Page 11

Rachel

I snuck downstairs after the asshole men had left, listening closely as they addressed all the members gathered in the bar. The idea was to go to church, formulate a plan, and rescue Dante tomorrow evening under the cover of darkness - they just needed to decide how this was going to take place.

There was no doubt they were willing to risk war to ensure his safe return, but my stomach churned at the thought of them waiting a day to do so. How much damage could be done in that time?

Dante was a strong man, but he was also injured and vulnerable right now.

From what I heard, they were planning on spending the day tomorrow speaking to various rats they had in other clubs, and seeing who had any information to give.

They were also going to check in with Malfoy – Noob – just to make sure he wasn’t behind this.

Crash said they couldn’t be sure that other men weren’t involved.

Who knows what Macbeth had told them to poison their minds?

Which, I suppose, did make sense. There was no point rushing in all guns blazing if someone was here willing to tell Macbeth about their every move.

War wasn’t something to be entered into lightly.

I had heard stories from the other old ladies that the last war – fought when Crash was a child – killed off more than half the club, and almost made them disband.

If Dante was murdered, war would never be a question, just a fact.

But right now, they were trusting themselves to formulate a plan that could avoid bloodshed.

But no one knew what I had planned or what I was up to. I was a mere woman, and therefore not allowed to their pathetic church. So, I could do whatever the fuck I wanted, without needing their approval .

Even if I was about to walk into a lion’s den.

Still. I couldn’t leave it for an entire day. If it was me who had been taken and not Dante, he would go scorched earth to ensure my safe return. I’d hate to be the person who got in his way.

Even if my feelings towards him were complicated, and currently causing a massive argument between me, myself and I over how we really felt, I owed it to him to make sure he was safe.

But why do you owe him it? You don’t actually owe him anything. What you mean is, you care about him and can’t stand the thought of him being hurt.

This was precisely the type of argument I was talking about.

So, against my better judgement, I waited until the bar had emptied, and I made my way out the back door, intending to steal a bike and go and get Dante myself.

Fuck this pussyfooting around business.

I snuck to the door and opened it just wide enough for me to slide my body through the gap. I kept my hand on the door and closed it inch by inch, as slowly as possible, with minimum sound.

I paused with my hand on the closed door, listening to the sounds of the men as they made their way to church. When I was satisfied that they were a decent distance away, I let out a sigh of relief and turned around.

“Going somewhere?” Came a voice that had me screaming in fright and jumping a foot into the air.

“Vienna! You almost gave me a goddamn heart attack!” I snapped at him, bringing my hand to my chest to steady my erratic heartbeat. “What the fuck are you playing at?”

“What the fuck are you playing at, Miss Rachel?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” He raised his eyebrows at me. “It doesn’t look like nothing. In fact, it looks as though you're sneaking out.”

“Does it? That's… weird. I just came out here to enjoy some fresh air.”

“You don't like the fresh air,” he murmured, eyeing me with suspicion.

“Since when? I love the fresh air. ”

“The last time Dante asked you to go for a walk with him to get some fresh air, you told him it sounded like your idea of hell, and you liked your lungs toxic, just like your soul.”

I paused and narrowed my eyes at him. “Since when the fuck did you become the memory man?”

“Since you decided you were going to start lying to me,” he replied, folding his arms.

“It’s not a lie. I’m deeply offended by the accusation. That was then, and this is now. And right now, I love the fresh air. It’s actually my favourite thing.”

“Oh, is it? Is it actually?” He mimicked in an entirely unpleasant tone. “So, what's changed?” He asked, his voice returning to normal.

“Perspective.”

“Oh, ‘perspective’,” he said with that same nasty impression, scowling down at me, his arms still folded. “What perspective might that be?”

I placed my hands on my hips and threw my head back defiantly.

Game on, Vienna. No one bullshits like I can bullshit.

“Well, Dante being taken… it teaches you to appreciate what you have in life, and to not take things for granted. No one knows what’s around the corner, and things can change in a heartbeat.

Do you think Dante would have done things differently if he knew when he woke up this morning what was going to happen?

Because I do. It makes you thankful for the blessings.

Look around, Vienna, we live in such a beautiful part of the country, and we don't even appreciate it. There is so much evil in the world. I just wanted to pause and take a moment to smell the roses. I know there’s some tough times ahead, and I just wanted to pause things for a second, and work on my inner peace. ”

“That was beautiful, Rachel. Truly.”

“Thank you,” I said with a sniff, bringing a hand to my eye to wipe away an imaginary tear.

Alright, love, don't overdo it.You’re a bullshitter, not a fucking actress.

“Well. I won't disturb you. I have my own business to attend to,” he said, walking away from me and heading towards the bikes.

“Hey now, where are you going? Aren't you going to church?”

“Nah.”

“Nah?” I repeated. “What the fuck does ‘nah’ mean? Since when have you not gone to church?”

“It doesn’t matter, Rachel. You work on your inner peace. Connect with the beautiful part of the country and whatnot.”

“I feel peaceful, and connected,” I said, almost having to jog to keep up with him.

He smiled down at me with a soft laugh. “That was quick. I thought it would take a while longer to soothe those devils in your head.”

“Haha. They don’t want soothing. They’ve made themselves at home with me. So, where are you going?”

“Nowhere with you. I thought you might have been sneaking out to go get Dante. I was coming to see if I could join you, but since you're at one with Mother Nature, I'll leave you on your spiritual journey.”

“You're going to get Dante?” I questioned, stopping dead in my tracks before running to catch up with him again. “Can’t you slow down a second?” I said, my words coming out in breathy pants.

“No.”

“Oh. Well. That’s me told. So, you’re going to get Dante?” I asked, grabbing hold of his arm to make it easier for me to keep pace with him.

“That's what I said.” He looked down at me clinging to him, basically using him to drag me along and shook me off with ease. And then the bastard picked up his fucking speed.

“And Crash is okay with this?” I panted, not rising to the bait.

“Of course.”

“So why isn't he coming with you?”

“Because he's on edge. He doesn't trust there's not another rat in the ranks right now. Macbeth is his son, and whilst we all knew he was a treacherous bastard, we never thought he would take it this far. So, it's just me.”

“What about Hacksaw? Or Zach?”

Vienna simply shrugged. “They're keeping up appearances. I'm not planning on busting Dante out single-handedly. But I am following a lead. It makes sense that I wouldn't be at church, since I'm usually the one speaking to rats in other clubs or dealing with other charters of the Devil's.”

“I thought church was mandatory?”

“It is. But there's always an exception. Besides, I won't be missing it completely. I'll just be delayed.”

I thought about that for a moment, before I asked; “what lead are you following?”

“Yours,” he said, smiling at me as I frowned in response to him opening a car door.

“You're not riding bitch on my bike. I love Dante like a brother, but even I know that doesn't make me immune to his temper.

If he catches you on my bike, with your hands around my body, he'll kill us both without even blinking, wounded or not. Get in the car,” he finished, going around to the other side to climb behind the wheel.

“I’m allowed to be near other men, you know. Maybe his ego shouldn’t be so fragile and delicate if he can’t even stand the thought of me taking a lift.”

“The car is a lift. The motorbike means our bodies are touching, connecting, wrapped around one another. Which would lead to a metal pole wrapped around my head. You’re a lovely friend, Rachel, but you’re not worth it.”

Fair enough. Can’t argue with that logic.

“What made you decide to listen to me?” I asked as we both closed our doors.

“I was never not going to listen to you. Every lead is worth following up.”

“That’s not the impression I got. In fact—”

“You could just say ‘thank you’, Rachel.”

“I… Thank you.”

“Don't sweat it, kiddo. So, tell me about this great idea of yours?”