Page 53 of Road to Absolution

Diesel asked, “Does that really matter if a rat is telling someone Art is still in love with her?”

“But,” Delilah whispered, “he’s not.”

Diesel told her, “I’m not going there or pretend to know that truth, but I can say what an outsider might see. If certain enemies of mine have joined forces and are all comparing notes, and they’ve been told of my son pining over you, and then learn of me going to such lengths as to protect and spare your heart—such as by sending a dead boy to Austin because you merely made a wish-you have become quite the tool, in their eyes, to be used against us.”

By Diesel’s tired expression, it was clear even the mention of his son’s abduction was draining. He rolled his neck. “And my fight with Lynx the night Mav was brought here, by Giver… Jesus. I’ve offered so much ammunition.”

Confused, I asked, “Who’s Lynx? What ammunition?”

He stroked his beard in a nervous manner. “Lynx is Legend’s son. The now Prez of the Stallions. He is my most powerful ally. And I faced off with him in the ER over you and Giver, something enemies will see as another weak spot of mine for Delilah.” He bent over to stretch his back, stressed-like, then stood up again. “Fuck. If everything I’m suspecting here is true, they want to start a war. Inside my club, and between Ryders and the Stallions. My brother, Dagger, is the Stallions’ VP.” His shoulders sunk. “Maverick, I don’t think Delilah ‘getting hers’ is them wanting to kill her. I think they want to take her.”

My arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her back closer to my chest. “Fuck off. All of you.” Even though I was standing in a hospital, my life forever changed, I was still hoping… “You have to be wrong.”

Diesel said, “I wish I was, but my gut says all the pieces fit.”

Everything just kept getting worse. “Tuck?”

He laid a hand on his chest. “I’m sorry, brother. I think he’s dead on. It all makes sense now.”

“Goddamnit!” I roared, making Delilah jump in my arms. “All these decisions, that I had not one fucking thing to do with, have rocked my world. Now someone wants my wife?”

Sympathetically, Diesel said, “They want the power they believe she holds over us—”

“She does!” I thundered. “She has all the power! Over me! Don’t you see?”

She spun in my arms. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea all this could even happen.”

Clutching her face, I promised, “You are the last person I would ever blame for all this fuckery.”

She licked her dry lips. “I’m scared.”

Gutted. Those words gutted me from top to bottom.

I pulled her to me for a tight embrace. I needed a way out of this mess. I asked Diesel, “Could the police help us?”

“FBI would put her in protective services, where she will be found and killed within days, and they’d put the rest of us in prison. Not to mention, the men who still want their non-club-member, number one witness dead.”

“Me. Great.” I lurched. “Wait, what does ‘non-club’ mean?”

“You are not affiliated with a club. Easy prey. No repercussions, according to MC rules. If you belong to a club, and they dare try to kill you, they know they are in for one hell of a fight—” Diesel eyed me with hesitation. “No. No. Not happening. This is no reason to join a club.”

I kissed the top of my wife’s head. “And if enemies kill an Old Lady?”

Diesel hissed, “Don’t even. Old Ladies are sacred—” He turned away from me. “Ah, shit.”

So, I looked to my brother.

He kept blinking… but finally admitted, “Killing an Old Lady is a promise of Hell hunting you down.”

Delilah’s wet eyes stared up at me. “Don’t do this. Not for me. You’re not a biker. You’re a box—” Her mouth gaped and then she broke into tears, sinking back into my chest. “No.”

I held her while whooshing out a terrified breath. I had to leap into an unknown… “I seem to have found myself in quite a shit show.” I leaned my head to Lilah’s. “But so worth it, for you.”

She panted against my chest. “No, no, no…”

I knew she loved the men in the club. I knew Viola would help her adjust to the lifestyle. I also knew Lilah blamed herself for the decision I had to make. That’s why I tried to joke, “So, uh… How does one go about becoming a Ryder?”

Diesel faced me. “Son, we will fight for her. In our hearts, she is one of us, even without you doing this.”