Chelsea

“So how did Anthony come to be in charge?” Wrench asked, finally taking a break from sca

“When Romano saw that his eldest son couldn’t sort his shit out, he took back the reins and ran the family businesses from inside his prison cell. Not an easy task but not the first time it’s been done.” Leo stopped pacing and leaned against the door to my office, scrubbing his hand through his now short hair, a look I was still getting used to. “2005 is where this starts to get fucked up.”

Blizzard nodded. “So Romano finally decides to hand the family business over, but surprise, surprise, he gives it to his second eldest Anthony instead of Marco.”

“Ouch,” Wrench screwed up his face. “Bet that hurt the ego.”

“No shit. You’re ready to run one of the most powerful criminal rings in the USA and Daddy tells you no?” I shook my head. “Marco would’ve been pissed.”

“Right. So a couple months later—bam, Romano is killed in a small riot inside the prison.” Blizzard shakes his head. “Just around the time our boys here are apparently inside.”

I frowned. “So what the fuck does that mean? Someone is trying to set us up, say that it was the club that took him out?”

Leo snorted. “Seems that way. And they went through some trouble to provide that kind of proof.”

“This can’t be the DEA,” I said, picking up the falsified papers and sca

“So what was Target’s motive?” Wrench asked, closing the lid to his laptop.

“Someone in the family wanted Romano dead and I think they used us as the scapegoat.” I slammed the papers down on the table. This shit was getting dirty. Not only were they after my woman, but now we find out they were trying to pin some shit on us that we hadn’t even done.

Blizz tapped his fingers on my desk. “What was it that Harmony said that day? Target was the Trojan horse. He was sent in to destroy us from the inside out.”

“This shit happened ten fucking years ago. Target was barely around for half of that. Why did they wait?” Leo mused, but I knew the answer. Everything was coming together now, the pieces finally clear and slotting into place.

“He was too young. Marco didn’t have any kids and Target was Anthony’s eldest son. He came to us when he turned eighteen. They just bided their time until he was old enough to prospect,” I growled. “This shit is fucked up on so many God damn levels.”

“But wait, there’s more,” Blizzard said jokingly, but his face told a totally different story as his eyes co

I knew this wasn’t going to be good, I could tell just by the look on his face. I sca

He slumped back in his chair. “Wish it fucking was.”

“Who is it?” Leo asked curiously, pushing off the door and standing straight.

“David Blackwell, DEA,” I groaned.

“Chelsea’s dad?” Wrench said in complete awe. “Well, this just went from a tad fucked up to being plowed straight in the ass.”

“Optimus!”

I jumped as I heard someone scream my name. We all looked at each other for a minute before Leo threw the door open and took off ru

“Optimus!” I made it to the main room just as Neil screamed my name again as he ran out from the club girls hall, obviously in search of me. He was breathing hard but managed to push out the words that I desperately did not want to hear. “Chelsea...Rose had a gun...forced her into a car.” I jabbed his finger toward the front gates and I didn’t even bother to stick around and ask any more questions.

I heard a revving engine as a black Mercedes took off full speed down the usually quiet street. By now more of my brothers had gathered, including a couple Old Ladies and Sugar holding a wide-eyed, Harlyn.

“Blizzard, Camo, Wrench, get your bikes, try catch up with them,” I yelled as I ran toward the front gates. Kev dragged them open, holding his rifle in one hand.

“What the fuck happened?” I roared.

A chorus of bikes started behind me and Kev waited until they shot out the gates, tires screeching, before he spoke, “Fuck man. She was just there.” He pointed at a tree that shaded the pavement less than fifty feet away. “Rose was sitting under the tree, Chelsea crouched down in front of her. I couldn’t see the gun until it was too late and there was a car coming. Fuck. I should have just shot the double crossing bitch.” The fact that they had let her walk out the gate at all wasn’t my biggest concern right now. And I knew until I found Chelsea, Kev would beat himself up enough for the both of us. He’d get his for being so fucking stupid but right now, all I wanted was to find my woman.

I stormed back to the clubhouse, my brothers—my family—just staring in awe of what just happened.

“Daddy!” I watched and Harlyn squirmed out of her mother’s arms and ran full force at me, launching her little body into my arms. I caught her, holding her tightly in my grasp and burying my face in her hair. My anger slowly dissipated and suddenly I was overcome with emotion. I felt Harlyn’s small hand patting my back like she knew exactly how I was feeling and what I needed.

“It’s okay, Daddy,” she whispered softly. “It’s okay.”

I nearly broke down. I wanted to scream and yell, break something or someone. But I didn’t. The little girl in my arms gave me strength.

“Yeah, baby girl,” I said closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. “Everything’s go

She stared straight into my eyes and held up her hand, her pinkie finger sticking out. “Pinkie promise?”

I forced a smile, the i

“Come on Harlyn,” she said softly, holding her arms out. “Daddy needs to work now.”

Harlyn nodded and I passed her over to Sugar, who hefted our girl onto her hip. They headed inside followed by the handful of old ladies and club girls who had come out during the commotion. I looked around at my brothers, their faces all telling me the same thing.

They were ready to stand up and fight.

They weren’t going to lay down and let this shit happen.

Chelsea was one of us.

She was fucking family, and no one fucks with our family and gets away with it.

No fucking way.

My men wanted blood, and that’s exactly what they were going to get.

It wasn’t long before we heard the rumble of bikes come back down the road and pull into the compound. I knew it was a long stretch, sending my men after the speeding car, but if I didn’t try, I didn’t know. They pulled up in front of us and Blizzard was the first to cut his engine and climb off. I could tell my brother was struggling to hold it together. Rose had just shown us her true colors and the reality of this was hitting him hard.

Blizzard struggled with trust. He had his reasons and I had no doubt that this had just reaffirmed them for him. He’d given a shit about this girl and she had just turned around and given him and all of us a big fuck you.

“They had too much of a head start,” he growled.