Page 130 of Crown of Lies

We tear out of the lot, the wind whipping at my face. I look back to see a group of bikers right behind us, their headlights cutting through the darkness.

“Hang on tight!” Nico yells over the wind.

I tighten my grip as he takes a sharp turn, the bike leaning so far I can almost touch the pavement. The pursuers are gaining on us, the roar of their engines growing louder.

“My gun!” Nico shouts. “Right side, under my jacket!”

I reach around him, fumbling until my fingers close around the cold metal. I pull it free, turning awkwardly in my seat.

“Don’t kill anyone!” Nico warns as we take another turn.

I aim for the front tire of the closest bike, squeezing the trigger. The gun kicks in my hand, the shot going wide. I take a second to steady my arm before firing again.

This time, I hit my mark. The bike’s front tire explodes, sending the rider skidding across the pavement. He tumbles, but I can see him moving as we speed away.

The other pursuers fall back, likely stopping to help their fallen brother. I turn back around, pressing my cheek against Nico’s back as we race into the night, leaving Carnage territory behind.

38

QUINN

The wind whipsthrough my hair as we speed down the darkened streets. I keep glancing back, my heart pounding in my chest. A few bikes are still on our tail, their headlights cutting through the night like angry eyes.

“We need to lose them!” I shout over the roar of the engine.

Nico nods, leaning into a sharp turn. The bike tilts dangerously, and I tighten my grip around his waist. We weave through side streets and alleys, the pursuing bikes falling farther behind with each maneuver.

As we emerge onto a main road, I pull out my phone and dial Emmett’s number. He picks up on the second ring.

“Emmett!” I yell over the wind. “Listen up! We’ve got trouble with Carnage. I need our people on high alert. Defend our borders, consider them enemies until I say otherwise. Anyone wearing Carnage colors is not welcome in our territory. Understood?”

I feel Nico stiffen under my arms as I speak. My stomach twists with guilt and fear. This isn’t how I wanted things to go down, but we’re past the point of no return now.

“Got it,” Emmett’s voice crackles through the phone. “We’ll lock it down tight. You headed back to the shop?”

“Yeah, we’ll be there soon. Make sure it’s secure.”

I end the call and shove the phone back in my pocket as we ride through the familiar streets of my territory. The neon signs and graffiti-covered walls feel like a comforting hug after what we’ve just left behind. As we approach the tattoo shop, I see a group of my people standing guard outside. No weapons are drawn, but it’s clear from where their hands are resting that the guns are only barely concealed.

Nico slows the bike to a stop in front of the shop. For a moment, neither of us moves. Then, slowly, I unwrap my arms from around him and slide off the back of the motorcycle.

The adrenaline is wearing off, leaving me feeling hollow and drained. It’s been a hell of a day—searching for that damn marker, chasing my stalker, and now this mess with Carnage. My head is spinning, and I have to take a few seconds just to center myself.

Inside the shop, I’m all business. I grab my phone and start making calls, dividing up our people to cover every inch of our territory.

“Jake, I need you and your crew patrolling the east side. Keep an eye out for any Carnage colors.”

“Lena, take a team and do some recon along our borders. Report back anything suspicious.”

The room buzzes with activity as people come and go, following my orders. I’m in the middle of coordinating a defensive strategy when Emmett walks in, his face tight with concern.

“Quinn, what the hell happened out there?”

I fill him in on the clusterfuck at Carnage’s place—the accusations, the threats, the narrow escape. Emmett’s jaw clenches as he listens, his eyes growing harder with each detail.

When I finish, he shakes his head, muttering, “I knew it. Knew that alliance with Carnage couldn’t last. Bunch of trigger-happy psychos.”

“Yeah, well, it’s done now,” I say, rubbing my temples. “We need to focus on protecting our people and our territory.”

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