Resolute - Shirleen Davies Page 0,3
to do something?”
“Do you have time to make the bank deposit?”
“Plenty of time.” Katrina couldn’t count how often she’d swung by the bank for Janie. Over the months, she’d made friends with the manager, met her for dinner a few times. A widow of thirty, she had no interest in remarrying. At least that was her story.
“Thanks. It’s in the front office.”
Following Janie outside, Katrina wound her way around carts filled with flats of herbs, flowers, and vegetables. The scents and abundance of colors triggered a memory. A time years ago, before her father had dumped his family.
They’d just moved into their house, a large two story structure with a huge yard. All it was lacking were lots and lots of flowers. Her mother had loved it, swore she’d never leave. At the time, her father had agreed.
One Saturday morning, a flatbed arrived loaded with more flowers than the young Katrina had ever seen. Several men, who knew her father, arrived in trucks. By late afternoon, Teri had her garden.
Instead of the memory bringing warmth, it chilled her blood. After six years, Katrina wanted to forget all the memories before her father left. Most of all, she wanted to fix the pain he’d caused her mother. No matter what Teri said, her mother would never get over Steve leaving. Never get over the heartbreak his betrayal had caused.
“One day, Father, you’ll suffer from what you did to Mother. Someone will crush you the way you deserve. I just hope I’m there to see it.”
Chapter Two
Eternal Brethren Clubhouse
“Everyone we contacted has arrived, Wrath. Let me know when you want them to join us.” Rock dropped into a chair, scrubbing both hands over his face.
“Long day?” Wrath was the president of Eternal Brethren and commander of the undercover SEAL team. After several years, they’d distinguished themselves with a hundred percent record of success. Much of this due to the men Wrath handpicked out of DEVGRU, or SEAL Team 6, as most people knew it.
“The longest. Trevor stayed home from school. He had a temperature of a hundred and two last night. I’ve got to keep him away from his mother.” As the club’s sergeant-at-arms and a lieutenant commander, he shouldered a good deal of responsibility in the club.
“How’s Tessa doing?” Wrath asked, mentioning Rock’s wife.
“She’s still getting morning sickness.” Rock looked up. “All day long. She swears it wasn’t near this bad when she was pregnant with Trevor. Tess won’t say it, but I know she blames me.”
Tessa had her son from a previous relationship. When they married, Rock had adopted him. A pediatrician with a busy practice, she wanted to wait to have a second child. At barely three months pregnant, Rock’s wife had missed almost two weeks of work due to morning sickness.
“I feel for you, brother. Cara went through morning sickness with the twins. Forget our missions. I thought that action would kill me.”
Several of the Brethren had married, a few having children since transferring from their previous base in Virginia. All except Wrangler were part of the Posse, the original members of the Brethren.
A knock on the door preceded Ghost shoving it open. “You ready for us, Wrath?”
As vice president and a lieutenant commander, he’d already turned down a transfer and promotion to command his own team. The same as Rock, Ghost figured he’d retire in Liberty Lake. Several team members were already talking about starting their own company as each retired out, including Wrath and Wrangler.
“Bring them in.”
The table in the conference room filled with men Wrath knew well, trusted with his life. After some initial chatter, they settled down when Rock lowered the lights.
“You all know the national leadership and local chapter of the Night Devils were eliminated in a war with another MC.” No one contradicted him. The fact the Devils were brought down by the Brethren would be buried deep in government archives, only available to those with the highest clearance and approval of the president.
“Most of you also know there’s been chatter for several months about another MC entering our territory.” Wrath clicked the controller, bringing up a collage of images. “You are looking at the national leadership of the Dark Disciples.”
He nodded at Ghost, who handed out dossiers on one of the most ruthless MCs in America. “Upper left is Zeus Treager, the national president. He became a patched member over thirty years ago, rose up the ranks, becoming their leader within five years.”
“A little fast,” Gunner commented.
Wrath nodded. “Damn fast. Word