Chapter 67 #2
“I mean… Regardless of the setting, you’re still a Devil, and I’m still the old lady of the president.
I don’t think it would matter if we were in Russia.
You still wouldn’t be able to pull a gun on me without consequence.
Luckily for you, I’ve not come here to argue.
I’m here in peace,” I put up the so-called Spock symbol again, making Beth snort through her nose with laughter.
“Am I missing something?” He snapped, looking at my innocent, contrite expression and Beth’s attempts to smother her laughter. He put his gun on the top of the bar and folded his arms.
“She comes in peace, apparently,” Beth said, snuggling up to his side and kissing his cheek. His expression immediately softened at her touch and he unfolded his arms. “I think we should hear her out.”
“Are you okay with this?” He murmured to her. “After everything?”
After everything? What the fuck was that supposed to mean?
I had been nothing but nice towards Beth.
I understood Greg hating me, but I had never once so much as raised my voice at Beth.
If she was pissed at me because Dante ended their relationship when I came along, that was on her.
But as far as I knew, it wasn’t even a relationship.
She had sex with him in exchange for paying him rent.
There was a name for that type of transaction.
Probably best I didn’t bring that up, though.
They both turned to look at me, and I suddenly felt like a trashy art exhibition that had been bombed in the reviews. They could not have looked less pleased to see me if they had tried.
“Look. So I moaned your man’s name as a joke. You moaned Dante’s name a fair few times, it’s only fair I got to moan his,” I said, nodding my head in Greg’s direction. They both scowled at me. “Too soon?” I tried laughing, but neither of them returned the gesture.
I sighed heavily.
“Honestly. I’m just here to clear the air. I know the two of you haven’t been hanging around the clubhouse lately, and I can hazard a guess as to the reason. It’s me, am I right?” I said, twisting my lips.
“We’re happy where we are,” Greg said firmly.
“And if that’s true, I’m happy for you. But if you’re lying because you’re a typical Devil and you’re stubborn, I just want to say…
there’s no need to avoid me. I’m sorry for the shit that happened when I first arrived here, Greg.
You didn’t deserve what Dante did to you, and I definitely stirred the pot to wind him up, and unfortunately, you paid the price. ”
“You’ve never apologised before,” he said suspiciously.
“I know. I should have. I guess I’m just as stubborn,” I smiled.
“But I really would like to put the past in the past. You were caught up in drama that had nothing to do with you. Neither Dante nor I were in a good place, and after what happened to me, I was lashing out. Surely you can’t blame me for that?
” He scoffed, as though he absolutely could blame me for it.
“Well,” I said, trying a new angle. “Imagine it was Beth who had been kidnapped. Wouldn’t you rather she fight with all the tools at her disposal, or would you rather her give in and accept the fate she didn’t want? ”
His hard gaze softened slightly as he thought about what I said. “And is that still true? Is this still the life you don’t want?”
“It’s the life I have,” I replied with a shrug. “There’s not much I can do about it now. But I just wanted to come here and say, as far as I’m concerned, there’s no animosity. And it’s a shame you’re not around, Beth.”
“Me? Why?”
“I told you that day they were all arrested… I’d like to be friends. The old ladies have a club—we call it Sin. And it’s a shame you’re not attending our meetings. You have as much right to be there as the rest of us.”
“She’s not attending sin,” Greg hissed, rolling his eyes and stepping in front of Beth as though to protect her from my depravity.
“Well, hang on now,” Beth protested, trying to look at me over his shoulder. “What happens at sin?”
“They’re nothing but fucking trouble when they get together. They’re all drunk, they’re all annoying, and they do anything possible to piss us all off.”
“Well, now I have to go,” she laughed, pushing at Greg’s arms. “I’ll be at the next one, Rachel. Just tell me where and when.”
“Good,” I grinned. “We’ll make it extra special for your initiation.”
Greg groaned loudly, making us both smirk at his discomfort.
“I mean it though,” I said. “I want you both to be comfortable at the clubhouse. Please don’t avoid your home on my account. I won’t so much as look in your direction, Greg, if that’s what you’d prefer.”
He shot me a hard look, his eyes narrowing at me before eventually sighing. “Fine,” he breathed, throwing his arms up in surrender, making Beth squeal with excitement.
“But let me just say one thing,” he said, making us both freeze.
“Rachel… The club is my life. And it’s because I love the club so much that I’ve ignored your return—for the most part!
” he snapped when I opened my mouth to protest. “But I know what it’s like to hate you.
To truly, seriously, hate you. I’d never have acted on it because there’s nothing worse than being a traitorous rat.
But you should be careful, as there will be others who hate you as much as I once did.
And they won’t hesitate. If the offer is right, they will take it, and they will try to destroy you. ”
“I’m not worried,” I shrugged. “I’ve successfully dodged all attempts so far.”
“No. You got lucky so far. I’m not saying you’re not tough, because we all know you are. And I’m not saying you don’t know how to defend yourself. You do.”
“Aw, Greg, don’t be getting soft on me now.”
“I’m not complimenting you. You haven’t managed to charm me like all my other brothers.
But I can recognise the truth, and the truth is that you’re as strong as they come.
Maybe a little psychotic,” he smiled. “But you should look at more protection. Look at right now as an example. You don’t know what reception you were going to get here. Do you have a gun?”
I shook my head.
“Do you have anything?”
I paused, and then shook my head again.
“This is what I’m talking about. Do you know how easy it would have been to shoot you and frame it as a Rider’s attack?
You need to be more careful, because you’ve not only adopted the club, you’ve adopted everything it entails.
The brothers and the enemies. Protect yourself, Rachel.
Because when push comes to shove, you’re the only one that can. ”