Page 32 of Hellfire

Fuck, that one hurt.

I shook out my arm as I bounced on my feet. The rush of adrenaline was addicting.

“You’re ready,” Tank stated matter-of-factly.

I grinned and threw my first punch, to which Diamond easily blocked it.

“Oh, come on Kat. You can do better than that,” she taunted.

Determined to prove myself, I gritted my teeth. I launched into my next punch, catching Diamond in the jaw. I gasped and covered my mouth as regret immediately set in.

“Oh my God, Diamond, I’m–” A punch landed on the side of my face.

“Don’t fucking apologize.” Diamond laughed, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I won’t,” she said, taking another swing, one I blocked easier this time.

She signaled me to go again, and I pushed into the next few punches as best as I could. As the minutes ticked by, I felt more comfortable, more confident in my movements.

“Alright, let’s break,” Tank called out.

Both of us lowered our hands, panting to catch our breaths.

“That was great,” I said, grinning from ear to ear.

“You did good, newbie,” Diamond teased, bumping her shoulder with mine.

“Thanks.”

I knew with Diamond and Tank, I was bound to get better.

Chapter Thirteen

Tank

The crisp evening air whipped my hair against my cheek as I sped down the back roads. Gripping the handlebars tighter, I revved the engine—the crew flanked behind me. Everything was riding on tonight. But ultimately, it was up to me to see this through. We needed this win. Rose’s beautiful smile filtered through my mind and that familiar ache settled in my chest. The Hive needed to pay for what they did to her.

As we rode toward the docks, I couldn’t help the nervous energy coursing through me. My Cerberus paced back and forth, ready to spring out at a moment’s notice. Something about this entire mission didn’t sit right, but I refused to give up. People’s lives were at stake, and it was up to the Dark Legion to serve justice once and for all. We couldn’t let anyone else suffer because of the vampires.

I was always willing to die for our cause if it meant Rose saw justice, but now I found myself hesitating to be so reckless in my revenge. I made a pinky promise to Leona. One that I refuse to break. She had already had the world fail her and I couldn’t—no, I wouldn’t be another who disappointed that little girl.

Then there was Katrina. I didn’t know what she was running from, but I wanted to keep her safe more than anything. My heart seized as my imagination ran rampant. The horrors my pretty girl must have endured to put such fear in her eyes. The same look I saw in Rose’s eyes the day she died. Determination pushed me further. If I could do this, then maybe I could be worthy of her. She deserved that much.

I signaled to the others that we were arriving and slowed my bike to a stop. Scar pulled up on my right, and Snake was on my left. I shared a look with both, and I could see the fear and determination in their eyes, one that mirrored my own. I nodded to Snake, who slowly got off his bike to follow me.

“I need you to do me a favor,” I said in a low voice.

Snake’s brow furrowed, his arms crossed over his chest. “Name it.”

“If this goes south, I need you to take care of Katrina. I promised to teach Leona how to make a lei and I need you–”

Snake held up a hand to stop my rambling. “No, you’re comin’ home today, Tank. I don’t wanna hear you talkin’ like that.”

I growled, pushing my hair from my face in frustration. “Just promise me, Snake, please.” For a moment, he didn’t respond, and I feared he wouldn’t say anything else.

But then he whispered, “Always, brother. You’re not the only one who cares for them, ya know.” My shoulders sagged in relief. Snaked pulled me into a hug. “So, you kinda fallin’ for our kitty Kat?” he teased.

I chuckled. Snake was always the jokester.

“I’m serious though, Tank. We are all goin’ home today, and you can teach lil Leona how to make a lei yourself.”

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