Page 55 of Devil's Queen

Inside the meeting room, my sisters have settled into their usual places. As I take my seat, Harlow pours a cup of coffee and places it in front of me, her concern evident in her eyes.

“Looked like you could use a pick-me-up.”

“Thanks.” I take a sip of the steaming coffee, its warmth comforting against the storm brewing within me. I set the cup down in front of me, my fingers lacing around it as I think about what I have to tell my sisters.

“I called our client, Mr. Diaz, after we got back yesterday.”

“How’d that go?” Cheyenne asks from my right.

“Not great. He’s pissed, that’s for sure.”

“I don’t blame him for that,” Marissa responds. “If I had something worth that kind of cash stolen from me, I’d feel that way.”

A few of my sisters nod in agreement. While I also agree about his feelings, his big ask isn’t likely to get the same reaction from them.

“We’ll refund him, and that’s the end of it, right?” Maya offers.

“Not exactly.” I sigh. “The client wants us to take out the guys who stole his bike. If we do, we don’t have to pay back what he paid for the bike.”

The room falls silent, the weight of Diaz’s ultimatum hanging heavily in the air. I can see the turmoil reflected in my club sisters’ eyes, each grappling with their own thoughts and concerns. Cheyenne takes a sip of her coffee, her face contorted in contemplation.

Tinley breaks the silence with a low whistle. “That’s a hefty price tag for a couple of bike thieves… not to mention the potential shitstorm it could stir up.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” Harlow chimes in, her expressive eyes narrowed in thought.

“Look, ladies. I’m not happy about this either, but we must decide how to move forward. That’s why we’re here.”

“Say we do. What happens after it’s done?” Cheyenne questions, her voice laced with unease.

“The answer to that is I don’t know. As much as I don’t want to be in debt to this guy, we’re in a bind. It’ll take years and money to rebuild it as is. Money that we won’t have if I refund him.”

Maya leans forward, her voice laced with concern. “But assassinations? That’s crossing a line we’ve never crossed before, Remy. Are you sure about this?”

“No, I’m not, but he’s leaving us with little choice in the matter.” I take a deep breath, my mind racing through the various scenarios and consequences. It’s true that this request from Diaz goes against our code, against everything we stand for as a club. Yes, we’ve killed before, but we’ve done it for far nobler purposes than revenge.

As I look around the room, I can see the fear and uncertainty etched on my sisters’ faces. We’ve always prided ourselves on being a club that stands for justice and protection, not mindless violence. But now, we’re faced with a decision that could potentially compromise everything we believe in.

“I understand your concerns,” I say, my voice steady but tinged with doubt. “Taking out those thieves goes against our principles, I know. But we need to consider the bigger picture here. If we don’t do this, we risk losing everything we’ve worked for.”

Tinley raises an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. “And what if we do go through with it? What if this leads us down a path we can’t come back from?”

I take a moment to gather my thoughts before responding. “We need to be smart about this. We won’t become hired guns or assassins overnight. This is a one-time deal, purely out of necessity. Once it’s done, we cut ties and make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”

Harlow leans forward, her gaze intense. “But what if word gets out? What if other high-profile clients start seeing us as a means to settle their vendettas? We could become nothing more than hired muscle. We’d be no better than the Zulu Kings.”

I meet Harlow’s gaze head-on, determination burning in my eyes. “That won’t happen. We are the Voodoo City Queens, and we decide our fate. We set the boundaries and make our own rules. This is a desperate move, but I believe in our ability to navigate through it and come out stronger on the other side.”

“Can you hold him off? Maybe we can track down these guys and get the parts back,” Maya asks.

“I mean, I can try, but it’s not a sure-fire thing.”

Cheyenne leans forward, her voice filled with concern. “Remy, we trust you, but we also trust our instincts and gut feelings. I don’t know about the others, but my gut is telling me this isn’t the path we should be taking.”

I lean back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. The weight of the decision presses down on me like an anchor. I never thought I would find myself in a situation like this, caught between loyalty to my club and the moral compass that has guided us all these years.

Tinley breaks the tense silence. “Look, we’ve always been about justice and protecting those who can’t protect themselves. This feels like a betrayal of everything we stand for.”

I nod, acknowledging her words. “You’re right. It does feel like a betrayal. But sometimes, sacrifices have to be made in order to protect what’s truly important.”

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