I’m not sure what to do with a box full of C4. My only focus is making sure this damn thing doesn’t explode and kill every damn person in this clubhouse or anywhere close to us. I know it needs to have a detonator to set it off and it doesn’t seem that it has one on it, but I’m not taking any chances. I walk further into the pantry and check each of the men to make sure they’re dead and then I check their pockets. I find a bag under one man and the detonator is inside along with a few other things. I’m no expert on explosives, but I know the C4 in front of me is military grade by the way it is packaged and by the color of it. I also know until a detonator is attached it isn’t going to explode, so that is a plus but what I don’t know is if this is the only explosive in the compound. I grab the bag and back out of the pantry. I shut the door and get the key out of the drawer we keep it in. I back away from the door and send all the brothers a group text. I don’t know who the person is that betrayed our club again, but everyone needs a warning in case this isn’t the only place that a bomb was placed in or the only location. I make my way out of the kitchen and walk a few steps to the door that goes into the laundry room. Just as I open the door I am hit hard from behind and I go down. The gunfire going on outside kept me from hearing anything very well inside the clubhouse. I try to focus but then I just fade to black.

I feel like my damn head is going to explode. I reach up and then I hear laughter. I try to open my eyes slowly, but the light is bright, and I shut them again. I take my hand and rub my eyes, and I hear the laughter again. I would know that damn laugh anywhere and I’m pissed. I open my eyes and wait for them to focus and I come up off the bed and hit Shine in the gut.

“Damn, brother, I guess I deserve that one. How was I supposed to know you were sneaking around with night goggles on? I didn’t have goggles on, so I just hit everyone. You would’ve done the same damn thing.” Shine isn’t laughing now, and he has moved out of my reach.

“There’s C4 in the kitchen pantry and a lot of it. I had a bag with me that had the detonator in it. Did you find it? Is everyone alright. I know Lantern looked dead when they threw his body through the front door. I heard one of the club girls cry out. Where’s Red Cap? He went the opposite direction from me.” I ask trying to put the pieces back together. Shine has a grim look on his face.

“Red Cap is in another room. He took a slug to the leg and Chief knocked him out. Red Cap had made it to the private room hall. The Hell Keeperz MC members knew what rooms belonged to which members or at least some of them. They ransacked Cap’s, yours and mine. Red Cap was trying to protect Red. She had been stabbed in the gut and the man was still cutting her up. Apparently, someone snuck in behind Red Cap while he was fighting the other one.” Shine stops. I know he’s trying to let me absorb what he has told me.

“How’s Red? She was in my room waiting for me.” I know I’m not going to like the answer, but I need to know. Then a thought comes to me. “I know they cut the electric lines but why was it so smoky in here?”

“One question at a time. Red stayed alive long enough to tell us that the man, Trask, was asking about Faith and Charity. The Hell Keeperz MC want Faith and their patience has run out. We found empty canisters of smoke bombs. We have a traitor amongst us and it’s time to use some rat bait. Doc says you’re going to be fine. You might have a slight concussion, but you’ll live so, quit being a slacker and let’s set some traps.” I see the concern in Shine’s eyes and I know he wants to play it off, but I get off the bed. I think about Red, and if I hadn’t been such an ass Red might still be alive. It’s time I get my shit together. I need to act and quit reacting... Isn’t that the difference in men? That’s what Cap and Lil always taught us, it’s time I use my skillset and get my head out of my ass.

“First we need to discuss with everyone that we’re still at war. When I arrived back at the clubhouse, all the patched brothers here, were watching Sizzle put on a show on the pole. There were two prospects on the damn gate. I sent Slinger and Lantern to split the prospects up and one to do gate duty and the other walk the perimeter. Red Cap was in his office. Who is left? Where are Cap, Lil and Katie?” I ask, and I see Chief and Sarge walk in the room. Shine turns and looks at them and his look is surprised.

“Don’t worry, Shine. Cap is talking to Red Cap about security. We left Shield and Stealth with Lil and Katie along with some of your members to keep things safe. Rebel, Brody and Kaden are tightening the security in Quitman. Rebel will be here as soon as that is straightened out.” Chief eases Shine’s worry.

“I have my brothers looking for more bombs on the premises. They also checked out Cap’s place. They’re going to remove the C4. Do you have a warehouse where you want it stored? If you don’t get caught with it, then it could come in helpful down the road. The Hell Keeperz MC wants to set bombs we can come up with a few of our own.” Sarge makes sense. Shine shakes his head and then looks at me.

“Sounds like a plan.” He’s talking to Sarge, but his eyes are on me. “Lantern, Slinger, Jaws, three prospects and all the club girls that were here are dead. One prospect is missing, and Red Cap is shot in the leg. Did you see anyone else here when you came in?” Shine asks me, but my mind goes back to sending Lantern and Slinger to their deaths along with Red. I should be dead along with them. We all would be if we hadn’t found the C4 in the pantry. I think about what Shine has said. I jerk my head towards Shine.

“There were only supposed to be two prospects left here. They were on the front gate when I came in. The other two prospects were supposed to be at Cap’s and making sure his house was guarded. What the hell were they doing here? Trick and Boozer were here too.” Shine take his phone out and starts to call someone and Cap walks in and shuts the door behind him.

“We have a problem bigger than a little C4, I went in Red Cap’s office after the Doc gave him something to knock him out. I think we may have a problem with Red Cap, but I need someone to verify it before he’s back on his feet and gets back to his office. I can’t pinpoint what it is exactly and why it is setting off my alarms, but something isn’t right. I was looking at the security feed of the different rooms of the clubhouse when it was attacked. The feed looks tampered with especially, Con’s room when Red was attacked. I had rather be safe than be caught with our damn pants down again.” I can tell this is wearing on Cap. It’s putting us all on edge and we can no longer trust anyone.

“I’ll get Shield over here if one of you can send someone to replace him there.” Sarge tells us. Cap looks at Shine and then Shine nods his head.

“Chief, you feel like taking a ride with me? We need to iron out some details and then we can send Shield and Stealth both back here.” Shine and I both look at Cap and then Chief. Those two have something up their sleeves. They’ll let us know when they’re ready. I shake my head again. This is going to be a long night.