Page 7 of Betrayed In Crimson
Anger rolls off Clutch. “He’s your brother, so I say this with respect; the minimum of fucking respect.” He pauses, rolling the toothpick between his teeth. “I see him, I’ll end him. He’s a liability to you and to the club.”
“He’s still learning. He’s a prospect,” I say, even though I don’t believe it.
Clutch smirks and shakes his head. “Brother,” he says with a warning edge. “You’ve been part of this club for centuries. He’s been prospecting for, what, twenty years? Your brother’s loyal to fucking no one. Not even you. He’s selfish, and he’ll destroy anyone or anything that gets in the way of where he wants to be. Don’t kid yourself that just because you share blood, he’d ever go out of his way to save you. To help you.”
I give a brief, reluctant nod. He’s right. Deep down, I know it.
“Now I’ve said my piece, let’s go to this rock ’n’ roll show.” He grins.
A slow smile breaks over my face.
“You’re in for a world of disappointment if you think this is a rock and roll show,” Viktor says, shrugging on his leather cut.
“Hex said it was rock,” Clutch shrugs.
“Clutch, it’s 1999. Not 1949,” I remind him.
He flicks away the toothpick and replaces it with a cigarette. He lights it, smirking. “There’s only one rock ’n’ roll, and that’s the correct one. No one can beat the King. Huh-huh.” He gyrates his hips.
“If I have to see that again, I’ll lock you out to perish in the sun,” Lucian mutters. “Everyone ready to ride?”
“Yeah. Talon, Hex, Shade, Marko, Diesel, and Echo are outside waiting,” Viktor says as he heads out.
We follow. Engines roar to life, the sound vibrating through the night.
“I need to swing by Lilith’s and pick her up,” I tell Lucian.
He nods as he straddles his bike and starts it.
We ride through town, people stopping and staring as we pass, fear etched into their faces.
We pull up outside Lilith’s family bar. I kill the engine, climb off, and text her.
S: Outside.
The door opens, and Lilith steps out. Her eyes widen at the sight of the club. “You didn’t say the club would be here too,” she whispers, shifting nervously.
I take her hand and lead her to my bike. “They won’t bite,” I murmur, smirking.
I swing onto the bike and pat the space behind me.
She rolls her eyes and climbs on. “Thank God I decided to wear my jeans,” she mutters.
I rev the engine. She gasps, arms snapping around my waist, her soft body pressing into my back. I reach down and give her thigh a gentle squeeze.
“Don’t let go,” I shout over my shoulder, then open the throttle. Her scream cuts through the night as we shoot forward. A grin stretches across my face as I push the bike faster, Lucian ahead of me doing the same. Cold wind whips around us, making her shiver.
The ride isn’t long. We turn down a side road, live music echoing from up ahead, colored lights flickering against the sky.
We park. Lilith climbs off, cheeks flushed pink from the cold. She shivers, and I wrap an arm around her, drawing her in. She looks up at me, eyes bright with excitement. I can’t help but smile back.
“That was the most exciting, most terrifying fucking thing I’ve ever done,” she breathes.
“Stick with us, darlin’, and we’ll always give you an exhilarating ride,” Clutch says with a wink as he passes.
The crowd swallows us as people move toward the New Year’s Eve festival entrance. I take Lilith’s hand, so I don’t lose her.
“Damn, I should’ve eaten,” Talon mutters, tipping his head back and inhaling the human scent thick in the air.
