I’ve got my woman back at the club. She’s slowly healing, but doesn’t really venture out of our room. People make her nervous, especially if there is more than one or two. It’s been a few days since her release, and she’s still a mess. To me, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. I can’t believe the courage this woman possesses. I wasn’t lying to her that day in the hospital, others would have caved long ago. Hell, I’m not even sure I have what it takes to fight for as long as she has.

Nicole finally came by and visited Dani yesterday, but it didn’t go well. I understand that she is mourning the loss of Dragon, but she tore into my woman and made yet another fucking hole in her heart. I wish I could magically make it all better…for Dani, for Nicole, for all of us…this place is so fucking depressing since Dragon died, it seems unreal.

Today is Dragon’s funeral. Freak has been doing some digging and put a few feelers out. The club is preparing for Michael to attack. I haven’t told Dani. It would just make her feel worse. She’s in no shape to venture out anyways. I’m going to make sure she’s never alone. Freak wouldn’t tell me how he knew that fucker was planning an attack, but he said it was reliable. So fuck, I know it’s coming today. Another thing pissing me the fuck off, is that Skull is hanging around and staying close to Nicole. He’s like a dog in heat. Dancer seems to be allowing that shit too. I know as club VP, I should probably step in and get him the fuck off the grounds, but I got my hands full. I don’t see why Bull and Dancer can’t step up. Still, I’ve decided after the attack today, that fucker and his whole crew need to be scarce on Savage land.

Fucking hell, I guess if you get down to it, I’m probably the club President now. We haven’t had a formal meeting though, and honestly, I can’t assume leadership. I betrayed my brother. Maybe if I had handled things differently, Dragon would still be breathing. That’s a fucking hard truth to face. So, Drag’s death is on my shoulders—no one else’s.

A brother I served with, Diesel, is in for Dragon’s funeral. He keeps hitting me up to help him with his crew. He just lost an old lady. I’ve told him how fucked up I’ve been doing things concerning Dani and for some reason he respects it. Says he wished he had done more to save his woman, Sheila. It’s fucked up, but I’m considering it. Dani and I need a change.

I have checked in with Freak and the others. There’s firepower lined up at all the entrances and hidden throughout the parking area. Bull has fixed it so the gates will remain open, while the riders go out, and then he’ll circle back. It’ll appear we’ve been lax and that will set it up for Michael to make his move. Then the men from Diesel’s crew, a few from Skull’s, and Bull, Nailer, and Six will attack back. I’ll be coming out at the end, to finish off Michael. I get that. That is mine. I’m going to drain the life out of that sorry motherfucker with my bare hands. The other brothers didn’t argue. It wouldn’t have mattered if they had. Dancer is in charge of protecting the women outside, and I’m putting Hawk in charge of keeping Dani safe.

It’s the perfect plan, but with each minute that passes I feel as if I’m crawling out of my skin.

“Zander, you’re killing me. Go to the funeral, Dragon would want you there,” Dani says, interrupting my thoughts.

“Nah, sweetheart, I’m good,” I answer, brushing hair out of her face. She’s lying in bed, and looking at the new e-reader I got her. I was a stupid-fuck, because she can’t hold it and turn the pages right now, but she just looks at it, telling me no one had ever given her anything before, except Nicole and Ray for Christmas. Birthdays, they usually just took her out and that’s wrong. I’m going to give her the world if I can manage it.

“You’re making me nervous, Zander, and since I’m going stir crazy in this bed, that’s saying something.”

“I’m sorry Hellcat, just a little out of sorts today that’s all.”

“Out of sorts? Sometimes you are so weird,” she grumbles, laying back on the bed with a huff.

“Good thing you like weird,” I smirk.

“Ehh…I’m just with you because of Junior.”

“And Junior, thanks God for that, every damn day.”

Dani rolls her eyes, and I wink at her. When we’re like this, just the two of us, everything seems fine—at least on the surface. She has new demons now, and they circle around her at night. She’s not sleeping, and she seems untouchable at times. Still, I know she’s trying, and there’s not much more I can do. I’ve talked to her about therapy. Dancer is attending weekly meetings with some shrink, and he says Dani needs to see her. Dani won’t talk about it right now, and I don’t want to push her, but after Michael is gone…if things don’t get better, I’m going to have to do more than push.

“You look tired Zander, you should rest.”

I take her hand, holding it in the palm of mine, and kiss the back of her knuckles. She tries to pull her hand away, because it’s the one with the missing finger, I don’t let her. I kiss it and hold it against my face, letting her know I see nothing different, she’s still beautiful.

“Look who’s talking.”

“A fine pair we are…”

She stops and we look out the window, when we hear the gunfire outside. It looks like we’ve reached show time. I stand up quickly and kiss her forehead.

“Stay put, Hellcat, I’m about to go make you a widow, and I need you to stay here and be safe.”

“What? Zander, you can’t…”

“Don’t argue with me, Hellcat. I got shit to handle, and I don’t want to be distracted worrying if you’re doing what I told you to do, or not.”

“What I’m told? Zander! I don’t have to…”

“Shut it, sweetheart. We’ll talk when I get this shit done.”

I close the door, giving Hawk the okay. I draw my gun and head out to make my woman a widow.

I make it outside and slowly move from the door. Gunfire has slowed, and I mostly get to see the aftermath. It pisses me off, for this one I wanted to be in the thick of it. Taking care of Dani, was more important though. As I round the corner, I see him, Michael. He’s been shot in the legs. That’s the orders I gave. I want this fucker alive. I’m going to make him eat his own goddamn dick before I end his sorry fucking miserable life. In fact, I’m so engrossed in planning my revenge that I completely miss the fact that somehow my woman got away from Hawk and is standing at my side.

“Hello, Michael,” she says. Her voice is surprisingly strong, but motherfucker, I’m going to beat her ass.