Page 223 of Savior
“I have no desire to harm you.”
“You’re smart enough to know why I have a hard time believing that… Especially now.”
“I give you my word, no harm will come to you.”
A frustrated sigh brushes past my lips. “The things that have happened… I’m afraid your word isn’t going to cut it.”
“Bring a gun. Hold it on me. You won’t need to use it.”
“Give me the truth, before I consider this.” My mouth is dry and it’s hard to swallow. “As a show of good faith, tell me the truth, Legion.”
“And which truth are you seeking?”
“Were you behind it?”
“Be more specific.”
My trembling fingers toy with the hem of my t-shirt. “Everything, Legion...”
There’s a long moment of silence, before I hear him utter the word, “Yes.”
We’re both quiet again as the weight of that answer rolls over in my mind. Dean was right. He is a monster.
“Satisfied?” Legion growls, breaking our silence. But I have too many emotions churning inside of me to respond. “When can you slip away?”
“I have plans with Cherry at a shop in Little Washington in a few days… I can make that work.” I nearly whisper.
She’s going to a concert with Axel afterwards, Dean won’t be able to reach her for a few hours... I’ll have a short window of time… This is a half-baked idea. My heart is pounding.
“There will be a prospect with us though. A guard.” I add.
“Don’t worry about the prospect… I’ll make this work for us, Vanna.” I can hear the grin behind his words. “It’s what I do…”
With a timid, though grateful smile at us, the woman we escorted to and from court this afternoon, steps inside the safehouse and closes the door behind her. Her ex wouldn’t even look in her direction. Not with Viking and I by her side. Didn’t dare attempt to intimidate her, let alone make any actual threats. And that’s the idea. The main purpose of our presence at these hearings. Intimidation of the perpetrators. Support for the victims. It’s a little heartbreaking, how many of them stand alone at these hearings. How many of them don’t even tell their families, and go at this on their own, due to shame or fear of judgment. If we can ease that for them, simply by lending our presence, give them the support and the confidence to speak their truth without fear, it’s worth it.
I pull out my cell to check the time. Vanna should be down town with Cherry and a prospect. A quick peek at the tracking app I installed on her phone, confirms she’s still where she said she’d be. They’ve had plans since over a week ago, to visit a few shops in the historical district. I was reluctant to agree, after everything that just went down with her shop… But she’s been so withdrawn lately. I’d go as far to say, maybe even depressed. I can’t blame her. And although my first inclination is, and will probably always be, to keep her locked away, safe from the world. From my fucking enemies this time around… Maybe she needs this time with Cherry. An outing with her friend to clear her mind. To refocus on Ace and our eventual wedding.
Viking let’s out a long-winded sigh, pulling me out of my thoughts. “What are you doing after we’re relieved from our shift?” he asks, running the tip of his knife beneath a fingernail. I can tell he’s already bored.
Of all my MC brothers, Viking has had the toughest time adjusting to our ways. He cares about the Saviors MC’s mission. Truly, he does. Beneath his asshole exterior, he actually does have a heart. Though, he’s rough around the edges for a reason. A majority of his life, he’s run with much harder MC’s, existing in an almost constant state, of a danger induced adrenaline rush. Viking used to run with arms dealers, until a rival MC mowed down his crew. He was lucky, and he’s got the scars beneath his tattoos to prove it. It was a few years after he’d given that life up, when we met in the underground fighting circuits. I recognized a lot of myself in him, including something all of us in the Saviors MC have in common. A need for redemption. You see, that crew that took out Viking’s former MC, didn’t stop at the members. They went after families, too. Viking had had a younger sister… But that’s not my story to tell, either.
“I think I might swing down town.” I reply. “Crash Vanna and Cherry’s shopping date. Take Vanna out to dinner.”
“Riveting.” He grunts.
“You fuckin’ asked, asshole.”
The corner of his mouth ticks up in a snarky half grin. He shoves the knife back in its sheath before he looks over at me. “Not to bring up a sore subject, but, how’s Vanna holding up after her shop burned down?” he asks. “Does she blame me for the CDMC’s retaliation?”
“She’s barely said a word about it.” I sigh. “The investigation concluded it was accidental. A candle left burning. She believes it was Legion. It could honestly go either way. Though, the fact that he had two of his guys roll up on me and Axel, right before it happened. Showed up at her shop that same day… I’m leaning towards Legion, too.”
“But why warn her in advance? That’s what that visit was.” Viking says. “And if he’s actually calling the shots, why would he pick Vanna’s place, and not one of yours? Especially if he’s got a thing for her. Doesn’t make sense to me.”
“I’m sure there’s a reason. I’m sure there are several fucking reasons upon fucking reasons why he does what he does… Fuckin’ Legion.” I mutter, resentful of the fact that he seems to be playing 4D chess while I’m stuck on checkers. “He knows I suffer more through the suffering of the people I care about… And he either doesn’t care, or wasn’t able to confirm the truth about his brother.”
“Whatever came of the name Damien?” Viking asks.
“Nothing I could find in connection to what went down in the desert.” I sigh. “It’s like he actually is a fuckin’ demon. Bad shit happens all around him, yet he doesn’t fuckin’ exist.”
