Reign said to hold down Navesink Bank. Get the women safe. Watch for threats. Once we're sure that is handled, we will talk about getting us back there."
"Okay. Are you sure you're safe there? We can spare some men here."
"We'll all be in the hospital. Fuck," Repo hissed. "And the road doesn't seem safe for us right now. Stay there where you have strength in numbers. We'll be alright here until we can figure out the next move."
"Okay. Repo?"
"Yeah?"
"How's my dad?"
"He's alright. Physically restraining Pagan who wants to chase down the fuckers even with a bone sticking out of his leg."
"Okay. Updates as soon as you have them. On everyone's conditions. There will be worried women and kids."
"I will send them as soon as I have them. Gotta go. More ambulances pulling up."
"Okay. Be careful."
"Always," Repo agreed, ending the call.
There was one moment of silence as we thought about Edison, Adler, and Slash, each of us who believed, sending up a quick, silent prayer.
"Alright. We know this drill," I said, looking over at Finn. "Call Aunt Lo. She will organize to get the women and kids to Hailstorm. Malc, call the girls," I said, meaning our cousins. "They'll listen to you more than me. If you can't get them to Hailstorm, get them here. No one leaves this club without a crew of four. And only in the SUV. We can be picked right off on our bikes. Uncle Cash," I said, turning to him. "Maybe it is time to talk to the local allies. Mallicks, Grassis, anyone you can think of. They need to know what is going on."
What else? What else?
"West, call down to the Florida chapter. Tell them what's going on. If they offer, we don't need them up here yet. But tell them to be ready if it comes to that. Duke, we need some heavier artillery," I said, knowing he had access to the vault. "And some vests. Everyone else, go see Brooks for a guard schedule."
"Wait... where are you going?" my uncle Lazarus called.
"I... I need to make the hard calls," I said, giving them all a nod as I made my way down the hallway to my room.
They weren't death calls.
I could comfort myself a little with that.
But calling any of the women with bad news about their men made my stomach clench. Still, it had to be done. And I was the one who needed to do it.
Adler and Edison's women—Lou and Lenny—were both deceptively calm on the phone, even if I knew their minds were spinning. They were likely a little bit in shock. Once they got to Hailstorm, I was sure they would start pitching a fit about wanting to go and be with their men. But that would be a problem for Lo and Chris to handle. If it was decided that Lenny and Lou could go to North Carolina, Hailstorm certainly had the vehicles and manpower to get them there safely.
Taking a deep breath, I made the next toughest call.
To my mom.
Who thought my father was out of the woods when it came to all of this since he was stepping down.
"Hey, bud, what's up? It's late."
"Mom, dad's fine," I started.
"But?" she prompted, voice sharp, knowing. This wasn't her first rodeo.
"But there was an ambush in North Carolina. Adler, Edison, and Slash seemed hurt the worst. Pagan has a bone sticking out. I should call Kennedy," I said, talking to myself aloud, thinking of Pagan's woman.
"I'll call Kennedy," my mom said. "I will get to her before the Hailstorm troops arrive to shuffle us off. That's the plan, right?"
"Right," I agreed. "We're still waiting for information on everyone's condition. As soon as we know, we are going to send a crew down to pick up our men."
"Buddy?"
"Yeah?"
"You're going to need to breathe," she said, voice soft. "I know you're stressed. But you are going to need to take an actual deep breath every so often if you're going to be able to get through this."
She was right.
I felt like I'd been all but holding my breath since the first text came in.
"Thanks, Ma."
"You've got this, Fallon," she added. "I'm going to call Kennedy before the caravan shows up and scares the crap out of her."
"Okay. Thanks."
"Love you, bud."
"Love you too," I said, hanging up, feeling a bit of weight lift at getting the bad news delivered.
I took my mother's advice, and stood in my room to breathe for a minute, getting my mind together, then making my way