Page 29 of Savage Loyalty

Torch nodded, his movements quick and sharp as he covered Smoke, who was already dragging Razor toward the exit. Razor’s face was pale, his teeth clenched in pain as blood seeped through his shirt, the dark stain spreading across his side. My chest tightened at the sight, but I pushed it down. There wasn’t time to think about anything but survival.

More bullets slammed into the crates around me, and I ducked low, my breath coming in short, ragged bursts. The Serpents weren’t letting up. They had the advantage, and they knew it.

I turned toward Chains, who was still locked in a brutal struggle with another Serpent. “Chains, move!” I shouted, firing over his shoulder to keep the others at bay. He nodded, delivering one last bone-crunching punch before hauling himself to his feet and sprinting toward the exit.

The Serpents pressed harder, their movements coordinated, relentless. My stomach twisted as realization sank in—they weren’t just trying to kill us. They were trying to send a message.

Smoke reached the door first, shoving it open and ducking out into the night. Torch followed, his gun still firing as he backed toward the exit, covering Chains and Razor. I moved last, my eyes darting between the advancing Serpents and my crew as we spilled out into the open.

The cold night air hit me like a slap, sharp and unforgiving. The bikes were only a few yards away, but it felt like miles away as the Serpents burst out of the warehouse behind us, their guns blazing.

“Go!” I shouted, shoving Razor onto the back of Smoke’s bike. He slumped forward, his grip weak, but he held on. Smoke gunned the engine, the roar of the bike cutting through the chaos as he peeled out, kicking up gravel in his wake.

Torch and Chains followed, their bikes roaring to life as bullets whizzed past them, kicking up sparks and dirt. I fired one last shot over my shoulder before throwing my leg over my bike and revving the engine. The vibration surged through me, grounding me and pushing me forward.

We tore out of there, the Serpents’ shouts fading into the distance as the roar of our engines swallowed the night. My chest heaved, my grip on the handlebars so tight my knuckles ached. The cold wind bit at my face, but it was nothing compared to the fire burning in my gut.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. Someone had set us up, and I was going to find out who.

CHAPTER TEN

DELILAH

The morning had started uneventfully enough—too quiet, the kind of silence that made your skin prickle with unease. It wasn’t peaceful. It was the calm before something inevitable, a storm building just beyond the horizon. I’d been standing at the sink, rinsing out a mug, the steam from my coffee curling into the air like a phantom, while my mind wandered through the chaos of the past few days.

Then I heard it.

The low rumble of engines was steady and unmistakable.

Black and gold. The Black Vipers.

The sound grew louder, filling the air with a weight that settled deep in my chest. My stomach twisted as I moved toward the window, the curtain barely brushing my fingertips as I peeked out. Sure enough, there they were—Axel leading the pack, his brothers flanking him in perfect formation.

By the time Axel walked through the door, the tension in the air had already sunk its claws into me. He didn’t bother knocking, didn’t hesitate as he pushed the door open like he owned the place. His boots thudded heavily against the worn hardwood floor, the sound echoing through the quiet house like a challenge.

“Delilah,” Axel said sharply, his tone leaving no room for small talk.

He looked every bit the leader he’d become—polished, precise, and burning with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. His leather cut was pristine, the Black Viper insignia on his chest catching the light from the window. He was my brother, but in moments like these, it was hard to separate him from the man who commanded loyalty and fear in equal measure.

I crossed my arms, leaning back against the counter in an attempt to look unfazed. “To what do I owe the honor?” I asked, sarcasm dripping from my words.

Axel ignored the tone, his sharp gaze sweeping the room before finally settling on me. “The Reapers are circling,” he said, his voice low, almost conspiratorial. “They were watching this house yesterday.”

“So?” I shot back, the defensive edge in my voice sharper than I intended. “They’re always watching. They don’t exactly blend into the scenery.”

“This isn’t just business as usual,” Axel replied, stepping closer. His jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck taut with barely contained frustration. “They’ve been here. Reapers have been here.”

The mention of Ryder’s name sent an involuntary shiver down my spine, a mix of unease and something I couldn’t quite name. I fought to keep my face neutral, but Axel didn’t miss much. He was too good at reading people, a skill honed by years of leading the Vipers. The last thing I needed was him prying into the storm brewing between me and the Crimson Reapers’ vice president.

“Why were they here, Delilah?” Axel’s voice was sharper now, more demanding, his dark eyes boring into mine.

I glared at him, defiance bubbling to the surface. “Maybe you should ask them,” I snapped. “They didn’t exactly leave an itinerary.”

Axel’s jaw tightened further, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “You don’t know how dangerous this is. If Kane thinks?—”

The sound of approaching engines cut him off.

The low, menacing growl of motorcycles grew louder, reverberating through the still air with deliberate force. My chest tightened the familiar weight of their presence settling over the house like a shroud.

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