Page 46 of Savage Loyalty

The familiar low rumble of bikes greeted me as I pulled into the lot of the Black Vipers' clubhouse. The tension in my chest grew tighter with every passing second. The air here always felt heavier, charged with something dangerous, and tonight was no different. It was the kind of place where shadows lingered longer than they should, and secrets hung in the air like cigarette smoke.

I parked my car off to the side, far enough from the row of sleek, gleaming bikes that lined the front. My hands gripped the steering wheel for a moment longer, my pulse racing as I stared at the building. The Black Vipers' insignia was painted boldly across the metal doors, a warning to anyone who dared cross them. My father had made this place his kingdom, and now it belonged to Axel. But it still felt like I didn’t belong here. Not anymore.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut. My boots crunched against the gravel as I made my way toward the entrance. The muffled sounds of laughter and clinking glasses filtered through the walls, but they didn’t feel welcoming. Not tonight. I pushed the door open, the hinges groaning under the weight, and stepped inside.

The clubhouse was alive, but it was chaos. Smoke hung thick in the air, mingling with the scent of spilled beer and motor oil. Vipers crowded the room, their leather cuts glinting in the dim light as they played cards, drank, and talked in low voices. The music was loud, the bass thrumming through my chest, but it couldn’t drown out the hum of tension that seemed to follow me as I walked in.

Heads turned, conversations pausing as they took me in. A woman walking into a place like this alone was rare, even more so when she wasn’t just any woman—she was Axel Cruz’s sister.

“Delilah,” one of the guys called out, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Haven’t seen you around in a while. Decided to pay the family a visit?”

“I’m not here to chat, Grady,” I shot back, my voice steady even though my stomach was a tangled knot. “Where’s Axel?”

His smirk faltered slightly, and he nodded toward the back. “Church. You know the drill.”

“Not tonight,” I said, brushing past him.

I didn’t wait for an invitation. My boots echoed against the floor as I made my way to the closed door at the far end of the room. Two Vipers stood on either side, their arms crossed, their stances wide. They exchanged a look as I approached.

“Delilah,” one of them started his tone low and warning. “Axel’s in a meeting.”

“And I’m here to talk to him,” I said, refusing to back down. My fists clenched at my sides as I glared at them. “You going to move, or are we going to make this a thing?”

The taller one raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. But after a moment of hesitation, they stepped aside. I didn’t wait for them to change their minds. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room went silent.

Axel sat at the head of the table, his expression sharp as his eyes snapped to me. His lieutenants flanked him, their faces a mix of confusion and annoyance. Papers were scattered across the table, the remnants of whatever plans they’d been discussing.

“Delilah,” Axel said, his voice low but firm. “What the hell are you doing here?”

I stepped forward, my pulse pounding as I met his gaze head-on. “I want answers, Axel. About Dad. About the Iron Serpents. About everything.”

The tension in the room thickened, the weight of my words settling like a stone. Axel’s jaw tightened, and he stood, his chair scraping against the floor.

“This isn’t the time or place,” he said, his tone clipped.

“Then make it the time,” I snapped. “Because I’m done being left in the dark. I want to know who killed Dad. And I want to know what the hell you’re doing with the Serpents.”

His expression darkened, a shadow passing over his face. “What I do isn’t your concern.”

“The hell it isn’t!” I shot back, my voice rising. “You’re working with them, aren’t you? After everything Dad did to keep this club out of their mess? What the hell are you thinking?”

Axel’s lieutenants shifted uncomfortably, their eyes darting between us. The tension was razor-sharp, the kind that made people wonder if they should step in or step back.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Axel said, his voice low and dangerous.

“Then tell me,” I challenged, stepping closer. “Tell me what I’m missing. Because right now, it looks like you’re dragging the Vipers into a war we can’t win.”

Axel’s nostrils flared, his hands balling into fists at his sides. For a moment, I thought he was going to lash out. But instead, he let out a slow, measured breath and leaned against the table, his gaze steady and unyielding.

“You don’t understand the bigger picture, Delilah,” he said, his voice tight. “This isn’t about Dad. It’s about survival. The Serpents have resources we need. Connections we can use.”

“And what’s the cost, Axel?” I demanded, my voice shaking with anger. “How many bodies are you willing to leave in your wake? How many of our own men have to die before you realize you’re playing right into their hands?”

His eyes flashed with something I couldn’t quite place. Guilt? Anger? I didn’t know. But he didn’t answer.

“Who killed Dad?” I pressed, my voice breaking. “Do you even care?”

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