My chest ached. Regan would never forgive me if she thought I killed her dad over a simple business deal.
“More importantly,” Evie started. “Do you care?”
It was a weighted question. My answer would change not only my life, but all of theirs. If I said I cared, they would all know she was with us now.
The only thing that ran deeper than my loyalty was my need to protect and care for the people I loved. If I added Regan to my list of those people now, everyone here would know nothing was going to happen that could hurt her.
And it would put me right at odds with my revenge and now, possibly keeping our business.
“I do care,” I finally said. “Which means this will be handled with more care than we have ever put into taking someone out. Nothing happens to Cameron until I talk to Asher and Regan. We need more information first, and I need to find a way to tell Regan everything without her hating me or running to her dad.”
Hero let out a harsh laugh. “Yeah, okay. Good luck with that. You think she’s going to be cool with your long-standing hatred for her dad and your bloodthirsty attitude about trying to kill him?”
“Well, asshole, I will obviously word it better than that,” I snapped.
Evie headed my way, the determined look on her face making me nervous as the rest of them started talking amongst themselves.
“Listen, I like Regan, and I get from her side it may seem like you are doing something really terrible, but please remember you’re not. You aren’t terrible, and you go out of your way to do the right thing by all of us.”
“I mean, telling her I’m doing the right thing is going to be a hard one to get across.”
“I know, but just don’t put yourself down or put your wants aside to take care of her. You’re still important in all this, and even if she’s upset, you’re doing the right thing.”
It wasn’t often that Evie was anything but her psycho, smartass self, but I knew she cared about me, and I appreciated it.
“I will try to keep it in mind as much as I can,” I said. “And thanks.”
“Anytime.”
I checked my phone, looking at the tracker on Regan’s car that now showed she was only a few minutes away. It was Syndicate night, and I had invited her to go out with us.
“Come on,” I yelled out. “Until tomorrow, let’s go, because I need a fucking break from this mess.”
Syndicate was packed as we pulled up, Regan holding tight onto me as I leaned to turn in. She had grown more comfortable on the bike now, leaning and moving with me instead of against me.
I parked as the rest of the pack lined up next to me, before I helped Regan off. I kept wondering if I would regret the decision to say I cared about her, but nothing came. Instead, I felt excited.
She was mine, and she could stay that way if I handled things right.
I wasn’t sure there was an actual right way to handle it, though. It wasn’t something I needed to worry about tonight.
My arms snaked around Regan, pulling her closer. “What do you want to do first?”
“Are there options? I thought this was about it.”
“We can go watch people race, walk around and look at bikes, or just sit here and see what comes to us.”
“What are all of you doing?” she asked as the rest of them walked up.
“Heading over to watch people attempt to race,” Mason said, grinning. “You two coming?”
“Yeah,” Regan said, her eyes wide when she glanced up at me. “I want to see what all the racing is about.”
“Alright,” I said, shocked. “Whatever you want.”
My arm wrapped around her shoulders, and hers went around my waist as we headed that way. The chaos of Syndicate went on around us, but she didn’t seem bothered.
“Really settling into your rebel ways?” I asked.
