Page 57 of Devil to Pay: Cutter

“Where does that leave us?”

He frowns, face looking like a hard-ass motherfucker. “You’re our family and she’s your family, which makesherour family,” he says matter-of-factly. “You were right, brother. I let my concern for Nic and Tripp cloud my judgment. I was an asshole. As your president, it’s my job to take care of all the family. Period.”

“They come at us, we’ll come back swinging,” Reaper says. “Dus is moving up to my room at the clubhouse and she’ll get guards to and from work. It’s safer that way. Betty says that she’s got no problem running the desk until Aja is able to come back when it’s safe.”

“Aj will hate that. She never wants people to think she’s taking advantage of them when she’s not.”

“No one thinks that, brother. Least of all Dusty. She fucking loves your woman. All the women do. I’ve heard the gossip. They think she’s a perfect fit for the club. Sweet, smart, feisty, and brave as hell.”

That she is. All of that.

I keep watch over Aja as she sleeps and keep her company when she’s awake. She wants orange chicken when she gets out from here. And her own bed—as in,ourbed. The one back at the compound. There’s nothing comfortable about hospital beds.

After two days, she’s doing well enough to be discharged. I slip out of her room to let Reap and Vlad know. They’ve been here the whole time keeping guard for us. Vlad shoots up from his chair with his phone to his ear as I enter the room. My whole body goes on alert. Tightening. Fight mode.

“What?” I ask.

Vlad snaps his head in a sharpno. “The fuck?” he barks into the receiver.

Reap positions himself to Vlad’s side, straining to hear, but at the same time his phone rings. “Dus?” he clips. “Fuck. Close up now. Knuckles gets you to the compound.”

“Not safe,” Vlad shouts to Reap. “Compound under attack. Death Bringers.”

“Fuck!” I shout.

“Dus, strike that. Knuckles drops you off at Betty’s house. She’s under radar. Can’t get to the compound now. It’s not safe.” He pauses. “Love you, baby.”

Betty’s not just under radar—she knows how to handle herself in a situation. Between Betty, Knuckles, and Dusty herself, they’ll keep safe.

Still, my gut clenches. I can’t believe I brought this on the club. Vlad hangs up then pushes the button on another contact. “Duke. Compound is under attack. Me and my lieutenants are still up in Ohio. Our women and children—fuck!” There’s a pause. “Thanks, brother. We’re riding now.”

“Going now,” Reap says.

“I can’t leave Aj.”

“No. You can’t,” Vlad agrees. “But we gotta go. Sarge and Dark are on the highway now.”

“Go,” I say.

“Be careful, brother. We’ll get your back as soon as we get this under control.”

“The problem is down there. We’ll be fine. Under radar.”

The brothers rented cars up here after the Lords got them on that flight. Horace drove my truck here from the Waffle House and I had him ride my bike home knowing that Aja wouldn’t be able to ride on the back of my bike for a while.

I’m torn. I hate that I’m not riding out with Vlad and Reaper. This ismyfight, or at the very least my fight,too. But at the same time, nothing—not one fucking thing—could keep me from being here, keeping Aja safe.

She smiles when I walk back into her room. To think that I almost ruined us by being such an asshole. It makes me want to punch myself.

“I take it the doc hasn’t come in with those discharge papers?” I ask.

“Unfortunately, no. Though”—she raises up her arm free of the IV tube—“the nurse came in and cut me loose.”

“So you can get dressed?”

“Where did my clothes get put?”

“Jeans are in that closet thing,” I say then toss the bag on her lap. “Shirt.” She opens up the bag and pulls the pink pastel shirt out, holding it up to see the picture printed on the front. It’s sonotAja. There’s a fluffy kitten with an enlarged head and huge eyes wearing blue scrubs. No words. Just the picture. She breaks out laughing, covering her face with her hand to muffle the sound but grabs her side and winces at the same time.

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