Page 31 of Sins & Paradise

The men let out a roar of agreement, leaping to their feet. I can see the loyalty and determination burning in their eyes. These are my brothers, my family. We've been through hell and back together and we'll gladly do it again for one of our own. And like it or not, Angela is one of us now. She's mine.

"Gear up," I order them. "Guns, knives, fucking brass knuckles, whatever you got. We'll take positions around the perimeter. Do our best to keep the townsfolk back. Miguel wants a fight, we'll give him a goddamn fight."

As the rest of the club rush to arm themselves, I stride outside to survey our unlikely allies. I'm stunned to see so many people here, ready to stand with us, to defend us. Even one of the three bastards I’d beat up the other day at the bakery was here. I had no idea we'd touched so many lives, earned so much respect in our time here. But I can see it now, shining from their fierce expressions. The Ponce chapter of RBMC belongs to everyone.

I swallow hard against the lump of emotion rising in my throat. I can't afford to lose my head now, to let my feelings for Angela cloud my judgment and weaken my resolve. I have to be strong, focused, ruthless. For her sake and for my club.

I'm barking out orders, directing people to strategic points around the building, when the roar of motorcycles splits the air. My blood runs cold as I turn to see Miguel driving up with his men. He steps out of the car, dragging my woman out behind him. A cruel grin twisting his face. He's got Angela in front of him, bound and gagged, her face bruised and streaked with tears.

White hot rage explodes through me at the sight of her pain, her fear. I want to rip Miguel apart with my bare hands, to paint the ground with his blood for daring to lay a finger on my woman.

He comes to a stop, yanking Angela with him. He's got a gun pressed to her head and madness gleaming in his dark eyes.

"Lobo," he calls out, his voice dripping with mockery. "I believe I have something of yours. You want her? Come and get her, asshole."

I bare my teeth in a feral snarl, my fingers tightening on my gun until my knuckles turn white. This is it, the moment of truth. No more running, no more hiding from my feelings. I'm going to end this once and for all.

Fourteen

Angela

I keepmy eyes locked on Lobo. I can see the fury in his gaze along with the terror. He really does care for me. As much as I tried to convince myself that maybe it wasn't something real between us, just this one look in his eyes lets me know that it's real. He meant every word he said about caring for me. He loves me the same way I love him.

Miguel tightens his grip on my neck as he repositions himself behind me, using me as a human shield. Every last part of my body hurts from the beating he gave me earlier, but I don't want Lobo to see it. I don't want him to know how much pain I'm in and then be distracted for what's about to happen.

When I sent out the notice on the dark web for people to come out and help, I never thought it would reach this many people. It just goes to show that even though the RBMC may look like the villains in this story to the people in this small town, they are theheroes. I'm sure the people here would do whatever they need to do to make sure their club is here to stay.

"Let her go! Now!" One of the men from the club calls out. I think he's the one Lobo calls Digger. I peek at the side of his neck, and sure enough, the word "Dig" is tattooed there. One day I'm going to have to figure out why they call him Digger. At least I hope I'll get the chance to do so.

"Don't be a fucking pussy. Fight me one-on-one," Miguel yells out to Lobo.

Lobo's eyes go wide, and he drops the gun, taking one step in Miguel's direction. It's clear he's about to give in to what Miguel wants.

Vado steps forward just in time and stops Lobo before he has a chance to move any further.

"Nah, that's bullshit. This isn't a problem just between you and him anymore. The minute you put your fucking hands on Angela, it became our problem. Then you had the bakery burned down—now it's everyone's problem. You're not getting out of here with just a few bruises from one man. No, you're going to hurt today. You're going to hurt worse than you've ever hurt in your life." Vado's words send a wave of fear through me. I'd swear the man is crazy.

"Then when everyone else is done with you, I'll finish the job." Lobo smiled and rubbed his hands together like a kid about toget a full bag of candy. He was having way too much fun right now.

"Miguel, she's not worth it."

My eyes jerk to the side, and I'm surprised to see my father next to me, his forehead splattered with sweat. Even the gun in his hand is shaking with nerves. I've never known my father to be a scared man, but right now I'd say he was one loud noise from pissing his pants.

"Shut the hell up. Don't tell me what to do," Miguel hissed at my father.

"My father is right. We can get you another girl. Angela isn't worth all this. What good is she if you wind up with a million bullets in your body? She's not worth your life." My brother pipes in, and I turn to look at him. I'd be thankful that someone was trying to get me out of this mess besides Lobo, but I know exactly why the two of them are doing this. With all the people from the club and the people from the town, Miguel, my father, and brother are sorely outnumbered. If they choose to fight, they are going to lose. Horribly.

They are only looking out for themselves.

"Fuck the both of you. I'm not going to let them have her. No. If I can't have her, no one can."

I squeeze my eyes shut as I listen to what Miguel is saying. I've heard those same exact words several times from every thriller movie I've ever seen in my life. The obsessed man says them just before he kills the woman for not wanting to be with him.

I feel Miguel moving around behind me, but I'm not sure what he's searching for. Part of me is worried that he's about to disrobe me or something that will humiliate me. When I feel the cold metal being unhooked from near his waist, I realize how wrong I am.

My eyes search for Lobo in the crowd. Everyone is already moving in closer to me and Miguel. My father and brother have already laid their weapons down and are moving away. They may not be against me anymore, but they're certainly not here to help me. At least I don't have to worry about them anymore.

Lobo moves further and further to the front, and the second he steps to the head of the pack, I feel Miguel tug hard at whatever is at my back.

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