“He’s a Reaper,” I said. “He didn’t even come and patch in with us.”
Ace shrugged. “Maybe he wanted to give you this club. He was never part of the club, his mother made sure of that. It’s a territory thing.”
“Why would he join up with the Wolves though?” Hawk asked the question I’d been wondering myself.A throat clearing at the doorway had my back tensing. Shae pushed into the room. I shot her a look that had her shrinking back against the wall, but she didn’t leave. I had to give her props for that.
“He’s trying to change the charter at the Reapers,” she offered. “I didn’t believe him either, but when we spoke, he explained his reasons. I believe him. He seems to genuinely want to change the way they are.”
“Change it to what?” I asked, taking a seat at the table and turning to her.
“Keep it legal,” she said. “Well, as legal as he can. He doesn’t want to be in the sex trade anymore, he said what they are doing is disgusting. He said he’s gotten the ear of one of the higher ups, and he’s close to turning them over.”
“The Rabid Wolves won’t allow that,” Hawk was the one who spoke. He had his own history with the Reapers that told me he was taking a lot of faith here. Maybe I needed to as well.
“He’s hoping they end up being victims of happenstance,” she said, a slow smirk on her lips. “Either way, we all know there’s going to be a war that goes down.”
The smirk died, as realisation dawned on her; that there would be casualties.
“You and Dempsey a thing?” I asked, my thoughts making themselves known audibly. Everyone turned to me, then to Shae. She looked at me, those eyes giving away a lot more than she wanted to.
“I’m not a one man woman, Alex, you know that.”
I stood up, moving to stand at the door, and turned back. “I didn’t ask if he was your man, I asked if you were a thing, but your response is telling me the answer. Get your head clear,Valkyrie, before you end up costing us more than our fair share of women.”
Pushing out of the room, I headed outside to get some fresh air. Today had been eye opening, and not in an altogether good way.
My phone rang in my pocket. I lifted it up to see my mother’s name pop up on the screen. Jesus, how did she know the exact wrong time to call me…every damn time?
I hadn’t spoken to her since I kicked her out of my cabin for speaking down to Orla. I didn’t especially want to speak to her now either.
Especially not after what Dempsey told me. I didn’t know if I trusted it. My whole life I’d been hidden, unsure of what to call myself. When Dad had told me I could use O’Leary, and be part of the Rebels, I’d been honoured, and finally felt like I belonged somewhere. He’d wantedhis families to be united, and yet it had never happened. I’d assumed it had been because of his wife’s insistence, but what if it had been my own jealous mother who wanted my dad to herself?
The doors swung open after a few moments. I’d moved to the side of the clubhouse, away from sight, as I smoked on the cigarette.
“Do we really have to go?” I heard Sheridan ask, her voice filled with terror. “Maybe we need to be here.”
“No, I refuse to put you in danger again. He needs to go down, and I can’t worry about you being in danger. Protect these girls and when you come back, it’ll be over. Once and for all.”
I heard the pain in Ace’s voice. He’d had to say goodbye to Sheridan so many times, and yet, it sounded like it didn’t get any easier. I put my smoke out and was about to walk out when I peered over to see that Sheridan was busying herself in the van, leaving the girls staring up at him with teary eyes.
“Look, girls. I know I am asking a lot from you lately, but I promise, we’re going to keep you safe. You’ll come back and never have to worry about your dad again.”
Ryleigh nodded, choking back a sob. Shauna was fierce though. I could see the sadness, but she refused to break.
The twins couldn’t be any more different if they tried.
“He’s not our dad,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I wish he was dead.”
Ace froze, realising she was asking him to kill their dad. He’d only needed the word and he would have had it done in prison, but he didn’t want to do that without their permission. How would you broach that with sixteen year old’s though?
“Shauna, it’ll be okay soon. I promise, okay?”
He pulled them into his arms, holding them on either side of him. They hugged him tightly back. He’d changed since Sheridan and those girls had come into his life. He was still my oldest friend but he was softer, yet fiercer. I didn’t know how it was possible, but I know I wouldn't have left Neal alive this long. He threatened his happily ever after, and like hell I would allow him to hurt us again.
It was hard to believe the devil was the father of sweet and gorgeous girls. He hadn’t poisoned them yet, no matter how hard he tried.
That was because of Sheridan.
I saw so much of her in them it was crazy.
