Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

Ace

A knock sounded on my door, jerking me out of my headspace. Sighing, I dropped my Apple pencil onto the mattress, turning my head to look toward the door. “What?” I called, annoyed. I’d finally gotten in the zone to finish this damn complicated piece of artwork one of Shaw’s clients wanted tattooed, and not even fifteen minutes into drawing, someone was yanking me out of my zone.

This was why I did most of my work at InkLore, Shaw’s tattoo parlor. No one bothered me there because Shaw didn’t allow it. But I’d gotten up too late to ride with anyone, and I was too damn lazy to drive myself.

The door opened, revealing Cameron. His dark hair was pulled back into a small bun at the back of his skull, and it looked like he’d gotten his beard trimmed this morning. Without the beard, Cameron had a baby face. Ever since I’d mentioned it, he’d kept his beard grown out but neat. Besides, judging by the moaning coming from his and Abbie’s apartment last night, I didn’t think Abbie minded his beard.

Probably made riding Cameron’s face a hell of a lot of fun.

I scrunched my nose in distaste at the thought. Yeah… never going down that road again. Gag .

“What’s wrong with your face?” Cameron asked, frowning at me.

“Fuck you,” I muttered, pushing myself into a sitting position. “What do you want?”

“Need your help,” he said, stepping further into the room. “You cool with me shutting the door?” When I nodded, he quietly pushed the door shut behind him with a barely audible click. I cocked my head to the side the slightest bit, wondering what the fuck was going on. Cameron was secretive, but he was never secretive like this—like he didn’t want anyone else overhearing our discussion.

“You good?” I asked, legit concerned.

He reached up, yanking his bun down before fixing it back into place, something he only did when he was agitated or stressed. It was rare for Cameron to get worked up. He was always so… detached. From everyone. He had a quick temper. No remorse for the shit he did. He was a cold-blooded killer.

And he was married to a cop—go fucking figure. Shaw had ripped him a new one for eloping to the courthouse on a random Wednesday a few weeks ago, but Cameron had given zero fucks. I’d wanted to be angry, but I was more hurt than anything. I somehow kept it under wraps though, especially when I saw how happy Abbie was.

She’d been through hell. She deserved every bit of happiness she got. I would never forget the horror in her eyes or the bruises covering her skin when Cameron rescued her from the trafficking ring we were trying to dismantle.

It’d made me sick to my stomach to see her like that.

“Carmen is becoming an issue,” he told me, referring to the deputy chief of police. She was responsible for Abbie being kidnapped and Trent, her partner at the time, being murdered. I knew Cameron had been itching for revenge, but he’d been patient.

Guessed his patience had run out.

“Becoming an issue… I thought she already was an issue?” I asked.

Cameron scowled at me. “Stop being a brat for like two seconds, Ace.” I rolled my eyes. “She tried sending Abbie out on another ‘call’,” he put air quotes around the word, “but Abbie called me. I went to the site before her—found an unmarked black SUV.”

“Unmarked—as in, the police force?” I asked.

Cameron nodded. “They left when I rolled up. Plate was missing. Looked like Jeffrey Richards was driving.” He was another officer on our radar. “I want to bring it to the table, but if there’s not a unanimous vote for taking them out, I’m going to do this on my own.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “Like hell you are. I’ll help.”

He flashed me a quick grin. “I figured you would.”

I grabbed my tablet and Apple pencil again, looking back down at my drawing. “Talk to Shaw. Bring it to the table. But you have my vote. The quicker we eliminate some of these fuckers…” I trailed off, erasing a line and correcting it, “the quicker the ring comes down and we can get our hands on Johnny Dorman.” Johnny Dorman was the major player. Sure, there were congressmen, police officers, and even some local officials involved in this shit show, but Dorman was the key to ending it all.

“Thanks, kid.”

I waved him off. “Go away so I can finish this sketch before Shaw kicks my ass.”

Cameron snorted but quietly left the room, leaving me alone once again. I huffed as I stared down at the drawing—a fucking lion with flowers.

Seriously… I hated drawing shit I had no interest in.

“We need to call a vote,” Shaw began, leaning forward and bracing his elbows on the table. He laced his fingers together and pressed them to his chin, clearing his throat. “Cameron wants to take out Carmen and Jeffrey.” Arlo looked displeased. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, frowning at Cameron. Taking out officers was a risky move, and Arlo was such a Daddy, even if he didn’t realize it. He just wanted to wrap each of us in bubble wrap and coddle us.

“Why?” Arlo asked. “Do you know the heat that could bring on all of us, Cameron? Frankie is due any day now. We don’t need the heat.”

“I’m doing this with or without the support of the club,” Cameron told him, his tone bored. He flicked his gaze to me as he leaned back in his leather chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “And Ace has agreed to help me.”

Arlo shot me a dark look. I just arched a brow at him. “What?” I snapped. “Maybe, before you go getting all Daddy on everyone, you should hear why he wants to make this move now.”

“Stop being a fucking brat,” Arlo told me.

I rolled my eyes. Konrad smacked the table, bringing all of us back to attention. “Cameron, please share with the class.”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. Konrad shot me a dark look. I just shot him a sickly-sweet smile. He heaved a tired sigh before looking back at Cameron.

“Carmen tried sending Abbie out on a call last night—one not called in through the radio. Just like last time. Abbie called me, and I went to check it out.” He clenched his jaw, anger burning in his eyes. “They used a police car this time. Unmarked. No plate. Jeffrey was driving. When he saw me, he left. I have no doubt in my mind they tried targeting Abbie and her partner again.”

“Fuck,” Arlo muttered, running a hand over his face before he slumped in his seat a little.

“I told Cameron I’d bring it to the table,” Shaw said, looking around at all of us. “I’d like him to have the support of the club in case he needs back up. All in favor?”

I raised my hand. Jax raised his. Konrad lifted his, and so did Shaw. Cameron looked at Arlo, arching a brow. “What’s it going to be, brother? Just remember, with or without the club, this is happening.”

Arlo sighed and lifted his hand. Shaw nodded, looking at Cameron. “This is your call. Your planning. Just let me know the logistics so I can be prepared.”

Cameron nodded. Shaw banged his gavel on the table, and we all pushed back, standing from our seats. Cameron pointed a finger at me. “You, with me,” he ordered.

“You could ask,” I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest.

He glared at me. “Ace…” Exasperation laced his tone.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. God, you’re a fucking asshole. I don’t know why Abbie puts up with you.”

He winked at me as he opened the chapel door. “It’s this good dick.”

I made a gagging sound behind him, and he laughed.

Rolling my shoulders, I pulled the binoculars back up to my face, watching as Carmen pulled into her driveway. She slid out of her car in her uniform, like she didn’t have a target on her back. Like nothing could touch her.

I scoffed. “Dumb bitch,” I muttered.

“What?” Cameron hissed through my earpiece.

“Nothing.” I sighed. “You in position? She’s unlocking her door now.”

“Going in,” Cameron quietly announced a moment later. “Ready, little devil?” I rolled my eyes.

Yeah, he’d dragged Abbie along, though she seemed all too happy to take out her boss and her coworker herself. She still woke up from nightmares and flashbacks. Just the other day, she’d drank herself sick over Trent’s grave. Cameron had sat with her the entire time, and when they’d come home, he had to carry her inside because she was too drunk to walk.

She had a long road of healing ahead of her, but hopefully, this would bring her some closure.

I scanned the area again, listening to Cameron and Abbie move through Carmen’s house. A moment later, a shriek met my ears, and a crash followed. Cameron laughed, the sound chilling my blood. “You thought you’d get away with it, didn’t you?” he taunted. “Get ready to meet your maker, Rigby,” he said, calling Carmen by her last name. “Little devil, you ready to do the honors?”

“Rot in hell,” Abbie hissed. A wet, gurgling sound reached my ears, and I knew the job had been done.

I hopped down from the tree I’d been perched in, stretching my muscles. “Truck ready?” I asked as I made my way through the tree line and to the backyard.

“Yep,” Cameron said. “Just open the hatch so we can get her heavy ass inside. They don’t make y’all do some fitness shit?” Cameron grunted. “Jesus fuck, she’s heavy.”

I snorted. “No, Cam,” Abbie retorted, sounding annoyed. “Can you stop bitching so we can get her out?”

“I’m not bitching,” he muttered, sounding chastised. Only Abbie was capable of making him settle. It was… weird. “I’m just stating facts.”

“Jesus Christ,” she wheezed, annoyance lacing her tone.

A minute later, they appeared, dragging Carmen out on a blanket. Her body thumped down each step of her porch, and Abbie grimaced in disgust. When Cameron made it to me, I helped him lift Carmen’s heavy body into the back of the SUV. Sweat was glistening on my skin by the time we had her inside, and I leaned against the side of the truck, wheezing.

“Fuck, I’m out of shape,” I panted.

Cameron leaned next to me, nodding, sweat running down his temple. “Same.”

Abbie rolled her eyes, all fucking chipper. “Let’s go. We don’t have all night.”

I scoffed. “Who died and made you boss?”

She rolled her eyes. “Let’s go, Ace. Cameron, stop being a little bitch.”

He huffed. “I’ll show you a little bitch,” he muttered, smacking her ass hard enough to make her yelp. He snickered and slid into the driver’s seat. I climbed into the back and snatched a bottle of water from the floorboard, guzzling it down.

And to think we still had one more body to go.

“I have to what ?” I seethed, glaring at Cameron and Abbie. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I just disposed of Lughan and Mark!” Lughan was a doctor that tried kidnapping Frankie, and Mark was Frankie’s baby daddy. Both of them had tried selling her into sex trafficking. Hadn’t worked out well for them. “How is this fair?”

Cameron shrugged. “Shaw’s orders. Abbie has to go to work in a couple of hours, so she needs to get what little shut-eye she can.” He tossed me the keys. I moved aside, letting them smack the SUV and drop to the ground. He scowled at me. “You want me to get Shaw so you can take it up with him?”

“Fuck you,” I sneered. “You owe me for this. I agreed to help take them out. Not clean up your fucking mess.”

Cameron shrugged at me. “Tough, kid.”

“I hope your dick goes limp tonight so neither of you can get off,” I snapped, my fists clenching.

Abbie’s jaw dropped open at my crudeness. I shot them two middle fingers before snatching the keys off the ground and storming to the SUV, sliding into the driver’s seat. After sliding the seat forward so I could reach the pedals, I turned the engine over, blasting the headlights in Cameron and Abbie’s faces because fuck them.

My burner went off, and I grabbed it from my pocket.

Arlo: Frankie is giving birth. She wants you here.

I sighed, thunking my head against the steering wheel. I’d promised to be there. Fuck, Arlo and Frankie were even naming me the godfather of their baby. But here I fucking was, disposing of two police officers instead of being there for Frankie like I’d promised .

I was so excited for Frankie’s baby to be born. In the past few months, I’d become obsessed with everything to do with the little one. While I couldn’t stand touching other parts of Frankie, not even her hand, I’d been obsessed with cradling her belly and feeling the baby kick and hit my palms.

It was soothing. And it was just an innocent little baby. Someone unharmed by this world, and someone who couldn’t hurt me.

Ignoring Arlo’s text, I opened up a thread with Frankie.

Ace: I have to take care of something. Club orders. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I promise. You’re strong. You’ve got this. Bring my munckin into the world.

With that, I tossed my phone into the passenger seat and backed up, turning the SUV toward the gates so I could get this shit over with.

I tossed the axe aside, sweat dripping off my skin despite the frigid, below-freezing temps I was currently working in. Grunting, I tossed Jeffrey’s body parts into the river far below, blood soaking my hands and clothes. Carmen had been handled first, so I was thankfully fucking done. I wanted a hot shower and comfy, clean clothes. And a bed—definitely needed a bed. I was exhausted .

Cameron and Abbie owed me huge for this shit.

Leaning down, I snatched up the axe, tossing it over my shoulder before I began making my way back to the SUV, which was parked behind a bunch of trees, well-hidden from anyone who might be passing by, and it was far from any hiking trails. I had a bit of a treacherous walk through the woods and down rocky terrain, but it wasn’t anything I hadn’t done before.

I blinked, my vision suddenly wavering, and my stomach rumbled. Goddammit. I patted my pockets, cursing when I realized I’d forgotten to grab my protein bar. And the fucking SUV was a damn near ten-minute walk from me. I’d expended too much energy dragging Carmen and Jeffrey up the hill to the cliff overlooking the river I needed. And now, I had nothing to replenish myself. I hadn’t had near enough to eat today.

Shit.

Maybe I could make it. Then, I could call for someone to come get me while I rested for a little while.

I stepped forward again, and my foot sank into a hole. Cursing, I dropped the axe, losing my balance. Thunder rumbled overhead as I fell back, yelping in surprise. My head smacked against a rock, and pain exploded through my skull before everything went black and vomit rushed up my esophagus.