Colt (Devil's Nightmare MC #10) - Lena Bourne Page 0,86

so familiar, I’m sure I lost my mind again. But Colt heard him too, and his face is the textbook example of shocked surprise as he stares in the direction of the voice.

“These two belong to me,” Cross says. “And I’ll take them back now. I can’t let you hurt them. You understand what I’m saying, right?”

Cross isn’t alone. He’s got like half his MC with him, at least. All except him have their faces covered by black bandanas, and their cuts clearly read Devil’s Nightmare MC now. The silence in the room is even deeper than it was before when Monarch first offered me to the highest bidder. They didn’t believe they were hearing him right then, and they probably don’t believe their eyes and ears now.

Even I understand what Cross is saying. It’s either Monarch hands us over or the Devils do what they’re best at—kill them all and take us anyway.

“This bitch is mine,” Monarch yells. “She betrayed me and she’ll pay for it. You can have the guy.”

Cross grins and shakes his head. “I’ll have them both. One way or another.”

Monarch is seething worse than ever. He’s not the most rational man at the best of times and this is so far from the best of times it couldn’t be farther. Plus, Cross’ arrival and demand cut right through Monarch’s revenge fantasy which I’m sure he’s been crafting since the night I disappeared. I bet Josh was supposed to be in Colt’s place.

Silent minutes tick by, dragging. Everyone’s silent, everyone’s waiting for Monarch’s decision. And I’m afraid I’m the only one who already knows what it will be. There will be blood, as Monarch is so fond of saying before they ride to kill someone who’s wronged them.

25

Brenda

The silence in the room has a physical presence. I can hear Monarch’s labored, slightly wheezy breathing clearly and it sounds like a landslide is about to go off. The eyes of all the Kings MC members are fixed on him so pointedly, I’m surprised he’s not going up in flames from the intensity of their looks. Everyone’s waiting with bated breath for what he’ll do next. I hesitate any of them really want to fight Devil’s Nightmare MC, but I know most of them feed off Monarch’s craziness and will be happy to go along if that’s what he wants to do.

The Devil’s aren’t tense, they’re just standing there in quiet alertness, as though they don’t care which side up this coin toss lands. They’re as ready to fight the Kings as they are to walk out of here without a fight. Even Colt is like that beside me as he looks at Monarch, waiting for the decision. How can he be so damn calm when we’ll be the first to get sliced up by Monarch when this fight breaks out?

Stormi isn’t in the room anymore. Good. I hope she’s far away by now. She shouldn’t have to see this carnage.

Monarch takes a deeper, wheezier breath, and the crowd of Kings sort of ripples. Then he opens his hands, the knife dangling from his right hand. “All right, Cross. Have it your way. I’m not losing men over this worthless bitch. But you should watch your back with her, she’s cagy and conniving.”

I dare not breathe. Is he lying? Is he sincere? Is he really gonna just let me go?

“Drop the knife and let them come down,” Cross says. I doubt I’ve ever been as surprised by anything in my life as I am when the Monarch’s knife clatters to the wooden boards of the podium. He even takes a step back and waves away his guys who closed ranks on the steps.

Colt takes off his jacket and wraps it around me. It’s heavy and warm and long enough to cover my naked ass for which I’m very grateful. It also smells like him, which finally loosens the tight knot of fear in my stomach. For the minutes I watched certain death coming, I forgot I was naked for all to see, but now I’m glad I don’t have to make the walk of shame, victorious though it would be.

I dare not believe this actually worked, that Monarch doesn’t have one more trick up his sleeve as we walk through the throng of Kings, all of whom are bristling with anger that some express by muttered curses and spitting in my path.

But once the cool air outside washes over my face and Colt finally wraps both his arms