I broke my rules for you.
-Love Quotes
Surprisingly, Twist doesn’t try to kill me, as I was expecting. Neither do my brothers. I had forgotten something very important about Twist, that his little girl and first wife were murdered. So he understands why I had to tell his secret. He’s prepared to help. Sadie’s terrified, but I think she knows Twist is way too psycho to let anything happen to her or their son, Cyle.
Everything goes down according to plan. I get a hair sample from Cyle with Twist’s blessing. I drop it off at the store with Sonya like Puppet instructed and then we wait.
I don’t know how Puppet pulls it off, but he has results within twenty-four hours. I shouldn’t be surprised; the man has obviously been around awhile and wants to know if this boy is part of his family. I was ignorant to think the Iron Fists were stupid. You don’t get a reputation like they have by being total dumbasses. It’s the last time I underestimate anyone—ever.
The time comes for us to actually meet up. I’m a wreck inside. We’ve thought about the absolute best ways to go about everything. We’ve even argued with Puppet over where to meet. Eventually, we come to an agreement, and my woman is vibrating, she’s so wound up. Can’t say I blame her; I think we all are. Not only does this involve Mav, but there’s a chance people will die today.
Bethany follows me in her car, Twist and Cyle ride behind in 2 Piece’s truck, and a swarm of our brothers follow behind them. We’ve agreed that the brothers will stay back, along with Puppet’s club. They are here to escort us to and from the meeting point and be ready to come in if it goes south and we need them.
The meeting point is at a scenic overlook on top of a mountain. There aren’t many in this area of Texas, and we happen to know the State Troopers travel this route frequently if we need them. We got lucky with Ares’ old Prez being in good with the Troopers. They weren’t dirty-dirty, but they looked the other way a lot for our club. This is a time we may need to have some law on our side.
Yes we do some bad shit, but we also help make their job easier by cleaning up the filth around the city for them. In return, some things slide under the table, “unnoticed.”
Pulling off the side of the road into the gravel, I park. Putting my kickstand down, I glance back to watch Bethany stop and then Twist pull in behind her. The brothers idle near us, waiting.
There’s a decent chance this whole thing could go to shit. I hope not ‘cause there’s two little boys stuck right in the middle of it. I feel like a fucking failure dragging another kid in it, but shit happens. I have to grit through it and do what I have to.
A line of bikes appear from the opposite direction, a truck smack in the middle of the formation. I’m pretty sure we’re all in shock. We were expecting their club to be some floaters, maybe some new recruits.
It’s fucking huge; I’m talking a good twenty-five rolling up. With what we’ve discovered about them, too, I doubt this is barely a decent sized chunk of the club. I wouldn’t be surprised if the club is a hundred deep or more after seeing them roll up like this. I fucking hate this. Why couldn’t it just be a few hellions that I could easily take out. Instead it has to basically be a mob of men for me to work through to get to the middle.
“Motherfucker,” I mumble to myself. They could easily shoot us all down if they wanted to; our ten to their twenty-five, no good. I’m glad I told B to stay the fuck in her car or they could take her too.
Sonofabitch. I can’t stand feeling as if I’m unprepared, and, in this, it’s exactly how I feel. This jackoff has the upper hand besides our wild card being Twist’s son.
The motorcycles pull off opposite us, staring us down as the truck pulls to a stop directly in front of me. I make out an older man driving, a little dark head in the middle, and another beefy guy about my size in the passenger seat. If they hurt one hair on Mav’s head, you won’t be able to peel me off them, I swear.
The older guy says something to the passenger, his gaze flicking over all of us. He gets out, slamming the truck door and I take in the man who’s caused so much grief for me. I want to slit his throat so badly that my hands begin to shake. Toeing my kickstand in place, I throw my leg over and come to my full six foot four inches towering over him standing before me.
He doesn’t show me any sign that I intimidate him in the slightest which says a lot about his balls right there. I make many men shit bricks, and this one doesn’t even blink.
“My son?” I immediately demand, not about to fuck around.
“My grandson?” he counters, and I grit my back teeth together.
“So you believe me now?”
“I told you, I got the DNA results back. I still want to see his face and see if he looks like my boy.”
“You bring my son over here, and I’ll have Twist show you Cyle.”
“I could just kill you and take them hostage you know. We have you out numbered times three.”
“Yep, you could. Maybe you haven’t heard ‘bout Twist though? He’ll kill your grandson before he lets you take him. You want any chance of knowing that kid—your blood—you follow through with our agreement.”
“Ya know, I like to do whatever the fuck I want usually, but something tells me, you’re not fuckin’ with me.”
I shake my head, glowering down at his five foot-eleven frame, thinking of ten different ways I could kill him right now with my two hands. I’d enjoy every crunch of breaking bone, too.
“Fine,” Puppet huffs. “You fuck me over, and my brother,” he nods across the street, and I glance, seeing a guy pointing a gun toward my woman’s car, “shoots your ol’ lady.”
“I’m not fucking you over. If he shoots my girl, mark my words, I will slit every motherfucker’s throat wearing the Fist’s cut.”
He grins, showing me a mouth of chipped teeth. He’s definitely a hard fucker and has seen a lot. I wouldn’t want to be in a club run by him; that, I’m certain of.
Puppet lets out a sharp whistle then meets my gaze as the passenger gets out. I’m able to breathe when I see the big guy grin at Mav and hold his arms out to him. Maverick jumps in his arms and smiles. This tells me that whoever this big fucker is, no matter how much I want to filet him, he was good to my kid.
“Daddy?” Maverick yells and starts waving.
“Hey buddy,” I say and hear the car door behind me slam. Bethany comes running to my side.
“Maverick!” she yells, choked up at finally seeing him.
“Mommy!” Our son smiles widely and keeps waving.
The guy carrying him, comes near. I see his name patch says Viper.
“My grandson.” Puppet holds his hand out, so Viper stalls.
Twisting my head toward Twist, I give him the signal, and he gets out of the truck, Cyle walking beside him like a little badass. With Twist as a father, that kid will no doubt grow up fearless.
Twist stops beside me and flicks his gaze to Puppet. “You fuck with my kid, I slit your fuckin’ throat. Got me, pops?”
Puppet flicks his tongue against his teeth and drops his hand. Viper gives Mav a high five and sets him down. Once his feet touch the gravel he’s running for Bethany.
“Mommy!” he shouts happily, and my throat grows tight when I see him back in her arms where he belongs. She scoops him up and takes him to her car quickly, not skipping a beat. This is what we planned, and she’s followed along perfectly so far.
Puppet asks a few questions, staring at Cyle in a near trance. I tune them out, though. My son is safe. I kept my promise I made to Bethany, and we got our boy back.
“One day, he’ll join his family,” Puppet states, and Twist rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, okay, old man. He may be your blood, but he’s my kid. He carries my name, and I’ll continue to raise him. Your blood is part Oath Keeper whether you like it or not. He’s a club brat, an Oath Keeper brat.”
Puppet hisses, but bites his tongue.
“Where’s your President?” he asks me next, still gazing at Cyle.
I turn and gesture to Viking. He rides over, parking next to me.
“Brother.” He nods to me.
“Brother,” I reply, then gesture to the piece of shit in front of me. “This is Puppet, President of the Iron Fists.”
Viking nods, glaring down at the shorter man. “Can I help you?”
“Before I’d have replied, yes, by killing yourself. But I see circumstances have changed.”
“You’ve got guts speaking to me like that, Fist. I’m sure you know who the fuck I am,” Viking growls and Puppet smirks.
“I’ve heard. That being said, I see my grandson is being raised and protected by the Oath Keepers.”
Viking nods again.
“Instead of exterminating you, this is grounds for peace from my club.”
“We will take the peace, but that does not mean you are welcome in our territory.”
“Fine, same goes for your club.”
Viking nods again, being his normal solemn self. I wonder what he’s really thinking right now. I know we’ll take the peace, but once everyone’s safe and we’re back on our feet, we’ll be hunting again. I will kill this motherfucker if it’s the last thing I do.
“Twist, you take good care of my grandson. And you ever find yourself in a bind and it has to do with my grandson, you have my help. Otherwise, you better pray you don’t die, ‘cause if you do, I’m coming for him.”
“You fucking wish. I’m going to outlive every fucking cunt here,” Twist grits out and spits. He needs to just nod and keep quiet; I’m trying to get us the fuck out of here without any bullets flying.
Viking holds his hand out, and Puppet shakes it. I think both sides let a breath out when they see it. “I’ll be in touch,” Puppet states, then gestures to Viper, both of them heading back to the truck.
“You okay, brother?” Viking asks out the side of his mouth, keeping his stare trained on the two retreating forms.
“I will be once we’re back at the club, and I have them both in my arms.”
“You and B take off; we’ll follow to make sure you’re safe. You, too, Twist; your brothers are at our clubhouse waiting for you.”
“Bet,” he replies and I crank my engine, waving for Bethany to pull out. I cannot fucking wait to get home with my family.