Chapter 32
SIENNA
I went down to say another goodbye to Zane as he left on his mission, then just stayed down there, getting reacquainted with everyone and meeting all their new brothers and sisters who have decided to make it their life’s work to follow Rogue.
Fighting crime is what this MC does. They track down criminals that no one else is going after and bring them to justice by any means possible. Kind of like private detectives slash bounty hunters type of thing, from what I gathered.
But as they explained all this to me, they mostly used the past tense. Like that’s not what they do anymore. I have no idea why.
And even though they drank and were merry as they told their stories, a hard sort of sadness hung over the room.
It’s just Rogue, Blade, Creed, Bella, and Melody here in the dimly lit bar. A soft rock ballad is playing on the speakers, and I can’t quite make out the words, but I’m sure they’re about loss and longing anyway.
I remember Creed very well from high school.
He was from one of the richest families in LA and his real name is Benjamin Ashford the Third.
I remember thinking that if I married him, I’d be all set for life and my stepfather wouldn’t dare touch me.
It didn’t hurt that he was one of the most attractive guys in our high school either.
But this was before I met Zane. And after Zane nothing much mattered, especially not other men.
Creed has a terrible history. His entire family—mom, dad, and younger sister—were brutally murdered during a home invasion in our junior year.
He only survived because he’d been out with friends, probably Rogue and them, partying, having the time of his life—that’s how the rumors went anyway—while his family was getting butchered.
He’s not the most talkative guy now and that’s understandable.
He uses the vast family fortune he inherited that night to finance the MC’s operations and is alone.
Though from the way he’s glancing at the redhead swaying to the music by the bar, it seems like maybe he doesn’t want to be that way anymore.
“Why don’t you go over to her?” I ask, smiling at him and nodding towards the redhead.
He looks at me like I caught him doing something dirty.
“Not for me,” he says and stands up. “I’m off to bed.”
“Me too, I think,” Bella says and looks questioningly at Blade, who nods and stands up too.
“Might as well,” he says. “Seems like it’ll be a quiet night after all.”
They all talk like they’re expecting something bad to happen any moment now. But I don’t know many safer places than this compound they call home. I’m pretty sure that wall that surrounds this building could withstand an army.
It’s just me and Rogue left and he watches them all walk away like he’s thinking it’s the last time he’s seeing them.
“So what’s really happening here?” I ask him.
He turns to me sharply, looking startled.
“You all have a great love for what you do, what you’ve been doing,” I elaborate. “But you’re speaking like you can’t do it anymore.”
He sighs and pours himself a drink from the whiskey bottle in the middle of the table. There’s only about half a shot left in it, because it’s been a long night.
“It’s because we can’t,” he says with a wry smile and downs his drink. “I was sure we were on our way to being able to do what we do again, but then these Hydras came after us hard. Now we can barely leave this clubhouse, let alone do anything else.”
“I really wish I knew more about them,” I say. “Seems like my husband knows them very well. But he never told me much about his work.”
And I never took any interest in it. I wish now that I had, but those dinners and parties with his partners that he made me attend were bad enough. He shrugs. “It is what it is.”
It’s weird hearing Rogue speak this way, since he sounds so defeated.
The Rogue I remember, back when he still went by Gabriel, before he got his nickname that he’s now known for, was never this complacent about anything.
But then again, maybe he just grew up. I still don’t know what happened to his ex, Angel, but I think it must’ve been terrible because none of them want to talk about it.
“Speaking of husbands…” he says. “Are you done with yours and serious about sticking it out with Zane this time?”
I was taking a sip of my rum and coke, and it lodged in my throat like I’d just swallowed a rock. There’s the Rogue I know, going right to the heart of the issue, throwing punches, taking no prisoners. But then again, he is Zane’s closest friend and I deserve this question.
I nod. “Yes, I’m serious. If only he’ll have me. I don’t know if he’s decided he wants to, yet.”
Rogue grins. “Oh, he’s decided. It just might not have sunk in. But the man that went looking for you isn’t this same one that came back with you. Unholy left here and Zane came back. So I’m grateful to you for that, whatever else happens.”
I laugh, because what he said feels so good that I can’t not. “Don’t worry, I’m staying. Until someone kicks me out. And even then, I won’t go quietly. I’m happier now than I’ve been in over a decade.”
Rogue laughs too. “Good. We definitely need more happiness around here.”
He stands up and stretches, then clutches my shoulder and squeezes reassuringly. “It’s all gonna work out. You came back at a dark time, but we’ll get through this.”
“And I’ll help in any way I can.”
“We’ll need it,” he says, chuckles again then leaves.
I lean back into the soft cushions of the leather sofa I’m sitting on, not yet ready to find the bed I’d rather be sharing with Zane tonight. The song playing is a happier one now, intensifying the joy of finally belonging somewhere I feel deep in my chest.
I hope Rogue’s right about everything working out for the best. Because I feel like my life is just starting and I don’t think I could bear it ending again. Not this time. This time it has to work out. It just has to.