Page 25 of Knot So Sweet (Leather and Lace #1)

Chapter 24

Ghost

W atching my father put his hands on Candi was the last fucking straw. The sight of him grabbing her like that… The flicker of fear in her eyes—it ignited something primal within me, a rage so intense I could hardly contain it. I wasn’t there to stop Travis from the pain he caused her in high school, but I’d be damned if anyone ever hurt her again.

Especially my blood.

I’d always respected my father, revered him as the Steel Serpents. But in that moment, all I felt was disgust. He didn’t just disrespect her —he disrespected me, Chaos, and Viper.

Disrespected everything our club stood for.

I scoffed, wincing as I gingerly held my elbow. The short trek to Drew’s place felt longer with every throb of pain. It was really starting to hurt now, and I had a feeling it might be dislocated.

"You okay?" Viper asked, his brows furrowing with concern as he glanced over at me.

I nodded, though I was more focused on what had just happened than my shoulder. "Viper, what the hell was that? I’ve never seen my father act like that." I scoffed. "So belligerent."

Viper ran a hand down his beard, a weary sigh escaping him. "The shipment. The Hounds were there. They intercepted the pickup and killed the delivery driver."

My eyes widened in disbelief. "They killed one of the Stonehill brothers?"

Viper nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah. The Stonehill charter is the closest ally we have. If they’re being affected by our city’s problems… we might not be able to count on them in the future."

A low growl built in my chest.

The Stonehill Serpents had agreed to take in omegas detoxing from Heat once Doc approved their transit. If they saw us as a threat now, there was no way they’d take them in. And if they didn’t… it wouldn’t be long before the Hounds figured out their merchandise lived through the explosion and where in Serpent territory.

They’d come for them.

"What was in the shipment?" Candi asked.

Both Viper and I glanced over at her as we neared Doc’s place. Normally, we wouldn’t share club business outside the inner circle, but this was Candi. She needed answers. And I decided right here and now that I would keep nothing from my mate.

And apparently Viper felt the same way, because he spoke before I got a chance to. "A possible antidote for Heat. We had a chance to protect you and the other omegas in Sterling City and Hounds stole it from right under your noses."

Those omegas from the fire needed this antidote. The thought of them being vulnerable, exposed to detoxing from Heat, chilled me to the bone.

"We have to tell Doc," I said, dreading the conversation. As we approached his driveway.

"Wait," Candi demanded, her tone sharper now. She grabbed Viper’s arm, stopping him in his tracks. "What are you going to do about it? I’ve seen what Heat does. It’s ugly, Viper. That shit needs to be stopped."

"For now? Nothing. We need to lay low and figure out a plan. There’s a mole in my club. Someone sold us out to the Hounds. Until I find out who that is, none of the omegas are safe here." He clenched his fists. "I need to flush out the poison in my club before I do anything else."

Candi scoffed, folding her arms across her chest, her chin lifting in that familiar defiance that always made my heart race.

"So what? You’re just going to roll over? Submit? I’ve never been safe, Viper. That’s the life of an omega. It's why I want to reopen the Den."

"Titus needs to go down like the rabid dog he is. I’ve never met him, but I know the damage he’s done to Sterling City. I know what his offspring is capable of. It’s time we take him out."

I knew what Jordan was capable of too. Vaughn told me just how involved he was in these omegas disappearances.

I cut in, my gaze shifting between them. Just the thought of her being put in harm's way and I was itching for a fight. "And how exactly do you propose we do that?"

Candi didn’t hesitate. "Sean Cromwell."

Viper growled, his stance stiffening. "No. I already told Vaughn—I’m not working with strays. I’m the president of this club, and I have the final say."

Viper turned, ready to move toward the porch, but Candi wasn’t finished. "You’re being stupid," she muttered, narrowing her eyes at him. "You’ve got help, a possible ally, and you’re not even going to consider it?"

"No," he barked, stepping into her space, his presence towering over her. My heart sped up, the air between them electric, ready to explode.

"You think I’m scared of you?" Candi snapped, taking a step closer, her gaze fierce. She shoved him in the chest, her defiance burning bright. "I’ve dealt with bigger alphas than you, Viper. So why don’t you drop the macho bullshit and listen for once?"

Viper’s jaw tightened, his frustration boiling over. "You don’t know what it takes to run this club. You don’t understand the stakes."

"Oh, I know exactly what’s at stake." Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, but her eyes burned with fierce determination. "And sitting with your thumb up your ass isn’t going to fix anything. You’ve got a mole feeding the Hounds information, and you haven’t even avenged Chaos. Instead of using every resource at your disposal, you’re too busy flexing your alpha pride to ask for help."

Viper’s growl deepened, vibrating in the thick air between us. "I won’t fucking trust a Hound, Candice," he hissed. The way he said her name—sharp and venomous—sent a shiver through me. The whole scene felt like a bomb ticking down, ready to detonate.

But Candi didn’t flinch. She stood her ground, staring him down as though his size, his growl, meant nothing. "You want me to trust you, Viper? Trust is earned. So why don’t you start by at least considering meeting Sean? See what he has to say."

I could feel the heat radiating off Viper, his fury barely restrained. His growl deepened, rumbling through his chest, and I stepped in, squeezing his shoulder hard to pull him back from the edge. "Viper, calm down," I said, but my words felt like they barely reached him.

"And what exactly do you think that'll prove?" Viper snarled, towering over Candi like he could force her into submission with sheer presence. "You’re not part of this club. You made that very clear sweetheart. We don’t ask for outsider help."

Candi’s eyes narrowed, a bitter smirk pulling at the corners of her lips. "So that’s your excuse? No outsiders? Or is that your way of asking me to be a part of your little crew?" Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, challenging him as she stepped even closer. "I thought you were smarter than that, Viper."

Before he could bite back, she leaned in, her voice dropping into a sharp whisper. "I’m not asking for your permission in this. I’m telling you. I’m going to ask for Linc's help. Whether you like it or not. Lincoln Cromwell is a friend. I trust him ."

The implication was clear. She trusted the Cromwells over Viper. Over us. The Serpents. But did I blame her? Not really. Not after the way Gears grabbed her today.