18. Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Lacy

I had sent out a mass text to all the girls to meet me at the Ravens Bar. While Drake wanted to believe he could handle everything on his own, it was the time that the ladies got involved. From what Drake had told me, Aspen may not take the news well, so I needed to be careful when I disclosed the information I had.

I loved hard and I protected those that I loved with a fiery fierceness that couldn't be controlled. Now that Josh had threatened my man-- my family it was my turn to take on the responsibility of trying to end this.

As I found a seat in the back of the bar, I was grateful that the bar wasn’t busy. It was still early in the morning and I had asked the girls to meet me here on Sunday afternoon. Ivy was the first one to walk through the doors. I was sure Axel had told her what was going on, too. She offered a slight wave and by the look of sadness on her face, I was sure she knew. Remy was next. She looked nervous and I could tell Blaze hadn’t given her a whole lot of information either. Once the girls were seated at the table, I folded my hands in front of me and leaned across the table.

“Ok ladies, I asked you all to meet me here because something has happened,” I began.

Ivy’s eyes grew large as she looked at me with intent. “You sound like a mob boss,” she half-joked.

I felt like a bad-ass bitch mob boss right now and I wasn’t about to stop. “Well, I feel like I just might be,” I replied. “Look, that guy, Josh, who hired our men to protect his shipment to Texas really screwed over the Raven’s,” I said.

“How so?” Remy asked. “Blaze has been very quiet about it all, which is very frustrating, but I knew something bad was going on.

“Apparently, Josh is…” I struggled to say the next thing. We had all dealt with Chuck and Aspen knew better than us all how dangerous that family could be. This was about to blow up for sure. “Josh is Chuck’s cousin,” I finished.

I closed my eyes for a moment, before opening them again. When I glanced at the girls, I saw the shock and terror written on their faces. Ivy looked enraged while tears brimmed Aspen’s eyes.

“What?” both girls shouted.

The few people in the bar looked over at us, before turning their attention back to their drinks.

“I’m sorry. I know this is difficult, but it is true,” I said, my own voice shaking. I was filled with so many emotions right now.

Just then, Aspen walked over and sat near us. She glanced around and it was clear that she knew something was wrong.

“Did I miss something?” Aspen asks nervously.

Drake had told me that Aspen’s family was related to Josh. That was about all of the information he would give me. I wasn’t sure if Storm or Jagger had told her anything either, but it looked like I was going to break the news to her.

“Well, it appears that Josh is trying to take down the Twisted Kingdom Clubhouse. He was working with Chuck,” I explained.

Ivy shivered at the mention of Chuck.

“How did I not know this? His family moved away after they got into some pretty serious trouble. I knew he and Chuck were still close, but I haven’t been on speaking terms with my family for years,” Aspen cried. “I’m so sorry.”

“Why are you sorry, you had no idea,” I said, taking her hand in mine.

We were all a family now and I wasn’t going to let her feel responsible for this.

“I should have been more aware of what was going on. I never asked Storm any questions about this job or Josh. Hell, I never even saw him. If I had, I could have stopped this,” Aspen cried again.

“Aspen, like Lacy said. You couldn’t have known about this. Don’t let this hurt you,” Ivy argued.

“You can’t control what other people do,” Remy added.

I nodded, letting the girls know I supported them. “It is time we rise above this and take control. Our guys like to take on things themselves, but it’s our turn,” I said.

Just as the words slipped out of my mouth, Drake, Axel, Jagger, Storm, and Ryder walked out from the kitchen in the bar.

I sunk down into my seat and sighed. Shit, they had been listening to us. They all crossed their arms across their massive chests and shook their heads in disbelief. Together, they were incredibly intimidating to look at. Everyone knew you didn't mess with the Ravens and well… I guess I just didn’t listen.

“Are you seriously sitting here trying to devise a plan? After I told you to let me handle it or at the very least, let us discuss it together?” Drake asked, his face full of hurt and anger. His eyes glowed red and I could see his lips pursing as he was holding back his lashing.

“Drake, I told you that you had to let people in,” I argued, standing up and facing them all head-on.

I watched as the other brothers looked at me and their eyes rose in wonderment. Not many people challenged a Raven-- especially, Drake Raven, but here I was doing it. I placed one hand on my hip and stared them all down.

Drake let out a deep breath and ran his hand through his thick hair before responding. “Lacy, you have no idea what you about getting yourself into. These guys… they are trouble,” Drake growled.

Seeing him so upset made me realize I needed to change my tactics a bit. He was on defense mode and needed everyone to be on his side of things. Stepping closer, I closed some of the space between us. I talked as though it were just me and Drake in the room. “We have dealt with bad guys before and the Ravens have always come out on top. This isn’t going to be any different,” I said, lowering my eyes to make sure he was focused solely on me.

Drake looked at me carefully and cocked his head to the side. “Lacy, I need you to stop this now,” he said.

I wasn’t about to give in, but I also knew when to stop fighting. For now. “Fine, but this isn’t over,” I stated, before whirling back around and sitting with the ladies again.

Drake stormed off and headed up to our apartment. I knew he was mad at me, but I also knew that he understood I was coming from a place of love. He needed time to vent, so I would give him all the time he needed. Besides, I still had a plan to devise.