I slam the half-empty bottle on the table and pull up Dean Roman’s number on my phone.

“Twenty-four-hour ceasefire, my ass,” I roar into the phone when the Mongols MC President answers. “You fuckers are going to pay.”

“Why the fuck are you calling me, Corrigan?”

“That was your men and some of Los Diablos’ pricks who just fucking hit our club! Again!”

“When?” Roman demands.

“Two seconds ago.”

“I never sanctioned it. And it can’t be Los Diablos either. Vasquez is right here having a drink with me.”

“We saw their patches. I don’t care if they went around you or have a side deal going with the Italian mob. I’m coming after both of you.”

Hanging up, I bolt downstairs, vaguely aware that Sabrina’s following behind me. “Stay away from the windows and doors,” I tell her.

A few men from the Texas charter are outside returning fire on last of the cowards who just attacked us. I’m ready to get out there and put a hole in the back of the heads of each and every one of these pricks. More of my men gather behind me at our main doors. They’re just as eager to confront whoever’s out there, wanting blood, waiting to engage.

I shove open the door, and that’s when I see her.

Fuck.

Why the hell did Cindy choose to drive over here now?

“Ma? Are you okay?” I bound down the front steps and drop to the ground beside her. Then I see the blood near her neck. “I’ll kill every single one of these motherfuckers. You’ve been shot!”

Axe gets to her other side and checks to see where she’s been hit. “It’s a through and through. Upper shoulder. She’ll live.” He looks behind us and orders some of our guys to cover us as we carry her inside for one of the members with nursing experience to look at her. While they check her over, Axe pulls me aside. “They’re gone. Cole and Dean left on their bikes to follow them.”

“Good.”

“And Cindy’s wound isn’t a random shot. You heard the gunfire. They shot out a few hundred rounds before we got outside, and she just got one shot in the arm? She’d be riddled with bullets by now. Not that anyone wants that.” He shakes his head. “Boss, this is definitely someone sending you a message.”

“You really believe that?”

He nods. “It had to be a sniper. They targeted her, shot her once, and all the rest of that noise outside was just a distraction. Has to be. I just need a few minutes out there to listen. Their weapons make a distinctive sound. Or I can just draw them out.”

“No one would want to shoot my mother.”

“That’s the point. It’s about intimidation and sending a message. “I’d like to send a reply to those gutless fucks for targeting Cindy like this.”

I head over to Cindy again. “Ma, did you see who they were before they took off?”

“Los Diablos and Mongols,” she groans. “I’d recognize their gear and patches anywhere.”

“Vasquez and Roman completely denied their involvement just now.”

“Hired hands. Simple as that.”

“Bring the truck around, Axe. We’ll take Cindy, Sabrina and Bain out of here.”

Sabrina steps up to us. “Did you just mention someone named Bain?”

I can’t hide my surprise as I shoot her a glance. “You fucking know him?”

“He’s my best friend. Jordan Bain. He’s been missing for weeks. Well, not missing. Taken.”

I shouldn’t be surprised at how fucked up this is. Her old man is forcing her to marry some power-hungry prick who keeps her under lock and key, and that same fiancé is holding on to her best friend to make sure she didn’t run. Mob families are fucking crazy. Except, this time they dragged the wrong MC into it.

“Why would they hold Bain prisoner?” I ask. “What did he do?”

“He didn’t do anything. I swear.” She avoids making eye contact. “It was Lorenzo. He had his men take him… as collateral… to make sure our wedding goes to plan. Do you have Jordan?”

“We found him at Los Diablos’ clubhouse.”

“Sorry, what?”

“I’ll explain later. We need to move now.”

* * *

I rush outside Cindy’s house when Dean and Cole roll up about two hours later. “Did you catch the shooter?” I ask impatiently. “What did you find out?”

The crisp evening desert wind cut through my clothes, but I barely notice it. I want answers. I want payback

Cole and Dean dismount their rides. “It’s taken care of,” Cole announces. “The long and short of it is Giovanni hired them.”

“That cocksucker.”

Cole rests a firm hand on my shoulder. “We’ll find him. Don’t you worry. How’s Cindy?”

“Fine. The nurse patched her up. She’s stable and resting, but mad as hell about getting shot in the first place.”

He smiles. “No doubt.”

“What about the shooter? I don’t give a fuck if Giovanni’s behind it. He’ll get his due, but I want the shooter.”

“I took care of it.” His lips form a thin line and he nods. “It’s done. Next is Giovanni.”

“All right, but we’ll make sure Padrino’s on board.”

“I think we can convince him he can live without that conniving piece of shit as his future son-in-law. But listen to me, Silas. We need to find out more about this newly formed Mongols and Los Diablos alliance. They outnumber us three or four to one. Those numbers don’t sit well with me. Not while they’re going all in on their gun-for-hire plans.”

“One fight at a time,” I remind him and turn to go back inside. “I need to check on Cindy and then we can talk before we head out. Take a few more men with you to keep an eye out.”

Sabrina is waiting in the foyer as I step inside. “None of this makes any sense, Silas.”

“Get back to your friend.”

“We should talk.”

“After I see how Cindy’s doing.”

“Okay. Look, I just want to say thanks for getting Jordan back. It means a lot to me that you found him”

“You’re welcome.”

“Why does Jordan need to go to that meeting with Lorenzo?”

“He just does.”

“Lorenzo won’t be happy about getting caught red-handed like this. Do you know who Jordan is?”

“He’s leverage. He’s some rich kid from your side of the tracks.”

“His family has a lot of influence.”

“Not as much as you think, to leave their son out there for weeks.”

“If they find out Lorenzo had something to do with Jordan’s kidnapping, they’ll go after my father.”

“And they won’t get anywhere. Padrino’s at the top of the totem pole. He’s untouchable.”

She shakes her head. “I’ve been telling you all along that there’s way more out there than what Lorenzo or my father can offer you.”

“This crap again? Listen. The only people higher up than the Padrino are billionaires and political bigwigs in some clandestine society, with secret handshakes and high-priced lawyers with kinky sexual habits. I don’t want to know more about them, let alone work with them.”

“But—”

“Drop it. I’m going in to see my mother, who was shot because of an order from your fiancé. All you are to us right now is collateral for the next two meetings. I can’t have you or your friend getting hurt. Things with your future husband are escalating out of control, so from right now on until we give you back, where I go is where you go. But that doesn’t mean you can try to work on me of whatever you think you’re doing. Understood?”

“You really are an ignorant, sexist prick,” Sabrina says in a rage-filled whisper because she’s a guest in this house. She throws her hands onto her hips and her cheeks grow red.

“Yes. That’s me. Take a seat and keep your voice down.”

“You’re using Jordan and me like everyone else.”

“Sure, and you used me first. But we’re not anywhere close to being even.”

We’re about to burn a few bridges. Once we do, there’s no going back for the MC. I need to talk to Cindy alone.