Page 61 of Cinder (MC Fables #2)
L ars
Because I sent Santo on ahead to the clubhouse, I’ve missed a thousand phone calls from Beast. So by the time I get to the clubhouse, I walk into chaos.
But I don’t stop to answer questions because there is no time to waste.
Instead, I fly up the grand staircase to the second story and run down the corridor to my room.
Inside, I retrieve Hellbringer from its place on the wall before I go looking for Beast.
I find him in the security room with Santo, Bram, Gambit, and Rogue .
He looks at Hellbringer on my back. “What the fuck are you doing? We’re in the middle of a goddamn war with the Bratva and my enforcer goes AWOL.”
“They have Ella.”
“So Santo says.”
“Her psychopathic brother is going to hand her over to the Bratva. We need to stop it from happening.”
“It will have to wait. We’re leaving to hit the Bratva compound.”
“Olicheckoff is at the Moretti estate. I saw him there.”
“He might’ve been, but he’s home now,” Bram explains, bringing up CCTV footage of Viktor driving into the compound. I watch as he climbs out of the Rolls Royce, then forces Lucretia out of the car and inside the mansion.
Beast’s jaw tightens, but his voice is steady. “We’re going to take care of that Russian prick now .”
If Viktor left the Moretti estate, then Luca and Ella might not be far behind.
“Any sign of Luca or Ella?” I ask Bram.
He shakes his head. “No other vehicles have arrived.”
“Then I’m going back to the Moretti estate.”
Beast and Gambit follow me out of the security room.
“You can’t take on Luca Moretti by yourself,” Beast says, walking through the vast cobblestone foyer after me.
“I will if I have to. ”
“I need you with me as we take down this Bratva fuck. Your club needs their enforcer.”
I stop walking to face him. “And Ella needs me more. I won’t leave her there, and if the club can’t help, then I’ll do it myself.”
He takes a step toward me. “I know you care about this chick?—”
“I don’t just fucking care about her, Beast. I’m fucking crazy in love with her. And if we survive this, then I’m going to marry her before she realizes she’s too damn good for me.”
“Jesus,” he mutters.
“If it were Belle, what would you do? Join your club to take out a threat, or save the woman you love?”
He doesn’t need to think about his answer.
But he’s considering the consequence of telling me the truth. That he’d pick Belle every time.
“Fuck,” he grumbles. “You’re crazy if you think you can take on Luca Moretti alone.”
Santo steps forward. “He’s not alone.”
I turn to the old capo.
“Are you sure you’re up to it?” I ask him.
“I might be old, son, but my trigger finger still works.”
I look back at Beast. “See, I won’t be alone.”
“Christ, you’re going to get yourselves killed.” He exhales deeply, a mix of irritation and concern. The clock is ticking. “Take Zac with you.”
He knows Zac would ride into hell for me.
Just as I would for him.
But before we can take another step, Rogue catches up to us. He’s run all the way from the security room to catch us before we leave.
“I’m coming with you. Luca Moretti just arrived at the Bratva compound.” His eyes meet mine. “And Ella is with him.”
Lightning rips through me.
Luca is handing Ella over to Viktor.
And I’m not going to let that happen.
“Looks like we’re all going in the same direction after all,” Beast says, walking toward the stairwell.
But I’m already ten steps ahead of him, running down the spiral stairwell into the parking garage and toward my bike.