“Lo.” Saint’s tone contains caution.
“I’ve known Diesel for five years. He’s trustworthy.” Saint opens his mouth, to spew more pedo crap I’m sure, but I shut him dead in his tracks. “Unlike some.”
He grinds down on his teeth, and he vibrates with open hostility.
Diesel shakes his head, fixing his gaze on Theo. “You took care of that, right?”
I fight a smile. “Is there anything you don’t know?”
He slants me a lopsided grin. “Told you I had your back, but Theo wiped the footage before I got there on this occasion.”
“Who the fuck are you, dude?” Theo asks, shifting uncomfortably.
“Your worst nightmare.” Diesel smirks.
“I don’t know what happened, because I know you have mad skills,” I tell Theo, “but remember what Parker told us. She said The Bulls sided with Finn and The Arrows and they somehow had a copy of the satellite footage showing me shooting Luke McKenzie.”
Theo rubs a tense spot between his brows. “It makes no sense. I wiped it clean less than an hour after it went down. How did they get their hands on the footage?”
“Someone else made a copy before you wiped it,” I say, because it’s the only logical conclusion.
“It seems unlikely unless…” Theo stares off into space.
“Unless what?” I ask, drumming my fingers on my jean-clad thigh.
“Unless someone was watching it go down,” Diesel says, continuing Theo’s train of thought.
CHAPTER 6
Harlow
“WE NEED TO get our hands on that footage,” Saint says, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck.
“And we need to neutralize Ruben,” Caz adds. “With or without that footage, he won’t stop coming for Lo.”
“I’ll see what I can dig up,” Diesel says, standing. He removes a card from the inside of his jacket, handing it to Theo. “Let’s coordinate our efforts. That’s a private chat room.”
Theo nods, sliding the card into the back pocket of his jeans.
Diesel looks down at me. “Walk me out?”
Saint snarls, and it’s amusing to see him like this. With the mask down. Unable to conceal his jealousy.
I glare at Galen, as we walk past him toward the door, funneling every ounce of hatred into the dark look.
Once outside, we walk in silence for a few minutes until we’ve put enough distance between us and the barn. “Thanks for that,” I say in a low tone, circling my arms around his neck and hugging him.
“I want to help. They need to know you’ve got backup. That I care about you. That I will go postal on their asses if they try anything again.”
“What do you think?” I ask. “Was he acting alone?”
He runs a hand over his prickly jawline. “As much as I hate to say it, because I fucking loathe Saint, I think he’s telling the truth. I think Galen went rogue.”
“Not that it really matters,” I say, and it’s only half a lie. “Because it’s a timely reminder I can’t trust them anyway. I was getting too close.”
He plants his hand on the nape of my neck, reeling me in. His lips linger against my forehead. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but…they care about you. At least Saint, Caz, and Theo do. It won’t take much to have them eating out of your hand, but Galen is a dangerous asshole because he’s damaged goods, that much is clear, and that makes him volatile. Make him grovel for forgiveness, but never trust him.”
“I don’t need any convincing.”
Diesel’s gaze darts over my head, and his lips kick up ever so slightly at the corners as he bends down, pressing his mouth against mine. It’s only a peck, and I’m guessing it was for Saint’s benefit. “Stay safe, sweetheart. Call me if you need me.”
I watch him disappear into the trees with fondness, glad I called him. I turn around, keeping my gaze trained on Saint’s as I walk back toward the barn. He’s standing in the doorway, his expression and stance like that of a strict army major. He’s furious. That much is obvious.
I move to brush past him, but he grabs hold of my elbow. “Were you fucking him the same time you were fucking me?”
“I don’t recall him being in the room.” I’m being facetious on purpose because this shit never gets old.
“Don’t get smart. You know what I mean,” he growls.
“Jealous, Saintly?”
“Of that old perv, hardly,” he scoffs.
“Then you don’t need an answer, do you?” I shove his arm off and step into the room.
The door slams with a violent bang, and then, I’m pushed up against the wall with Saint’s strong, tan, inked arms caging me in. “I spent hours terrified you might be lying dead or injured, and then, you show up with attitude and that prick in tow. Cut me some slack here, princess.” He presses his body against mine, and red-hot emotion rolls off him in waves.
I reach up, running my fingers along his stubbly jawline. “I haven’t fucked him since you guys moved into the house.”
His lips crash down on mine, and he winds his fingers through my hair, firmly clasping the back of my head. The kiss starts off rough and punishing before his lips soften and he makes love to my mouth in a way he’s never done before. The rawness of the emotion pouring from him scares me, and I rip my lips from his before he sucks me back into his orbit again. He presses his forehead to mine, holding me in place at the back of my head. “I know you don’t trust us, trust me, and I hate that Galen has fucked things up, but please give us a chance to put it right because we can’t lose you, Lo.”
“Why? Because I’m one of you now?”
He moves his hand, rubbing his thumb along the side of my neck. “Because you’re our girl.”
“That remains to be seen,” I say, ducking out from under his hold.
“The fuck does that mean?” he demands to know, trailing me as I walk back to the table.
I reclaim my seat, and he plonks down beside me, radiating thunderous vibes. “You owe me.” I glance around the table. “All of you.” My eyes narrow on Galen, and I jab my finger at him. “Especially you.”
“Whatever it is you want, it’s yours,” Galen says.
“I want you groveling at my feet,” I coolly reply.
He gulps, and I bet he’d love to protest, but I have him where I want him. His brothers are pissed at him. I’m pissed at him. Sinner would lynch him if he discovered what he did, and Darrow will be out for his blood now too.
He is at my mercy, and he knows it.
“Whatever it takes.”
When he doesn’t move, I arch a brow and stare at him.
“What?” he asks, looking confused.
A knowing smile curves the corners of Saint’s mouth, and Caz chuckles. Theo’s lips twitch while his fingers fly over the keypad of his tablet.
“I meant it literally,” I explain, enjoying watching all the blood drain from his face.
“You can’t be serious?”
I school my features into a neutral line. “Do I look like I’m not?”
He glances at Saint.
“Don’t look at him,” I snap. “I’m calling the shots now.” I curl my fingers at him. “Get up here and kneel before me.”
Slowly, he stands, biting back a hiss of pain and clutching his upper torso as he hobbles toward me. His entire face is flushed red with anger when he reaches me, but he doesn’t bother arguing anymore, clutching the side of Saint’s chair as he painfully lowers himself to his knees.
“Kiss my feet,” I demand, smirking as he leans down and kisses the toes of my mucky boots. “Stay there until I tell you to get up.”
Saint pins me with one of his trademark amused looks while Caz is full-on grinning. Theo is oblivious, lost in technology.
“We should hit the road soon,” Saint says. “It’ll take six hours to reach Grenlow, and it’s best to get there before dark.”
“I’m not going to the safe house. You’ll take me to the training facility like Sinner requested
.”
“Like fuck I will.” Saint’s heated expression and response are predictable.
“You cannot shield me from this, and I’m not running.”
“Babe, initiation is hardcore fucked-up shit,” Caz says.
“You think I don’t know that?” I lean forward in my chair. “That I’m not capable?”
Galen hisses, and I’m guessing he’s uncomfortable bent over like that.
Well, screw him.
I reach down, grab handfuls of his messy dark hair, and tug on the strands. “Stay still,” I snap.
“We know how resourceful you are, Lo.” Saint rubs at his mouth. “But the training process is extremely physical, and the initiation tasks usually involve violence and criminal activities. None of us want that for you.”
“What we want doesn’t come into this,” I say. “It’s doing what needs to be done to achieve our end goal.”
“Which is?” Theo asks, lifting his head from his screen.
“The same one it’s always been. Vengeance.”
“Look, none of us have allegiance to Sinner,” Saint says, pinning me with a grave expression. “Our plan was always to climb the ranks and take control as soon as possible so we can restore order to The Sainthood. Kidnapping, torturing, and murdering kids and women is not something any of us signed up for. Hell, most members in most chapters feel the same way. Sinner’s new direction makes a lot of members uncomfortable, but he has powerful allies, and he’s a bona fide psychopath. He won’t be easy to take down.”
“I know that, but I have a plan.”
“Let’s hear it,” Theo says, closing the cover on his tablet and folding his arms.
“Get up.” I grab the back of Galen’s shirt. “This involves you too, so get back to your seat.”
Saint helps Galen stand, propping him up as he hobbles back to his chair. His skin is flushed and his eyes full of rage as he sinks into the chair with pain contorting his face.
“Sinner thinks I have the evidence that proves he and other board members killed Daphne Leydon, but I don’t. I’m sure my father didn’t have it either, because he would’ve used it if he had.”
“But someone stole it,” Caz says.
“Exactly. But think about it. Who would have access and opportunity to steal it?”
“It has to be someone from within,” Saint says.
I nod.
“The rat,” Theo says.
“Maybe, maybe not, but I think the mole is our best starting place because this person is already snooping around, and it could give us a head start.” I smooth a hand over my hair. “We need to find this person.”
“There are hundreds of members in the state,” Theo says.
“This person has fed intel to The Arrows, so they’ve got to be local,” I say. “I suggest we start with the Prestwick and Lowell members.”
“There are almost one hundred members between both chapters,” Saint says. “It could be any of them. I’ve some ideas on how we might narrow it down, but I’d like to hear your suggestions.”
“What about background checks? And checking camera footage? The Sainthood HQ building in downtown Prestwick is where all official business takes place, right?” I ask, and Saint nods. “Then we tap into those cameras. We might spot something that leads us to the identity of the rat. And you guys know these members. Can’t you come up with a short list of likely culprits? Maybe, some newer Lowell members are behind it?”
“Those are good suggestions, but it’ll take time,” Saint says.
“I have another idea, and this one might generate quicker results,” I say, fixing my stare on Galen. “As far as Darrow is aware, Galen still wants me dead.”
“Darrow is a dead man walking,” Saint hisses. “You leave him to me.”
I shake my head. “Don’t interrupt. I’m not finished, and no one will touch Darrow until I say so.”
Saint’s hands ball into fists on top of the table, and Caz winks at me.
“Darrow expects retaliation, but we can’t go after him without risking Sinner discovering the truth that his nephew is a lame-ass double-crossing back-stabbing enemy-loving asshole.” Plus, I need him alive so I can drip feed him intel and wreak a little havoc of my own.
Galen clenches his jaw, gripping the armrests of his chair tightly, but he says nothing, and I’m liking this more obedient version of him.
“But if we do nothing, it makes us look weak, and it’ll set alarm bells ringing in Arrow circles which is not something we want with a mole in their midst,” I continue. “So, I think we can play this to our advantage.”
I stand, needing to stretch my muscles. I walk the length of the table, stopping in front of Galen. “You will reach out to Darrow. Act furious that I escaped.” My mouth pulls into a sneer. “Or not act, I guess.” He stares at me, helplessness mixing with frustration in his gaze. “Tell him you still want me dead, but you have to bide your time because the guys are pissed at you. Tell him the deal is still on, but the terms are altered. You’ll give me to him, and the cut he was after, when the time is right, provided he hands over the rat. You can say you need that to get back into the guys’ good graces and it’s the only thing you had to bargain with, the only reason they’re not gunning for him. Explain that once things are smoothed over he can take me out.”
“What if he won’t agree?” Galen says.
“He will. He’s in hot water with Archer Quinn, and he’s already pinned the blame for the ambush on my betrayal. And his pride is wounded now. I got away. That makes him look weak in your eyes. He’ll welcome the opportunity to prove he’s got balls.”
They don’t know I have my own deal with the devil, and that is how I know Darrow will go for this. He isn’t trustworthy. I know the only thing that’ll keep him on my side is if I hand over decent intel that will justify keeping me alive. However, even I know there is an expiration date. There will come a time when he’ll want me dead, when I no longer serve a purpose. Galen’s new deal will give him a legit reason not to come after me immediately, so our deal can play out. And when Darrow decides he wants to kill me, Galen will be privy to the details, and that’s when we take Darrow out.
I’m not worried about Galen betraying me, because he’s seen what’ll happen if he tries anything again. The guys are barely tolerating his presence right now. They won’t give him a second chance. If Galen conspires with Darrow behind our backs, he is writing his own death sentence. It’s against crew rules to take out a member, because they vote on such shit, pretending they’re democratic and fair.
Ultimately, Galen’s too selfish to risk his life, and there’s his mom to consider too.
“That could work,” Saint says, bobbing his head. “It’s worth trying.”
“You can put the wheels in motion while I’m in training.” I prop my butt against the table.
“I don’t like it,” Saint says.
“Get over it. That’s how it’s going down. I need to keep Sinner appeased while we put all this in play. Where does he think I am?” He would have expected me at the training facility by now.
“I told him we stopped to eat en route and all picked up food poisoning. I said we’d camped out in a hotel and we’d deliver you to the training facility sometime tomorrow.”
“And he bought that?” It’s a flimsy excuse. One I wouldn’t expect him to believe.
“He’ll rip me a new one when he sees me. But it worked for now. He’s distracted doing wedding shit with your mom this weekend.”
“Where does my mom think I am?”
Saint shrugs. “Don’t know. I’m sure he’s told her some bullshit.”
“You need to watch her while I’m gone.”
“That’s a given,” Theo says. “We all heard his threat. We won’t let anything happen to her.”
“And I need you to check in on Sariah.” I messaged Sean before I left the cabin, but I want someone to have eyeballs on her while I’m away. My bestie is in a coma, thanks to Parker and her bitches. I hav
e dealt with Parker, but we still need to make Beth and the other girls pay for what they did. I add it to the mental checklist in my head.
“Consider it done,” Saint says. “We’ll update you daily.”
“How long does this training take anyway?” I inquire.
“It depends on how skilled you are. They’ll put you through several physical tests as soon as you get there to determine your skill level. Then, they’ll pit you against other members in a series of challenges. Once you pass all stages, they’ll approve you to move into the initiation phase,” Saint says.
“You’ll be able to come home for that,” Caz explains. “Each chapter leader sets those tasks, and they’re usually based locally.”
“Great,” I drawl. “The psycho will set my tasks. I can hardly wait.”
Saint shares a worried look with Caz and Theo, and Galen huffs. They are freezing him out, and he doesn’t like it.
“We’ll help,” Saint says, but he doesn’t elaborate, and I don’t ask.
“Okay, now that’s agreed, I think I’ll take a nap.” Yawning, I walk to where Caz sits. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.” I place my hands on his shoulders and lean down, pressing my lips to the side of his cheek as I say, “Care to join me?”
“Hell yeah.” The chair scrapes as he jumps up.
“Sit your ass back down,” Saint barks, standing and walking toward me. He drills a hole in my skull. “I’ll be your sleeping buddy.” He smirks, knowing full and well there’ll be minimal sleeping going on.
I loop my arm through Caz’s, eyeballing Saint and daring him to challenge me. “You’re not calling the shots anymore, remember?”
A muscle pops in his jaw as he glares at me. “You don’t get to decide this.”
I snort. “It’s my body. Of course, I do.” I let Caz go, putting my face all up in Saint’s. “You’re done monopolizing me.” I pat his arm, offering him a fake sugary smile. “Console yourself with the fact you only have to share me with Caz because Theo’s not into me, and I’d rather burn in the fiery pits of hell than let your asshole cousin touch me again.” I place my hands on his chest, peering deep into his eyes. “Do I need to remind you of our earlier conversation?”
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