The moment I realized my men were saints masquerading as sinners.
They gave stolen toys to kids at Christmas, for fuck’s sake.
Maybe not the best way to go about it, but still.
I couldn’t fault their giant hearts.
They were the good guys, and I’d ruined everything.
Heavy footsteps pounded behind me, echoing off the warehouse walls.
“Noelle!” Ash’s voice cut through the night.
A raw, unnamable energy stretched between us.
Was it hurt or anger?
Not knowing pushed me faster.
I didn’t dare stop.
My feet hit the pavement so fast my thighs burned.
My lungs ached.
I ran like my fucking life depended on it.
Maybe it did.
I’d seen what Rafe was capable of when someone crossed him.
I’d read the reports of how the Steel Vipers treated their enemies.
And I’d just made myself Public Enemy Number One.
They might be cinnamon rolls underneath all their leather and menace, but I’d lost the upper hand by betraying them.
“Fuck.” I wheezed the word in a harsh rasp when my freezing feet slowed against my will. I wasn’t built for running.
That had always been obvious, but I hated myself a little bit for not being able to get myself to safety after obliterating my cover.
Tiny puffs of air clouded my vision.
I couldn’t catch my breath and the burning intensified.
Ash stopped calling my name, and the sound of motorcycles roaring to life behind me caused my heart to slam even harder into my ribs.
Shit.
I might keel over from exertion before I reached my fucking vehicle.
Why had I parked so far away?
They were coming for me.
Ready to wrap up a loose end before the police arrived?
I was the police.
