This is the third day straight that Beth insists on staying at the hospital. I would say absolutely not, but she’s probably safer there than at my club right now. I’m having Briar and K-Rex stay with her, and we have no less than ten men from Cade’s crew monitoring every exit of the hospital.

The fight with Colin has gone quiet since our attacks. We have confirmation that we didn’t manage to take out Colin, and that fucking sucks. There are rumblings though that our strikes have caught attention of the higher powers in the faction. We’ve been unable to get a name, but eventually I will. In the meantime, we’re planning attacks on the personal holdings of the Donahues. We’ll hit the apartment downtown, the country home that Matthew has claimed as his own, the private planes at the small airport they own, and finally the yacht. These strikes won’t do so much about hitting their bank accounts, but it will hurt them personally, especially Colin, and that’s my goal right now. I want the fucker to hurt, bleed, and go to hell. I’m making it my life’s goal to achieve that.

I call Beast’s room and stare off into space as it rings. Eventually Beth picks up, and when her sweet voice quietly whispers, “Hello,” I feel the tension inside of me ease. She has that effect on me. She calms me like nothing ever has or ever will.

“Hey, mi cielo. How are things?”

“They’ve just taken Beast down for surgery.”

They’re going to check out his healing tissue as well as begin their first repair on his face. The surgeon warned us not to get excited, that it would take several surgeries, but in truth, not one of us gave a flying fuck. We just wanted our brother alert and talking to us again. We’re all worried about how he’s going to react when he comes back through and has to face the fact that Annabelle is gone. My men got some ashes in an urn for him. There’s no way of telling if the ashes contain any of Annabelle, but we hoped that at least having something physical to grieve over would make it all easier.

“That’s good. Any word on how long it’s going to last?”

“No. The doctor said the surgery could last anywhere from an hour to several hours. It just depends on how he heals and what they find once they start exploring.”

“You’ll keep me updated?”

“Of course. Are you doing okay? Anything going on?”

“I’m fine, querida. I told you to stop worrying. Colin will need to regroup before he even thinks of striking back.”

“I know, I’m just worried.”

“I got this. Have some faith.”

Beth grows quiet and I get the sense that once again she’s planning something. I’ve had this suspicion for a few days now. The only problem is, I don’t have any idea what it is. I’ve done the only thing I know to do: I’m having her watched and guarded heavily.

“I love you, Skull.”

“I love you too, mi cielo. I’ll show you tonight. I find I’m missing my woman,” I tell her and I’m not joking. I’ve not been between those thighs in at least two nights. She was so upset since Annabelle’s death, and I couldn’t bring myself to do anything other than hold her and let her know I love her.

“Finally.”

“Hey, if you didn’t like it, you could’ve jumped my bones,” I tell her, deadly serious.

“I’ll make note of that.”

“See that you do. You call me if you need me, and keep Briar and K-Rex with you all the time. I don’t know Cade’s men, but I trust Briar and K-Rex to make sure you’re fine.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I think I like when you talk like that, Beth.”

“Don’t get used to it,” she laughs.

“Talk to you this evening, mi cielo.”

“This evening,” she agrees. “Love you, sweetheart.”

“You too,” I tell her with a smile, hanging up the phone.

I have a surprise for her this evening and I’m hoping she doesn’t turn me down. When I pick her up, I’m going to run by an ex-member’s house. The dude is crazy as fuck, but he has a license, and I’m marrying Beth.

I want her as my wife as well as my old lady. Part of it is because if Colin manages to get his hands on her, I don’t want him to be able to claim her. I know the fucker will try. This way, he’ll have to get rid of a husband before he can. Our surveillance has shown that he’s been meeting with a wedding planner about his wedding with Beth. Fuck that shit.

I haven’t told Beth; she’s got enough on her plate. Besides, it’s not all about that. I know she said she couldn’t have kids, but I was serious with her. I’m not going to rest until it happens. I have a vision of her nursing my child and I want that so fucking much. I won’t stop until it happens, and when it does, we will be married. No child of mine will be born out of wedlock. I might make up my own rules, but my madre would come back from the dead and scalp me if I didn’t follow the rules she held dear.

Tonight, Beth will be mine in all ways that matter. Colin can suck it.