Page 31 of Whispers of Fire

Vox

Been away six days to meet Mendiaz and a few new guys there who’ll work for us from now on. Was nice being in Mexico but I was eager to come back to see her. Especially since I know she’s getting married to a so-called Messiah.

Hell no.

I promised myself to not fall for a woman, but I haven’t said anything about protecting one. And despite the situation, I'm pretty sure Rose isn’t keen on the idea of marrying this old guy.

Or perhaps she is? If it’s her Leader, then perhaps she’s glad she’s getting married?

Nah, from the look she gave me last week, she wanted it as much as someone would want a death penalty.

I take my phone in the basement of the club and open my app, looking at the rewind of her morning.

I fuckin’ miss her.

As I watch her, a sense of calm hits instantly. She's got this way about her, real peaceful, each move smooth as she braids her hair. It's like she's got this magic, quieting the storm in my head, pulling me right into the moment. Every flick of her wrist, every gentle tug on her hair, drags me deeper into her orbit, hooked on what she's doing.

I’m like an addict waiting for his next fix.

I shut down the app when she leaves the room. The idea of her being tied to another man, trapped in a life she might not want, stirs up a primal sense of possessiveness deep inside me.

The word echoes in my head like a fuckin’ relentless drumbeat.

Mine.

Mine.

Mine.

It's a dangerous thought, one I know I should resist, but it clings to me stubbornly. I haven’t even thought about the implication of dealing with a client from our club.

What will Ares think?

If anythin’ I’ve always been a loyal soldier to him, ready to die in battle at his orders without hesitating.

Pacing back and forth in the dimly lit basement, the scent of metal and blood hits me, reminding me of who I am and where my loyalty lies.

What the fuck should I do?

Can I get her out of her cult without wanting, well, more from her?

The image of Rose, with her golden hair and curves that’d make any man fall on his knees, flashes through my head. Skarn circlin’ her like a damn vulture, ready to claim her and I wanna tear him apart with my bare hands.

But what should I do about Ares?

Even though he’s only ten years older, he's been like a mentor to me, showin’ me the ropes, teaching me what it means to be a true brother. Going against him feels like stabbing my own blood, a betrayal I ain’t ready for.

You’d be a traitor, an outcast.

He always said, don’t mix women and business, and that’s why this is tearing me up. Defyin’ Ares is a risk I never thought I’d take, yet leavin’ Rose to her fate is a burden I can't bear.

The club or my angel?

For the first time in a long time, I don’t know where my loyalty should lie. The only thing that'll clear it up is the look in Rose’s eyes. That’s where I'll find the answer: does she really want this marriage, or is it forced on her? If she wants it, then I won't stand in the way of her happiness, even if it kills me to say.

For now, as I pace the cold concrete floor of the basement, Novac’s body still hangin’, his blood pooling at his feet, I'm caught in a damn mess, torn between loyalty and… something I never wanted to feel again. Thought I could roll through life with my brothers, the club, and my bike. That I’d never need to get close to anyone, never risk losing someone I cared for.

But here I am, trying to protect myself with walls while she keeps knockin’ 'em down, one by one.

---