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The possibility sends a chill down my spine. Was the entire conversation one big lie? Maria sounded genuinely concerned, and she hasn’t lied to me before. Also, if Juan was there, she wouldn’t have asked about leaving the cartel. He’d kill her for even considering it.

“No,” I insist. “It wasn’t like that. I know Maria. She was telling the truth.”

Ice sighs, running a hand through his platinum hair. “Maybe. But we can’t take that chance. We need to be smart about this.”

I bite my lip, knowing he’s right but hating the delay. Every second we waste is another second those children are suffering.

“So what do we do?” I ask, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.

“I’ll gather some of the guys. We’ll go check it out. If it looks legit, then we can plan our next move.”

My heart races as Ice turns to leave. Without thinking, I rush forward, grabbing his arm. “Wait, I’m coming with you.”

He looks down at me and pulls me into his arms. “You’re staying here. This is club business now, and it’s not safe for you to leave the inn.”

“I know it’s dangerous,” I say, my voice trembling slightly. “But I can’t just sit here while you’re out there risking everything. Let me come with you.”

“If anything happened to you…” He swallows and hugs me tightly against his body. Pressing his mouth to the crown of my head, he murmurs, “I won’t be long.”

The heat radiating from his body does little to calm me. The desire to stay by his side is overwhelming. I understand what he’s trying to do. He wants to protect me, but I can’t let him go. I’m afraid of what might happen. If this is a trap and Juan ambushes Ice, I could lose him forever.

“Please take me with you. I can handle myself.” I tilt my head back and look up into his eyes.

He shakes his head, his platinum hair catching the dim light of the room. “This isn’t like anything you’ve faced before. The cartel won’t hesitate to kill you if they catch you snooping around.”

I know he’s right, but the thought of being left behind, helpless and waiting, is unbearable. Still, I see the tenacity in his eyes and know I won’t win this argument.

Sighing, I lean in and press my lips to his. The kiss is brief but intense, filled with all the words I can’t bring myself to say. When I pull back, I whisper, “Be careful.”

His expression softens for a moment. “I always am.”

As he turns to leave again, I fight the urge to call him back, to tell him how much he means to me, and to confess how scared I am of losing him. But I hold my tongue as I watch him go. He needs to focus on the mission, not worry about my feelings.

When the door closes behind him, I silently pray that this lead will pan out. I can only hope that he’ll return to me safely because without him, I’ll have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Juan will hunt me down and kill me. There’s no doubt in my mind that Ice and the MC are my only hope of getting out of this mess alive.

Chapter 16: Ice

The night air whips across my skin, warm and thick with the scent of the Mississippi as we ride through New Orleans’ dimly lit streets. The UVMC NOLA crew rides as one unit, engines growling like a pack of restless wolves. The camaraderie amongst us is a tangible force, our shared dedication to justice fueling the roar beneath us. We’re more than a club, we’re a family bound by loyalty and a thirst for vengeance, hurtling toward a mission that’s etched deep in our bones.

“Keep it tight,” I call over the coms. Over the cacophony of road noise, they hear me. They always do. I lead them out of the French Quarter, where shadows cling to the cobblestones like spilled secrets. We ride past the flickering gas lanterns that paint the streets with dancing gold. Our bikes are steel steeds, and tonight, this city is ours to protect.

As we cross the train tracks, I sense a shift. The air crackles with tension that wasn’t there before. It’s as if the city itself holds its breath, bracing for what’s to come. The warehouse we’re staking out tonight isn’t just another run-down building; it’s a fortress shielding the sins of a greedy cartel. My gut twists, but not from fear. It’s pure, unadulterated anticipation.

I throw a clenched fist into the air—the signal—and like a well-oiled machine, we decelerate. Our formation breaks, each rider peeling off to disappear into the gloom. We glide to a stop in an alcove shrouded by ivy and neglect, far from prying eyes.I kill my engine, and the others follow suit. The sudden quiet settles heavily around us.

“Off your bikes,” I murmur, my voice low but carrying that familiar edge of command.

The crew moves with hushed efficiency, their trust in me unspoken yet resounding. I catch the glint of moonlight on chrome, the gleam of dedication in my brothers’ eyes. We’re ready to find out the truth about this place. It could be a trap, but so far, there’s no indication of that. If Juan was trying to trick us, he would have stationed sentinels at the train crossing. Since no one was there, I doubt they’ll know we’re coming.

Boots crunch on the gravel as the men form a circle around me, their gazes as tangible as the Kevlar beneath my cut. I lean in, scanning the group of hardened faces illuminated by the faint glow of streetlights filtering through the overgrown foliage.

“Listen up,” I start, “we’re ghosts tonight. We’re only here to observe so we can see what we’re dealing with. We’re going in paired up. Two-man teams. Keep your comms open but stay off the chatter. We need eyes on every corner, every shadow. Count the guards, the exits, everything. Questions?”

The men shake their heads, indication that they know the drill. It’s not the first time we’ve had to stake out a place to get intel. I briefed them earlier when we met up at the inn. They know what’s at stake. This is the shit they live for.

As the men find their teammate for the night, Fang and Bones pair up. Vapor and Tank aren’t with us. They’re dealing with other club stuff, nothing serious, but they couldn’t make it out tonight. That leaves me in charge, and I like it.

“Diablo.” I lock eyes with him. “You’re with me.”