Page 66 of Raze

“That’s exactly what they wanted us to think.” Wrath shoves the door to the clubhouse open and storms inside, and as mad at me as he is right now, he’s right. Those Reapers were waiting for us, they knew we were coming and they wanted us to be off our guard. I’ve thought about that fact the whole journey back, and I don’t fuckin’ like it. It makes me think I need to be keeping a closer eye on my brothers.

“You killed them?” Peyton whispers, looking like she’s in some kinda trance.

“Well, not single-handedly. Rocco got a good shot on one of ‘em.” I laugh at her, then have to remind myself that none of this is normal to her when she still looks haunted.

“Look, darlin’, it was a ‘them vs us’ situation and we won. Don’t let it worry ya.” I kiss her on the cheek and feel her shudder. I guess realizing your boyfriend is a stone-cold killer is a tough pill to swallow.

Someone cranks up the music when we step into the clubhouse and when Saul’s sister sees that Vike is injured she comes running over and starts making a fuss of him.

“I’m good, honestly,” he tells her polity, reaching over the bar with his good arm to help himself to a bottle of Jack.

She continues to cluck over him while I move toward Sinner, taking the opportunity while he’s present to have a word with him.

“My office.” I interrupt the conversation he’s having with one of the girls, heading for the door and then taking my chair behind the desk.

He strolls in casually a few minutes later with a bottle of vodka in his hand and his face still stained red with Reaper blood.

“It’s good to finally meet you.” I keep my lips straight and stare at him.

“I don’t think you mean that.” He sniggers, as he knocks back the bottle then wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

“We’ll get into the shit you pulled with my old lady in a second, but first I wanna address what happened on the road today.”

“Yeah, havin’ Wrath cover the back.” His head shakes as he screws up his face. “That was a shitty thing to do.” He points the neck of the bottle at me before taking another swig.

“I’m not talkin’ about that. I’m talkin’ about the mess you left of that fuckin’ Reaper. It was?—”

“Worth the wait.”

“What?” I shake my head confused.

“I’ve not killed anyone in one hundred and thirty… two days. Almost a record.” He lifts his shoulders.

“Listen, Sinner, I don’t know how Cliff used to manage you, but–”

The laugh he snorts interrupts me and I watch him roll his tongue around his cheek before he speaks.

“Nobody manages me.” He’s got a wicked smile on his face “Not even Saint.”

“Well, that’s about to change.” I stand up and lean over my desk.

“I don’t know why you stick around, but if you want to remain a member of this club, you will abide by the rules I set. The first of ‘em bein’ stay the fuck away from my old lady.”

“Relax, Prez, I ain’t interested in ya girl, she’s far too sweet for me,” he whispers that last part and makes the blood move faster through my veins. “I was just looking to have some fun, test some limits.” He swipes over the end of his nose with his thumb a few times keeping the cocky grin on his face.

“Well, mine ain’t the kind you test, less you wanna end up like Griller?” I warn him. “You’ve been relyin’ on the fact that everyone around here is loyal to Saint for too long. You cross me and I’ll strike.”

“And you’ll come to learn that this club needs me a hella lot more than I need to be here. Don’t forget that I’m the dominant one.” He taps his head as if he has Saint locked away inside it. “I know exactly when it’s time to come out and play.” His words set a chill over my skin but I don’t let him see that he’s got me unnerved.

“Well play nice, or me and you ain’t gonna see eye to eye.”

“Guess Griller should have heeded that warning, huh?” He laughs to himself like all this is some kinda joke.

“Sinner, I fuckin’ mean it. If you–-”

“She likes you to touch her when she wakes up from the nightmares, don’t she?” He interrupts me, knocking me completely off guard.

“What?”

---