I called church. The noise in the clubhouse died like someone pulled the plug. The Laughter, the music, and the clinking bottles all gone. The few who didn't move fast enough got the look from Tank and suddenly decided the hallway was a better place to be.
Inside the back room, the air was thick with smoke and expectation. Rook was already leaning against the wall by the door, arms crossed.
The twins came in next. Blaze first, still grinning from whatever trouble he'd been causing. Ash followed, calmer but smelling just as much like whiskey and adrenaline. They'd barely been home a week. And I'd just cut their welcome-home party short.
"Man," Blaze muttered, dropping into a chair. "We finally get a night off and you call church?"
Ash ran a hand through his hair.
"You better tell me this is life or death, old man. I was five minutes from getting fucking Ruby."
"You'll live," I said. "She'll wait."
"Yeah," Ash shot back. "But she won't wait."
"Then you're not doing it right," Blaze said with a grin.
My look shut him up. Tank ducked through the doorway next, all six-eight of him filling the frame. He shut the door behind him like it weighed nothing. Ghost was already in the corner. No one had seen him come in. No one ever does.
Snipe took his perch by the window, eyes scanning the parking lot. Morgue leaned against the far wall, smelling like antiseptic and cigarettes. Preacher stood near the table, head bowed slightly, quiet but listening. Tech came in last, tablet tucked under his arm. He looked like a man about to deliver bad news to a firing squad.
"Now," I said.
"Got what you asked for," Tech replied, setting the tablet down. "You sure you want this now?"
"Yes."
He swiped the screen.
"Name: Sunny O'Hare. Mother: Angelica Deline. Father listed: Mathis O'Hare."
The room went still.
"In and out of hospitals since she was two," Tech continued. "Broken arms. Broken legs. All reported as accidental falls."
Blaze's grin disappeared, and Ash stopped leaning back. Tech kept reading.
"School records located. Tenth grade. High IQ. Gifted program. Advanced three years."
He scrolled.
"School photo shows bruising. Black eye. Split lip. Mandatory report filed."
A pause.
"No follow-up recorded."
Rook's jaw ticked.
"Of course," he muttered.
Tech swallowed before continuing.
"Month ago, state police raided a drug house. Sunny was found inside."
The room tightened around the words.
"Two broken ribs. Dislocated shoulder. Broken ankle. Skull fracture. Strangulation marks."
Tech hesitated.
The kind that fills a room faster than sound.
"She was found naked."
No one moved.
"A rape kit was taken."
Blaze's breathing slowed. Ash's knuckles turned white against the table. Preacher closed his eyes. Morgue swore quietly under his breath. Tech kept going.
"She's awake now. Stable but weak. Asking questions. Names. Locations."
He looked up.
"Marlowe says Cloverdale PD has corruption inside it. Payoffs. Protection. If Sunny talks, the entire supply line goes down."
Rook folded his arms.
"So she's a witness."
Ghost's voice slid from the shadows.
"A witness with a death sentence."
Someone would try to finish the job.
"They won't," I said.
Tank straightened near the door.
"Orders?"
"We move smart," I said.
"Marlowe's got eyes inside. We handle the outside."
I looked around the room.
"Tank. Ghost. Tech. You ride with me to Cloverdale tonight."
They nodded immediately.
"Blaze. Ash. Prep the trucks. Load light but ready for noise."
Both twins straightened, and the party was forgotten.
"Snipe, find me a nest overlooking that hospital."
"Already on it," he said.
"Morgue, bring a med kit. I don't trust their doctors."
"Wasn't planning to," he muttered.
"Preacher, keep comms clean and lock this place down."
"Yes, sir."
Silence settled over the room. I looked ay my brothers, my family, and my blood. I let the quiet sit for a moment before speaking again.
"Someone hurt my daughter."
The words tasted like iron. Every man in the room went still.
"And now…"
My voice dropped.
"…we make damn sure they never get the chance to do it again."