I awoke to the sun shining brightly on my face, its warm hues mixing with the blanket to provide a comfort I hadn’t felt in a long time. Lifting my head, I noticed the room was empty. The bed felt cold beside me, and Armand’s side was only partly made up. Still naked from last night, I scanned the room and saw that my clothes had been picked up and placed near the desk chair. Now that it was fully bright, the pale gray walls gave the space a peaceful atmosphere. I could see details I had missed the night before due to the circumstances surrounding us. Sitting up, I ran my fingers through my hair, tangled from sleep, and stretched my arms, letting the sheet fall away as I stood to grab my clothes. As I dressed, pulling on my jeans, I glanced out the window, which faced the compound—the heart of our land. Daylight revealed everything: the rows of motorcycles lined up outside, reminding me of the ones that had come for us that night. I could still feel the lingering adrenaline mixed with
We huddled in the dark basement, our bodies pressed together, breath coming in tight, anxious gasps as we heard Reaper and his men encircling the compound. The tension was palpable, a living thing that wrapped around us like a suffocating shroud.“What about the others?” I whispered, my voice trembling. Armando stood nearby, his silhouette barely discernible against the shadows, the soft earth beneath us carrying a musty scent that filled my lungs with dread. Something brushed against my arm—was it a spider, or just my mind playing tricks? I fought to suppress a scream, clamping my free hand over my mouth while I frantically reached out with the other.My fingers found him—Armando, appearing just beside me, his grip firm and grounding. “They’ll be fine,” he reassured me, his voice steady despite the chaos above. “Jake and I, along with the elders, have an escape plan. There’s a tunnel that leads us out.”He tugged at my hand, gently urging me down onto my knees. “You’ll have to crawl f
I pressed my hand to my mouth, the acrid scent of smoke clawing at my throat as I stumbled toward the middle of the chaos. Armando and the others stood near a building that was engulfed in flames, its structure nearly collapsed under the onslaught of fire. My gaze zeroed in on a man leaning against a post, which had been reduced to a charred stump, his body barely clinging to life.Panic surged through me as my heart raced and my hands trembled. I sprinted over, adrenaline coursing through my veins, the heat of the flames licking at my skin. I dropped to my knees beside him, the ground hot beneath me. I pushed aside the smoldering remnants of his jacket, revealing a deep, jagged wound near his abdomen—the same cruel mark that marred Armando’s side. Blood oozed from the man's mouth, pooling in the dust around him, and I knew he was hurt far worse than I dared imagine.My fingers fumbled as I untangled the fabric of his shirt, revealing more bullet wounds that punctured his back, the gri
My mind raced, a tempest of despair and fury swirling around the man who had just whispered the name of a possible traitor. But what did I have? Nothing but the unreliable word of a scum who would lie without a second thought, ready to abandon everything to save his own skin. I forced myself toward the crew that had rolled in from East Phoenix—the Chaos Hornets. A crew I knew well, one I’d gotten along with better than most; we had history, and their loyalty was something I valued deeply. I assumed Jake had called them in, and they immediately responded, ready to leap into the chaos that had engulfed us. Chaos was an understatement. Our compound lay in ashes, my father’s legacy reduced to charred ruin, and my mother’s beloved rose garden—a lifetime of nurturing—all turned to acrid smoke and memories. Maybe that’s why I snapped at Maya. She didn’t deserve my outburst. She was light and hope, two things I felt slipping through my fingers like sand. I had grown up differently, hardene
Armando held his head high, a veneer of triumph shrouding the turmoil beneath. My neck throbbed where he had gripped my collar, the remnants of his fingers lingering like an unwelcome brand. Since his friends had arrived, he seemed lost to me, consumed by their camaraderie. He had only cast a fleeting glance in my direction after he hurled that man into the fire, his gaze barely touching me as if I were nothing more than a shadow drifting through a sunlit memory.The Hornets’ leader stared at me with a predatory hunger, his dark brown eyes glimmering with desire, tracing my every move. It was as if my very presence was a trophy to be won. As I walked toward the cabin, where injured men lay on makeshift cots crafted from broken bed-frames and tattered sheets salvaged from the remains of the shed, I felt the weight of his gaze like a heavy shroud.Inside, a crew member from The Hornets was hastily gathering supplies and stuffing them into a bag. I crossed my arms, refusing to shrink away
The roar of Armando’s motorcycle vibrated through my legs, a wild pulse that surged up my spine, igniting a thrill I couldn’t explain. His bike was louder, more powerful than Luna’s, and I clung to his waist, feeling the heat from the muffler blast against my right leg like a furnace on the cool night air. My hair whipped behind me in the wind as we tore down the deserted highway toward downtown Phoenix. The night cloaked us in darkness, an eerie silence hanging thick in the air. As we approached a red light at the heart of the city, near the Japanese Friendship Garden, a jolt of familiarity hit me. I used to roam that garden as a child, and the memory burst into mind like the twinkling blue lights that had adorned it during my teenage years. Suddenly, we jerked forward, turning onto North Street, only to be halted again, trapped by an endless parade of red lights that felt like some cruel game of fate. The chill seeped through my thin coat, my fingers growing numb against the relent
The door slammed shut behind me, reverberating through the tense air of the room. I stood frozen in the center, my pulse thrumming as I faced the massive table that loomed before me. Ten chairs circled it—ten men, myself included—but not a single one was occupied.The four elders stood rigidly near the fireplace, their presence an unyielding weight that filled the room. They always claimed the head of the table, and challenging their authority was unthinkable. It was a mandate, etched in blood and tradition.Demetri, positioned just below the elders, held his ground like a fortress. His rules were law, and to defy him was to invite ruin.Across from me stood Marcus, a striking figure with piercing blue eyes and dark dreadlocks that framed his pale face like a crown of shadows. He was the president of the Lions Pact, the crew that ruled Flagstaff with an iron fist. Next to him, Elden leaned casually against the back of his chair. His buzz cut gleamed under the dim light, and his sharp
I took the beer, allowing her to guide me into a shadowy corner beside the house. As we settled into the weathered chairs, her gaze locked onto mine, promising secrets and revelations that could either save me or seal my fate. Little did I know, a storm brewed beneath her calm exterior.I sank onto the sofa near a burning barrel, its flickering flames casting dancing shadows around us. She joined me, propping her feet on the log that sat between us, the heat from the fire mingling with the cool night air.“Adriana,” she said, her voice smooth yet electrifying as I raised the bottle to my lips.“Maya,” I replied, offering a slight smile as the icy beer coursed down my throat, invigorating yet oddly soothing.“So, Armando, huh?” she asked, a hint of curiosity lacing her tone.I nodded slowly, letting the beer warm slightly in my hand, the condensation pooling on my palm. “He’s something,” she mused, her laughter soft but edged with something darker. I remained silent, letting the quiet
There’s a truth I’ve buried deep within me, a dark secret that claws at my insides, screaming to be set free. But courage has never been my strong suit—especially when it comes to Maya. The weight of what I should reveal crushes me, yet I know I’ll never find the strength to share it. The summons from the elders isn’t just an ordinary call; it’s a summons steeped in dread. When the elders reach out, everything else falls away—you drop everything and go, no questions asked, no rescheduling. I know exactly why they’ve summoned me: Armando. His time is up, a fact as inevitable as night falling after day. In our world, we’re led to believe we control our fates, but the truth is darker. The elders allow us to thrive, to live our lives, but make no mistake—they pull the strings. We live under their shadow, bound by a blood oath that promises loyalty until death—or, as they like to put it, execution.Armando has crossed too many lines, triggering their wrath. I brace myself, knowing I’ve be
“Where the hell did Armando go?” I demanded, shoving my coffee mug into the dishwasher with a force that echoed my agitation. Demetri paced like a caged animal in the kitchen, his tension palpable, until my mother stormed in, her face a canvas painted with fury.“What’s wrong?” I asked, stepping away from the dishwasher as she claimed a seat at the counter. Demetri slipped out of the room, leaving the air thick with unspoken words. I could sense it; something was festering inside him, and today—after Armando’s abrupt departure—he might finally reveal it.“Your father is what’s wrong with me! That son of a bitch is back, and my rage is boiling!” Her hands trembled as I instinctively rubbed her back, dread tightening my chest when I noticed the absence of her engagement ring—the massive diamond surrounded by tiny stones that had always gleamed on her finger. Gone. Silence weighed heavily as my mother broke down, her tear-streaked face igniting a primal urge within me to hunt down my
I had been drowning in a storm of secrets from Armando for days, a suffocating weight that pressed down on my chest. The moment I threw up that morning—a violent expulsion that felt like the world crashing down around me—I knew: I was pregnant. Everything about me was shifting; an insatiable hunger clawed at my insides, and my clothes began to tighten like a noose, suffocating any sense of normalcy. At first, I fed myself lies, blaming it all on gluttony and neglecting the gym—self-delusion wrapped in denial. But that day with Brenda shattered my facade. I found myself standing in Bonners Market in Phoenix, heart racing as I clutched a pregnancy test like it was a ticking bomb. Brenda’s laughter echoed cruelly in my ears, her judgment sharp enough to cut through my fragile resolve. But I had to know the truth; ignorance was a poison I could no longer swallow.Two agonizing weeks had passed, my period a ghost taunting me from the shadows. It hung in the air, a grim reminder of my unrav
Demetri sat across from me, fingers entwined tightly as I leaned back, tension crackling in the air. “You wanted to talk? Then speak up,” I bit out, my jaw clenched, trying to mask the storm brewing inside me.“I know where to find Reaper,” he said, his voice steady but laced with a hint of hesitation. “I’ve heard he likes to take the underground sewers to avoid detection.” He turned to face me, but his eyes darted away before they could lock onto mine. I knew why. The guilt and discomfort hung thick between us like smoke; he was tangled up with Maya, my girl—the one I had let myself fall for, body and soul. A knot of rage twisted in my gut at the thought of him taking what was mine, using her like some disposable toy.“I honestly don’t care where to find Reaper anymore,” I shot back, my voice low and dangerous as I pushed myself up from the table. “I’m done with this whole search for him.” I moved toward the coat rack, the weight of my jacket feeling like a shroud as I fought against
As I stood there by the kitchen sink, a mug of steaming coffee trembling in my hands, the truth crashed over me like a tidal wave: Armando was a player. I should have anticipated it the moment his childhood girlfriend sauntered in, flaunting her skimpy outfit while I was right there beside him. A lump lodged in my throat, and the storm of anxiety mixed with fury surged within me, only intensifying when Armando’s eyes finally locked onto mine.The raw anger that flickered in his gaze sent a jolt through me; I could feel his rage boiling beneath the surface. The happiness Demetri had ignited in me was like a fire consuming him from the inside out.“I can’t believe this,” he spat, his voice laced with pain and disbelief. “How long?” “Few weeks,” I mumbled, lifting the mug to my lips, the scalding liquid searing my throat as it went down. The muffled voices of my mother and father fluttered in from the dining room, their casual banter a cruel contrast to the storm raging inside me. I s
I loathed the man behind me—the coward who abandoned Maya and her mother, choosing to play the part of a doting father to Reaper and that girl who looked so much like her. He was a fraud, a spineless traitor, and I was determined to expose him for what he truly was.Maya had no idea her father was still alive, lurking in the shadows like the coward he was. It broke my heart to think about shattering her world with the truth, but she needed to open her eyes and see him for who he really was. I knew she would despise me for it, but I’d rather her spit venom at me than remain blissfully ignorant while that bastard hid behind a facade.“Take a left here!” the old man yelled, his voice barely cutting through the roar of the engine that vibrated beneath us.I obeyed, yanking the handlebars to the left with a reckless thrill, the bike nearly tipping over as I fought for balance. Every inch of me was on fire, ignited by the adrenaline and fueled by the rage simmering just below the surface. Th
I knew it was a colossal mistake to bring Maya’s father here. Armando just had to assert his dominance, dragging the old man into this mess without a second thought for Maya or her mother. As always, he operated by his own rules, a tyrant within his crew, and I was merely a pawn in his game. But when it came to Maya, I couldn’t stand by and let things spiral out of control. I prepared myself for chaos the moment we arrived.I watched as Armando shoved Maya’s father onto his bike, settling in beside him with a practiced ease. The old man seemed oddly at home on the machine, as if he’d spent a lifetime riding—like he had never known a day without it. I could be imagining things, but there was a calm confidence about him that gnawed at my gut. “I’ll follow you,” I shouted over the roar of the engine as Armando revved it and tore out of the alley. As I climbed onto my own bike, I exchanged a knowing glance with Jake. His eyebrows were raised, mischief playing at the corners of his mouth.
I zip up my bag and set it next to the door, the tension thickening in my chest as I move toward the kitchen. I settle into a bar stool, the cold steel biting against my skin, and wait for Demetri. The hallway thrums with distant sounds, a symphony of life that feels worlds away from me.Adriana glides into view, draped in a light pink robe that sways gently around her form. Her hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, strands cascading softly around her shoulders. My heart races, not from desire, but from the dread pooling in my gut.She greets me with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes, leaning in to plant a kiss on my lips—soft, familiar. But it feels hollow, a gesture stripped of warmth. “Good morning,” she whispers, her breath brushing against my skin as she wraps her arms around my neck, the intimacy of the moment stinging. As her hand travels down my abdomen, nudging at my groin, my body betrays me, stirring in response despite my mind's frantic warnings. I can feel i
When I awoke, the early morning light sliced through the window like a whisper, stirring a haze of dreams from my mind. The warmth behind me pulled me deeper into reality, and it took a moment for the memory to crystallize—I wasn’t alone. Demetri was here, nestled against me in my bed. A smile danced on my lips as I wrapped my arms around myself, pulling the covers tight against my skin, shielding the heat of my body from the cool air. I turned slightly and felt him there, all of him pressed against my back, the undeniable evidence of his desire pushing insistently against me like a force of nature. My heart raced as I allowed myself to sink closer into his warmth, the intoxicating heat between us igniting every nerve ending. But this blissful cocoon was destined to break. The faint sound of footsteps creaked softly on the carpet outside my door, a harbinger of reality intruding upon our sanctuary. My mother was home from wherever her night had led her, and my chest tightened at