Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Shiver
I can't believe what I'm hearing.
Sassy's voice rings out, shrill and desperate, claiming she's pregnant.
Again.
The words hang in the air like cigarette smoke, thick and acrid.
My eyes dart to Kade, then Cobra, their faces mirroring my disbelief.
I’m unable to bite my tongue. "If you're pregnant again, you must be the most fertile person on the fuckin' planet. God damn!"
The absurdity of the situation hits me like a ton of bricks, and I can't help but laugh.
Kade's eyebrows shoot up, his lips twitching as he fights back a smirk.
Cobra, on the other hand, doesn't even try to hide his amusement.
He throws his head back and lets out a deep, rumbling laugh that echoes through the air.
"Shit, Shiver," Cobra wheezes between chuckles, "you got a way with words, brother."
I shrug, a cocky grin spreading across my face. "It's a gift."
My eyes scan everyone across the group, taking in the scene before me.
I can practically taste the anger and frustration radiating off of Zane and Cheyenne.
Sassy stands in the center of it all, her eyes wild and desperate.
I've seen cornered animals with more composure.
"You can't be serious," I mutter, shaking my head. "This is fuckin' ridiculous."
Zane's voice cuts through the air, cold and sharp as a knife. "Ridiculous or not, we’re gonna get Cheyenne to do the ultrasound. Then we’ll know for certain."
I nod, my jaw clenching.
He's right, of course.
This isn't just about Sassy anymore.
If she's telling the truth—and that's a big if—there's an innocent life involved now.
The thought makes my stomach churn.
"What's the plan, Prez?" I ask, my voice low and serious.
Zane's eyes meet mine, and I can see the weight of leadership in them.
It's moments like these that remind me why he's in charge.
He doesn't flinch from the hard decisions.
My thoughts are interrupted by Kade's voice.
"What if she is pregnant?" he asks, his tone serious. "What then?"
The question hangs in the air, heavy and uncomfortable.
I can see the gears turning in Zane's head, weighing our options, considering the consequences.
"Then we deal with it," Zane finally says, his voice firm. "One way or another."
I nod, not understanding what he means.
Cheyenne steps forward, her eyes blazing with barely contained fury.
I can see the tension in every line of her body, coiled like a spring ready to snap.
She locks eyes with Sassy, who visibly flinches under the intensity of her glare.
"Do you think a pregnancy will save you?" Cheyenne spits out, her voice dripping with venom. "Because it won't. You fucked with the club, girl. A baby won't save you. It will only delay the inevitable."
I watch as Sassy's face drains of color, her demeanor crumbling to ash under the weight of Cheyenne's words.
She looks around frantically, her eyes darting from face to face, searching for any sign of sympathy.
Finding none, she turns to Kade, then to Zane, desperation etched into every feature.
"Surely you’ll show mercy," Sassy pleads, her voice barely above a whisper.
I can't help but feel a twinge of pity for her, despite everything she's done.
It's a fucked-up situation, no doubt about it.
But, actions have consequences, and Sassy's choices have led her here.
Zane steps forward, his face a mask that would chill you to your core. "Only to the people who deserve it," he says, his voice low and menacing. "Not those who hurt us over and over again."
I watch as he approaches Sassy, towering over her.
She shrinks back, but there's nowhere for her to go.
Zane continues, his words measured and deliberate.
"I'll tell you what's going to happen so there's no guessin’ games here. If you are pregnant, you'll have the baby, and then when that baby is born, it will be a transfer of life—it will live, and you will die. A bit poetic, don't you think?"
The silence that follows is deafening.
I can hear my own heart pounding in my chest, the weight of Zane's words settling over all of us like a heavy blanket.
It's a harsh sentence, but I understand the reasoning behind it.
This betrayal can't go unpunished.
I glance over at Siren, wondering what she's thinking.
Her face is unreadable, but I can see a flicker of something in her eyes.
Respect?
Fear?
It's hard to tell.
As I watch Sassy's face contort with fear and anguish, I can't help but think about the complex web of loyalties and betrayals that have led us to this point.
Life and death decisions are made in the blink of an eye, and where the lines between right and wrong are often blurred beyond recognition.
Sassy's face drains of color, her eyes widening in horror. "No!" she shrieks, her voice cracking with desperation. "What will happen to my baby?"
I watch as Zane's expression hardens, his jaw clenching.
He speaks with a cold finality that sends chills down my spine. "The baby will be taken care of, treated as our own."
Sassy's hands fly protectively to her stomach. "No," she hisses, defiance flashing in her eyes. "This baby is Boomer's. He's going to get his child."
A dark chuckle escapes Zane's lips, and I can't help but admire his ability to remain so composed in the face of such drama.
"He won't," Zane says, his voice dripping with certainty. "Because he won't even know the baby's born, or that you had it."
I lean forward, intrigued by the psychological game Zane's playing.
He locks eyes with Sassy, and I can see her shrink under his gaze.
"I'll bet you just found out," Zane continues, his words sharp as a blade. "And given the love triangle you're in, you haven't found the perfect opportunity to tell him the news in a way that will be to your advantage."
Fuck me, I think, impressed.
Zane's reading her like an open book, peeling back layers of bullshit with surgical precision.
Sassy's mouth opens and closes, but no sound comes out.
It's like watching a fish out of water, gasping for air.
She's been thoroughly gutted by Zane's words, and now she's floundering.
I file away every detail of this interaction, committing it to memory.
This is a masterclass in how to break someone down, how to strip away their defenses and leave them naked and vulnerable.
Zane's always been good at reading people, but this... this is on another level.
As the silence stretches on, I can practically hear the gears grinding in Sassy's head.
She's searching for a way out, a loophole, anything to save her skin.
But there's nothing. Zane's cornered her completely, and we all know it.
I glance around the room, gauging everyone's reactions.
There's a mix of emotions on display— shock, admiration, even a hint of fear.
Because if Zane can dissect Sassy this easily, what's stopping him from turning that razor-sharp insight on any of us?
Cheyenne breaks the tense silence, her voice cutting through the thick air like a knife.
"I'll confirm when we get back to the property." Her words are clipped, business-like, but there's an undercurrent of anticipation that makes my skin prickle.
I've almost forgotten Grim was here until he speaks up, his gravelly voice startling me. "Prez, where do you want her? I'm gonna assume you don't want many people knowin' about her."
Grim's question hangs in the air for a moment.
I can see the wheels turning in Zane's head as he considers his options.
His eyes narrow slightly, and I know he's plotting something.
"I want her in one of the sheds on the back part of the property," Zane finally declares, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Past Blackjack and Ashley's, deep in the woods, almost bordering the cattle pastures."
Grim nods, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "Got it, Prez. I know the place."
As I process this information, I catch a movement out of the corner of my eye.
Siren swallows hard, her throat bobbing visibly.
There's something in her expression—a flash of nervousness, maybe even fear— that sets off alarm bells in my head.
What the fuck is that about?
I study her closely.
Siren's usually cool as ice, but right now she looks like she's about to jump out of her skin.
There's something going on here, something she's not telling us.
I lean in closer to her, my voice low enough that only she can hear. "You all right there, sweetheart? You're lookin' a little twitchy."
Siren's eyes snap to mine, wide and startled. "I'm fine," she hisses back, but the tremor in her voice betrays her.
I arch an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. "Bullshit. What's got you so worked up about that shed?"
She opens her mouth to reply, but before she can, Zane's voice cuts through our whispered exchange.
"Shiver, Siren—you two help Grim get everything set up. I want that place ready within two or three hours. You two get the brunt of the bullshit done."
I nod, pushing aside my suspicions for the moment.
Whatever Siren's hiding, I'll get it out of her soon enough.
For now, we've got a job to do.
Siren's nervousness is palpable as we start walking toward the trucks.
I'm watching her like a hawk, my instincts screaming that something's off.
As we reach the parking lot, she pulls out her phone, fingers flying over the screen.
Her body language is tense, shoulders hunched as she types furiously.
I can't see the screen, but I don't need to.
The urgency in her movements tells me all I need to know.
She thinks she's being slick, but I catch the name at the top of her message:
Dex.
Blackjack's boy.
Now that's interesting.
I watch as she hits send, her message disappearing into the ether.
A moment later, her phone buzzes with a response.
Her eyes scan the screen quickly before she shoves the phone back in her pocket.
She turns, and the surprise on her face when she sees me standing there is almost comical.
Her eyes widen, and for a split second, I see panic flash across her features before she schools her expression.
"Can I help you?" she asks, trying for nonchalance but missing by a mile.
I can't help but smirk, running my tongue over my bottom lip as I consider her question.
The tension radiating off her is palpable, and it's turning me on more than it should.
I arch an eyebrow, enjoying how she squirms under my gaze.
"I don't know, can you?" I drawl, taking a step closer. "I for one would like to know what that little message really entailed."
She knows I’ve been staring at her, but she doesn’t know I didn’t see the contents of it other than Dex’s name.
Siren swallows hard, and I can practically see the gears turning in her head as she tries to come up with a plausible lie.
She really doesn't want to talk about it, that much is clear.
But tough shit.
When you're in a club like ours, secrets can get people killed.
"It's... it's nothing," she stammers, not meeting my eyes. "Just some personal stuff that needs moved outta the shed."
I snort. "Personal stuff that needs to be moved ASAP? Come on, sweetheart. You can do better than that."
She bites her lip, and I find my gaze drawn to the action.
Fuck, even when she's lying through her teeth, she's sexy as hell.
But I can't let that distract me from the fact that she's hiding something potentially dangerous.
"Please, Zane, please give me another chance," she begs, her voice cracking. "I want to have a good life with Boomer. I can change, I swear!"
Zane scoffs, disgust twisting his features. "I don't give a fuck about the life you're buildin’ with Boomer. You fucked with the club. Sera almost died. She was pregnant. Did you know that?"
My gut clenches at the mention of Sera.
I remember how close we came to losing her, the panic and rage we all felt.
Zane's not done though.
"Hell, her gramps was killed because of you. Because you chose to give more information to a fuckin' monster instead of doin' the right thing. Your death certificate is signed."
As Zane turns to walk away, Sassy loses it.
She starts hollering, begging, promising anything and everything.
It's pathetic, and I can see Cheyenne's patience wearing thin.
Before I can blink, Cheyenne's elbow connects with Sassy's face.
There's a sickening crunch, and Sassy crumples to the ground, unconscious.
I wince, thinking about the potential baby.
But I know Cheyenne wouldn't have done it if there was a real risk.
Cobra's voice cuts through the tense silence. "Will that hurt the baby?"
His tone is more curious than concerned, and I can't help but smirk at his twisted priorities.
Cheyenne shakes her head. "If it hurt the baby that bad I wouldn't have done it. She's still breathing, so that's the only thing that matters."
I let out a low whistle, impressed by Cheyenne's calculated brutality.
We hop back in the truck and get buckled up.
Zane's voice cuts through my thoughts, hollering over at the other truck. "Cheyenne, Grim," he barks, all business now. "Take Sassy back to the clubhouse. I want to know if she's really pregnant ASAP."
Cheyenne nods. "You got it, Prez. I'll let you know as soon as I've confirmed whether this bitch is actually knocked up or just blowing smoke up our asses."
Grim, silent as ever, grabs Sassy's arm.
The girl looks like she's about to piss herself.
But, now she knows she isn’t safe.
She’s going to die one way or another.
Kade hops in the truck and shuts his door.
Zane speaks up, "We've lost too many people in the club because of people like her," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "There's no way in hell I'm gonna let her live. So, if she is pregnant, she’ll get to be a fuckin' incubator until I can make sure she goes six feet under."
As we start heading back to the clubhouse, I can't shake the feeling that something's off.
Siren's been quiet, too quiet.
Her eyes keep darting around, and there's a nervous energy about her that sets my teeth on edge.
What is this personal shit she and Dex have to move? Huh?
We get back to the clubhouse and everyone piles out of the truck.
Siren heads straight for one of the garages.
She opens the garage bay and grabs one of the side-by-sides, her movements quick and purposeful.
She's trying to avoid my gaze, but I'm not letting her off that easy.
As she gets behind the wheel, I slide in beside her.
The engine roars to life, and we're off, tearing through the property toward the shed.
The frigid wind whips around us, but it does nothing to cool the heat building between us.
Hell, I know they have some sort of doors for these damn things. Maybe Zane should think about investing in some.
As we ride, I can't help but think about that text message.
It's eating at me, and I need answers.
We come to a stop outside the shed, and before Siren can scoot out, I grab her wrist.
"What was that text really about? The one to Dex?" I ask, my voice low and demanding.
She tries to pull away, but I hold firm. "It doesn't matter," she says, not meeting my eyes. “It’s none of your concern.”
I tighten my grip, not enough to hurt, but enough to make my point. "It matters to me. You belong to me, Siren. Your secrets, your lies, everything. It's all mine."
She whips her head around, hazel eyes flashing with defiance. "I don't belong to anyone," she spits out.
I can't help but chuckle at her fire.
God, I love it when she gets like this. "That's where you're wrong, my little plaything," I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear. "You know every part of you belongs to me."
I feel her breath hitch, see the way her pupils dilate.
She's turned on, and she hates that she is.
It's written all over her face.
"Fuck you, Shiver," she says, but there's no real venom in it.
I smirk, running my hand up her thigh. "Maybe later, if you're good."
She tries to glare at me, but I can see the desire warring with her anger.
It's a beautiful sight.
"We have work to do," she says, attempting to sound businesslike.
I nod, releasing her wrist but not moving away. "We do. And when we're done, you're going to tell me exactly what's going on with you and Dex. Understood?"
She doesn't answer, just slides out of her seat and stalks toward the shed.
I follow, admiring the sway of her hips and thinking about all the ways I'm going to make her mine again tonight.
Whatever she's hiding, I'll find out, and I'll remind her exactly who she belongs to in the process.
The rusty hinges of the shed door screech as Siren pushes it open.
I'm right on her heels, my senses on high alert.
The musty smell of old wood and damp earth hits me as we step inside.
Dex's voice rings out, filled with panic and confusion. "The fuck is goin' on!?"
I scan the dimly lit interior, my eyes adjusting to see Dex scrambling to his feet from a pile of cardboard boxes.
His hair's disheveled, and there's a wild look in his eyes.
Siren starts to speak, "Dex, we need to?—"
I cut her off, my curiosity getting the better of me. "I wanna know what's goin' on between you two."
Siren's head whips around, her hazel green eyes flashing with defiance. "Why does it matter? I know you have this twisted idea in your head that I belong to you, but I don’t."
Fuck, her bratty attitude is doing things to me.
I can feel myself getting hard, and I have to fight to keep my composure.
I love it when she challenges me like this, even if it drives me crazy.
"You tryin' to test me, sweetheart?" I growl, taking a step closer to her.
Dex clears his throat, reminding me of his presence. "Look, man, it's not what you think?—"
I hold up a hand, silencing him without taking my eyes off Siren. "I wasn't askin’ you."
Siren's standing her ground, chin lifted in that stubborn way of hers. "You don't own me, Shiver. I can do whatever I want, with whoever I want."
The possessive beast inside me roars to life.
I know she's baiting me, but I can't help rising to it. "Is that right? You forgetting our little chat when we got here?"
"Maybe I am. What are you gonna do about it?"
Christ, she's playing with fire.
And as much as I want to throw her up against the wall and remind her exactly who she belongs to, I want answers first.
I force myself to take a deep breath, reining in my desire. "We'll discuss this later, darlin'. Right now, I want to know what you two are hidin' in here."
Dex shifts nervously, drawing my attention. "It's just some... personal stuff. Nothing to do with the club, I swear."
I arch an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. "Personal enough that you needed Siren to warn you to move it?"
Siren steps between us, her body language protective.
It makes me wonder just how close these two really are, and the thought sends a surge of jealousy through me.
"It's not your business, Shiver," she says firmly.
I lean in close, my voice low and dangerous. "Everything about you is my business, Siren. Don't you forget that."
The air between us is thick with tension, both sexual and otherwise.
I can see the conflict in Siren's eyes, the way she's torn between her loyalty to whatever secret she's keeping and her desire for me.
"Now," I say, stepping back and addressing them both, "one of you better start talkin'. What's really goin' on here?"
The shed is filled with silence.
I fix my gaze on Dex, and since neither him or her want to talk, I’ll cut through more bullshit.
"You ever imagine fuckin' her?" I ask bluntly, jerking my chin toward Siren.
Dex's eyes widen, darting between me and Siren.
For a moment, I think he might lie, but then his gaze locks onto Siren's.
Something passes between them, an unspoken communication that only fuels the jealousy burning in my gut even more.
"Of course I have," Dex admits, his voice husky. "Have you seen her?"
The air in the shed suddenly feels too thick to breathe.
I clench my fists at my sides, fighting the urge to knock Dex's teeth down his throat.
Siren's sharp intake of breath draws my attention, and I see a flush creeping up her neck.
"Shiver, it's not—" Siren starts, but I cut her off with a raised hand.
"Save it, darlin'," I growl. "I want to hear what else Dex here has to say about his little fantasies."
My mind races, piecing together the clues.
The secret texts, the hidden "stuff" in the shed, the obvious tension between them.
Are they fucking?
Has Siren been playing me this whole time?
I take a menacing step toward Dex, my voice low and dangerous. "You better start talkin'. What exactly is goin' on between you two?"