers on display. That shit’s messy. No wonder she was bitchy in the beginning. No offense.” He looked at me for approval, but I just waved my hand. It wasn’t worth arguing about when it was true.

I stuck my fist in my mouth, afraid I was going to let out a sob. I was comfortable enough in my feelings that I wouldn’t care who saw, but I also didn’t want to be teased when this was all over.

Sabre took over, patting my arm as he slid towards the front of his chair. “Grace and JR are going to move back into our rooms in the clubhouse, with the stipulation that they are not to walk back and forth. Chef?”

“On it,” Chef said, taking a sip from his mug.

“Dead?” Sabre met Dead’s eyes further down the table.

“I’m good with it.” He shrugged, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms behind his head.

I was having a hard time believing it had been as easy as that. Meredith had a bodyguard, and I trusted Dead had her best interests at heart.

“Thunder, you’ll still be with Aunt E. The only time she is to leave this place is if she has an appointment. I don’t think she’s the target, so take a prospect with you, and it should be fine. She’s making progress, and I don’t want that to stop.”

Thunder nodded his head, still mean-mugging the rest of the table.

“Emily,” Sabre said. “She’s not involved in any of this, but I won’t let her be a pawn. She’ll go on lockdown, but I’m going to leave her protection to the two of you.” He nodded at Zook and then turned towards How on the other side of the table.

“Speaking of protection, do you want snipers on the roof?” Zook asked.

“Might as well. Two, swapping every four hours. If you need supplies, talk to Count.” Sabre slapped his hand against the table again. “We all know there’s more coming, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The club businesses will remain open, but keep your eyes and ears open. No one rides alone.”

Silence settled over the room. This was the beginning of war.

***

Meredith

The men had been in church for over an hour. It had been quiet before, but the silence was deafening now. I was sitting on the couch that faced church’s hallway. Emily was on the end, next to me. She wasn’t involved in any of this, but she didn’t leave us to our own devices. Aunt E was on the other side of me, and Grace held JR in her arms, taking the far end.

“We need to protect them,” I whispered, staring straight ahead.

“What are you talking about?” Grace asked.

“They’re bikers. They can’t function in normal society, but we can. If we make connections in high places, we can protect them.” My mind was running with the possibilities. “I refuse to let Grizz suffer in the future for something I could prevent now. If we do this and never need to pull favors, at least we’ll have them.”

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