Chapter 19

Max

"Hey brother. Thought we could use a talk." I say as I take a seat in the damp green grass.

The smell of summer whiffs through the air as a nearby landscaper plants some flowers next to the administration's office.

I pull some small weeds that have started to grow since the last time I was here. It's strange knowing I was here not too long ago hung over and angry that he had left me, but after screaming out in agony how badly I was hurting and having not only my brother hear me, but everyone from the club, I feel different.

"You know, you could have told me you had a brother, but judging by how fuckin' crazy he is, I'm guessing that's why you decided to keep him under wraps." I joke feeling more and more like myself.

This morning I woke up in my bed at the clubhouse and knew where I had to be. I left around five this morning, catching a cab to my house to grab my bike and heading straight here. I left my phone back at the clubhouse with a note saying I just needed a few hours. I wouldn't be the one they couldn't rely on ever again, but I needed some time to finally get out what I needed to.

"I have to stop him, Rob. I can't let him get away with hurting my friends and family. I'm guessing you didn't tell him about Ellen and Emma, and I promise I won't let their names slip in front of him, but he needs to end, and the kind of man I can tell he is, it will only end with a bullet."

I sit back up, placing my hand on the edge of grave. It feels different than the last time I was here. I am now able to speak with the man that not only saved my life but put me in charge of looking after his family. I know once Julian finds out he has a sister-n-law and a niece out there, he will go after them, and I can't have that. They have already seen enough ugly in this world, I won't bring them more.

"I'm sorry I failed you brother. I'm sorry I was too chicken and caught up with my girl to see anything past her. I will forever regret that, but I'm done living in the past. Besides, I know you would kick my ass if you saw me in this shape. You always could take me in combat." I push out the rest of the words out as my throat begins closing with the emotion I feel. "I love you Matthews, and I swear to God, I will do right by your family."

I turn to head back to my bike and stop in my tracks when I see Austin standing there next to his bike and mine. His arms are crossed at his chest and his eyes are starring into mine. I move closer to him and only stop when I see him look past me to the headstone I was just speaking to.

"Guess I owe him a thanks huh?"

"How'd you know I'd be here?" I ask as I approach my brother.

"I'm your brother. I knew you would want to make peace with him before you did anything."

I nod my head and stare at my brother in his eyes. I always could tell when Austin was in one of his moods his talk and this was one of them. He clears his throat and looks from Matthew's marker, back over to me.

"After you were ambushed, I got a phone call from your commanding officer, guess you had put me down as the person to call if anything happened to you. He advised me that you were attacked and that you were the only survivor. Said you would be home in a few days from Germany. Not going to lie, when you got back it was pretty obvious something bad had happened over there, but I figured you would come to me when you were ready. No way in hell I was going to push you Max. I knew you would make you way out of this shitstorm in your head on your own. Well, that and mom wouldn't let me beat it out of you."

I chuckle then collapse into my brothers awaiting arms. I feel his arms tighten around me as I place my forehead against his shoulder. Tears fall from my eyes as I let it all out to my brother that has always been there for me.

"I'm scared Austin."

"Gonna get you help Max. Not letting you go through this alone anymore."

"I love you man."

"Love you too, now get the fuck off me before someone sees us." I smile then let go of my brother as we both turn and look over in the same spot at the area we know our father is buried. "I can feel him right now."

"Yep, me too. Know what he would be sayin' right about now?"

"That he's proud of us?"

"Nah, he'd be calling you a pussy for not being able to catch up with me when we're on the road." I slap his chest hard, then head for my bike. I can hear Austin chuckling and the feeling of peace overwhelms me.

Before I can crank up my bike, I see Austin answering his phone and a serious look catches his face. I stand back up and meet him half way between the grass and cement.

"It's Shawna. Shane thinks she might have snuck out of the house last night, she never made it home Max. We can't find her."

We arrive at the compound in record time and as much as I appreciate the chaos of everyone running around making plans and the urgency I see, I can't stop my heart from racing about the thoughts running through my head. Shawna is out there somewhere where that sadistic fuck is most likely torturing her only to send me a goddamn video or some shit.

Austin announces church the moment we step into the main area and all the brothers file in the room. I hesitate before taking a seat to the left of Austin as everyone sits down or stands to listen to the plan our leader no doubt has.

"Alright, I know there are some brothers not here but most of them are on guard or patrol. Shawna went missing a few hours ago as far as anyone can tell. When I woke up this morning, I didn't check on her, figured she was still pissed at me. Candice went to check on her a couple of hours ago, before she went off to work and that's when she noticed she was missing. We've searched everywhere and Torque confirmed she's not back at her place. We know she ain't at Sin's, and Shane called May's, she ain't there either. We have to assume this fucker has her, I just want to know why."

"It's because of me. It's my fault and I should have fuckin' told you all everything the moment I found out." Everyone turns to me and Austin raises his eyebrows at me. "His name is Julian Matthews, don't know much about him other than the fact that his brother died saving my life. Robert Matthews was my brother and friend back in the army. When my entire squad was killed under fire, he was the one that saved my life. I didn't know he had a brother, but apparently this asshole is under the impression that I was the reason his brother died. He might be right, but he told me he is going to do everything he can to destroy everything I love. Shawna, this club, my family, he's going to take everything from me."

"When the hell did you talk to him boy?" Bone asks scooting into his seat more.

"Went to jail, he was there. He introduced himself, told me he sees me as responsible for his brother's death and that he would do exactly what he has been doing. Shawna is just another pawn in his game." My fists clinch at my sides as I fill in what Julian told me the other day.

"Why the hell didn't you tell us in the first place Max? We could have avoided this shit." Ghost asks.

"That don't matter now. We need to put our brains together. We know Julian is pissed about his brother's death, what I want to know is why now? This has too much attached to it. All the shit we have been accused of, the planting of the drugs, even the stupid little tickets we've been getting from our side businesses."

"Maybe time is the answer and not the question." Torque says from the back and we all stare at him. He looks down with his mouth mumbling and we all know to let his calculating mind have it's time. Torque is smart as hell and a wiz on the computer. If he gives us something right now to help us get Shawna back, I'll kiss the fucker.

"Want to explain Torque." Austin says clearly having enough of the quiet.

"Huh? Oh yeah sorry. What I mean is, this guy isn't sloppy, he's calculating and intelligent. He doesn't make mistakes and in a club that has their eyes and ears all over the city, he picked a perfect time to mess with us."

"What are you getting at?" Chance asks narrowing his eyes.

"Think about it. What job teaches you to be calm and collective, yet calculating and also able to use your skills with the police force. Inette showed me some pictures of him with Timmons and he is in each one, on purpose. It's like he wanted us along the ride with him the entire time. He is attempting to break this club apart, bit by bit, that takes time and lots of calculative moves."

"Are you saying?"

"I think he's special forces Max. I also don't think he's working alone."

"Who the hell would be working with this fuck?" I ask demanding we get to the bottom of this whole thing. The more time we waste the longer he can do whatever he wants with Shawna.

"Maybe the same person that has been surrounding us the entire time?"

"Timmons?"

Dark clouds circle around my mind as I remember the note Timmons slid to me the day I was released. Of course, how could I have forgotten?

"It is Timmons. He gave me a hint when I was released but I was too fuckin' busy being a shit."

"Don't worry about that right now Max. Tell us what you know."

We spend the next two hours going over everything and comparing notes. I was told about the military tags and when Austin showed them to me I was pissed to find out he had some made in Robert's name. I told them all about Timmons pulling me over and how I think Julian has Timmons' son. Torque does more research and finally gets a hold of some dark web friend of his that confirmed that Julian was indeed in special forces but was fired for using excessive force. His specific team was in charge of joint terrorism. Seems as though after his brother died, he went off the deep end. He began plotting and scheming and waited for his chance. It's obvious last year when our club as already going through shit, he began planting seeds.

"I think Timmons' promotion was all him. Just got off the phone with Inette and she says that Julian has been hanging around politicians and governors. Must be planting shit in people's ears." Torque says moving his hands over the keyboard to his laptop like a maniac.

"Makes sense. Have someone in your pocket and all." Shane chimes in. "So where are we now? We got any addressed down?"

"A few, but I doubt he's there. He's smart, I don't think he would hide in plain sight. Is there anything else he said to you that day Max? Something that sounded kind of unfamiliar?" I think back on the chat between Julian and me. I was pretty pissed, but a large part of my training is to take in information and store it.

"He said, he was the one that could put our club into the ground."

"That's unfamiliar?" Bone snorts.

"It's a term we used in the army. Into he ground in our squad, meant that we were near an under bunker where they would use people to put bombs inside them. It's like the whole suicide bomber thing."

"Torque look at all the underground buildings within fifty miles." Austin says as he begins to give orders. "Shane, you and Chance head over to the hospital and pick up Lyla, her sister works for the city for building permits. Might need her help. Miles, you and Slice head over to my mother's house, Shred might need help in case this fucker wants to get her next. Bone, you head over to where Abby works, she should be on shift at the hospital, keep an eye on her, I don't think this fucker is picky as long as he can hurt us. The rest of us take Torque's addresses he'll start spouting out and pair up and look into them. Keep yourselves armed, and call if you suspect anything. Let's go get this fucker."

Just like that, the majority of us begin pulling out two by two as Torque runs some information to us. Austin and I get an address to an old Hospital that was shut down for illegal patient testing underground. It had a huge fire that reporters say was caused by one of the patients trying to escape. Many died but the firefighters managed to save a lot, including the basement where the testing had been done in the first place. Right before we head out Austin calls Timmons.

"Need you with us, not against us."

"I can't Stone. You need to understand what he has on me." Timmons says from the speaker of the phone.

"I'll get your boy out. I swear on my life, I will keep him safe, but I need you with us. This ends now." The silence met on the other end drags out so long I nearly scream out at Timmons but soon he comes back on the line.

"Fine. Send me the address and I'll meet you there." Timmons hangs up and Austin and I take off. He's right.

It's time to end this.