Page 33 of Cold Hard Truth

“You love me.” She takes my hand again.

“I do.” I spin my ring around my finger again like it can take me back in time. “I didn’t want to be a biker’s girl. I mean, look at Kane calling to see what we’re up to because he’s got a target on his back, and he knows it. Guys like Kane—like Sage—they have enemies, and we become their weaknesses.”

“What are you saying?”

“It’s better for both of us if I just keep my distance for now.”

Ellie shakes her head, frowning. “I support you, but I don’t have to agree with you.”

“I’m still right.”

Ellie opens her mouth to argue, but a knock at the front door cuts her off.

“What do you know, maybe he does care after all.”

“It’s not Sage.”

“Stop being so pessimistic.” Ellie frowns, standing up and making her way to the door. “Remember what Mom used to say? Have a little faith.”

“Right before she left us.”

“Still—” Ellie spins and her dark hair fans out around her shoulders as she walks to the front door.

Faith.

Belief.

I used to have all of those things. I used to trust what the universe had in store for me. Now, I don’t know if I care anymore.

12

Sage

Holy water might beenough to wash clean an original sin, but even baptism by fire won’t cleanse me of this.

The walls shudder with the thud of my boots, and I’m pretty sure this structure is going to give.

Dad pauses with his back against a wall, holding his Smith and Wesson 45 close to his body. He peeks around the corner before waving his gun when he doesn’t spot anything, motioning for me to move around him.

“I’m heading upstairs. I think I hear movement.” Dad tips his chin at the staircase up ahead. “You go clear the basement.”

“Got it.”

“And Sage—” He plants a hand on my shoulder as I walk past, stopping me. “Remember what Kane said.”

Dad’s oceanic eyes used to have some life to them instead of the cool abyss they’ve become lately. And as he narrows his gaze, I’m not staring into the eyes ofmy concerned father. He’s handing me an order as the Twisted Kings VP.

I nod my head. “Whatever the price.”

A bullet. A limb. A soul.

Not like I care. If I had something to live for, I gave that up when Lyla walked out the door three weeks ago, and I realized it was probably for the best. At least it saved her the future she didn’t see herself having.

Tonight was supposed to be the night I’d finally patch in. No longer a prospect, and instead a full-fledged member of the Twisted Kings. It’s the moment I was supposed to get everything I ever wanted.

A moment I would have cared about a couple of months ago, and now it’s just another excuse to find my way to the bottom of a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue.

Except I’m doing neither of those things. Kane sent Dad and me on an emergency mission, and by the time I do get back to the clubhouse and patch in, I’ll probably just fall asleep.

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