Cade

The first thing my eyes land on when I wake up is a pool of blood. Judging by the way my cheek presses against the worn, tan carpet, the blood is either coming from my nose or mouth…or both. To say I was surprised by the little visit my club gave me would be a fucking understatement.

How the fuck did they find us?

I thought I was careful. I’ve paid for everything in cash since we left Cali because I know tracking my fucking bank transactions would be the first thing they’d do to find me. Lemy may be a fucking slime ball and get on everyone’s goddamn nerves, but his hacking abilities make him valuable to the club. I knew Frank would sic Lemy on my trail once they figured out I was gone with Piper. Disobeying a direct order is punishable by death, so in the grand scheme of things, I should be glad I’m even alive right now, but I don’t give a shit about myself. My concern centers around Piper and what the fuck Lemy and Del plan on doing with her. I hate Piper is their fucking leverage.

I have to get her back.

I roll over and every fucking fiber inside me aches like I’ve been run over by a truck. A groan slips past my lips as I push myself up. It’s been a while since I’ve had my ass handed to me. I’m a good fighter, but those two motherfucker’s kicked in my door and attacked while I was asleep. There wasn’t much I could do, and that fucking kills me. They stole Piper from me, and now there’s going to be hell to pay.

I grip the sheets on the bed and hoist myself up. Pain slices through me from, no doubt, a few broken ribs. Blood smears on the back of my hand as I rub it across my face.

Damn.

They really fucked me up.

I stumble into the bathroom and catch the first sight of my face. The skin above my right eye is split open and a trail of blood trickles down the side of my face. “Jesus Christ.”

I turn on the water and clean up the best I can, before I get dressed and head for my bike, devising a plan on how the fuck I’m going to take on my entire club.

I whip out my phone and dial the number of a man who owes me a favor.

The phone gets answered on the second ring. “Yeah.”

My back stiffens. “It’s time you repay your debt. I’ll be there in a few hours. Have some shit ready for me to look at.”

“I thought you didn’t—”

I quickly cut him off. “I do now.”

* * *

I roll into the parking lot of Jimmy’s Garage. Jimmy and I go way back. We’ve been friends since grade school, and when the automotive repair business he started began to go south, he got into selling guns. Jimmy didn’t know how to handle assholes who refused to pay him, so he called me, and I handled his light-work. It wasn’t long before it was understood if you didn’t pay Jimmy, your ass was getting beat.

I pull in front of the garage door, and it opens, allowing me to drive inside the building.

I cut the engine and shove myself off the bike.

“What the hell, man? I thought you didn’t pack heat? You said it was too messy,” Jimmy complains as I walk toward him.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen him, but he’s still tall and lanky with dirty blonde hair. He’s looked the same since we graduated high school.

The moment I’m close enough for Jimmy to get a good look at my face, he grimaces. “What the fuck happened to your face?”

I sigh. “Never mind about my face—the shit I’m about to jump into…let’s just say the only choice I’m going to have is messy, so I need some heat. Someone took something that belongs to me and I intend to take her back.”

Jimmy lifts on eyebrow as he leads me over to his sales counter where several guns are laid out for my inspection. “Her?”

I narrow my eyes because I didn’t mean to let anything about Piper slip. The less Jimmy knows the better. “What?”

“You said take her back. Is this shit over a bitch?”

For the first time in my life, hearing a man call a woman I’m with that name strikes a nerve inside me. “Don’t ever fucking call her that again.”

I pick up a glock and inspect the cold, hard steel.

“Calm down.” Jimmy raises his hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m only looking out for you. I don’t want to see you do something stupid over a woman.”

“She’s not just some woman.” I pop the clip back in the gun after noticing it was empty. “She’s my wife.”

Jimmy’s dark eyes widen. “When in hell did you get married?”

“Yesterday.” My answer is short and to the point.

He scratches the back of his head. “Jesus, man. Who the hell would kidnap your new bride? Who the fuck has a death wish?”

I stuff the gun into the waistband of my jeans. “Frank.”

All of the color drains out of Jimmy’s face. “Frank? Are you sure? Why would he…I mean, he’s been like a father to you.”

His confusion is warranted considered everything about this situation is so fucking outside my character. Like I said before, I always obeyed orders Frank gave me. This is the first time I haven’t done exactly what he wanted.

I can’t explain what it is about Piper, but when I think about her it feels like someone reaches into my chest and squeezes my heart. I can’t deny I’ve caught feelings for her. What started out as just sex has turned into so much more. I want her with me. Always. And I’ll go through hell to get her back if that’s what it takes.

“If Frank won’t let my girl go…” I lift my chin, knowing there’s no other choice but to go into the club with guns blazing. “Our past becomes irrelevant and he’ll get a bullet, just like anyone else who stands in my way.”

Jimmy sees the resolution in my eyes and a frown etches into his face. “You sure?”

“There’s no other way, Jimmy. Frank won’t negotiate. It’s not his style.”

He nods, because he knows me, and knows when I set my mind to something there’s no changing it. He holds his hand out to me and I clasp it before he pulls me into a tight hug. “Take care, brother.”

I give his back one hard pat, knowing this might be the last time I ever see my friend. “You too.”

When I head back to my bike, I let out a sigh and ready my game face. This shit is on.