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“It’s a weak man who can’t control his emotions,” I tell him.
“Yeah? That what you told Dealer?”
“What’s between us is nobody else’s business.”
“The hell it ain’t. Him and me, we’ve been tight for a while now. He’s my brother. What impacts him, impacts me. What hurts him, hurts me. You getting the picture?”
I grab a few items from my closet and shove them into the bag. “Yes. It’s quite clear. You think I’m trouble. To the sexist mentality that runs rampant among motorcycle club members, I suspect you see me as some sort of femme fatale with the ability to corrupt your brother. Through all of this worry for him and all this blame, there’s one thing you’ve failed to realize. Cal, too.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“I saved his life by walking away that day all those years ago.”
“What you talking about?”
“As you know, Skinner was gunning for him. His best option at the time was to go to ground. He didn’t have the means to stop him back then, the Devil’s Mavericks was too powerful and Skinner had built a widespread network. Ax wasn’t ready either. Cal was at a disadvantage. But he hesitated, not wanting to give me up. I made it easy for him.”
“You could’ve gone with him.”
“Then his wife would’ve paid the price and Cal would’ve shattered under the weight of sacrificing his daughter’s mother for his own happiness.” I shake my head. “It wasn’t the way. Besides, Skinner had to believe he’d killed Cal, to assuage his thirst for vengeance. He had to believe it was done with. It was the only thing that kept Roxana from becoming a target at the same time. Sadly, his wife died anyway. That was unprecedented. But Roxana and Cal survived that terrible time.”
Sin scrutinizes me and I can tell he’s having trouble absorbing the truths I’ve just laid bare. “That was real noble of you,” he says, questioningly.
“When you truly love someone, you reach a place where you’ll do what’s best for them, no matter what. Even if it hurts. Even if it breaks you.”
“You tell him this?”
“We have more important matters to discuss right now.”
“He made it clear there ain’t no discussion to be had. Best you two make peace and go out on a good note.”
“You really think I’m going to let him go through with this self-sacrificing plan of his?”
“There ain’t nothing else to do. He’s in Priest’s crosshairs. It’s done.”
Wow. Both of them are so defeatist. Then again, the hard and tragic lives they’ve led has no doubt driven them to such a mindset. It’s a survival tactic, to never expect the best or a favorable outcome, so as to avoid disappointment and hurt.
“There’s always something that can be done.”
Interest sparks in his eyes. “What you got in mind?”
“First off, I have an expansive network of contacts. I can reach out to them, put feelers out to figure out why Priest ordered the hit on Cal. Once we know what we’re working with, we can go from there.”
“You can do that while moving to his safehouse?”
“Of course.”
He eyes me warily, unsure.
He’s got good instincts.
I’m lying my ass off.
“I can’t be allowing risk into this,” he tells me. “Dealer asked me to take you to his safehouse for a reason. You know this is a last-resort move.”
Yes, a ridiculous move.
One I won’t stand for. We’re not at last resorts right now. Not even close. There’s still a lot that can be done and I’m here to make damn sure it gets done.
