Page 6 of City of Salvation

Silence settled over us, neither knowing what to say next. Life had changed so much recently.Ihad changed so much.

“Haven’t seen you much outside of Lotí, Niks. There a reason for that?” Ryan asked, her tone shifting to the one she commanded her men with.

It took all my effort not to flinch at her observation, forcing my body to remain relaxed as I responded. “No, you haven’t. You’ve been busy lately.”

“So, my schedule is what’s causing you to avoid me?¿Es todo?” She arched a brow. Her bullshit radar was sounding off, and if there was one thing about Ryan, she was going to get her answers. “It’s got nothing to do with the shit you told me about having a husband out there somewhere, maybe looking for you? Or the fact that you haven’t said a damn thing about that shit since?”

Dance had taught me a lot of things, but by far the mostuseful skill was how to perform under pressure. I knew how to plaster on a smile even if my feet were bloody and beaten from hours on end practicing pointe as Katya yelled critiques on my Relevé. Turns out, that skill also translated into faking being unfazed in front of your only friend, even when it hurt.

“I’m pretty sure it’s bad luck to discuss someone’s dying words,” I shot back, smiling at her eye-roll. She hated it when I brushed things aside with my humor, but it was how I survived the heaviness of feeling.

“You didn’t die, Nikki.”

“Eh, I think it was close enough that we can extend the protection. You know?” I quipped.

Ryan let out a string of curse words in both English and Spanish as she moved toward my door to leave, pointing a manicured finger up in my face. I might be taller, but she was more intimidating. Especially if you knew she always carried at least one type of weapon.

“Listen, I’m not going to push thisnow, Niks. But I’m having Scar set this place up with security, okay?”

“She doesn’t have time for that. That bitch is busy beingwelltaken care of. I’m bummed I didn’t catch a peek at the hotties,” I said, wiggling my brows. “They were gone by the time I finished my set, and I couldn’t get a good look through the damn house lights.”

Ryan shook her head as she walked down the sidewalk leading to my place, doing a shit job at hiding her laugh. “Yeah, well, when she sets it up, you can ask her to send you a picture of them.”

I waved a hand in dismissal, not bothering to mention that I might not be here very long anyway. “Tell your boo thang to be careful because you’re notorious for leaving a single square on the toilet paper roll to avoid changing it,” I yelled after her, smiling even wider when she raised both middlefingers over her shoulder before getting in her car and pulling away.

Something behind her SUV caught my attention. A guy leaning up on a motorcycle glared at my apartment. A chill ripped through me, my breath stalling in my lungs as I tucked myself back inside. I’d noticed more and more bikers lately, and couldn’t tell if it was a coincidence, paranoia, or exceptional observational skills, but there was no questioningthisman was staring my way. Or he had been, before he’d turned and straddled his ride, giving me a clear view of his rocker as he pulled out of the apartment parking lot turning the same direction as Ryan.

Fuck. Reapers MC.

I ran to grab my cell from the kitchen, being sure to first lock the door behind me.

Those fucking assholes were always causing problems. Ryan had banned them from the club, so I didn’t have much personal experience with them other than when they’d shown up a few months ago. I didn’t know all that much about the inner workings of the cartel or the MCs. Certain aspects were similar to the Bratva or the Rusko, like the hierarchy setup, but other than that, I didn’t know shit about how things worked here.

It rang twice before she finally answered. “You miss me already?”

“A Reaper MC member pulled out right after you. He tailing you?”

There was nothing but silence on the other end of the line after a whispered,“Shit.”

“It looks like I’m all clear. You sure that’s what you saw?” she asked.

Without a doubt, but if he wasn’t following Ryan, why was he outside my apartment?

“Nikki?”

“Sorry, yeah, I’m sure it was a Reaper,” I said, moving toward one of the windows that faced the street he’d pulled out onto. There wasn’t the sound of an engine, but I had this overwhelming need to confirm he was gone.

“I’m sending someone over to keep an eye on you.”

“What?” I screeched, pulling my face away from the blinds. Nothing was out there, but it didn’t help my unease. “No, Ryan, I don’t need anyone here. Besides, I’ll be at work in just a few hours anyway.”

“At least let Beto pick you up. It’ll make me feel better,” she said, using what I referred to as her ‘mom voice.’

A groan left my lips—she wasn’t asking. She was telling me he was coming to pick me up.

“Fine, but tell him I want La Vics when he comes,” I grumbled, making my way to the bathroom to shave my legs.

CHAPTER 3

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