Page 38 of Quadruplets for the Vipers (Never Just One #3)

Knox

W e didn’t realize it was an ambush until it was too late.

Wolf betrayed us. He pulled his gun on Rider the moment he realized our observant friend saw past his lies.

Axel jumped in front, taking a shot to the shoulder, a shot that was otherwise destined for Rider’s chest, and barreled his way toward the man, pulling his own gun and firing off a shot that met its mark, hitting Wolf in the gut.

It wasn’t until we heard the shot that the rest of us realized what was happening.

From where we’re standing, tending to Chug’s wounds, I can’t hear what Wolf is saying to Axel.

But the rumbling of motorcycles in the distance tells me it’s nothing good.

If we stay here, we’re inviting a shootout.

If we get on our bikes now, we stand a chance of outrunning them.

But Chug and Fastman are too injured to ride.

Rider and Axel come running over. Axel barely seems to notice the bullet wound in his arm. They fill us in on everything that Wolf told them.

“Fastman’s dead. I think Wolf finished the job if the crash didn’t kill him,” Axel says grimly.

“That has to be the Hellhounds coming to finish the job Wolf started. What do we do?”

Axel considers my question, his face grave. “The way I see it, we’ve got no choice. Chug can’t ride and we’re not leaving him behind.”

“Like fuck you ain’t,” Chug groans. His sentence is punctuated by a coughing fit, a trickle of blood remains in the corner of his mouth, highlighting just how injured he is. He needs medical attention, and fast.”

Chuck already called an ambulance, but it won’t get here fast enough.

“What about Leah and the babies?” I ask. As much as I don’t want to abandon our friend, my worry for Leah is stronger. “Could Ashley be in on this?”

I haven’t trusted Ashley this whole time. I never liked that the rescue plan relied so heavily on her. What if Wolf wasn’t the only one who betrayed us? Hellhounds could be headed for the safehouse right now.

“I don’t think so…” he replies, though he doesn’t sound entirely certain.

We’ve got seconds to decide, because the Hellhounds are on their way.

Luckily, they’re not out in full force, I can only assume it’s because our attack on their clubhouse is keeping them occupied.

I pray that our men are handling themselves.

Though knowing we had a traitor in our midst, now I realize it’s likely they knew about our planned attack, and any element of surprise would have been lost.

“Prez, we need you to make the call,” Jace says, his eyes darting between the approaching vehicles and Axel.

“Fuck,” he mutters frustratedly. “Chuck, take my bike, put Chug in the sidecar, and drive to the nearest hospital.”

In the heat of the moment, I’d almost forgotten about the sidecar we’d decided to bring for Leah to ride in. Chuck immediately does as he’s told. Saving his best friend is his priority right now.

“Good luck,” he says, saluting us before he tears away.

“The rest of us are gonna try to split them up and either outrun them or take them out. Got it?”

“Axel, you know that’s madness. Lucifer will just send them all after you. You’re too valuable, we’ve gotta protect you.”

“What else do you suggest, Knox?”

“I say we stand our ground, and you challenge Lucifer to a fight”

“He’d never go for that, he’d be crazy to try to challenge Axel in a one-on-one fight, as vain and stupid as he is, even Lucifer knows he wouldn’t stand a chance,” Jace points out.

“True, but he might be proud enough to try if you goad him enough. If not, I reckon you could convince him to race you.”

“I hope you’re right…”

“What about Leah? Should one of us go to her?” I ask. As much as I don’t want to leave my brothers behind, I can’t stand the thought that she and the babies might be in danger.

He shakes his head sadly. “We can’t risk leading them to her. We just have to trust that she’s okay and get this over with as quickly as we can.”

Whatever Lucifer was expecting, I presume it wasn’t this. We stand in a line, hands up. Lucifer and his men stop a little distance away and dismount, guns drawn.

“Surrendering already?” Lucifer croons.

“Not quite, but I’ve got a wager I’d like to put to you, which will save any fighting or bloodshed on either side,” Axel calls back.

“The way I see it, we outnumber you, so why would we bother when our victory is a sure thing?” Despite his words, I can tell Lucifer is intrigued. A gambler never turns down a wager, Axel’s got him hooked already.

“I wouldn’t be so confident about that. We might be outnumbered, but we’re also four highly trained combat veterans with far more experience handling weapons than your men. Even if you win, you’re gonna lose men. Are you willing to take that risk when there’s an easier way?”

“What do you propose?”

“You and me, a little one-on-one competition.”

Lucifer snorts. “You want me to fight you?”

It’s clear from his tone he won’t go for it, not even if we goad him and question his masculinity in front of his men. He’s not so foolish as to think he could win.

“No. I want you to race me.”

Lucifer laughs with glee. As simple as that, we’ve got him. Lucifer is known for his speed and loves to race. It’s a challenge that’s in his favor and he knows it. This way, if he wins, he takes all the glory.

“What are the stakes?”

“Club for club. You win, the Steel Vipers are yours, if I win, the Hellhounds are mine.”

“You’re bullshitting me. You can’t make that call,” he says.

“I’m Prez now, I can do what the fuck I like,” Axel says as he starts to walk toward his bike, knowing he’s got Lucifer well and truly hooked.

“You’d give your club to me?” his voice is incredulous.

“Only if I lose, and I ain’t planning on doing that.”

It’s an offer Lucifer can’t refuse. “Deal.”

The terms of the race are discussed and agreed upon. The rain is still hammering down, and the risk of crashing is going to be high. Lucifer is known for being a cheat, he’ll do his best to run Axel off the road. He won’t be satisfied with just winning, if he can, he’ll kill Axel.

“Are you sure about this, Prez?” I say quietly as he climbs on his bike.

“Yes. This is the only way. Even if we take them all out, chances are we spend the rest of our lives in jail for it. Leah and the babies need us, they need you. This way gets them off our back.”

“But what if—”

He cuts me off, “I’m gonna win. There’s no ‘what ifs’.”

“But Leah and the babies need you to, you’re no use to anyone dead,” I say.

“I’ll be fine, brother,” he promises, we both know he can’t be sure of that though.

Lucifer revs his engine, and the race is about to start.

“Knox. I need you to do this. Once the race begins and everyone is distracted, I want you to get on your bike and drive as fast as you can to Leah. Do you understand me?"

“But...”

I want to say that I’ll miss the race, I won’t know if we win or lose or if Axel even survives, but the words die on my lips. He’s right, I need to make sure Leah and the babies are safe, they have to be my main priority, now and always.

“Do you understand?” he repeats hurriedly.

I nod. “Yes.”

The race starts and Lucifer is off to an early lead.

With great effort, I force myself to look away and focus on everyone else.

The second I spot my opportunity I don’t hesitate, I jump on my bike and tear out of there as quickly as I dare.

By the time the Hellhounds realize what’s happening I’m already far ahead and to catch up to me would risk crashing.

They fire off a few shots, one sails past my head, too close for comfort and I accelerate, picking up the speed and making my bike skid on the slick ground.

I don’t slow down until they’re out of sight and I see they’ve given up on following me.

If Lucifer survives, I’m sure he’ll be having words with his men about that.

I try not to think about what we’ll do if Axel loses. The thought is inconceivable to me. We’d lose our best friend and the club in one fell swoop. He has to win. Even if the odds are stacked against him.