Thomas texted me before I left work to gather my brothers and meet at ALFA before going home. We were under strict orders not to share the meeting with Izzy.

When I pulled into ALFA at eight sharp, the rest of the gang was already there and waiting. There was something gnawing at me about this meeting. If it was no big deal, Thomas would’ve talked about it at my parents’ house. But since he called a special meeting, there had to be something he didn’t want the rest of the family to overhear.

The front office was deserted except for Thomas, who had waited at the door for me. After I walked inside, he looked around outside before locking the door and escorting me down the hallway.

“What has you so freaked out?”

“I’ll explain once we’re in the conference room,” Thomas answered before pushing open the door to a full room. Around the table sat James, Anthony, Mike, Sam, Morgan, Bear, Frisco and Tank. This wasn’t just a group—it was an army.

“Thanks for coming, everyone,” Thomas said before taking a seat at the head of the table with me at the opposite end. “I know I didn’t give you any details, but there’s something I need to share with each of you, and we felt this was the best way to do it.”

We all leaned forward, silent, and ready to hear whatever Thomas was about to announce. I could tell by the worry in his eyes and his paranoid behavior at the entrance that he wasn’t about to announce good news.

“I just received word that a few of the members of the Sun Devils MC have been released.”

“What?” Sam asked, slamming his fist down on the table. “How is that even possible?”

“Some technical bullshit. Their lawyers have been working tirelessly on appealing their convictions.”

“How many?” Frisco asked and rubbed the back of his neck. “I need to know what we’re dealing with here.”

“One, possibly two members, max.” Thomas leaned back in his chair, rocking nervously.

I closed my eyes and tried to control my rising blood pressure. I knew when he finished his assignment with the DEA and the Devils were behind bars that it would never truly be the end. “Now what?” I asked, opening my eyes and staring straight at Thomas.

“I want everyone to be extra vigilant and careful. If there’s anything suspicious, the rest of the group needs to know. I’ve been assured that they’re unaware of who I am or that I was part of the DEA—the same for James and Sam—but we can’t be too careful.”

“You think they haven’t figured it out?” Mike asked as he rubbed his temples with his head resting in his hands.

“I can’t say for sure. Even though the agency has assured us that they haven’t, we can’t be certain. I know information passes easier than many people think inside prisons, and if they have enough ears and eyes out there, they know that I never went away.”

“Fuckers,” James snarled with clenched teeth. “We’re going to have to kill every one of those pricks to keep our families safe.”

“Fucking hell,” Anthony added and looked up at the ceiling like it held the answers to save all of our asses.

“I’m ready,” Morgan said and cracked his knuckles.

“I worry that they’ll come after anyone in my family. Not just Angel or Izzy, but any one of you around the table, along with your wives and kids.”

“I knew you should’ve never worked undercover.” Mike’s veins were protruding from his forehead. No doubt he was getting a headache at the mere thought of all the shit that was about to go down, just like I was already thinking about at length.

“While I gather some intel this week, just keep your eyes out for anything out of the ordinary. We can’t take anything too lightly. We don’t know if they’ve figured out who we are and if they’re already watching us. Understand?”

“Yeah,” I said, clenching my fists tightly on top of the table, wishing that the motherfuckers were in front of me right now. I’d have no problem ending them to save any person around this table or in my family…even Sam.

“We got it,” Anthony added. “I’ll keep the girls close.”

“Nothing will get by us,” Tank said, looking around the table. “You guys are the only family I’ve got. I’ll have your backs.”

“Don’t tell the girls yet. We don’t need them in a panic.”

“Oh, sure, you hold a secret from Mia and see how that pans out for you,” Mike whined and tipped his head back, scrubbing his hands across his face.

“Better to be a whiny Mia than a dead one. Got me?” James told him, and Mike’s head snapped forward.

“Got it.”

“We’ll know more in the next few days, but I need to know that you’ll report anything unusual. And I mean anything.”

“What if they come after one of us?” Anthony asked what we were all thinking.

“Then we do everything we can to protect our families. Keep them close, everyone. Keep the guns loaded and ready. The Sun Devils are some crazy bastards, and they aren’t above killing innocents.”

We walked out, stunned and in complete silence. When I climbed into my car, I sat there for a moment and thought about the possibility of losing someone I loved. I’d never let it happen. There wasn’t one person close to me for whom I wouldn’t jump in front of a bullet to protect. Whatever happened, I knew everyone else felt the same way.

No matter what… we’d protect what was ours.