He gives nothing away.
A heavy hand closes around mine. “No matter what happens, I got you, si?” His gaze makes a promise I know he’ll give his life to keep.
Nodding, I let him tug me behind him into an outlaw MC full of people I betrayed.
A hush falls on the club as soon as people realize we’ve arrived. I’m truly surprised there isn’t a record scratch to accompany our entrance.
Instead of acknowledging anyone, Snake continues through the club, hauling me behind him until we reach Angel’s office.
I panic for a second until he says close to my ear. “They are going to help you get ready,” then a tense pause before he adds, “It’s the only way.”
Pushing the door open, he gives me a light shove inside, closing me in.
“Ohmygoodness,” Sara and Lorena say in tone in the lyrical fashion they tend to speak.
“I look into their shocked faces. “Hey,” the word hesitant in my own ears knowing they were some of my closest friends before I escaped with Easy.
Their eyes round, and for all of ten seconds I get ready to pivot and go back out in the hallway. Before I can move, they rush me. I stiffen until their arms circle me.
I feel hot tears wet my neck as they wrap me in their arms.
“S-Saban,” I can’t tell in that moment who’s saying it. All I know is I feel love wrapped around me in a tight embrace.
“We missed you?—“
“So worried?—”
“I’m sorry,” I manage, knowing the words won’t be adequate. Know they probably don’t have the full version of the story, atleast not the one Easy and I experienced. Their loyalty is to the MC. Their granddaddy was one of the founders. They would hold leadership in el Diablo were they men, but the way the hierarchy of the club is set up, women can’t hold positions of leadership. The twin cousins and Ellie — Snake’s sister — are relegated to positions that hold no status, though they are protected by the most powerful men in the club, kinda like I was until I left.
“You good?” Lorena pulls back, looking me over with concern.
“We’ve heard so many things—” Sara starts but I cut her off with a reassuring hug.
“I’m good.” Stepping away, I plaster a smile on my face. I’m not sure why I do it other than the knowledge that I know just how insurmountable the odds are that they could do anything to stop the will of el Diablo and the tentacles of their syndicate.
“Have y’all seen Easy?” Lowering my voice, I ask, not caring about the plea in my voice.
They both shake their heads in the negative. “We hear she’s good, though. She and Angel are supposed to be working things out after everything that happened. He told the club it was all a misunderstanding and left it at that. She was too new to el Diablo to know how we do things.”
A nervous tension rises between us as I look from one to the other of the twin-cousins, knowing though they may sympathize with me, they are squarely on the side of the MC.
I know nothing I can say will stop what will take place tonight.
Then the realization settles on me. It’s never happened to a woman. No woman would dare betray the MC in such a way.
“The Reckoning?” Looking from one to the other, I don’t even bother waiting for an answer. I turn from them to look at the room at large, remembering one of the last times I was inhere and Angel handed out his last brand of justice by slicing off Mig’s head.
“Yeah.” I don’t turn to see who answers. It doesn’t matter. The man I had the biggest crush on brought me here to exact the harshest punishment el Diablo metes out.
“Who’s carrying it out?” My voice sounds leaden because I already know.
Snake. They don’t answer, and that is answer enough.
“Alright, let’s get this over with.” My brow arches when they step in front of me, blocking the door.
“T-they, umm, are having a vote and testimony from Easy,” Lorena supplies.
“She’s here?” My voice goes up several octaves at the possibility of seeing my friend.
