Chapter 38
Malachi
I’m trying to stay chill, but it’s fucking hard with nerves eating away at my stomach lining.
It’s been twenty-four hours since the MC left with our money in their pockets and grins on their faces.
The facility is a long drive away, especially with stops, so we’re not expecting to hear from them just yet.
They’re going to need to do recon and figure out what steps to take first, too, before doing anything.
We’ve provided them with every piece of information we had about the place, though I imagine they’ll have upgraded their security since our last visit.
The one piece of info we don’t have is who the fuck is in charge of the place. Who controls the money? Who has the ultimate say? It concerns me that we might not find out, and so, even with the bikers’ involvement, this debacle won’t be over.
I feel like a bit of a coward for not being the one who goes to deal with whoever is behind the facility, but Ophelia is right when she says we’ve been through enough. I also don’t think Roman could survive another beating, and Ophelia needs protecting, so this is the best way forward.
The Jackal Riders MC seem happy enough to do our dirty work for us—in fact, they seem positively excited about the excursion.
Because of Vani’s connection to the motorcycle club, and the Vipers’ connection to Vani, we’ve seemingly opened up the water tower to the other gang.
They’ve come and gone a few times now, asking if there are any updates, Vani hanging with Ophelia and trying to distract her.
Of course, Camile had to come with Vani, and when Mackenzie heard that there was an impromptu girly get-together, she arrived, too, with the Devils in tow.
So now we have multiple people coming and going from the water tower, all wanting updates.
I’d say that I’m pissed at the intrusion, but there’s a strange kind of festivity about it all, and it feels good to have everyone on the same side for once.
I’ve even perched in the corner and played my guitar, and when Kirill and Tino recognized the song, they sang along.
They couldn’t hold a tune, but it was pretty amusing.
Not so long ago, Zane turned up with a crate of beer, and now most people have a cold bottle in their hands.
The only person who doesn’t seem in a good mood is Roman.
I get why. He’s the one these fuckers at the institute are trying to bring down, and he’s a noble bastard and seems to think he should sacrifice himself.
This way, he gets to live to fight another day, but it means giving up control, and Roman is very much someone who likes to be in control, even if he doesn’t recognize that in himself.
I put my guitar to one side and drop next to him on the couch.
I nudge him with my elbow. “You okay, Rome?”
He curls his upper lip. “Yeah, but I’ll be better when this is all over.”
“It will be,” I reassure him. “Then we can get on with our lives.”
“That’s all I want.”
“I’ll drink to that.” I click the neck of my beer bottle to his, though he’s barely touched a drop.
I glance over to Ophelia. “At least she seems to have found her place.”
Roman follows my line of sight, and finally a smile touches his lips.
Ophelia is sitting in a circle with the other women, and Mackenzie and the Devils’ daughter sit in the middle of them.
The women are playing peekaboo with the child, and they’re all laughing.
It feels good to see Ophelia happy, and having found friendship, especially after losing Daisy.
I also like seeing her with a child. It makes me think about our future, and the possibility of us having little ones running around one day.
A ringing sounds from somewhere in the building, and Roman jumps up. He picks up his tablet and swipes the screen. A video call expands to take up the screen, and Vani’s dad’s face appears in it.
“Roman?”
“I’m here,” he says.
Vani jumps in. “I’m here, too, Dad. You guys okay?”
I notice Camile surreptitiously slide into the shot.
“Vani,” he says, addressing his daughter, “get you and the other girls out of there.”
“Seriously?” Her face drops.
“Seriously,” he echoes.
She must know not to fight with him in situations like these, so she ushers the others out.
Domenic goes with them, but Kirill and Tino stay.
Ophelia doesn’t leave, either. For a moment, I consider telling her to go with the other women, but no fucking way.
This is her life, too. That place tortured her, and she needs to know what’s happening.
I can hear a crackle and pop, plus shouting coming from behind Jack-the-blood McGrath. What the fuck is going on?
“Is the room clear?” Jack asks Roman.
Roman looks around. It’s only us, the Vipers, and the two remaining Devils. Not so long ago, we’d never have considered this a room full of people we could trust, but things have changed.
“Yeah, it’s clear,” Roman says.
“I have someone here I believe you know.”
There’s movement onscreen, and then a couple of the other bikers haul an older man into the shot. He’s tall, his white hair clearly having been blond earlier in his life, and his eyes are strangely familiar.
I glance over at Roman, who has gone completely pale as he stares at the screen, his mouth open in shock.