Chapter 15
Ace
Hunter had called Church, and my brothers and I were standing in a circle around him, discussing what our next moves against the Snake Skulls were going to be. He was alpha in the pride, whatever he said went but we were all in agreement that we needed to act fast before they retaliated. Even though they were small and useless against the Roarin’ Rebels’ authority, chances were that they were going to try and seek vengeance. Especially since I had stolen their prized possession, Elena, from them as well.
“Do we know where they like to hang?” one of the guys asked and I nodded my head.
“Club Blanco, it’s a gambling bar downtown, in their hood,” I told them. As far as I knew; the Snake Skulls hadn’t changed their congregation location in all these years.
“We could hit that?” Jordan suggested, and Hunter was thinking.
“Are there more cubs?” he asked, and Daredevil shrugged his shoulders at his father.
“There could be more. The ones we rescued were the ones on lease to the Claws,” he said, and I shook my head.
“There aren’t anymore. The gang is running massive losses at the moment, and I sniffed around. There are no other fighting rings in operation right now. My guess is that they put all their cubs to work with the Claws,” I told them.
“So, the only reason for us to attack the Snake Skulls would be to teach them a lesson?” one of my other brothers spoke up, and Hunter took in a deep breath.
“Yes, and also to make sure that they are so far defeated that they can’t do the same thing to any other children anymore,” he said.
“The best way to do that would be to take out Juan Castillo,” I suggested, and Hunter met my eye.
“He’s their leader now, but what is to stop them from appointing another leader after he’s taken out?” Beasty asked from beside me, and I turned to him.
“Because without Juan, and if they’re reduced to rubble by us, it will take them a very long time to band together again. The gang is running low right now, technically, they don’t have the power or control they used to. Now is the best time to hit them where it hurts,” I told him, and when I turned back, I saw that Hunter was nodding his head, he agreed with me.
“Ace is right. Now is our opportunity and we should strike when we have the chance. Put an end to these scumbags,” he growled, and a cheer rang out in the bar. We had all been waiting for Hunter’s approval to take them out. Everyone who had gone to the warehouse and seen the way those cubs were being treated, knew that this needed to come to an end once and for all.
Daredevil thumped my back like it was my own personal victory…and I knew that in a way, it would be. Once the Snake Skulls were eliminated, it would mean that Elena would be finally safe. It would mean that we could start living our lives together.
The front doors of the bar slapped open, and we looked up to see Kelley charge into the place.
“Kelley, my darling daughter…you’ve arrived just in time. We were going to start celebrating!” Hunter greeted her, and I could see that he was clearly in a good mood.
Unlike Kelley, who looked like she had something on her mind. Instead of responding to her father, she weaved through the crowds of the gathered MC, and it appeared like she was heading directly in the direction of Daredevil and me.
Even before she had spoken, I knew this had to be important. Despite having her whole family connected with the MC, Kelley made sure that she stayed as far away from this life and our environment as possible.
When our eyes met, I knew this was about Elena.
“Ace, she’s not at my place. Please tell me you know where she is,” Kelley came to a stop directly in front of me. There was silence in the bar, everyone’s attention turned to us, and I could hear myself breathing hard.
“What are you talking about? When we left church this morning, she said that she was going to go back to your apartment directly,” I hissed, and my fists were clenched on my sides. I knew I shouldn’t have let her walk home by herself. Kelley’s eyes widened, and a sudden fear had entered them. She considered Elena to be her responsibility, and she was already beginning to blame herself.
“I came home an hour ago. She wasn’t there, and I waited for her, she didn’t show up. You think something’s happened?” she was speaking too fast, but I caught every word of it.
“They’ve got to her,” I growled. My lion roared and my claws came out of one of my hands, beyond my control.
“Who?” Kelley asked, her mouth dropping open in horror.
“The Snake Skulls,” Beasty said from over my shoulder and then I felt Daredevil’s hand on my shoulder.
“We’re with you, brother. Whatever you need to do,” I heard him say.
“We need to go to Club Blanco and beat the shit out of some assholes till they tell me where they’ve taken her,” I said, and I looked up at Hunter. He was staring at me, turning the information over in his head. Then he tipped his head once in agreement.
“Daredevil and Beasty, go with him,” Hunter said, and within seconds, the three of us were charging out of the bar and towards our bikes.
“Hey! Ace! We’re going to get her back,” Daredevil said, as we revved up our bikes. I couldn’t respond to him. I couldn’t do anything but zoom off. This had quickly turned from the happiest to the worst day of my life. I couldn’t lose Elena again, not after I’d promised her that I would keep her safe.
I cursed myself under my breath as I rode. I shouldn’t ever have let her go back home on her own. My lion roared again. I should have known that it wasn’t safe yet.