Page 73 of Karma

“I’m sure it will,” I say, giving him a look that clearly says I mean him, that he will be worth the wait. I enjoy seeing the softness cross his eyes and his breath hitch before he pulls himself upright and becomes the VP of his MC again.

“I can pretty much guarantee that,” he says.

Then he waves over the three Devils. Ruin isn’t with them, and I haven’t seen him all day, even though he left the inn with us this morning. That discrepancy has been gnawing at me all day. But to ask would be too nosey, could risk Scorpio figuring out that we have different plans from his.

He tells the Devils to go inside, into something they call the Family Room, then turns back to me.

“I’ll see you soon, Grim,” he says.

It sounds like a question. Realizing that sends my heart racing and I grow even hotter than I was. Does he know? How can he? But then again, he’s in my head so much he might be able to read my thoughts by now.

“Try and stop me,” I say and grin. He grins back and my anxiety dissipates like smoke. That’s the kind of power he has over me. This better not be the end of things for us. I don’t know if I can face that.

He disappears back into the building and I return to my guys.

“Did you find out something?” Psycho asks. “What’s the plan now?”

“The same as it was,” I say. “We leave when they tell us to leave, then come back and wait for them to bring out the girl. I’mthinking they’ll only use a few guys to transport her. We’ll have a shot.”

“Not without killing,” Ivy says.

Her long purple hair is loose today, falling over her back like velvet. The color matches the accents on her tight riding get up.

“We can’t hurt Scorpio, or Joker,” I say, though in the case of the latter, I kind of wish we could. That would end this dream of going to war with the Devils all in itself, I’m sure. But I’m also sure Scorpio could never forgive us for that.

“And don’t hurt any of their closest brothers,” Karma adds.

The other three look confused.

“Who are their closest brothers?” Poison asks.

“Just aim for the ones we don’t know and it should be fine,” Karma says.

The last of her sentence is drowned out by the call to ride. And in the noise that follows as a hundred engines come on, it’s hard to hear my own thoughts. Good. Because they’re starting to tell me this is a bad idea.

We hang back and leave with the last wave, then hang back some more, until no one ahead of us can see us riding off into the trees instead of along the forest road that leads away from this compound.

About five minutes later, we’re well hidden by the trees but still have a good view through the gates in the wall.

The dust and debris all those bikes leaving kicked up is starting to settle. Only three guys are left in the yard. They’re readying a black van with the flower shop logo on the side, which is now parked in front of the main building.

Scorpio comes out too. And after a while he’s followed by Ruin and his girlfriend Ariel, chained together by a set of handcuffs. They’re escorted by Sarge, Manic, and Razor, three Lost Sons we can’t harm during this.

“Is she the one we’re hare to rescue?” Ivy asks. “But she’s chained to that other guy… “

“We have to rescue her too,” Karma says, giving me a look of pure confusion. Shock even. “How many people did they abduct?”

The answer comes out of the building next, led by Joker on a chain—a pretty brunette wearing a white dress, looking dazed and confused, even though her eyes are flashing angrily.

“She’s the one he’s been seeing,” Psycho says.

“We get them all,” Karma says. “Ruin will fight. We just have to free him.”

At that exact moment, Ruin proves her words true as he lunges at Joker.

“We move! Now!” I yell and rev my bike, riding in a straight line for the gate, praying I don’t hit any trees. My guys are all behind me.

Our re-entry into the yard makes everyone freeze. Ruin has already released Joker, who is staring at us with disbelief etched onto his face just like everyone else. Including Scorpio, who is standing next to the driver's side door of the van. I only glance at him. Can’t face seeing even a tiny bit of disappointment or hurt of confusion on his face. I’m doing this for him as much as for the girl. Probably more. If we succeed, he’ll live. If we don’t, I’m already looking at a dead man and I can’t do that. Never that again.

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