Page 14 of Life Or Death

Once again, Dread’s voice rings in my ears.

. . . this seems like a matter of life or death.

My gaze flits back to her face, and I swallow past the lump in my throat.

“You’re going to hate me anyway,” I whisper.

Might as well make it worth my while.

“Are you fucking out of your mind?” Tori shrieks.

I glance around the corridor, noting the curious glances from passing nurses and visitors. “Keep your voice down.”

“Fuck that.” Her voice drops, but she continues to stare daggers at me. “You’re asking me to commit fraud.”

Dread steps forward, placing himself between us. “That’s a bit dramatic even for you, Firecracker. We asked you to steal a piece of paper with Jess’s signature on it, not commit grand larceny.”

Having this conversation with him present was a bad call on my part, but after hearing his grand plan, he made it clear that we didn’t have time to waste. The judge he spoke with owes the club a favor. A couple of years ago his daughter was raped at the county fair, and it was the Fallen Demons who brought him to justice. We tortured and killed that bastard while the judge watched. We were happy to do it too, but we didn’t work for free, and instead of collecting a bag of cash for our services, I decided it would be better to keep him indebted to us. Now I’m cashing in, but if he’s gonna sign off on all the paperwork and make sure mine and Jess’s marriage certificate gets filed and backdated, it has to be done before he leaves for vacation.

Dread waves his finger between himself and me.

“We’re the ones committing fraud.”

Tori’s head snaps toward him, her eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. “Oh, well, that makes it perfectly fine then, doesn’t it? Just a little light forgery between friends.”

“Exactly,” he says, flashing her a grin. “It’s child’s play, really.”

I run my tongue over my teeth, fighting the urge to grab Tori by the arm and drag her somewhere more private. “It’s either this or she doesn’t get the care she needs. Your choice.”

“My choice?” She lets out a bitter laugh. “You’re giving me a choice between betraying my best friend and letting her suffer? Some fucking choice.”

I lean in closer, my voice dropping to barely a whisper. “That cunt Reeves already came by Jess’s room this morning, hounding me about the next payment. They’re threatening to transfer her to a state facility if I don’t come up with another fifty grand by Friday.”

Something flickers behind Tori’s eyes—fear, maybe, or desperation. She glances toward Jess’s room, then back at me.

“There has to be another way.”

“Name it.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m all ears.”

She opens her mouth, then closes it again. Her shoulders slump slightly, defeat washing over her.

“I hate you,” she sneers.

“I know, but you hate the situation more than you hate me. You’re just too proud to admit it.”

Dread clears his throat. “Clock’s ticking, Firecracker. Better make like a bread truck and haul buns. We’ve got crimes to commit.”

CHAPTER FIVE

LUCIFER

I was fifteen when my uncle, Reaper, the founder and former president of the Fallen Demons MC, put a gun in my hand for the first time and ordered me to shoot. Adrenaline rushed through me instantly, but I still hesitated in taking that gun from him, because as eager as I was to impress him and make my bones, a deeper part of me knew I was about to sell my soul. Surprisingly, though, the gun felt light in my hand, and when I blocked out the intrusive thoughts, the kill came easily.

My conscience disappeared.

Never to return until now.

I glance down at the piece of paper in my hand, a piece of paper that somehow feels ten times heavier than any weapon I’ve ever held.