Page 128 of Tempting Fate

“Isaiah’s back… I’ve gotta go.” Hunter ends the call before I can issue any further directions.

“I’m trustin’ you to deal with this like I would,” I inform Cub when it’s just the two of us left on the line. My leg starts bouncing as the seconds tick by. I’m bursting with the need to get to Lily, yet I know I have to balance protecting my woman with my obligation to my fallen brothers. “With the rest of the hierarchy down, you’re my proxy. Fuck this up, and I’ll have your patch.”

“Just concentrate on Cherub…” Cub trails off with a loud exhale. “Not sayin’ it’ll be perfect, but I know I can keep everythin’ from spirallin’ until you can get to us to take over.”

“Don’t let me down.” I press the end call icon without waiting for his reply.

While I’ve been dealing with Hunter and Cub, Slash has managed to leave the room and return. Shoulder holsters full, another gun at the small of his back, and his favourite knives strapped to his midsection. He’s dressed for war.

“Here.” He holds out a semiautomatic to me. I sling it across my body, uncaring if I’m seen with the weapon while I’m racing across the city. “You go. I’ll deal with the prospects and catch you up.” I push past him, ready to do exactly as he stated, but he stops me with a firm grip on my arm. “If this is as bad as it’s startin’ to appear, you’ve gotta keep your fuckin’ head on straight. Zeke has to be in control, not Venom. Cherub deserves your cool calculation rather than your rage… anythin’ less than that will break her.”

“I’m not stupid.”

“Nah, you’re fuckin’ filled with pain and regret, and will shortly be determined to punish yourself for tempting fate with whatever the fuck’s happened.” He lets me wrench my arm free. “Both pain and punishment make men dumb. Be smart.”

“I’m startin’ to think I’ve tempted fuckin’ fate one too many times.” A lump of emotion wedges in my throat. After swallowing hard, I ask, “If this is as bad as either of us think it is, will you, at least, consider askin’ Crystal to reach out to the Trinity?”

“I’ll try my best,” Slash replies. The fine lines around his eyes deepen as he noisily exhales. “Not sure how willin’ they’ll be to get in the middle of somethin’ that doesn’t directly affect ’em.”

My best friend’s promise, and the parameters he’s set around it, bounce around in my skull as I run through the clubhouse to my Harley. As I peel out of the compound and head for Brutus’ safe house, I can’t shake the feeling that the unknown situation I’m rushing headlong into is going to be worse than anything we’ve faced before.

What if the time to ask for help has already passed?

25

LILY

“Maybe Zeke will come with you?” I ask Weston after we’ve exchanged farewells for the evening.

It’s been two weeks since I was hidden away in the safe house my father owns in the Perth Hills. Two weeks since I’ve seen anyone other than Fret at the hospital or my dad and the constant rotation of Shamrocks charged with keeping me safe from Alex and his father. Two weeks since I’ve spoken to Zeke. Two weeks of telling myself that I’m doing okay.

Two weeks of doing nothing but think.

Dark thoughts.

Guilty thoughts.

Poisonous thoughts.

My fingers flex as the phantom feeling of holding a razor makes my hand burn.

Four times I’ve picked up the straight razor I found in the main ensuite bathroom.

Four times I’ve talked myself into putting it down.

Will tonight be the fifth?

The sympathy that flits across the older biker’s face is a gut punch as he says, “Maybe.”

We both know he’s trying to spare my feelings. Zeke isn’t coming for me tomorrow or any day soon. Toker might’ve let a few trusted brothers in on the plan Hunter concocted to flush out the Shamrocks rats, but my intuition is screaming that they’re not making any progress.

Every time I see my cousin, his teasing seems a little more forced.

Even Gabriel appears to know about the lack of success, since he’s sent me enough research to keep me busy for months.

It’s clear I’m going to be on my own for a little while longer.

After waiting to make sure I’ve locked the front door, Weston thunders down the front steps. His eagerness to get home to his wife and sons only compounds my loneliness. I press my back to the wooden panel and close my eyes to combat the urge to head for the bathroom.

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