Page 89 of Diesel
“I’d rather grate my balls than sit at your fucking table,” I hiss.
Blade takes a steady breath, but I can see the faint tremble running through him. None of this has played out how he expected. He thought he could kill Nic without anyone seeing. He didn’t expect me and Riot to ruin his plan. And he really thought I’d stand with him over Nic.
“Then I guess I shoot your president.”
It happens so fast. Blade pulls the trigger. My breath lodges somewhere between my lungs and my throat. The world slows down, tunnelling to this moment. I’m not sure if I make a sound, not sure how my panic manifests, because nothing happens.
The gun clicks.
No shot.
No bullet.
Blade squeezes the trigger again.
Click.
Click.
Click.
He snarls as Nic stands slowly, like fucking Lazarus rising from the dead. Riot steps in behind Blade, pressing his gun against his temple. “Game over, fuckface.” He slices a look at me, respect bouncing in his eyes. “Never doubted you for a second.”
I snort. Riot takes the gun off Blade, forcing him onto his knees. Blade doesn’t speak, doesn’t beg. Just stares like he can’t understand how he ended up here.
Nic stands behind him and grabs a handful of hair, tugging Blade’s head back. “You think I didn’t know? You think I let you sit at my table without knowing every move you’ve made? I knew you were a rat. Didn’t know how far you’d go to take power though.” He pulls his hair harder until his neck is so hyper-extended that I can see his Adam’s apple bobbing with every swallow. “Chloe? Why?”
Blade laughs, bitter and angry. “Wasn’t sure how much she knew.” His shrug is casual, as if her life was worth nothing. “She was a liability. She had to go.”
My stomach drops. Hekilledher? But it was… She cut her wrists…
“You really are a piece of shit,” Riot snarls.
A door opens behind us, and my back straightens. Mace, Ravage and Nox step out. It’s at this moment I understand why Rav is the national president. He looks like a wall of terror. He glances between us before his eyes land on Blade, on his knees.
“You betrayed the patch,” he says.
“I tried to save it,” Blade counters.
Nic ducks down. “You tried to destabilise everything we’re working for. Oh, and Chloe? She was our best piece of evidence against you.” He lowers his voice. “She ain’t dead. Chloe woke up this morning, told us exactly what you did to her. How you tried to make it look like she’d taken her own life.”
He pales but laughs. “Of course that bitch survived.”
“You’re done.” Nox steps forward and drags his kutte off his back. Blade doesn’t fight. There’s no point. He’s completely outnumbered.
Nic steps back, releasing his hold on Blade’s hair. He crowds into my space, every inch the fucking king he’s becoming. “Wasn’t just him I was testing today,” he says.
I don’t blink, don’t move. I should be offended by that. But I’m not. I would’ve done the same.
“I take it I passed.”
His lip quirks. “Yeah, brother. You passed.” He drops his hands to his hips. “Had to know you’d choose the club.”
I chose whatever version of the club was good for her. “Now you know I’m loyal.”
“Now I know.”
Blade laughs, and we all look at him. “Shut the fuck up,” Riot smacks him over the back of the head. He falls forward onto his hands but keeps laughing.
