Chapter 25

Jax

Fresh air was hitting my face through the open window as I sat in the passenger seat of Ryder’s truck. Sabian was in the back, and none of us were speaking a word. There was thick tension in the air as we anticipated how the rest of the evening was going to unfold.

Ryder had secured a meeting with TJ, the new Black Hearts leader. We had been invited to the mansion to discuss business, but all three of us knew the likelihood of the exchange being restricted to just conversation.

That’s why I had a set of brass knuckles in my jacket pocket.

I shifted in my seat as we turned right and began making our way up the winding driveway to the mansion. Trees loomed over us as we approached, and a tight knot formed in my gut. I was ready for whatever might happen within the confines of that hell house.

We came to a stop in front of the massive house. Ryder put the truck in park, and the three of us peered up at the unguarded front door.

“No security?” Sabian muttered in the back seat. “I don’t like it.”

“Me neither,” I agreed.

Ryder unclipped his seatbelt and opened his door. “They’re expecting us.”

“You’d think they’d want to search us for weapons,” Sabian said, hopping out of the back seat.

I got out of the truck and slammed my door closed. “They’re playing games.”

“Well, we’ll just have to make sure they lose,” Ryder muttered, taking long strides to the front door. If he was worried, he didn’t show it. His demeanor proved he wasn’t afraid of anyone or anything, and I’d seen the man in action more than enough times to know I wanted him on my side.

I followed him to the front door.

Ryder knocked and, when no one answered, let himself in. Sabian and I followed, and we found ourselves standing in the grand foyer of the place. The only light in the place was that of the moon coming in through the windows.

I shifted my weight and peered down the hallways to our left and right. Another one led straight ahead in front of us and appeared to open into a study of sorts. I could see bookshelves along one wall, and warm light filled the room.

A fireplace, perhaps.

I pointed my chin down the hall, and Ryder nodded. We walked forward, and I drew to a stop behind Ryder when we arrived at the end of the hall.

We stood on the threshold of what appeared to be a library. Each wall was filled with bookcases, all with weathered spines chaotically tucked into the shelves. There was a fire crackling in the open fireplace, and in front of it were two green velvet chairs.

In one of the chairs sat a broad-shouldered bald man in a white suit sipping a dark liquor out of a crystal glass. If he knew we were standing there, he didn’t show it. He stared ominously into the flames as he sipped his drink.

When he spoke, his voice was low. “Gentlemen. Come on in.”

He never looked up at us as we came into the room. We drew to a stop ten or so feet from his chair, and he turned his head to finally look at us.

“Mr. Moretti,” he tilted his head in Ryder’s direction. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. And who have you brought along with you?” He craned his neck to peer around Ryder. “Ah. Jax and Sabian, am I correct?” His gaze lingered on Sabian.

Sabian nodded.

The bald man, who I assumed was TJ, adjusted his white jacket and let his gaze wander over the three of us. “Would you like to have a seat, Mr. Moretti?” He gestured to the open chair across from him.

Ryder sat down, and Sabian and I moved to stand behind his chair.

TJ chuckled. “You have loyal lapdogs, it would appear.”

Ryder ignored the comment. “We’re here to discuss your incessant harassment of my people. What are you playing at?”

TJ’s eyes widened slightly, but he regained his composure quickly. Apparently, he hadn’t expected us to come out of the gate so strong. I figured he was the kind of man who was used to scaring other men into submission.

He had no fucking clue who he was messing with.

“Well,” TJ started, “I don’t know if I would call it harassment. I would say I’ve been actively familiarizing myself with your MC. That, unfortunately, includes meeting your women. I can’t deny you have some pretty ladies hanging off your cocks—”

“Enough,” I hissed.

TJ looked up at me, the slightest smile curling his lips but not reaching his eyes. “Don’t take it so personally, Jax. I’m just saying it how I see it. That Holly.” He closed his eyes and let out a soft groan. “I’d like to see how she would navigate my bed.”

Sabian stiffened beside me.

Ryder leaned forward. “We’re not here to shoot the shit with you. We’re here to see what your intentions are and if there’s any possibility of a compromise.”

TJ chuckled. “I don’t do compromises.”

“All right, fuck this,” I said, stepping around Ryder’s chair so I was face to face with TJ. “No more fucking around. What are you up to?”

TJ leaned back in his chair and swirled the last few mouthfuls of liquor around his glass before polishing it off. He placed the now empty glass on the table to his right and turned back to face me, clasping his hands in his lap. If he felt threatened, he didn’t show it.

Which made me wonder where his other goons were hiding.

“A man who likes to cut right to the chase. I respect that.” TJ nodded at me. “The Black Hearts had a decent foundation when I arrived, but there was much room for growth. After eliminating a few odds and ends that threatened to hold us back, we are moving forward to merge all the MCs into one organization. My organization.”

Ryder chuckled behind me, and I stepped aside. “You think we’re going to work for you?”

“I don’t make assumptions. The offer stands. What you choose to do with it is up to you.”

“And if we don’t merge with you?” Ryder asked. “Then what?”

TJ shrugged. “Then I take your members by force. Cut the head off the snake and let your boys speak for themselves. They may not be too interested in joining you in hell, Mr. Moretti. In my experience, a leaderless organization is ripe for the picking.”

The threat was crystal clear. I swallowed and resisted the urge to glance down at Ryder. The mood had shifted, and all of us were on high alert now. Sabian was stiff as a board and had his hand on the back of Ryder’s chair. His grip was so tight, his knuckles had turned red.

Ryder surprised me by laughing. It wasn’t a chuckle or a humorous grunt but a full-blown burst of laughter. He leaned back in his chair and mimicked the way TJ was sitting. “For a man who’s been keeping eyes on my MC, you sure seem to have missed some crucial details. My boys won’t bend over and take it up the ass, no matter what you do. Loyalty actually means something to them, you see.”

TJ stared coldly back. “Then they will meet the same fate as you, Moretti.”

Ryder leaned forward, gripping the armrests. “You have no idea who you’re fucking with.”

TJ shrugged one shoulder. I realized they were somewhat lopsided. This was a man who had been through many battles. His collarbones had most certainly been broken several times. “An ominous threat won’t make me back down. I have you right where I want you, Moretti. I’ll confess, I’m impressed with your complete disregard for self-preservation.”

TJ got to his feet. Ryder followed.

The standoff was tense. My hands balled into fists at my sides as I waited for something—anything—to happen. I didn’t know who was going to make the first move, but as soon as someone swung, all bets were off.  

“I’ll ask you one more time,” TJ said. “Join me, or find your heads separated from your shoulders. This is an every man for himself offer. I’ll take whoever has the wits to see that siding with me is the right choice.”

I didn’t even need to look at my friends to know that none of us would be accepting his offer. We were family. Brothers. We stood together in the face of any threat, no matter how powerful.

“Suck my nuts,” I grated, slipping my hand into my jacket pocket and sliding my brass knuckles on.

TJ threw his head back and laughed. “I was hoping you’d say something like that. Things have been a bit dull around here. Time to crack some skulls.” He cracked his knuckles as footsteps sounded in the hallway.

I didn’t need to look to know his backup had arrived.

Five goons, dressed in tailored suits, filed into the room and faced us. Brass winked on their knuckles, too, and I accepted the fact that I was, at the very least, about to lose some teeth. At the worst … I didn’t want to think about it. There was no room for such thoughts in my brain right now.

I had to worry about this fight. This moment. If I didn’t stop this from spreading, Holly would be in danger. TJ had taken a liking to her, not that I could blame him, and I had to do whatever possible to make sure she never had to see his ugly face again.

Then there was Dani, Ellie, Jamie, and Hanna. All the girls who had hitched their wagons to ours would be paying for our sins if TJ got out of this room alive.

“No,” I growled, not caring that I looked like a fool talking to myself before a fight. Holly was mine to protect. I would not let her down.

TJ ran his hands over his bald head before cracking his neck. “You boys ready to put your money where your mouth is?”

“Let’s find out,” Ryder spat.

TJ laughed darkly. “It’s a shame you all hate me so much. I could have made a special place for each of you among my ranks. There’s no telling the kind of success we could have had together.”

“No more talking,” Ryder said.

I fell into step beside my President. “Come on TJ, stop waving your dick around and actually do something. We’re getting bored.”

TJ cracked his knuckles, the audible popping dancing around in my brain like a call to action. He flashed me a smile filled with gold caps. “I sure hope you’re not all talk, Jax. All this bravado of yours gets me hard as a fucking rock.”

TJ glanced at the men awaiting his order on the other side of the room. Their eyes were fixed on us, and their matching buzz cuts made them look more like military men or professional bodyguards than anything else.

This was probably going to be the worst ass kicking of my entire life.

TJ nodded toward us. “Kill them.”

The entire room blew apart as the five men sprang toward us. As Sabian and I turned to meet them head-on, Ryder let out a furious yell and went for TJ.

If he could handle the bald fucker, Sabian and I could take down the others. We had to.