“No, not really so you need to get upstairs.” Devlin answers.

“What?” I shout.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I need to see to business but you two have to be upstairs.” He insists.

“Come on Tash!” Lauren calls as she frowns at Grim. “Let’s just go.”

I don’t even look at Devlin as I stand and pass him. When we begin to walk up the steps, we look behind us to see that Devlin and Grim are following us up! So first they tell us to go to bed and now they’re escorting us! What the fuck is up?

“What aren’t you telling me Grim?” Lauren asks him as we walk ahead of them.

Grim decides to stay silent, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad.

After Lauren asks him a couple more times, she snaps at him. “Fine! Don’t fucking answer but I’m not going to our room, I’m going with Tasha.”

“Fine by me.” Is all he says as we get to my door.

Lauren screams at Grim. “What the fuck is wrong with you!”

I turn to Devlin and he’s not even looking back at me. What’s so interesting about a wall?

“Why are you keeping this to yourself?” I ask him, but just like Grim he doesn’t answer.

Grim and Devlin check my room for god knows what make sure the windows are locked before making sure we’re inside.

“Oh don’t worry, we will be safe.” Lauren frowns and Grim has had enough.

“I’m doing this to keep you safe.” He says before giving her a kiss.

“Just stay put.” Devlin whispers, kissing me too.

“Get some sleep.” Grim lastly says before shutting the door behind him and Devlin.

“Unbelievable.” Lauren sits on the floor, obviously mad. I lean against the door and signal for her to be quiet.

“What?” She whispers.

I listen for a few more seconds. “I’m sure they’re checking the other rooms.”

Lauren shakes her head. “Probably are.”

“What the fuck is happening? And why wouldn’t they tell us?” I ask out loud.

“They think they’re protecting us, but they’re really not.” Lauren answers.

After calling Devlin and Grim every name under the sun, we soon become bored sat in my room.

“Let’s sneak out.” I suggest and Lauren’s face lights up.

“Fuck yes.” She jumps.

I slowly pull down the door handle, careful not to make it squeak because if you pull it so far down, it makes this high pitched squeaking noise and we don’t want that. Lauren watches me with wide eyes as I do, encouraging me quietly and trying not to laugh too much.

“It’s like we’re kids and sneaking out late to a party.” She giggles.

I manage to successfully open my bedroom door without alerting the guys. As we tip toe across the hall, we begin to hear their deep voices from downstairs. At least we know where they are.

We crawl to the top of the stairs, and are able to sneakily see Devlin and Grim in the hall. I look to Lauren and she has wide eyes, placing my finger in front of my lips I warn her to be quiet. It’s not long until our suspicions are confirmed.

“I fucking hate lying to them.” Grim admits. I look to Lauren and she rolls her eyes at his confession.

“I know, I do too but dad said it was for the best.” Devlin answers him and now it’s my turn to roll my eyes.

“Do you really believe that?” Grim asks. “Looks what’s happening right now.”

“I get you brother.” Devlin replies and a second later he sounds even angrier. “I just can’t believe that mother fucker.”

“Is he talking about Franky?” Lauren whispers and I shrug my shoulders. Could he really be talking about his dad like that?

“I know, as soon as dad told me I was shocked.” Grim adds, sounding just as angry. “I don’t think dad’s taking too well, he’s know this guy for a long fucking time.”

So no, Devlin wasn’t calling his dad a mother fucker, but they’re all pissed at someone.

“I even trusted the prick!” Grim growls.

“Who are they talking about?” Lauren asks.

“Why didn’t we just go on lockdown?” Devlin makes sense. If this was a serious matter, the club would be put on lockdown and this does seem very serious. So why was everyone sent home and we’re locked in my bedroom?

“Dad thought that would be predictable, he didn’t want them to come to the clubhouse and have us all for easy pickings.” Grims answers, but he doesn’t sound so sure himself.

The men go silent and we decide to creep back in my bedroom. Funnily enough, I don’t feel as angry with them anymore.

“Shit.” Lauren whispers. I nod, thinking over everything we just overheard.

“I think it’s Strike.” I look up to Lauren and see her pale at his name. “You notice that Grim said ‘they’ when he spoke about being on lockdown?”

“You really think he’s come back?” Lauren asks, sounding petrified.

I hold her in my arms. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him get near you.”

I continue to hold Lauren in my arms and she eventually falls asleep. If it is Strike that has come back and threatening mine and the rest of the girls’ safety then I will not be happy with Devlin. He said he thought it was best that I didn’t know and if he was talking about Strike then I call bullshit, because when it comes to those fuckers I have every right to know.

I jump awake the next morning and find that Lauren isn’t here. Something woke me and I immediately feel tension in the air. Lauren runs back into the room, panic written all over her face.

“Oh thank god you’re awake.” She whispers. “Get dressed.”

“What?” I rub my eyes.

“Tash, hurry and get dressed.” I hear the worry in her voice, so I jump up and strip out of yesterday’s clothes and put on some jeans and a basic top.

“What’s going on?” I ask her. Lauren’s looking out the doorway, biting on her finger nails and looking nervous as hell.

“I don’t know, but something’s happened.” She hugs herself. “I heard banging on the front door, Baby rushed in with news and they were on the phone to someone. Something has happened, I can tell.”

I start to hear the mens’ voices coming closer before they appear in the doorway. They seem shocked that we’re awake because it’s so early. Who are they kidding? Something is obviously happening and they expect us to be sleeping peacefully. Not happening.

“Something is happening and don’t bother lying.” Lauren points to Grim.

“We just heard news that there’s been shots fired at Spliff and Marie’s.” Grim announces and I almost fall if it wasn’t for Devlin catching me I’d be down.

The news come as a huge shock. “Oh god, the kids!” I panic.

“We’re on it babe.” Devlin reassures me. “We’re waiting for some prospects to come here to watch over you so we can go over and check it out.”

“No!” I shout. “Go now!”

The thought they could be with Spliff and protecting him family rather than here destroys me.

“We’ll be fine.” Lauren agrees, pushing Grim out the room. “Go and help them!”

We follow then running down the stairs and see Baby waiting by the door. He gives us both a hug while Devlin and Grim demand we stay here and wait for the prospects.

“Of course.” I agree. “Now please, go and save that family.”

Devlin hugs me tight and then kisses me with more passion than he ever has before.

“I love you.” He says between kisses.

“I love you too.” I hold onto him for just a little bit longer.

When all three men leave, we listen to their bikes getting further and further away. As Lauren shuts the door, I march over to the keys and hold out mine. “Let’s go.”

Lauren stops me from opening the front door. “Are you sure about this? We don’t know what we’re walking in to.”

“If it’s dangerous then I’ll drive straight back but I’m tired of being lied to. He’s keeping things from me that I know I have a right to know. If this is about Strike, we should have been told all about this!” I insist and I can tell by her face that she agrees.