“We may have just started a war, and we need you back out this way as soon as possible.”
“Abel and I will leave first thing in the morning. See you soon, kid.”
“Thanks, brother.”
Ravage Hellock, the president of the Vilas chapter of our organization, was as fearless as they came. Between him and his stepson, Abel, we would be able to handle anything the Renegade Kings threw at us with ease—I was sure of it.
Chapter 2
Maccon
“Allie?” I called up the stairs as I finally walked back into my home.
Like an angel glowing in the moonlight, my wife glided into view in her white nightgown. Her long blonde hair framed her tired, smiling face.
“It’s about time you came home,” she teased as I rushed up the steps and gathered her in my arms, resting my stubble-ridden face on her soft cheek.
“I’m sorry I’m so late, sweetheart. The meeting took longer than I anticipated.”Meeting—a horrible front that didn’t fool my girl.
As she looked up at me with her stormy green eyes, her hand landed on my cheek. “Is everything all right?”
She could see right through me every damn time—a bittersweet reminder of the dangerous life I had chosen for us.
“It is now,” I told her, sighing as she relaxed into my arms. Running my hand over her stomach, I felt a subtle kick from our baby girl.
“She’s been restless all night. I think she’s been anxiously waiting for her daddy to come home, just like her mama.” The sweetest grin popped on Allie’s face as I melted from her words.
“Don’t worry, princess,” I whispered to Allie’s belly. “Daddy is home.”
Allie ran her thumb over my swelling cheek below a fresh black eye. I could see it all over her face—she was proud of me.
Grabbing my hand, Allie pulled me down the stairs. “Time to talk all this out or you’ll never get a wink of sleep tonight and you know it, Mr. Allred.”
“You’re always right, Mrs. Allred.” I followed my very pregnant wife to the kitchen—I knew better than to argue with her.
Grabbing the bottle of Jameson from the top of the fridge and a glass for me, she sat at the table like she did every time I came home like I just had. It was our little tradition, one that had become an important process for me to cope with the stress of my lifestyle.
I watched her yawn and couldn’t help but feel selfish for keeping her up.
“It’s late, darlin’. You really should be sleeping,” I protested.
“It’s one drink, Maccon.” She pointed to the chair across the table, pursing her adorable strawberry lips.
I pulled the chair out. “As you wish,” I relented.
She poured the amber liquid and slid it over to me before getting up to grab the first aid kit out of the cupboard next to the refrigerator.
“Give me that hand,” she demanded. As she tended to my busted knuckles, she muttered, “Out with it. Today wasn’t just any ol’ day.”
“Remember the shit that happened with Katherine a few days ago?” I ducked my head, hating and loving the words that were going to fall into the air.
She nodded as her smile twisted into a hateful glare.
“He was part of the Renegade Kings.”
My wife’s hands flew up to cover her mouth. “Does that mean…?”
My old lady wasn’t naïve to the life we lived, and I didn’t hide anything from her. She was my backbone and the heart of my club.