I risk cutting a glance to Steel. His face is an impassive mask, his usual butterscotch scent lost under a cloud of unease and anxiety. With a quick roll of his shoulders, he walks towards Rex, caution in every step, and I stay where I am since it’s clearly club business, plus I don’t trust any of these fuckers.
“Got wind of The Fallen cruising on the edge of town.” He looks past Steel, acting like he’s invisible while watching him like a hawk.
“You want me to go check it out?” Steel asks.
“See, I knew you were a fucking rocket scientist, smart as shit you are,” Rex says, mocking his own son in front of everyone. “But I thought we’d make a bit more of a statement than you could handle, so we’re all riding out.”
I stay stock still, hoping to blend into the background because if the whole club is out riding, this could be the chance we’ve been waiting for. All we need is an hour tops, and I could get Harley and Sallyanne on a bus in the opposite direction.
“Including him.” Rex flicks his head in my direction and my stomach drops. But with every person watching me, it’s not like I can do anything but agree.
“I’ll change.”
“Fucking lucky too. You look like a club slut wearing those tight pants of yours.”
I bite my tongue as I walk away. He knows why I wear compression tights, a lot of the Riders come watch when I have a fight probably to make sure I’m honest about how much I win.
Steel follows me into the room, and we barely look at each other but before he runs, I nab his arm and lean up into his ear barely talking. “Now’s your chance. Call your contact at The Phoenix Group, and they’ll send someone to help the girls disappear.”
His breathing hitches immediately, and I think for a second, he won’t, but he spins around and enters one of the cubicles, leaving the door open so anyone checking can see what he’s doing.
I store my bag in one of the lockers before I’m back in the main area of Tunda’s, hopefully giving Steel the precious time he needs.
“Hey, Rex, I’ve got a fight coming up. I’ll put your name on the door.” I stop close enough to him that I block the door to the change rooms from him and his higher ups. But they’re all getting hyped on a plan on what to do if they get lucky enough to actually catch any of The Fallen, so all I get is a nod as confirmation he heard.
Steel storms out of the locker room within moments, his cut on and his hair tied back. Without waiting for Rex or any of the others, he walks outside. I follow close behind but don’t risk asking how it went. As the others stream out, Steel looks over at me, and I know he’s done what needed doing. Which means we’re going to have to do the same, acting like Rex’s loyal soldiers, getting bloody if need be, anything to give the girls enough time to run.
“We’re riding out to the gas station on the edge of Highway 94. I want it surrounded, some of you come across the park. Anyone caught on our turf is fair game,” Rex yells over the heavy vibrations of the bikes idling. “Death Riders are going to teach these motherfuckers respect.”
Chapter
Fourteen
TRISTAN
Ispend time waiting for King by working through a stockpile of chocolate bars and lingering guilt by talking with Raney and watching videos of Maverick fighting.
And as always we get side tracked a hundred or so different times before our conversation turns serious as we try to figure out what has Heidi not being herself. I mean the girl probably has as many secrets as I do but something is stealing her sunshine and that worries both Raney and me. Of course, because we’re actually very like-minded it doesn’t take us long to come to the same conclusion, we need dinner and drinks at Roda’s with the four of us.
With a plan in place our chat invariably starts heading towards Raney gushing over Koz, but I interrupt her before she starts.
“Can we start talking about me yet?” I moan. No shit, she drives me nuts always talking about Koz but at the same time given half the chance I’d do the same. Plus, I’m so effing happy she’s out and proud with her Alpha.
“Fine,” she replies back just as dramatically, “who are you meeting up with?”
“Your dad,” I deadpan, making her snort out a laugh.
I have to school myself not to react. Of course, Raney being Raney insults me without even realising. “Next you’ll tell me you met your scent-matched Alpha on the shoot today.”
I snarl, sarcasm dripping off each syllable. “Or not.”
That sobers her up, “Did you?”
“You know what, sometimes I really wonder why I bother calling you. Simona is my favourite bestie; she actually listens.”
“Come on, Tris, I’m pretty sure if you met a compatible Alpha the whole world would know by now. It’s not like you can keep a secret!” She dissolves in another fit of hysterics. I have to hold the phone away from my ear when she doesn’t stop, no shit, Raney clearly thinks she’s a comedian.
I start talking over the top of her. “You have no idea how offensive what you said is. And since you’re being such a bitch, I’m going. Talk to you when I get home, or maybe not.”
