Chapter 48

Rowdy
We finished our run ahead of schedule and are pulling up to the clubhouse gates. Brick got a call yesterday that said we needed to get our asses back as fast as possible. We were told nothing more. We kicked our bikes in gear racing back home. The gates are not only shut but locked. Immediately I know something is wrong. The gates are never shut. I can’t remember the last time they were locked. A prospect comes to the gate and opens it. " What's going on?" asks Brick. " Lockdown" the prospect answers. That’s it. No explanation. We all look at each other then head in. We park our bikes in front and go in.
The energy in the clubhouse is off. I can't put my finger on it. I get it we are on lockdown but I feel like I walked into a funeral home. There is no music playing. I only see a few bunnies and they are sitting off to the side. Not entertaining any brothers. There is no laughing. No goofing off. No loud chatter. I don’t like this at all. It is creepy. I don’t like the feeling I’m getting from everyone.
I see Ace at the bar and we all go to him " What's with the lockdown?" He looks up at me. What the hell. He looks like he hasn't slept in days. " Something happened yesterday and Prez called for an instant lockdown," he says." Where is Prez? We need to brief him about our run." Brick says. " You boys run into trouble?" Ace asks. " No. Smooth run." I said. " Then I wouldn't disturb him." Ace says.
I look around and see the same look on everyone's face that I see on Ace. But something is sticking out. Something is missing. I look around again hoping I'm wrong. Please let me be wrong. I see Axel do the same. I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I look one more time then turn back to Ace " Where's Merigold?"
I looked around again hoping she just appeared. No one is answering. " Where's Merigold?" I shout. " That's what we would like to know." I turn to the voice and see what looks like six linebackers standing shoulder to shoulder arms crossed over their chest making a wall of muscle in the middle of the clubhouse. Who the fuck are these guys? How did they get in here? Why are they looking for Merigold?
" Which one of you is Viper?" the guy in the middle asks. He doesn't even know who Viper is. How did he get past the gate? I’m going to have to have a talk with the prospect on duty. "Who the fuck wants to know?" Brick asks. Prez comes out of his office. He puts his hand up to us telling us to shut the hell up. He looks like shit. Looks like he has been drinking all day and night and hasn't slept it off.
Viper steps up to the guy in the middle of the group, " That's me." Before we can blink the middle guy punches Viper in the stomach then an uppercut to the face. Everyone is about to jump the guy but Viper puts his hand up to stop us. What the fuck? Why is Viper taking that kind of disrespect? I look around and everyone is just as confused as me.
Viper stands in front of the guy again. What the hell is he doing? " You were warned. If anything happens to her under your watch you are going to have to deal with us." the guy yells. The guy to the left says " You failed!" and punched Viper in the face. Prez just took it.” You weren’t watching her.” another guy yells as he punches Viper in the ribs. When Viper recovers he says " Can we finish this after we find her?" Viper asks. The one in the middle nods `` Stand down" and they all adjust their stance.
" We want an update on your progress and to see the twins." the one to the left demands. " You can't just come in here, hit our Prez, and make demands. Who the fuck do you think you are?" Thor yells. Viper glares at Thor and is about to speak when the first guy on the right says " Specialist Tony Rodgers. " The next to him " Specialist Matt Anders." " Specialist Andrew Johnson" " Specialist River Marshal."
I wait for the last two to answer but my gut is telling me I don't want to know. Because if they are here that means this is bad. " Specialist Mac Ramsey" Specialist Alaric Richmond." " That doesn't tell us shit." Brick says. Viper yells pointing at Alaric and his men" It means these men are her family. It means they know her better than any of us. It means they dropped everything to come here and get her back. It means they have training and resources we don’t. I will make a deal with the devil himself to get her back. If anyone has a problem with that, you know where the door is."
The sound of running catches our attention and stops us talking. I turn to see Jace and Jax running this direction. Just as they get to the middle of the room Alaric shouts " Ten hut." And I'll be damned if the boys don't come to a dead stop, stand side by side, arms glued to their side, head held high and standing tall. The men with Alaric smile proudly. Hell, I'm proud of them.
" At ease," Mac says. The twins place their feet shoulder-width apart and clasp their hands behind their backs. Alaric steps forward and walks around them as if he is inspecting them. I know Jace and Jax have had some training. I've seen Merigold do it at times. But it is strange watching someone else treat them as little soldiers. I look around at my brothers and I can see that they are surprised and impressed. The men with Alaric are in the same stance smiling at the boys.
" Private Jax. Do you want to explain to me why you were running in here with no regard for others?" Alaric asks. Jax says " Sir. Wug Nut try tickle us, sir." I couldn't help it, I had to laugh. Hey, what can I say, it was cute. And I'm not the only one. Although most covered it better than me. " Private Jace, why was this Lug Nut person going to tickle you?" Jace says " Sir we sad sir. He try make us smile." Alaric frowns and says " I see. And where is Lug Nut?" The twins point to the hall and I see Lug Nut coming our way.Damn he looks bad. Someone did a number on him. His face is bruised all to hell. It looks like he has a cut above one eye. Alaric nods at him and turns back to the boys.
Alaric steps back in line with the other guys " Private Jax report." Jax breaks into a run and launches himself at Alaric. Alaric catches him in a big bear hug. Mac says " Private Jace report." and squats down to catch him in a hug like he doesn’t want to let go. When the twins are done with Alaric and Mac they move to each one of the other guys. When the boys are done giving out hugs, the twins step back " Are here help momma?" Alaric gets on his knees " Yea we came to help Snow." The boys' faces light up " Fank you Unka Laric." The boys look at Viper " They help Unka Viper?" Viper nods and the boys charge his legs. “ Fank you unka Viper. Other Unkas help momma. They good. They get her better.” Jax says. I see some of the old ladies wiping tears from their eyes. Anna too. It looks like some of the brothers are as well. What the hell is going on around here.
Viper hugs them " You boys go play some more. Let us talk about how we are going to help momma. When we are done we will come to get you so you can spend some time with your uncles. Don’t give Lug Nut too much trouble and we can have some popsicles." The twins nod and take off to the playroom. Lug Nut turns to follow them when Alaric calls out " Lug Nut a word." Lug Nut looks at Viper for the go ahead and Viper nods. Lug Nut steps in front of Alaric " Snow has spoken very highly of you." Lug Nut looks confused and he isn't the only one. Alaric looks around " Merigold never told you her nickname?" We all shake our heads, no. Mac says " Merigold is our Snow. As in Snow White."
I can see that and it sounds right for her. Alaric offers Lug Nut his hand " Viper explained that you were with Snow when she was taken. And from the looks of you, you put up a hell of a fight. We thank you for what you did and what you have done for our Snow. Snow always spoke highly of you. She considered you a friend. That makes you a true friend to her. That makes you family to us." Lug Nut shakes his hand " Anyone of the brothers would have the same had they been there. Your Snow, our Merigold is family to us and I will do whatever it takes to help in getting her back. You have my word." Alaric nods. With an unspoken agreement between them Lug Nut goes back to the playroom with the twins.
Viper motions to the back table " Back here and we will get everyone up to date."