My heart stops.

She slicks her tongue over her bottom lip. "For a second tonight, I thought I might die, and I was so angry with myself for not saying it to you. Only giving you that stupid noteI'm sorry. Please don't think the only reason I'm saying it now-"

"Please stop." I yank my wallet out. Flipping it open, I pull out the note she gave me and hold it out to her. "It's the sweetest thing anyone's ever given me. Keep it with me so I can look at it whenever I miss you."

She gasps and cries even harder. "Shhh." I wrap her in my arms and after tucking her note away, toss my wallet on the night stand. "Come on, let's get some rest."

I've got a splitting headache when my phone wakes me up. Completely disoriented, I roll over and answer, noticing it's one in the afternoon.

"What?"

"We got a meet with Ransom's crew in two hours."

Scrubbing my hand over my face, I nod, then realize Rock can't see that over the phone. "Yeah. I'm up. Give me ten."

"Hope's downstairs, waiting for Trinity."

Fuck. I can only imagine how well that conversation went. "Thanks."

Trin settles her hand on my back. "Wyatt?" She crawls over until she's sitting on top of me. From the look on her face, sex is the last thing on her mind. "Please don't do this."

"What?"

"Go after them. I don't want to be the cause of another war between-"

Cupping her face between my hands, I stare into those honey eyes I love so much. "You know that's not how things work, Trinity. They touched what's mine. They pay."

"I-we just got things figured out. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Aw, shit. "I promise I'll be careful. But you know this can't stand. What if they went after Hope next? You think she'd get away like you did? Or Swan? Or even Heidi?"

Understanding flares in her eyes and she nods. She rolls to the side and sits up next to me.

"Well, with the mouth on her, they'd probably give Heidi back right away," she jokes.

I'm happy she's able to laugh, considering how grave the situation is. "That's my girl."

Following the noise in the hallway leads us to the dining room. Hoot, Birch and Swan are busy running back and forth taking care of things. Everyone's here.

As soon as she spots us, Hope runs over and pulls Trinity into a hug. Rock whistles to get everyone's attention.

"Members and prospects to the war room. Everyone else stays on the property until further notice."

I have just enough time for Swan to shove a cup of coffee and a sandwich in my hands before I follow everyone down the hall. Z catches up with me. "She okay?"

"Yeah. Better."

"Good. Real fuckin' proud of her for gettin' away like that."

My mouth quirks up. Me too.

Once we're seated, Rock remains standing and takes a look at everyone. I spot two members from downstate and give them a nod.

"I know some of you have only gotten bits and pieces, so I want to make sure everyone's on the same page. Trinity, a long time asset to our club, and Wrath's ol' lady, was attacked last night in downtown Ironworks."

One of the guys from downstate-Steer-raises his hand. Rock cuts him off with a shake of his head. "Our agreement with the Vipers is, associates, family, ol' ladies are all allowed in their territory as long as they're not on club business or wearing club colors. Trinity was there for class and no way would she wear colors in their territory. She knows better."

That seems to answer whatever Steer was planning to ask.

"Trinity managed to knife the guy-" Rock's interrupted by the room breaking out into applause, shouts and whistles, which makes me chuckle.

"Yeah, we're all proud of Wrath's girl," Rock says with a smirk. It's probably an inappropriate time to notice, but I really like how Wrath's girl sounds coming out of my president's mouth in front of everyone.

"Trin was able to identify the guy as Viper based on what he said to her. I've spoken to one of our local allies, and they're ready to back us."

I raise my hand quick and Rock nods at me. "We also got an offer of support from the Devil Demons MC."

"Why ain't you callin' either of them in?" Bull-also from downstate-asks.

Now, my answer would be Shut the fuck up or Because I fucking said so, something along those lines.

"Until we know what we're dealing with, I'd rather keep this in-house. No reason to use a blowtorch if a match works," Rock explains as if he's talking to a two-year-old.

That's why he's the prez, and I'm not.

"I also needed to let the local guys know to keep a closer eye on their women."

Bull nods as if that hadn't occurred to him. As his name suggests, he's dumb as an ox. That's why he's the sergeant-at-arms downstate and not the prez.

"I've been in touch with Ransom, the Viper's current president. At first he denied any knowledge of the attack. Said he didn't authorize it and assured me there would have been no issue with Trinity being down there for class."

This is all new information. Seems Rock was busy while I was napping the morning away.

"I got a call back from him a little while ago. They say they tracked the guy down. One of their hang-a-rounds, trying to impress the club. They're holding him for us so we can verify. Now, I trust a Viper about as far as I can throw one-"

"Which ain't far, they're a bunch of fat fucks," Z blurts out for a little comic relief. Rock shakes his head.

"This could be a trap or they could be sincere. I want to go in heavy enough so they know we're not fucking around but not so many guys it looks like a threat. I also need to make sure CB has adequate coverage-just in case. And I need guys here at the house." Rock levels a stern look at each of us. "These are the assignments. Do not question me unless you have a very good reason. And it better be stellar, so think it through before opening your mouth."

I'm not worried at all. I know exactly where I'm going.

"Wrath, Z, Murphy, Bull, and Ravage-you guys are with me. We'll take two vehicles. Ravage, Bull, and Murphy will wait outside and stay alert for trouble."

No one opens their mouth to complain.

"Dex, Steer, and Birch-I want you at Crystal Ball. We open at four. I want you down there checking things over by three o'clock."

"Teller, Axel, Bricks, Stash, Sparky, and Hoot-I want you at the house. Sparky and Stash, I need you two upstairs and alert."

"Got it, boss," Sparky assures him. For once he actually looks sober.

"Bricks, you know the security set up, so I want you on that."

"You got it."

Rock addresses the guys staying at the house. "Trin's got the combination to both gun safes and she's proficient with just about every weapon we have. Don't hesitate to have her help out." Rock sighs and his mouth turns up in a tired smirk. "Hope's been to the range, but she's not confident."

I think Rock's message is to use Hope as a last resort, which isn't quite fair. Cinderella's a good shot-once you load the weapon for her and show her where to point it.

Teller pipes up. "Heidi's good with a couple different weapons."

Rock nods. "That's it. We're all clear?" Everyone says yes. Rock calls Bull and Steer up to the front of the table. "I think no matter how this goes down, I'd rather have some extra muscle at CB this week, you two up for it?"

They don't have to think about it. Hanging out in our strip club all week isn't exactly a hardship for these guys. "Hell, yeah."

Rock slaps their shoulders. "Thanks."

Steer heads out with the CB crowd. Ravage joins us.

"Prez, you really want me outside?" Murphy asks.

"Did you miss something?" Rock asks.

Murphy shakes his head. Rock's feeling more generous than I am, 'cause I woulda kicked Murphy's ass for that. Instead he slaps Murphy on the back and pulls him close. "Vipers blow the three of us away, you and Teller will have to fight it out for my seat."

Murphy finally understands why he's being asked to wait outside. "Sorry, prez." He glances at me. "I'd take his job anyway."

Yeah, I'd like to kick Murphy's ass on a regular basis-for lots of reasons-but I'd be comfortable with that. Not that it matters if I'm dead.

Z's jumping around ready to go. "I hope they give us a fuckin' reason."

"Hey," Rock snaps. "Simmer the fuck down. He looks over the five of us. "Everyone suited up?"

Shit. "I gotta run upstairs, Rock."

He nods at me. "Yeah. Meet us at the front door."

Trinity intercepts me at the staircase. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I gotta grab something from my room. Come with?"

She follows behind me and watches me get ready. "They think they found the guy." I press a cell phone into her hand. "Check this later. I may send you a picture."

"Okay. Was it Viper?"

"Right now they're saying it was some hang-a-round."

She seems to think that over. "That makes more sense. Probably thought taking me would help him get his prospect rocker."

"Yeah, well the fucker better have come up with that on his own."

My leg's aching like a bitch on our way downstairs, but I gotta push the pain down and focus.

Rock, Z and I ride together.

Murphy, Bull, and Ravage stay right behind us the entire way. We left our cuts at home. Fuckin' hate entering Ironworks. "Was that Trinity's last class?" Z asks from the backseat.

"Yeah."

"Good timing."

No shit. No fuckin' way is she coming near Ironworks again. She needs more art classes, I'll send her anywhere else she wants to go.

The Viper's clubhouse looks like a fuckin' crack den. It's right on Second Avenue in what's known as South Ironworks. South of Satan's toilet is more accurate.

If the eight-foot chain link fence doesn't scream gangster hideout, the four pit bulls who attack the fence when we get out of our vehicles certainly do. The two houses on either side have blacked-out windows and some strange ventilation choices.

Z catches my eye and subtly tilts his head at the four different video cameras facing the street.

The stench of cat piss permeates the entire area.

We wait on the sidewalk for someone to come get us. It's a respect thing. Walking up and ringing their doorbell would not be respectful.

"Guess they've moved their cooking in-house," I mutter to Rock.

He nods once.

How they feel comfortable having their operation in plain sight smack in the middle of Ironworks, is beyond me. Ironworks PD must be shadier or lazier than I thought.

Murphy, Bull and Ravage stand behind us but move farther back when Ransom himself comes out to meet us.

He shakes Rock's hand. "I ain't even gonna check you for weapons. This is how much I want to make it clear we're not tryin' to start trouble."

"Appreciate it," Rock answers.

Ransom motions for us to follow. I slip on a pair of leather gloves as I walk behind Rock. Now the inside is surprisingly nice and clean, considering what outside looks like. The usual half-naked chicks are running around. What's unusual is how many of them look underage.

I know that's not why we're here, but it pisses me off anyway.

Ransom gets right down to business and takes us downstairs into their basement. "Murder room" is a better description. It's been outfitted with epoxy-coated cement and large drainage holes for easy wash downs. Hooks and eye-bolts to house multiple "guests." The current guest is tied to a chair that's bolted to the floor.

"Eduardo, say hello to our friends," Ransom prods the barely breathing prisoner.

"You got a 'before' picture, we can send to our girl to I.D. him?" Rock asks. "Don't know if she'll recognize him in this condition."

Ransom grins and pulls something out of his pocket. Next to me, Z tenses up, but otherwise doesn't move. "Recognize this?" Ransom asks, holding out a bloody knife.

Rock motions for me to take it. I recognize it right away. "Yeah, that's hers."