Page 24 of Savage Loyalty

“You think you’re better than Axel?” she spat, her voice rising with anger now. “You think what you’re doing is any different? You’re just using me the same way he would.”

I smirked again, stepping back just enough to give her the illusion of space. Let her think she was gaining ground that she had me on the defensive.

“Maybe,” I admitted, my tone casual, almost dismissive. “But here’s the difference: I don’t lie about what I am. Axel will sell you a story, make you believe he’s doing this for you, for the Vipers, for family.”

I leaned in slightly, watching the way her shoulders tensed, the way her breath caught for just a fraction of a second. “I won’t. You know exactly who I am and what I want. No lies. No bullshit. And I think,” I paused, letting the tension hang thick and heavy between us, “you respect that more than you want to admit.”

Her glare didn’t falter, but her breathing changed—quicker now, shallower. She was fighting to hold it together, but I could see the cracks forming.

“Once again, you don’t know anything about me,” she said finally, her voice quieter now but still laced with defiance.

I leaned in closer, closing the distance between us, my voice dropping to a low, deliberate whisper. “Don’t I?”

She didn’t flinch, didn’t back away, but the way her hands tightened into fists told me everything I needed to know.

“You’re afraid,” I said, my words cutting through her defenses like a scalpel. “Not of me. Not really. You’re afraid because you know I’m right. You know Axel’s not going to protect you. The Vipers won’t shield you. And the Serpents?” I chuckled darkly. “They’ll chew you up and spit you out before you even know what hit you.”

Her defiance faltered, just for a moment. It was small, barely noticeable, but it was there.

“What do you want from me?” she asked finally, her voice breaking slightly, though she tried to mask it with anger.

“Information,” I said simply, stepping back and leaning against the desk again, giving her a moment to catch her breath. “I want to know what Axel’s planning, what the Serpents are up to, and how deep you’re in this mess.”

“I don’t know anything,” she said quickly, too quickly, her gaze flickering away for the briefest moment.

“Bullshit,” I said, my voice sharp and cutting. “You’ve been back in town for what, a few days? You’ve seen the way things are falling apart. Don’t try to tell me you haven’t noticed.”

She glared at me, her lips pressing into a tight line, but her silence spoke louder than any denial she could have given me.

“You don’t owe Axel anything,” I said again, my tone softer now but no less deliberate. “But if you don’t start thinking about your next move, you’re going to end up caught in the crossfire. And trust me,” I leaned forward slightly, my gaze locking onto hers, “no one walks away from that unscathed.”

The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. She didn’t look away, didn’t blink, but I could see her weighing her options, calculating her next move.

“You can fight this all you want,” I said finally, my voice calm but firm. “But sooner or later, you’re going to realize the truth.”

“And what’s that?” she asked, her tone dripping with defiance, though it couldn’t hide the tremor in her voice.

“That there’s no getting out,” I said, my voice cold and final. “Not for you. Not for any of us.”

The room felt colder in the silence that followed, the weight of my words hanging heavy in the air. Delilah stood rooted to the spot, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest, her defiance beginning to crumble under the pressure. She didn’t say anything, didn’t argue further, but the tension in her posture told me the fight wasn’t over—not by a long shot.

I pushed off the desk, moving toward the door, my boots echoing on the worn floorboards. With my hand on the doorknob, I paused, glancing back over my shoulder.

“Torch!” My voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet like a whip.

A moment later, the door creaked open, and Torch stepped in, his broad frame filling the doorway. His gaze flicked to Delilah, then back to me, waiting for instructions.

“Take her home,” I said, my tone flat, but the words carried an edge that left no room for questions.

Torch nodded, stepping aside to let me leave first, but I didn’t move just yet. Instead, I turned my attention back to Delilah, her sharp glare cutting through the tension like a knife. Her hazel eyes burned with anger, her jaw tight, but I saw the faint flicker of unease she couldn’t quite hide.

I tilted my head, letting a smirk tug at the corner of my mouth. “You’re not as tough as you think, kitten,” I said, the word rolling off my tongue with deliberate mockery. “But don’t worry—there’s time for you to figure out how to survive.”

Her lips parted, ready to fire back, but I wasn’t finished.

“Here’s a thought for you,” I continued, my voice dropping lower, colder. “You might want to decide how much loyalty to your brother is really worth. Because when the Reapers come to collect, there won’t be much of Axel left to save.”

Her breath hitched, the faintest tremor in her shoulders betraying the crack in her composure. I didn’t wait for a response, didn’t need one. I’d planted the seed, and that was enough.

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