“You ready man?” Drag asks.

We’re outside the main office of the old quarry. We’ve got the place surrounded. Gunner and Dancer have spotted Buck in the office. The fucker is laying plastic down, and preparing the room. Dancer said there’s also a fucking bone saw and chainsaw in the room. So, I know what the fucking psycho is planning. I’m not about to let it happen. Everyone is in their place. Dragon, Freak, and I will burst through the front door. Gunner and Dancer have the back entrance. Hawk and Nailer with some of the other prospects, are minding the side entrances. We have this. We just need to make sure my boy doesn’t get hurt in the process. Matthew is mine. I’m claiming him, just like I did his Mama.

“I want lead man. I want to kill the fucker before he gets a chance to hurt my kid,” I tell Drag, my hands tightening and untightening on my gun.

“You got it,” he says, slapping me on the back. I click the radio so the other men know.

“Approaching now. No movements until you hear my shot,” I tell them, and we take off.

We advance as quietly as we can. I don’t want to do anything that might tip Buck off. I hear the chilling sound of the saw starting. I kick the door open, and Matthew is bound in a chair, with a gag in his mouth. Buck is across the room, and he has just picked up the bone-saw. He is flexing his thumb on the trigger, and adjusting speeds. When we bust through he looks at us. Surprise is all over his face. I’d love to take time to extract justice out of his sorry hide, but I don’t. It doesn’t even occur to me.

I shoot him right between the eyes, and for once there is not a fucking tremor is in sight. I shoot once, and he falls. I walk to him, and it’s a kill shot. I know it is. Just to make sure, I shoot him twice more in the heart. I put my gun away, and notice that Dragon, Dancer, and Freak have surrounded Matty, not letting him see the body—or what I did. I’m grateful. They move away when I get there. I hear the men in the background already moving the body. I take the gag out of Matty’s mouth and pull his head as close as I can, since his arms and legs are still bound on the chair. I kiss the top of his head, like I’ve seen Skye do so many times.

“You okay, buddy?” I ask him, and tears are falling down my face. I don’t give a fuck. My hands are trembling as I pull away. I try and dry up Matty’s eyes. It has nothing to do with my injury. It’s all emotion.

“I’m okay, Bull. I knew.”

“Knew what buddy?” I ask him, using my pocket knife to cut the rope on his hands and feet.

Matty brings his hands around, and I rub them as the pinched, white skin, slowly becomes red again. He’s crying, just like I am. But, he gives me a watery smile, just the same. “I knew you’d come for me.”

His faith and trust does something inside of me. For a second, I’m robbed of my voice.

“You did?”

“Yeah, Bull. It’s what family does. We have each other’s backs.”

I shake my head in agreement, and catch Matty as he face plants into my chest. I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight.

“Yeah buddy, that’s what family does. They have each other’s backs. No matter what,” I tell him, my heart full.

I look up and all of my brothers are standing around me. Dragon, Dancer, Freak, Gunner, and Nailer are looking at me. My brothers. My family. And I know if we had called Crush he’d be right here too.

“That’s definitely what family does, Matty. They have your back no matter what.”

I’m a lucky fucking man.