Page 36 of The Secrets We Keep

My blood boils but I bite back the urge to beat the shit out of the three men on the ground and usher my family inside, instead. I lead them to the large sectional in the living area and make them sit down before I jog into the kitchen to get them both a bottle of water. When I come back into the room, I hand Sophie her water and then sink to the floor in front ofAsher. His wide eyes meet mine and my heart sinks.

“I’m so sorry, buddy. Are you okay?” I rasp. “Are both of you, okay?” I turn to Sophie whose wide eyes match Asher’s.

“We’re okay,” she says softly.

“I’m okay,” Asher whispers. “Why would they do that?”

“I don’t know, buddy, but I’m going to find out,” I grit out. “You guys stay right here, okay?” They nod. “Chef!” I bark. It only takes him a few seconds to appear.

“What’s up, pres?” He asks, looking concerned.

“I need you to sit with my girl and my kid while I handle something, okay?”

“You got it,” he says with a look of determination.

I pull Sophie and Asher into my arms and give them both a kiss. “I will be back in a little bit, okay? If you need me, you come to church and interrupt. I don’t care how silly it may be, okay?”

“Okay,” Sophie murmurs.

I nod and take a deep breath, rising to my feet but not leaving them for a moment. The last thing I want to do is leave them after someone just tried to take them, but I need to deal with it. To find out why. To see if there is still a threat.

“I’ve got them, pres,” Chef murmurs, sensing my reluctancy.

I nod and turn on my heel, heading toward church. When I walk through the door, the room is packed. We already had church planned, so most of the members were on their way to the clubhouse for that. We’re three people deeper than we’re supposed to be, though.

The men are maskless, now, but I only recognize one of them. Eric. The other two look like kids, maybe twenty years old at the most. I stop in front of them, my jaw clenched so tight that I feel like my teeth are going to break.

“Eric, it seems like you don’t take my lessons to heart,” I growl before I rear back and land a punch to his cheek, whipping his head to the right.

He spits out blood, but he doesn’t move thanks to Axel and Cane holding him in place. “You think it’s all about you,” he chuckles. “But it’s so much bigger than that.”

I pull out the seat in front of him and sit down, spreading my legs wide. “Enlighten me,” I grunt.

“What’s it get me in return?” He sneers.

“A quick death.”

His face leeches all its color and he visibly swallows. “I’m not the one you should be worried about.”

My brow furrows. “I don’t know, Eric. You’re the one who attacked my old lady and just tried to kidnap her and my kid. Who the hell else would I be worriedabout?”

“I would have left town when you wanted me to, but my president didn’t let me,” he confesses.

“James?” Axel asks.

James Black is the president of the Tennessee charter, the very charter that Eric defected to. He was one of John Parker’s closest friends, which is why he was chosen to head up the Tennessee charter.

“Yes, James.”

“What the hell does James have to do with all of this?” I ask.

Eric sighs. “John owed him. From what James told me, after he started the Tennessee chapter, John came to him for help. He told him that the club was broke and that he needed to borrow against the Tennessee charter.”

“What do you mean the club was broke? When was this?” I press.

“It was about ten years ago. John was using club funds to support his lifestyle. He was paying for hookers constantly. He burned through almost everything and he made sure the old timer who was secretary hid it from the club.” That member passed away years ago, so there is no way to confirm that. “He borrowed money from James and invested it. He was able to bring the club back into the green, but it was under one condition,” he says before he looks me in the eye. “He was supposed to marry Sophie and takeover the club, unless John could find another heir.”

The room was snuffed into silence. I sit up in my seat and run my tongue along my teeth. “So, you’re saying that James went after my son and old lady because he thinks he deserves my charter?” I ask, my tone deadly.

---