Page 46 of Cocky Secrets

This is what they train for.

Thrown over Briar’s shoulder I watch, still bound, heart pounding as the fight rages. The Ciphers swarm in like a tide taking down The Spiders one by one. I can see deadlydetermination on each of their faces, the unyielding loyalty they have for me, and I begin to sob.

Atlas charges for me. “Sage!” he yells, face lit up with vengeance. “Hand her over!”

He rushes toward Briar and me, and I can see the adrenaline coursing through him. My captor, my knight, sets me down. “She’s safe.”

“Tell that to the bruise on her face!” Atlas snaps at him, and starts to punch.

I cry out, “No!” causing confusion in Atlas. “Just get these ropes off. Don’t hurt him. I’ll explain later.”

Dad has beaten Soot to a pulp, and Jett and Luna have taken down two guys equal to Soot’s size. The fight continues around us because there are far more Spiders than Ciphers.

Atlas kneels beside me, pulling out a knife, and in one swift movement, the rope falls away from my wrists. Briar is kneeling on the ground, and he’s cut the ones from my ankles. I move my limbs, feel my ankle crack from having been in the same place for too long.

“Are you okay?” Atlas asks, concern etched across his features.

“I’m fine, just—get us all out of here!” My voice is urgent as I rub my sore wrists, adrenaline flooding my body.

Atlas rejoins the fight. Briar and I watch as The Ciphers take the upper hand, their training shining through. My father is a force of nature, taking down another Spider right before he sucker-punched Bear from behind. I can’t help but feel a swell of pride mixed with relief.

“Let’s go!” Briar urges, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the exit. We weave through the chaos, ducking under swinging fists and flying bodies.

Just as we near the door, I hear a shout behind us. “Get her!” It’s one of The Spiders, anger boiling in his eyes. “Briar, get her outta here before they can take her back!”

His club brother thinks Briar is still on their side, still going to hurt me. I use the cover to rush out, glancing behind me just in time to see Bear grab a metal pipe and swing it at a guy coming after Sean. It connects with The Spider’s side and he crumples to the ground in agony.

We burst through the door and into the headlights of four patrol cars that skid to a stop on the other side of rows of Harleys, sirens tearing through the stillness of the night, dust flying like an ominous cloud. “Police! Put your hands up!”

Briar and I throw up our arms, and because Bear is with my family, I feel confident that the cops are on our side, so I shout, “I’m Sage Martinez! I’m a member of The Ciphers!”

With guns brandished, we’re surrounded, their expressions severe. Seven sets of eyes dart between us and the cacophony of fighting coming from inside, behind us. The cops split up, half of them stalk the entrance, guns at the ready.

“Police! Everyone freeze!”

The warehouse falls silent.

I hear what sounds like a kick, followed by a grunt and Jett saying, “There. Now we’re done.”

“Is everyone okay?” I hear Celia ask, panting.

Bear’s presence changes everything, and the police defer to his words, “We’re all good here. The Spiders are through. Cuff every one of them. You’ll have to carry most of them.”

Relief washes over his face as he appears in the doorframe and spots me. “Sage!”

I rush to him, and feel myself wrapped in his strong arms. “I’m okay! I’m safe! I went to see you! Ihadto see you! I’m so sorry!”

“I thought I lost you,” he whispers, voice thick with emotion.

“I’m safe. I’m right here. Thank to all of you. And…”

I turn to see Briar getting cuffed, his Spider jacket giving him away as being from the wrong side. A male cop announces, “He was trying to get away with her as captive.”

“No,” I reply, my voice steady now. “He was getting me out of harm’s way.”

Dad peels me out of Bear’s arms and crushes me to him in a hug. “My Sage! Are you alright?” His eyes fire up at the sight of my bruise. “What did they do to you?”

“Just the one punch, Dad.” I look at Briar who shakes his head. “Let him go.”

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