Zorro (Reapers MC #16) - Elizabeth Knox Page 0,32

us to be prepared. I only want them to be in the fuckin’ ground. We’ve had enough history with our people dying. Fist, Saffron, Tank, hell, I could keep going on and on, but the point is we’ve lost enough people. We don’t need to be losing more.”

“I don’t disagree with you, Zorro, but most of us have women and kids who depend on us. We can’t make brash decisions. Not now. Not when so much is at stake. We need to thoroughly think this through. I already asked Falcon and his boys to keep tabs on the Corrupt Kings. They agreed and they’ll let us know if there’s any sort of movement for them coming back out this way. Now, I heard you were leaving town in a few weeks to go take care of something at Stonewall. Is that right?” Zane’s eyes immediately dart over to me.

I nod. “Yeah, not going for a while though.”

“You are now. I want you back here before shit hits the fan. We’re going to need you, Zorro. You’re one of the best shots we have.” Zane’s never complimented me, but fuck if I’m not gonna take a compliment from him.

“Alright. I’ll head out today. Now, you cool if I take one of the prospects? It’ll be a good opportunity for them to learn about how to work one-on-one.” I already planned to bring Frost with me, but he never knew that.

“Yeah, take Frost. What is it you’re doing out there again? I swore we had Dex handlin’ shit.” Zane reminds me and the group. Blackjack crosses his arms and looks over to me, his own curiosity is piqued.

“All due respect, but Ruby isn’t Dex’s woman. She is mine, and there’s no fuckin’ way I’m gonna wait until August for Dex to get there. I know you’re not a fan of what I’m doin’, Zane, but . . . if this were Octavia you would’ve already been there.” From the corner of my eye I spot Grim and Axel clenching their jaws. There will never be a day where they see me as the one fit to be with their sister, and I’ve come to accept that. They don’t have to like it but they do have to respect it.

Zane nods in understanding. “You’re right. Go do what you need to do and then get the fuck back here. We all know the Corrupt Kings will be back soon, and when they come back I want to make sure we throw quite the welcoming party,” Zane snickers at the end, proving to everyone he’s prepared to bring mischief their way.

“Are you claimin’ her?” Axel questions, looking right into my eyes.

Grim sits beside him, starin’ at me the same way his brother is, but they aren’t the only ones. Every person in this room is lookin’ at me, waitin’ for some sort of response.

I nod. “Yeah, I am. I know you two aren’t fans of it, but I’m not gonna treat her like shit. She’s makin’ me become a better man, the type of man I wanna be for her, and because of that I can’t sit by and let those fuckers get away with what they did. You might not believe it, but I’m gonna cherish your sister, and I’m gonna have heads on a platter for her so she knows how much I fuckin’ care about her.”

The entire room remains quiet, but both Grim and Axel stand, offer me their hands and I shake with them both. This must mean we’re on good terms now, or at least I hope it does. With Axel you never really know. He’s the club’s hothead, but maybe Grim has finally seen I’m not the enemy. How can I be when I’m on Ruby’s side?

Chapter Seventeen

Two souls didn’t find each other by simple accident

~ Unknown

Ruby

I’m on the second level porch leaning on the railing with a cup of hot chocolate in my hands. Steam floats into the air from the heat of the cocoa and I stare out at the skyline. The property goes on and on here for hundreds of acres. Ashley mentioned to me that this was her great-great-great grandfather’s ranch back in his time, that they bred cattle for market. They must’ve sold the cattle off at some point because I’ve never seen any farm animals here, but there is a massive barn a ways off. I can see it from here and I know some of the guys have been going out