Page 72 of Huge Dynamite
“You didwhat?” Bullet steps toward me. “Fuck, Seth! What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t thinking, okay?”
“That could mean war for us. Why haven’t they attacked?” Bullet can’t let it go. I don’t blame him.
“I think they’re waiting. They’re trying to divide us up and then attack. They know we’re stronger as a group—so they’re letting me self-destruct and take all of you down with me. They think I can implode the Knights.”
“It ain’t gonna happen.” It’s Bucky, our Road Captain.
“Damn straight.” Texas agrees.
“Thanks, guys.” Swallowing hard, I go on. “I was inside her house, and then I heard a noise outside. I came out and saw they had spray-painted ‘bitch’ on the side of her building.”
“Doesn’t that mean the Dogs claimed her?” Colt asks.
“Yeah.” I’m surprised by how he’s taken to our culture and how much he understands already. “So, I went chasing after whoever did that—but on the way, I got a message that she was kidnapped.”
“Could this be a ploy?” Vil asks. He fiddles with the rings in his ears as he speaks. “Something to draw us out?”
“No.” Shaking my head, I look at all of them. “I’ve got a reliable source. Some kid that hangs out in the neighborhood. He’s my eyes on the inside.”
I can feel Colt staring at me, but when I turn to him, he looks away.
“That’s not everything.” Taking a deep breath, I go on. “You deserve to know it all. The Dogs have taken Greenville as their turf, and I don’t know—I wasn’t thinking.”
“That’s nothing new.” It’s Colt.
Nodding to him, I take a deep breath, sucking in my cheeks as I do. “When I went to see Luther, I tried to bargain with him. I told them we’d give up our land for the build in exchange for Greenville. Make a switch.”
“What?” This time it’s Bullseye.
The guys mumble.
“Guys, listen, they didn’t accept anyway.”
“The thing is,” Nick explains, “it wasn’t yours to give.”
“I know that. I just panicked. I wasn’t thinking—I did my usual Dynamite. But listen, for the first time ever, tonight, I stopped myself and came back to the club begging for your help. I didn’t charge forward like I always do, trying to stop three guys alone.” Throwing my hands up, I look from man to man. “Yes, I fucked up. But I’m asking for your help, as brothers. If you don’t do it for me, then please. Please help Holly, who would help any of you.” My gaze lands on Colt.
“He’s right,” Nick says. “It takes a big man to admit when he’s wrong and ask for help.”
The tense muscles in my shoulders relax the slightest bit.
“So?” I look around again.
“We ride,” Nick announces. Going to the storage in the back of the room, he unlocks the safes and we grab our guns and ammo. I also pick up a pack of zip ties that work better than handcuffs, and a couple of the guys grab brass knuckles and Colt takes a set of nunchucks.
“You know how to use those things?” I ask him.
“That’s why I took them.” Looking me in the eye, he nods.
“All right,” Nick says. “It’s a long ride from here to Rumble. May pass the law on the way. No shotguns. Bullet, as VP, your job is to get the word to all the Knights. Let them know we may be preparing for war.”
“Aye, aye, Nick.”
Turning to me, Nick adds, “I’ve got to tell the Vipers and the Rebels. They deserve to know what may be going down here tonight. They’ll catch word of it soon enough, and it should be from me.”
“Nick.” Reaching out, I grab his arm as he passes by, stopping him. “I’m sorry.”
