Page 23 of Jagger’s Remorse (Iron Veins MC #1)

After, we lie tangled together on the blanket, looking up at the first stars appearing through the pine canopy.

She's traced lazy patterns on my chest while I play with her hair. "My dad used to take me camping," she says quietly. "Before everything went to shit. We'd lie under the stars and he'd make up stories about the constellations."

"What kind of stories?"

"Silly ones. That one," she points, "was a dragon who fell in love with a motorcycle. And that one was a princess who became a lawyer to defend the stars in cosmic court."

"Sounds like he knew his daughter."

"He knew who he wanted me to be." She turns her head to look at me. "Think he'd recognize who I became?"

"I think he'd understand. We all become what we need to survive."

"Even you?"

"Especially me." I pull her closer. "But maybe we can become something else now. After Eduardo. After all this settles down."

"Like what?"

"Whatever we want. That's the point of being in charge, right? Getting to choose?"

She's quiet for a long moment. "I've never thought that far ahead. Past the revenge, past the takeover. What do you do when you get everything you've been working toward?"

"You live. Really live. Not just survive."

"Is that what we've been doing? Surviving?"

"Until recently, yeah. But this?" I gesture between us. "This is living."

We make love again as full darkness falls, slower this time, memorizing each sensation.

Her nails rake down my back when she comes, and I follow her over, burying my face in her neck.

"Promise me something," she says as we dress.

"Anything."

"If tomorrow goes bad, if Eduardo—" She stops, takes a breath. "Don't come after me. Don't start a war you can't win."

"Scarlett—"

"Promise me."

I kiss her instead of answering, because that's a promise I can't make.

A promise I won't make.

She's mine, and I protect what's mine.

Even from Mexican cartel bosses. Even from herself.

We ride back under a canopy of stars, her arms tight around me like she's afraid I'll disappear.

The compound feels different when we return—still home, but not the whole world anymore.

"Thank you," she says as we head inside. "I needed that."

"We both did."

"Think we can just... stay here? Build a little cabin by the lake and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist?"

"We could," I say, knowing we won't. "But that's not who we are."

"No," she agrees. "We're the people who face the monsters. Even when the monsters are family."

Tomorrow the traps spring. Tomorrow we find out how deep the betrayal goes.

But tonight, we had something just for us. Something clean and real in all the mess.

Sometimes that's all you can ask for.

***

The next day passes and we're waiting at the airstrip.

Full crew—me, Scarlett, Poncho, Hammer, and a few others I know I can trust.

The airstrip stretches out before us, cracked concrete slowly being reclaimed by nature.

"Everyone in position?" I check.

"North covered," Poncho confirms.

"South secure," Hammer adds.

"Ready," Scarlett confirms from beside me.

She shouldn't be here, but try stopping her.

Right on schedule, vehicles appear on the horizon.

Three Devils colors flying proud.

And behind them, Sombra backup.

Two crews united in their hatred of us.

"There's our proof about Mouse," I mutter.

"Wait," Scarlett says through the comm. "Something's wrong. Look at Mouse."

She's right.

Mouse isn't trying to hide. He's standing in the open, hands visible. No weapon drawn.

And he's crying.

The vehicles surround us, engines still running. Doors open. Men pour out, weapons raised.

"Please," Mouse shouts as they take positions. "I'm sorry. I didn't have a choice!"

Rico steps out of the lead vehicle.

Same cocky voice from the phone call, now with a face to match.

Young, maybe twenty-five, trying to fill Butcher's boots. "Jagger Morales," he grins. "Thanks for the tip about the shipment."

"Let me guess," I keep my voice steady, hand resting on my Glock. "You've got leverage on Mouse."

"Show him," Rico orders.

One of his men opens a van door.

Inside, a woman and a little girl. Bound. Gagged. Terrified.

The girl can't be more than six, teddy bear still clutched in her arms.

Mouse's ex-wife. His daughter.

"Three months ago," Mouse sobs, falling to his knees. "They took them. Said if I didn't cooperate, they'd... they'd..."

So… what was the surveillance we got of them?

Did Rico let him see them to keep his leash on Mouse tight?

Cruel, but it makes sense.

"You sold out your brothers," Poncho spits from beside me.

"To save my family!" Mouse screams. "What would you do? What would any of you do?"

I glance at Scarlett. See the recognition in her eyes. We'd do exactly what he did. For family, you break every rule.

"Here's what's gonna happen," Rico continues, enjoying his moment. "You're gonna put down your weapons. Get on your knees. And I'm gonna execute you one by one while Mouse watches. Payment for Butcher."

"Counter-offer," I suggest. "You let the woman and kid go, and I'll make your death quick."

Rico laughs. "You're outnumbered."

This idiot has no idea how many people we have here. "Quality over quantity."

"Besides," a new voice emerges from the shadows. "Who says you have the numbers?"

My blood freezes.

Pablo Delgado steps into the light, very much not dead.

Older than the photos I've seen, but unmistakable.

The family resemblance to Scarlett is strong—same sharp features, same predator's grace.

Scarlett goes rigid beside me. " Tío Pablo?"

"Hello, sobrina ." He smiles, all teeth. "Surprised?"

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Does it matter when I sold you to the Iron Veins? All part of my plan." He spreads his hands like a showman revealing his trick. "Let you get close to the men who killed my brother. Let you remove Diego from the board. Position yourself with Eduardo."

It’s all clicking into place. Sure, I had my own plans… but I knew nothing about his. "You used me."

"I groomed you. There's a difference." His eyes glitter with satisfaction. "You think Eduardo's the only one playing long games? I've been planning this for years. Before Miguel died, even."

"Planning what?"

"Your ascension, of course. And your fall." He produces a folder, thick with documents. "Everything's here. Video of you killing Diego. Staging deaths. Lying to Eduardo. He'll be very interested to see how his goddaughter really operates."

Understanding dawns cold and terrible across Scarlett's face.

"You want Sinaloa," she breathes.

"I deserve Sinaloa. I'm blood. Real blood. Not some orphan Eduardo took pity on." The venom in his voice could strip paint. "Miguel was weak, but he was my brother. His territory should pass to me, not his bastard daughter."

"I'm not a bastard?—"

"Aren't you? Your mother was a whore who?—"

The shot cracks through the night.

Pablo staggers, hand going to his shoulder and blood seeps between his fingers.

Scarlett lowers her pistol slightly. "Talk poorly about her again. I dare you."

"You little bitch," Pablo snarls. "You're just like her. Pretty face hiding a rabid dog."

"Oh, and Tío ?" Scarlett adds coldly. "Tina says hello. Did you really think we wouldn't figure out you were running her too? Paying off her debts in exchange for information?"

Pablo's eyes widen slightly. "How did you?—"

"She cracked late last night. Told us everything. How you recruited her after her old man died. How you've been playing both sides—feeding Three Devils information while positioning yourself to take over when Eduardo falls."

"So, what's your plan?" I interject before this becomes a family massacre. "You'll show Eduardo the evidence and hope he names you heir?"

"Oh no." Pablo's smile returns despite the pain. "She's going to kill Eduardo. Just like I planned. And then, tragically, she'll die in the resulting power struggle. Leaving me, the grieving uncle, to pick up the pieces."

"That's insane."

"That's how destiny works." He tears a strip from his shirt, makeshift bandages his shoulder. "Twenty years I've waited. Twenty years of watching Eduardo favor outsiders over family. First Miguel, then this puta ."

He turns to me. "Which brings us to you, Mister Morales. I have a proposition."

"Not interested."

"Hear me out. Kill her now, in front of everyone, and Iron Veins keeps its territory. Your people live. Your club prospers under new management."

"Fuck you."

"Or," he continues like I hadn't spoken, "refuse, and I release everything to Eduardo. He'll burn your club to the ground. Kill everyone you've ever cared about. All for a piece of ass who was always meant to die."

I look at Scarlett. See the resignation in her eyes. The acceptance.

She thinks I'm going to do it, thinks I'm going to choose the club over her.

"What guarantee do I have?" I ask Pablo.

"My word. And this." He holds up a phone with his good hand. "One call to Eduardo. That's all it takes. But if she dies now, by your hand, the call never gets made."

I move closer to Scarlett. She doesn't back away. Just watches me with those amber eyes that started all this.

"I'm sorry," I tell her.

"I know," she whispers. "It's okay. Save them."

I pull her close, one hand tangling in her hair.

"Any last words?" Pablo asks, enjoying this.

"Yeah," I say, and kiss her.

Hard. Desperate. A goodbye kiss that tastes like regret and necessity.

My other hand finds the knife at my belt.

"I love you," I whisper against her mouth.

"I know," she breathes back. Then softer, so soft only I can hear, "Left side. Two inches below the shirt hem."

Then I drive the blade between her ribs.

She gasps, eyes going wide. Blood bubbles up between her lips.

"I'm sorry," I repeat as she sags against me. "I'm so fucking sorry."

But her hand finds mine on the knife handle. Squeezes. And I realize—she's controlling the angle. Guiding the blade. Just like before. Just like she did in the warehouse with Diego.

Missing everything vital by millimeters.