Chapter 29

Stone

I enter the Sin Room, our sanctuary where the Reckless Bastards hold church, and sit at the table. I've paid my dues, earned my stripes, and know that the men around the table respect me.

One day, they'll be not just my brothers but my responsibility.

Dad and Wheeler enter last and close the door. Dad calls church to order and takes a few minutes to catch the rest of the MC up on what I've been doing every night after everyone has gone to bed. "I've given him plenty of shit about it, believe me. But now we need a fucking plan."

Wheeler sends me a disappointed look, but I don't miss the smirk that twists his lips. "You did some damage."

"I did."

"At least there's that," he answers with a snort. "What's your plan, to pick 'em off one by one, or can the rest of us join in on the fun?"

I inhale and let it out, knowing that this is the last leg of my apology tour. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was stupid, but it wasn't some cocky shit," I try to explain.

Holden snorts.

Saint shakes his head.

"For real," I say, clearing my throat to cover up my embarrassment. "I feel responsible for all the shit that's happening, and I thought I should take care of it on my own. Like I said, I know it was stupid, and I'm ready to make up for it."

"How?" The question isn't unexpected, but the fact that Cruz does the asking takes me by surprise.

I flash a smile because I do have answers. And a plan. After hours of going through all the information Ma had gathered on Trey and the Skull Crushers, I have everything I need to obliterate those assholes.

"The Skull Crushers aren't well-known, but they are successful. They make a shit-ton of money, mostly trafficking and coke. But they also run an extortion racket, and they do wet work from jobs on the dark web."

Slayer lets out a low whistle and shakes his head. "Shit."

"Yep. They also have a good business with guns, plus two legitimate auto restoration shops."

Dad nods. "Okay. We know what they have, so we know where to hurt them. Question is, how do you want to do it?"

I know this is a test. Dad wants to make sure I didn't just hear his words but that I took them to heart. "I want to start a campaign of holy fucking terror, starting with draining these three crypto accounts."

Wheeler frowns at the sheet of paper I slide across the table. "Why waste our time for a hundred and fifty bucks?"

I smile. "One hundred and fifty Bitcoin is over ten million dollars."

"Dayummm," Cruz mutters under his breath.

"Yeah. We drain those and even the MC bank accounts, if we can. And then we kill every last one of those fucks, absorbing the businesses we can use and torch the rest."

Laughter erupts around the table, and I resist the urge to scowl or pout. I'm not a kid anymore. I'm not easily wounded by words or laughter, so I let my lips tip into a lopsided smile and meet the gaze of each of my brothers head-on.

"Somebody's feeling a little bloodthirsty," Wheeler jokes.

I shrug. "Damn straight I am. They busted up Ivy and Sage's house, attacked Ivy on the freeway, and shot Gray. Who knows what the fuck they'll do next?" I look at my Dad. "The only request I have is that I get to kill Trey."

Dad nods. "Then let's put it to a vote."

I'm holding my breath and clenching my fists under the table as each member casts his vote. I think everyone is on board, but the vote is where the truth always comes out. One by one, my brothers each put their support behind my plan until the vote is unanimous. Tension leaves my body with a sigh of relief when the vote ends.

"The Skull Crushers won't be a problem after tonight. Peaches will take care of the money, and we'll meet back here in one hour. Go kiss your women and your kids and come back ready to kick some fucking ass."

The energy buzzing inside the Sin Room is palpable, and I smile. This is happening. My plan is being put into action, and other than the expected questions, nobody doubts me. No one doubts my skills.

Since I already kissed my woman, I decide to check on Gray over at Slayer's place. I don't even pretend to be surprised that Sage is there with him or that she leaves to give us privacy. "How's it going?"

"Fine." Gray smiles. "Nova says it's gonna be a few weeks before this shoulder comes close to being healed. How'd the vote go?"

"We leave in an hour."

Surprise flashes in his eyes. "Good. Dad voted for me. I told him I'm on board with whatever gets rid of those assholes for good."

"That's the plan. My plan, actually."

"Tell me." Those words are exactly what he used to say when I would tell him all about my big plans when I was Prez.

So, I give him a rundown of the plan. "Would you still vote the same if you heard it?"

"Fuck, yeah. You are one devious motherfucker, Stone. I'm glad you're on my team."

"Me, too, brother. Me, too."

"Do a little damage for me, yeah?"

"Nah, man. I'll do a lot of fucking damage to make sure they know how bad they fucked up."

He grins. "Excellent. Be safe."

"Always." I get ready to leave and turn back to Gray. "You and Sage?"

"Just a friend."

"Right. You really are dumber than you look."

I laugh when he flips me off and go to the armory to strap up before we head to the outskirts of Two Pines. That's where the Skull Crushers have their headquarters.

"Didn't need to be stealthy, did we?" Ford smiles as we gather just outside the two-story brick structure with the Skull Crushers flag hanging in a top-floor window. "Fuckers are having a party."

We hear the loud music the second we kill the bike engines. It's so loud that we don't need to whisper to set our plan of attack. Hell, we probably couldn't hear each other if we try to whisper.

"Me and Wheeler are gonna set up over there." Dad points to the building right across the street. "It's empty and offers a good view inside the clubhouse."

"Gonna go find a good spot," Wheeler says, taking off with his rifle draped across his back. You'd never pick up on the fact he's got a prosthetic leg the way he carries himself. The dude's a straight-up beast.

I'm all for kicking the door in and shooting up the place, but the smart play is to see what we're up against first. "We should take a look inside and see what's going on. How many people are inside."

"They are completely fucking out of it," Saint says as he rejoins us out on the street. He points his thumb toward the clubhouse. "Lots of booze and drugs, tits out and girls everywhere. It's easy pickings in there."

"Good." Dad nods, his gaze fixes on the front window of the clubhouse, where shadows move back and forth. "What do you think, Stone?"

I look back at the abandoned building and then at the clubhouse. The building has a few more stories, giving Wheeler the perfect view inside. "We need to lay some scatter fire that'll send everyone running, minimize damage to the women and other civilians."

My instinct says to kill everything that moves. Lay them all out for the simple act of being loyal to the Skull Crushers. But that's not how we roll.

"When they come running out the front and back, we pick off the Skull Crushers."

"Good plan," Dad says. "Team up and cover all exits. Leave no fucking man behind. Got it?"

We all nod and disperse around the clubhouse, making sure we have every window and door covered.

"You good?" Saint asks as we make our way around to the back.

I look at him for a minute, and when it's clear he's genuinely asking, I nod. "Fuck yeah, I'm good."

"No one would blame you for being a little nervous."

He's not wrong. My arms and legs are warm, and a tingle shoots up my spine as butterflies take flight in my belly. But it's not nerves. It's anxiety. It's anticipation. "A few nerves is good going into shit like this. If you ain't a little anxious," he says, "then you're not doing it right."

I turn to Saint, and he grins.

"What?" I ask, confused for a second.

"You grew up, that's all."

"Five years will do that to ya." And in that moment, I realize that I no longer hold any anger or resentment about being sent away. It was the exact right move for me and for the MC. I grew up. It's why I'm here today to take this stand with my brothers at my side.

The first shot tears through the late-night air, and nothing happens. Four more shots land. A window breaks and a car alarm sounds. When the sixth shot lands, all fucking hell breaks loose.

The doors fly open and the music gets louder. Half-naked women rush out and run in all directions.

Then comes return fire. Skull Crushers storm out the back door, leading with their guns.

"Eyes up," Saints calls out just as he squeezes the trigger.

I'm focusing on the two assholes wearing Skull Crushers patches. Saint has their full focus since he squeezed off a few shots before me. I use that to my advantage. The first shot rings out, putting a hole in the side of the first guy's head. He drops before he takes his next step.

"Saint," I call out.

"I'm good," he replies.

We both shoot the second asshole at the same time, and he goes down to his knees, squeezing off one final shot before Saint gets him right between the eyes.

"Nice shot," I say, my voice a little high on the excitement now, my nerves all but gone.

"I know," Saint says, calm as fuck. We head inside and Saint and I shoot again, taking them both down without mercy. "That's four," I say with a proud smile.

"I'll finish them off," Saint says. "Go in search of your boy."

I nod and look around to orient myself to the layout of their clubhouse. The main room is empty except for Saint and the dead bikers. To the left, a long bar takes up the entire wall. I hear a noise and check it out. Looking over the top of the bar, I find one of the club whores curled into a corner hugging her legs. She looks young. I aim my gun at her. "Get the fuck out. Now!"

Her gaze darts down before she scrambles to her feet and hauls ass out of there.

I can't be sure, but I think she's telling me there's someone else under there, someone I can't see. Carefully, I tiptoe around the imposing bar, tapping it as I go along, spilling the glasses and bottles on top of it. It's slight, but I hear a movement near where the whore was, and I smile. "You might as well come out."

My words are met with silence.

"Okay, let's do this the hard way, then." I fire a shot at the wall just above where I think the guy might be. The next shot is a little lower, and the third shot lower still. The fourth shot hits human flesh.

"Motherfucker!"

I smile again and step around to get a full view of the bar. It's the guy from Smoky's place, the one who ran off like a smart little bitch when his friend got himself killed. I don't think twice before emptying my last two bullets into him before I slam another clip in, then keep moving through the clubhouse.

I start down a long hallway, looking in each room for Trey. The first room to the right is empty. So is the left room.

"What the fuck?" says a guy in the next room as he stands. But he doesn't get to his weapon before I put two in his chest.

Silence descends all around, and my heart slows. Everything around me sharpens and comes into focus. Every step forward feels like it's taking me exactly where I want to be. Before I arrive at the last room, I hear the squeak of a door and a masculine grunt.

Fucking Trey.

I step into the doorway and watch Trey squatting in front of the MC safe, yanking out bricks of cash and drugs.

A voice belts out from my right, "Hey, who the fuck are you?" I look up at another dude aiming his gun at me. But he's too slow.

I raise my gun and shoot him once right between the eyes before turning back to Trey. "Robbing the MC instead of helping your brothers. Fucking pussy."

Trey whirls around, schooling his features to hide his fear. "It's called securing the future of the Skull Crushers." He turns back to the safe, shouting when I send a bullet flying right past his ear. "What the fuck?"

"You're not leaving here alive. You know that, don't you?"

Trey smiles. "You mad I scared your bitch?" He's laughing to cover the nerves, but I see them in the small movements he can't control.

I laugh with him. "Mad? No." I fire a shot that grazes his arm and sends his gun skidding across the floor. "Are you mad that I killed your brother?"

Hate and anger flash in his eyes. "Son of a bitch." He spits the words out, unable to hide his pain.

"Didn't think so."

Trey inches toward the gun, and I don't make a move to stop him until he's within reach of it, and then I shoot.

One. Two. Straight through his head. The motherfucker is dead.

"Stone!" The first voice that calls out to me is Saint's.

The next voice is my dad's. "In here," I call out, grab the bag, and continue what Trey had started. Stuffing it full of money.

"You okay in here?"

"Sure am. Trey is dead," I answer, nodding as I hold up the bag. "The Skull Crushers are over."

Dad nods. "They won't be a problem anymore."

"Let's go home." All I want is to see Ivy. To hold her in my arms and hear her tell me the truth.

That she loves me.

"What about the last part of your plan?" Dad asks with a smile. "Burn this shit to the ground."