Page 34 of Strength in Submission
WHIP
Church has been going on for two hours, and I'm ready to get back to Violet. We've covered Derek's location, his daily routines, where he works, who he hangs with. The information we have on him is solid, and Cruel's contacts came through with everything we need to make this asshole disappear from Violet's life permanently.
"So we're all in agreement," Ripper says, leaning back in his chair at the head of the table. "We pay Derek a visit, make it clear that if he comes near Violet again, he'll be eating through a tube for the rest of his miserable life."
"And if he doesn't listen?" Viper asks, taking a long drag from his cigarette. "Some guys are too stupid to know when they're beat."
"Then we escalate," Cruel replies simply, cracking his knuckles. As the enforcer, he's the one who'll handle most of the physical persuasion. But, I'm in this too. Violet is special to me, and no one fucks with what's mine. "I've dealt with his type before. They usually get the message real quick when they realize what they're up against."
"I still don't get why we're putting club resources toward your woman problems, Whip," Viper says, flicking ash into abeer bottle. "Maybe you should've thought about that before you started fucking your sister's little friend."
The temperature in the room drops about ten degrees. Every man at this table knows that's a line you don't cross—you don't disrespect another brother's woman, and you sure as hell don't question club decisions once the president has spoken.
"Watch your mouth," I say, my voice deadly quiet. "Violet's under club protection now. That means she's family."
"Is she?" Viper challenges. "Because last I checked, you haven't made anything official. It's new, isn't it. You don't have no ring on her finger, you haven't claimed her in front of us, nothing. She's just some chick you're fucking who got roughed up by her ex."
I'm halfway out of my chair when Ripper's voice booms across the room.
"That's enough!" He fixes Viper with a stare that could cut glass. "The decision's been made. We protect our own and theirs. Whip's woman is our woman now. Anyone got a problem with that can find themselves a new club."
Silence follows his words. Viper backs down, but I can see the resentment simmering in his eyes. This isn't over between us, not by a long shot.
"Now," Ripper continues, "Cruel, you and Kane will handle Derek. Whip, you stay clean—you've got too much to lose if this goes sideways legally. The rest of us will provide backup if needed."
"Understood," I nod, though every fiber of my being wants to be the one who puts Derek in his place. But Ripper's right—my law career means I can't afford to get my hands dirty. At least not officially.
My phone buzzes against my leg, then again, and again.
"Sorry," I mutter, pulling it out. "Might be work."
But it's not work. It's Violet, and the messages make my blood run cold.
Derek found me. He's here. Trying to get in.
Santiago, please, I'm scared.
Where are you?
The last message came in three minutes ago.
"Fuck!" I shout, jumping to my feet so fast my chair topples backward. "Derek's at my place. He's trying to get to Violet."
Every man in the room moves at once. Chairs scrape as I'm rushing toward the door.
"Cruel, Kane, you're with me. Everyone else, follow as backup."
The ride from the clubhouse to my apartment building takes twelve minutes on a normal day. We make it in seven, running red lights and weaving through traffic like our lives depend on it. Because Violet's life might.
My heart pounds as I think about her alone in my apartment, terrified, with that psychopath trying to break down my door. I should have posted someone outside the building. I should have anticipated that Derek would be psychotic enough to escalate the situation this quickly.
If he touches her, if he hurts her again, I'll kill him with my bare hands. Law degree be damned.
We screech into the parking garage, and I'm off my bike before it's fully stopped. Cruel and Kane are right behind me, their faces grim. The elevator ride to the fifteenth floor takes forever, each second stretching into eternity.
When the doors open, I see two things immediately: my apartment door is closed and appears perfectly intact, and there's a delivery uniform crumpled on the floor by the stairwell.
I key in my entry code and burst through the door, Cruel and Kane right beside me. "Violet!"
