The reception was the reason most of the bikers rode the long distance to the lake. Alcohol, loud music, and club whores were in unlimited supply, keeping the guests happy and distracted. The only ones keeping their drinking under strict control were the Brethren. Today presented a rare opportunity to glean information and strengthen club ties.
Cara reached up to place a kiss on his cheek. “I want to talk to Tessa a minute.”
He looked around, nodding to Wrangler, knowing he’d keep watch on the women.
“All right, but stay in sight, Mrs. McCord.” Kissing her, he didn’t let his gaze stray until Cara and Tessa sat on a bench under a broad sycamore. Wrangler stood a few feet away, talking to one of the club whores who’d ridden over with Drago’s crew.
“We’ve got some interesting information, Wrath.” Rock moved next to him, a bottle of beer in his hand, his gaze fixed on Cara and Tessa.
“Tell me.” Wrath lifted his own bottle, taking a long draw.
“There’s solid intel the Night Devils are shaking up the local club, but not disbanding it. With Poison gone, their national president is riding in to take over until a replacement can be named.”
The news didn’t surprise Wrath, but certainly didn’t please him. “Vulture?”
Rock nodded, his gaze still on the women. “Yeah.”
Grayson had done a good deal of intelligence work on the Devils since Poison’s death. What he’d learned told Wrath they’d be facing a man of less conscience than the one who’d died. Their work just never got any easier.
“There is a bright side, though.”
Wrath snorted, taking another sip of beer. “Yeah. And what’s that?”
“When he couldn’t reach you, Grayson got a hold of me this morning.” Rock cast another look at Cara and Tessa, his attention lingering a little longer than normal on the doctor.
“Do you see something over there that I don’t?”
Tearing his gaze away, Rock looked at Wrath. “Uh, no. Sorry. It’s just something feels off.”
“I know what you mean. Having the Bloods and other gangs here makes me nervous.” Wrath scanned the crowd, making a slow turn before looking back at Rock. “You were going to tell me why Grayson called.”
Rock shook his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts. “Yeah, right. The big man wanted me to give you a heads-up. The admiral wants five of the crew to take part in an extreme mountain training program in northern Arizona. He says you’re to pick the men.”
“Now? With all that’s going down with the Devils and Blood, he expects me to give up five of my men for some damn mountain training? The old man must be out of his mind.” Wrath’s voice rose with each sentence until Rock grabbed his arm to pull him out of hearing range of anyone else.
“Calm down, man. He says you’ve been putting it off for over a year. The guys need to check off boxes like everyone else to stay qualified. He said you should call him if you have any problems with it.”
Letting out a frustrated breath, Wrath ran a hand through his hair. “I wish he wasn’t right, but I have been putting it off. Did he say when he needs the names?”
“Two weeks, max.” Rock finished his beer, tossing the bottle in a nearby container. Rubbing the back of his neck, he grimaced, taking a few steps away.
“Getting another feeling, Rock?” After all the years they’d known each other, Wrath had learned to respect his friend’s gut instincts. When Rock didn’t answer, he took another look around, his gaze landing on a flash of metal in the trees.
Before he could react, a shot rang out, then another, until the air around them pulsed with the sound of gunfire.
“Fuck! Get down!” Wrath and Rock yelled, along with a dozen others as they drew their guns to return fire. “Get the girls.” Both men ran toward the spot where Cara and Tessa had been sitting.
“Over here!” Wrangler waved his arm, his body covering both women, his Glock pointed toward the spot where he’d last heard shots.
Before Wrath and Rock could reach Wrangler and the women, another round of gunfire tore up the ground around them, forcing them to take cover. An instant later, the air stilled, the only sounds the moans of those who’d been hit.
They waited a few beats before the roar of motorcycles sounded in the distance, then faded.
“Vulture,” Wrath bit out. “How the hell did the Devils find us?” He turned, his heart stopping at the sight of Wrangler, Cara, and Tessa covered in blood. “God, no!”
His legs pumped, but it felt like hours had passed before he fell beside them, chest heaving.
“Wrangler’s been hit.” Rock tried to move him enough to get to Cara and Tessa, then pulled out a phone to call 9-1-1.
“Cara?” Wrath couldn’t breathe. His wife and Tessa lay motionless, their clothing spotted with blood. Lifting Cara, he looked at Rock. “How’s Wrangler?”
“Breathing, good heartbeat. I think the bullet must’ve gone on through.” He pressed his hands over the wound to Wrangler’s shoulder, doing his best to stop the bleeding. “Ambulances are on the way.”
“I’m fine, Caid. It isn’t my blood.” Cara’s fingers dug into Wrath’s arm. “Please. Check Tessa.”
Keeping a hand firmly pressed on Wrangler’s wound, Rock shifted to gently turn Tessa over, sending up a silent prayer. Anger welled within him at what he saw.
“She’s been shot.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Steadfast. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.
Watch for book two in the Eternal Brethren series, Shattered.
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About the Author
Shirleen Davies writes romance—military romance, romantic suspense, historical and contemporary western romance with a touch of suspense. She is the best-selling author of the MacLarens of Fire Mountain Series, the MacLarens of Boundary Mountain Series, and the Redemption Mountain Series. Shirleen grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. Her passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona. Between them, they have five adult sons who are their greatest achievements.
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Books by Shirleen Davies
Romantic Suspense
Eternal Brethren, Military Romantic Suspense
Steadfast, Book One
Shattered, Book Two
Haunted, Book Three
Untamed, Book Four, Coming Next in the Series!
Peregrine Bay, Romantic Suspense
Reclaiming Love, Book One
Our Kind of Love, Book Two
Edge of Love, Book Three, Coming Next in the Series!
Contemporary Romance Series
MacLarens of Fire Mountain
Second Summer, Book One
Hard Landing, Book Two
One More Day, Book Three
All Your Nights, Book Four
Always Love You, Book Five
Hearts Don’t Lie, Book Six
No Getting Over You, Book Seven
‘Til the Sun Comes Up, Book Eight
Foolish Heart, Book Nine
Burnt River
Thorn’s Journey, by Shirleen Davies
Del’s Choice, by Shirleen Davies
Boone’s Surrender, by Shirleen Davies
Historical Western Romance Series
MacLarens of Fire Mountain
Tougher than the Rest, Book One
Faster than the Rest, Book Two
Harder than the Rest, Book Three
Stronger than the Rest, Book Four
Deadlier than the Rest, Book Five
Wilder than the Rest, Book Six
Redemption Mountain
Redemption’s Edge, Book One
Wildfire Creek, Book Two
Sunrise Ridge, Book Three
Dixie Moon, Book Four
Survivor Pass, Book Five
Promise Trail, Book Six
Deep River, Book Seven
Courage Canyon, Book Eight
Forsaken Falls, Book Nine
Solitude Gorge, Book Ten
Rogue Rapids, Book Eleven
Angel Peak, Book Twelve
Restless Wind, Book Thirteen
Storm Summit, Coming Next in the Series!
MacLarens of Boundary Mountain
Colin’s Quest, Book One,
Brodie’s Gamble, Book Two
Quinn’s Honor, Book Three
Sam’s Legacy, Book Four
Heather’s Choice, Book Five
Nate’s Destiny, Book Six
Blaine’s Wager, Book Seven
Fletcher’s Pride, Book Eight
Bay’s Desire, Book Nine
Cam’s Hope, Book Ten, Coming next in the series!
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Copyright © 2018 by Shirleen Davies
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
For permission requests, contact the publisher.
Avalanche Ranch Press, LLC
PO Box 12618
Prescott, AZ 86304
Steadfast is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is wholly coincidental.
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