Page 95 of Awakened by Sin

Heads turned toward Maddog, the leader of the Black Vipers, but she kept her eyes on the crowd. The tension in the room made the hairs on the nape of her neck stand. A man at a table to the left of the general reached into his jacket and pulled out a knife. She rose and withdrew her gun, but Eli got there first. He grabbed the knife from the man before he could toss it and slit his throat with an efficiency that said he’d done this before. The man’s table companions shot to their feet as blood splattered everywhere.

Eli’s eyes met hers for a split second before he wiped his hands on the man’s coat and retreated to the edge of the room where he leaned against the wall, cool as you please. Carmen turned her head and found Angel watching her with a calculating expression as she lowered her gun. She was breathing hard as if she ran a marathon.

“You think you can walk in here with no more backup than an ex-cop and Vinny’s slut?” Maddog sneered.

She focused on Maddog as he bared silver teeth.

“You and Pyre think your money and name is enough to protect you. It isn’t.” Maddog tucked his thumbs into his jeans. “You’re in my territory, my city. I’m not about to let some East Coast fuck take over my town.” He looked around the room, proud and silently looking for votes before he refocused on Angel. “Vega showed us one thing. Gavin can be defeated, which means you can too. You bleed just as easy as the rest of us.”

No one breathed.

“I think it’s time for new blood, Roman.”

His eyes flicked to her. Dark eyes glittered with hatred. He knew exactly who she was. Her skin prickled, and her hand tightened on the gun.

“Did Pyre tell you what happened to his other cousin who tried to take his throne? That little bitch didn’t even last a week.” He smiled at her. “It was a joke for Vinny to take Gavin’s place. It was only a matter of time before someone gunned him down. I heard that fucker squealed and tried to run for his life. Gavin signed his cousin’s death warrant—”

Carmen raised her gun. Maddog laughed and elbowed the men on either side of him who had their hands on their weapons. Maddog spread his arms wide.

“What are you gonna do with that, princess? I’ll give you one free shot. I dare you—”

The first bullet went through his bicep. He grabbed his arm and cursed, but he didn’t have time to reach for his gun. The second bullet got him in the chest before Angel did a head shot that sprayed the bar and everyone around him with blood. For a moment, there was absolute silence, and then the bar erupted.

The man in the booth beside her got to his feet and shoved her to the ground. He stood over her as the members of the Black Viper gang withdrew guns, and other occupants began to turn on one another. The sound of gunfire was deafening. From her prone position, she saw Angel put down three bikers with head shots. Blood splashed over the filthy floor. Rapid gunshots sounded behind her. She peered through the legs of her protector and saw Eli and several other men take down those who tried to fight back or make a run for it. The general sat in the midst of the bloodbath, splattered with blood, eyes trained on Angel.

When silence fell once more, the man above her shifted, and she slowly got to her feet. The metallic scent of blood assaulted her nostrils as Angel surveyed the room.

“Never underestimate how many allies a man has in the room.” He focused on her, and her stomach clenched. “And never taunt a woman who’s lost someone she loves.”

Carmen lowered her gun but didn’t put it away.

“Let the members of the Black Vipers know I’m coming for them. I don’t believe in survivors,” Angel said.

He walked to her and held out a hand. She didn’t want skin contact at the moment, but she knew everyone was watching. This wasn’t about her; it was about his image as the new boss. She wasn’t allowed to disrespect him in front of the underworld. She grabbed her purse before she took his hand and clenched her teeth as he laced their hands together. He pulled her through the ranks of silent men. She felt a presence behind them. When she glanced back, she saw Eli on their heels with a gun in each hand.

Angel pushed the door open into the chilly night. She sucked in a breath of fresh air and jerked her hand away. He didn’t push the issue. He opened the passenger door for her. She got in without looking at him, dropped her purse between her feet, and stared straight ahead.

There was the low murmur of male voices as Eli and Angel spoke.

In the week she’d been awakened, she’d been a slave to her impulses—food, cars, sex. Every desire needed to be met. Tonight, the taste for blood ignited, and she reacted. It was only a matter of time before someone gunned him down. The incandescent rage that compelled her to shoot still coursed through her veins. There was a roar caught in her throat. Something dark and lethal fought to erupt out of her skin. It took every ounce of control she possessed not to give in to the need to let her demons free.

Angel slid into the driver’s seat. “You okay?”

“Take me home,” she said quietly.

Angel pulled away from The Pussy. He drove down the unlit lane before he turned onto The Strip. The return to civilization didn’t make her feel better. Neither did the crowds or energy, which never failed to lift her spirits. All she could see was that fucker’s face as he talked about Vinny—the disdain and satisfaction that they put him down. Like he was a dog or deer—something weak and vulnerable and fair game. Her senses were hyper elevated. A tangled mess of emotions rumbled inside her, demanding to be set free to wreak havoc on her surroundings.

“You had my back in there,” Angel said.

She had given her allegiance without thought. Even though he blackmailed her into going and drugged Kiki, she’d been willing to defend him. The ties of family loyalty were engraved in her bones.

“Why did you take me tonight?” she whispered.

“You were looking for a rush.”

“I wasn’t.”

“You were,” he countered easily. “I recognize another restless soul when I see one.”

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