Rust: A Bad Boy Romance (Courage MC) by Kara Hart Page A

so wrong so quickly. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. Was this the start of a major war? It sure seemed like it.
    “He's fine. He saved a lot of our men.” he said. “Come on, I'll explain on the way.” His arm was covered in blood. He had been shot, but it wasn't bad.
    He saw me looking at the wound. “Don't worry. It's just a scratch. Nothing I can't take. I'm just glad you're okay.” He held me close as we quickly walked to his bike.
    We got on the bike and sped off in haste. There were plans to be made, lines to be drawn, men to be briefed and armed. It was time to escalate things. Fuck.
    When we arrived at Courage’s headquarters, Rust let me in on all the details. “Our plan worked, okay? I don't want you thinking that it was all in vain. What I didn't anticipate was the small backlash it would create between both crews. They decimated my club and killed over 15 of our men. And that's from both sides. Bruce is ready to launch an all out war. And he sure as shit doesn't want to see your face no more. But don't worry, you're not leaving my side. He's going to have to realize, we’re in this together.”
    I sat on his bike still, stunned by the news. 15 of our men? I couldn't even believe it. “Who did it? Don? Tell me, Rust. I need to know!”
    “It's bigger than that. People from our gang and yours. Don, of course, is behind a lot of it. But the Darkhorse gang heard about the whole thing and have taken advantage of the situation. They're claiming the attack as solely their own, but it’s everyone, Jackie. We’re going to have to take on a faceless enemy.”
    “Who can we trust?” I cried. “Who?! Bruce? Fuck, Rust. This isn't good. This isn't good at all. I’m sorry, but I don't know if we should have gotten married.” I sat on the bike, hands against my forehead.
    “Snap out of it and be the leader I saw tonight. I saved your life back there and I'll save it again if I have to. But don't you dare talk about giving up on this.” I looked up at him, tears in my eyes. I looked like shit. But there he was, talking about keeping this thing going. As crazy as it sounded, I didn't want to give up on this either. So I put on a pair of my big girl panties, wiped those tears from my eyes, and wrapped my arms around him.
    “What the--” he exclaimed, startled by my reaction.
    “I'm with you. Let's do this.” I kissed his cheek, feeling his 5 o’clock shadow against my lips.
    “Don't get carried away now. I was just sayin’ you gotta buck up.” He blushed, letting me know he was on the same page as me. I let go of him and smiled, walking through the doors. Rust ran after me.
    Inside sat Bruce and his captains, arms crossed. They looked like battle-hardened soldiers, covered in soot and dust, and they did not look pleased with me. “What the fuck is she doing here, Rust?” Bruce asked, knowing full well that whatever answer he gave them wouldn't be enough.
    “Back off, Bruce. She's with me.” he said, lifting his shirt slightly, to let everyone know he was armed. It was a ballsy move, that's for sure, and I couldn't help but feel a certain warmth from his display of strength.
    “Put your shirt down. Don’t embarrass yourself. We’re all armed. It ain’t a thing.” one of the captains said.
    “It’s not Jackie’s fault. This wasn’t her plan. It was mine. So if anyone has to take the blame, it’s going to be me.” Rust said, grabbing a chair and sitting down. “But if you really want to figure this out, then let’s figure it out. Right here and now, as men.”
    “As women.” I said, sitting beside Rust. The men couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
    “Alright.” Bruce muttered. “We’ll hear what you have to say.”
    Rust toyed with a piece of sawdust on the table and thought about the situation long and hard. It was a tough one, one without many answers. But we had to act fast. If the Darkhorse gang was really with Don now, they sure as hell were thinking of another plan