I’m sad to leave, but I’m also desperate to see Diesel.

The trip is long, and we get in late afternoon. Santana’s car is outside Mack’s house, as well as Maddox and Krypt’s bikes. I smile, jumping out of the car. My legs ache, my lower back hurts, and it takes a solid few minutes of stretching to make them feel better. Mack comes around to walk in with me, but I’m already bounding towards the front door.

I burst inside, and Ash, Santana, Krypt and Maddox are sitting around the table. Ash has Diesel in her arms, and I run towards him. She passes him with a laugh and I pull him into my arms. I press my face to his, and coo to him, “I missed you, little man. Yeah, I missed you.”

He reaches out, tugging my hair, giving me that adorable baby cackle. My heart melts and I press him closer.

“Mack,” Maddox greets.

“What’s up?” Mack says, walking past and stopping at me.

His arms go out, and with a pout, I pass Diesel. Diesel instantly grabs the chain around Mack’s neck and pulls it into his mouth. Mack grins down at him, brushing his lips across Diesel’s soft hair. My heart melts, and I want to throw myself at both of them, but that would definitely be rude, so I turn, wave and yell, “Hi!”

“How was your trip?” Santana asks, smiling at me.

“Awesome.”

“Mack, we talk outside?” Maddox asks, standing.

“Yeah,” Mack says, passing Diesel back to me.

Krypt stands, flashing a grin at me, then they all head outside.

“Do you girls know what’s going on?” I ask.

Santana nods, and leans in close. “I overheard them talking about the Tinmen; apparently there are rumors they’re planning an attack. It’s put Maddox on full alert. Not to mention Benito moving in.”

“Jesus,” I whisper, pressing Diesel closer.

“Yep.” Ash nods. “It’s not looking good.”

I turn and stare at the door.

I have a bad feeling about this.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

MACK

“You’re fuckin’ kidding me?” I growl, pacing the front porch.

“Local gun dealer told me they’d loaded up on weapons, even explosives,” Krypt adds.

“So what do we do?” I ask, facing Maddox who is standing with his fists clenched.

“We make the attack first.”

Fuck.

“You wanna attack?”

“Fuckin’ hell yeah I do. They’re not comin’ near my club. We need to let them know who owns this fuckin’ turf. Which means, we go first.”

“And by first, you fuckin’ mean when?” I ask.

Krypt turns to me. “Tomorrow, Mack.”

“Fuck me.”

“We loaded up, too. It’s time to end this shit.”

“You’re already on the cops’ radar. You sure this is smart?” I growl low, facing Maddox again.

Maddox crosses his arms. “Yeah, I’m fuckin’ sure. I’ve been smart, Mack, that’s all you need to know. They won’t find shit.”

“Marcus,” I mutter.

Both men flash a glare at me.

“You think I don’t know what he has his finger in,” I snort. “I’ve known Marcus Tandem a long time. He might be the fuckin’ mighty businessman, but he’s also got his fingers in a lot of pies.”

Maddox steps closer. “If you know about that, then you know we’re covered.”

“Covered, yeah, but it’s still fuckin’ dangerous.”

“Never said it wasn’t.”

“I got a baby.”

“Then you step down.”

I growl, stepping closer. “Ain’t gonna happen, and you fuckin’ know it.”

“Then tomorrow we move out.”

“Fuck. What am I supposed to tell Jaylah?”

“You tell her it’s club business, and you’ll be gone a few days. We’ll have the girls covered with security, so she’ll be safe.”

Shit.

“Fine. We leavin’ first thing?”

Krypt nods. “Be there.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, staring through the window at my girl. “I’ll be there.”

~*~*~*~

“I hate that you’re going,” I whisper, clutching his leather jacket.

Mack leans down, running his fingers over my jaw. “Only be a few days.”

“If something happens . . .”

His eyes flash. “It’s my life, baby. It’s a risk sometimes.”

“What about Diesel?” I breathe.

Soft lips connect with mine, and he kisses me for a minute. “He’ll be fine. If anything happens, he goes to you.”

“What?” I breathe.

“Saw how much you love him; saw how much he means. No one else in the world I’d want my boy with than you.”

Tears well in my eyes. “Miakoda, I think you’re making me fall in love with you.”

His eyes soften and the corners crinkle slightly. “Already there for me, baby.”

Jesus.

I reach up, my fingers grazing his jaw. “Please come home.”

“I’ll come home.”

His lips come over mine again, and I hear the murmuring of voices around us. That’s when chaos begins. It starts with Tyke roaring, “Maddox, inside!”

I pull back from Mack, turn, and before I can see what’s happening, his arms are at my middle and he’s pulling me inside. Gunfire sounds out, hitting the walls around us, exploding into bikes, and the girls begin to scream. My mind flashes to Diesel, who’s inside. Oh, God.