Page 60 of Quadruplets for the Vipers

She pulls off, her muscles tight with frustration. After a moment she huffs out a big sigh through her nostrils. “Sorry. You were right, we couldn’t leave him to the elements. I just don’t think you realize how dangerous the situation was. If Tony or any of his men found us…”

“We’d be dead. I’m well aware of what Tony is capable of,” I reply bluntly.

We continue to drive in awkward silence. I should thank her, but I can’t find it in me to do so. She’s only getting me out of the situation she put me in. Plus, I still don’t know that we’re actually going where she says. It still could turn out to be some sort of trap. Though I’m finally allowing myself to hope that I’ll be reunited with the guys soon. Just the thought of seeing them again, of being in their arms makes my heart soar.

She watches me out of the corner of her eye as she drives. I can tell she’s thinking of the right words to say.

“Leah, I really am sorry. For all of this. I just want you to know that. I should never have told you such a horrible thing. No matter the reason. To believe you’d lost your child… what I did was terrible and goes against everything I believe in as a nurse. I just got so lost, so tangled up in Lucifer’s web. I completely lost who I am. Who I was. I’m not sure I even know anymore…”

She looks so sad and her words resonate with me, it’s exactly how I was with Tony, that I extend an olive branch.

“I understand that feeling. It’s how I was with Tony… before I got away. It took me a long time to get over him, to finally start seeing a future where I could be happy. To even believe that I deserve happiness.”

“How did you do it? Get away from him, I mean.”

“Getting away was surprisingly easy. It shouldn’t have been, Tony watched me like a hawk. I sure as hell couldn’t simply break up with him and walk out of the door. But then it was almost like fate, the opportunity presented itself and I took it. One day we were in a restaurant with a restroom that had a back exit. I didn’t really even think about it, it was as if some subconscious part of me took the wheel, I just walked out the door, hitched a ride, and left. I left everything I owned behind. I made sure to only go to places I knew he’d never set foot in, I changed my appearance, and I barely went out at all other than to work.”

“He didn’t look for you?”

“Oh, yeah, you can bet he did. But I knew him, I knew how to hide. Or at least I thought I did. I knew he’d find me eventually though. It’s why I decided to stay with the Steel Vipers, I thought they could protect me. But all I did was bring trouble to their door.”

“They don’t see it that way,” she says softly. “They really love you.” Her voice is wistful, longing, no doubt she sees in them what she hoped she’d get from Lucifer, the love of a deadly yet loving bad boy. Only Lucifer was a little more deadly than loving.

I smile, hoping that she’s right. “I love them too,” I say, placing a hand on my belly and picturing a future where we live together and raise these babies. Could it really be possible?

But then I remember that, while I might be escaping, Tony won’t give up. He’ll try to find me. Am I making the same mistake again? Am I bringing danger to the door of the people who have been nothing but good to me? But I have no choice, I have to protect the babies. They’re the most important thing. I know the guys will agree. They would risk their lives to protect them. I just pray they don’t have to.

Chapter 30

Rider

The rain continues to hammer down, droplets hitting my face like icy needles. The road is pitch black and slick as my tires struggle to maintain their grip. I’ve got some added stability due to the sidecar fixed to my bike—we weren’t sure if Leah would be in a condition to ride pillion—but the extra weight kills my ability to corner tight. We push the pace anyway, too fast for these conditions. We’re already late for the rendezvous thanks to the weather. I can barely see my hand in front of my face. It’s the worst possible weather we could have had, most bikers wouldn’t dream of going out in this. I curse myself for not suggesting we leave earlier, I’m sure the others feel the same.

I know Leah will be fine at the safehouse, but I don’t want her to worry, to think we aren’t coming. Ever since we discovered the truth about the babies all we’ve wanted to do is rush in, guns blazing, and rescue her. As always, Axel was the voice of reason. He suggested we use Ashley to our advantage to get Leah out of there without a fight. If we attacked, the risk of her getting hurt was too great.

After finding out that Leah had been lied to and was being held captive by her ex and the head of the most prominent crime family in the city, Axel knew the time for being passive was over. He finally stepped up and took his place as the Prez of the Steel Vipers. Those who objected were invited to leave or fight him for it. A few left, no one wanted to go toe-to-toe with the infamous brawler and seasoned vet who once took down an entire enemy squad single-handedly.

With his position secured, Axel set to work. It’s time we take down the Hellhounds for good. The entirety of the Steel Vipers club is out on missions tonight. The majority are paying a visit to the Hellhounds clubhouse to return the favor of their little gift to us. Me, Axel, Knox, Jace, Wolf, Fastman, Chuck, and Chug are riding together tonight to meet the women at the safehouse. The four of us would be more than enough normally, but Axel isn’t taking any chances tonight. He decided we needed backup just in case Ashley went rogue on us, or Tony somehow found out.

Maybe it’s just the rain, or maybe it’s some sixth sense I have, most likely it’s my usual overcautious paranoia. But for some reason, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I get the overwhelming feeling that something bad is about to happen.

I scan the dark abyss all around us as we drive down the deserted highway. There’s nothing there. I have a sense of deja vu from the day Zeus was killed. Sirens are going off in my brain, telling me that there’s an ambush coming. But I can’t see any sign of one. The road ahead is empty. Any enemy bikes would be seen or heard from a mile away, even with the poor visibility, and no one is insane enough to drive in this weather without their lights on, are they?

There’s a screech of wheels and Fastman’s bike suddenly skids out of control, and he veers off the road. He desperately tries to regain control but it’s impossible and he crashes into the guardrail. Inevitably, both rider and bike come apart in a crunch of metal and he’s tossed like a ragdoll. The crash is bad. Possibly fatal. Wolf brakes suddenly, causing Chuck and Chug to do so too. Chug is riding too fast, he’s going to collide with them, sohe chooses to abruptly steer his bike to the right, causing him to lose control and crash, too.

As quickly and safely as we can, the rest of us all slow and turn around, heading back to the crash site. Chuck has pulled up and is rushing over to Chug’s side while Wolf is tending to Fastman by the time we stop.

“Jesus Christ, is everyone okay?” Jace yells over the sound of the storm.

“I’m okay, Chug’s hurt pretty bad,” Chuck calls.

“Go help them, me and Rider will help Wolf and Fastman,” Axel says to the others.

He starts to stride over to where Wolf is crouched over Fastman’s prone body. His back is to us, so we can’t see what he’s doing properly but it looks like he’s giving CPR. I hold out my arm, blocking Axel across his chest.

“Wolf did it,” I say in his ear quietly, my back to Wolf so if he happens to look up, he won’t see.

Immediately on alert, Axel asks. “How do you know? You saw it?”

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