“Whatever you call him.” She hops up and throws herself at me, giving me the healing hug I need. “I love you, girl. Nothing will ever change that.” She pulls back and looks at me. “You have a second chance here, Sera . . . I mean, Angel.”
“A second chance at what? Eagle hates me.”
She shakes her head. “Impossible. You waited for him all these years. Gave up your virginity to spend one night with him. Shit. You accuse me of watching too many movies. Your story has Lifetime feature movie written all over it. Trust me.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. I’m going to leave Texarkana tomorrow.”
“What?” Her smile fades. “No. You can’t keep running.”
“I can’t stay here. If my brother finds out I’m alive . . . it’s not safe for me or Eagle. Maybe even you. Bear is dangerous. ”
“Just stay, Serafina. No one needs to know anything.”
Tears fill my eyes again. “Eagle knows.”
“He’ll come crawling back, ’Fina. I promise.”
“I don’t want him to crawl.”
We both startle when we hear a noise outside.
“Are you expecting someone?” Asia asks, eyeing the front door.
“N-no.”
We rush to the kitchen window and look out. My heart skips a beat when I make eye contact with a man wearing Iron Norsemen patches on his leather jacket. I close the curtain and fist my hands.
“Who is he?” she asks.
“I don’t recognize him. But the patches . . .” I run to the door and whip it open. “Why are you here?”
“Following orders. You’re not allowed to go anywhere. Your friend is welcome to stay or go. No men.” He reaches inside his front pocket, pulls out a pack of cigarettes, taps one out, places it in his mouth, and then lights it.
“Do I get a name?”
He ignores me, returns the pack to his pocket, and then leans against the brick wall.
“Great.” I close and lock the front door. “Now I’m a prisoner in my own home.”
Eagle
The ride back to Holly Beach was long and treacherous, speed the only release for my lasting rage. Before I left Arkansas, I made a call to Tonsils and had him send someone to guard Angel’s apartment. I don’t want her going anywhere until I decide what to do with her.
I also called for a mandatory meeting for all patched members. The fact that Angel is alive changes everything. I wait inside the clubhouse where we hold church. Tonsils is sitting next to me, eager to hear the news, looking at me like he knows I’m about to explode.
“What happened, Eagle?”
I suck in a ragged breath, so close to breaking. “Can’t you wait?”
“I’m your second-in-command.”
“Goddamnit.” I pull the tattered T-shirt out of my pocket and slam it on the table. “That happened.”
Tonsils stares at me, then looks at the shirt. He picks it up and examines it. “Angel’s shirt? Where in the fuck did you find this?”
“On Angel.”
“You’re losing it, Brother. She’s dead.”
