“Should’ve minded your own damn business!”Rex roared.
That broke something inside Viper.His hand went for his gun almost on instinct.He didn’t remember pulling the trigger but a deafening crack filled the room, the hot flash of recoil.
Rex’s body went limp beneath him.For a second, the world went utterly silent.
“Viper...”Mara said softly.
He turned slowly.She was staring at her father’s body, tears streaming silently down her face.
“He was going to,” Viper started, but the words caught in his throat.His hand trembled as he lowered the gun.
She nodded numbly, unable to speak.Viper understood.Rex might be a piss poor excuse of a father, but he would always be her old man.Behind them, King appeared in the doorway, weapon still raised, eyes scanning the room.
King took in the sight of Rex’s body, Mara’s tears, Viper standing over both, and said nothing for a long time.
Finally, he exhaled, low and steady.“You all right, Mara?”King asked Mara.
She nodded again, barely.
King flicked his gaze to Viper.“We need to move now.The Vultures might’ve called for reinforcements.With Rex dead, the club will be in chaos, but just in case.”
Viper didn’t argue.He holstered his weapon, stepped toward Mara, and touched her face gently.“Can you walk?”
She looked at him, eyes dazed but clear.“You killed him.”
“I had to.”His voice was raw.“He left me no choice.”
Something in her broke then.She swayed, and Viper caught her, pulling her tight against him.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered into her hair.“I’m so damn sorry.”
Mara twisted her fingers in his shirt, holding on like he was the only thing keeping her upright.“It was the right thing to do.It was either you or him and I’m glad you’re alive,” Mara whispered.
“We’ll sort the rest later.Let’s get her home,” King said and Viper agreed.
****
The ride back was ablur of cold air and noise.Mara clung to Viper from behind.She locked her arms tightly around his waist as the Harley thundered down the road.The world streamed past in streaks of light and darkness.
Mara pressed her cheek against his back, and all she could feel was the steady, solid beat of his heart under her palms.She didn’t cry, she couldn’t.
Her father was dead.The words repeated in her head like a gunshot that wouldn’t stop echoing.
By the time the bikes rolled through the Devil’s Crown gates, her fingers were numb and her thoughts hollow.The brothers looked up as they entered, faces grim, eyes tracking her and Viper.King barked orders to lock things down, to be ready for retaliation.
Viper said nothing.He just kept a hand on her back, steady and firm, guiding her through the noise until the door to his room slammed shut behind them.
Silence fell.Mara stood in the middle of the room, breathing hard, feeling the weight of everything crash down.Her chest tightened until it hurt.Viper turned the lock, then looked at her.
Viper had that same unreadable expression, hard and restrained, like he was holding a storm behind his eyes.
“You’re shaking,” he said quietly.
“I’m fine,” she insisted.
He didn’t argue.He crossed the space between them, crouched in front of her, and touched her knee and that was enough to ground her.
“You’re not fine.You just watched your old man die,” Viper said.
