Chapter 11
SAYLOR
The final bell had rung almost twenty minutes ago, but I was still dragging my feet on leaving. It had been a long week, and I was tired. But there was a happy little hum underneath it all as I gathered my things.
I paused in the doorway of my classroom and glanced next door. Rain was still at her desk, and she looked up, grinning when she saw me. “Heading out to see that man of yours? I swear, Century’s got you wifed up. Should I start calling you an old lady yet, or are we waiting for the patch?”
I laughed, leaning against the doorframe. “You’re ridiculous. We literally only met each other three weeks ago.”
“Mm-hmm. Keep telling yourself that,” she replied with a knowing wink. “Have fun tonight!”
I waved goodbye and headed down the hallway toward the staff parking lot, smiling.
Rain hadn’t been entirely wrong about Levi and me because I had spent most of my nights at the clubhouse since that first one.
Waking up wrapped in Levi’s arms, I was happier than I could ever remember being.
Our relationship was moving quickly, but it felt right.
Stepping into the late afternoon sun, I squinted down at my purse to grab my keys, already looking forward to seeing Levi. I had just reached my car when Sutton suddenly stepped out from behind it, directly into my path.
She looked terrible. Her clothes were wrinkled, her hair was messy, and her eyes were wild. I’d never seen her disheveled like this. She usually took so much pride in her looks.
Whatever trouble she’d brought this time was bad.
“Saylor.” Her voice cracked, and she started crying.
The tears came fast, but I could tell they were born from fear, not remorse.
“It was a coincidence,” she blurted out.
“Me being in Crossbend at the same time as you. I swear. I conned the wrong guy in a dangerous MC, and they figured it out before I could get away clean. These aren’t the kind of men who let someone pay them back and just walk away.
They definitely don’t hand problems over to the cops. ”
She peeked at me through wet lashes, but I just crossed my arms over my chest and waited for her to spill all the details of how badly she’d messed up.
“They forced me to pay off my debt by doing a job for them.” She swiped at her eyes, her hands shaking.
“I was supposed to seduce and manipulate Century. Get him to spill critical technical secrets and racing information about the Redline Kings. But I drank too much that night. I got sloppy, came on too strong, and they threw me out of The Burnout before I could get anything useful.”
I couldn’t stop the chuckle that slipped past my lips at anyone thinking Levi would betray his club that way. “Yeah, I’m aware of what happened that night.”
I saw a flicker of anger in her eyes before she could mask it, confirming my suspicion that she was putting on an act in the hope of conning me.
“Once I sobered up and realized I’d blown my chance with Century, I panicked. So I ran before they could come for me.”
I stood there listening, disgust rolling through me but not exactly shock. Sutton had spent years creating disasters and expecting everyone else to deal with the consequences. Too many times, that someone had been me.
“I already figured out most of this.” This time, her wide-eyed reaction was actually real. She had thought I was completely in the dark. “Those guys cornered me at the racetrack. They thought I was you.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Her weak, watery apology didn’t sound like she really cared that she’d dragged me into her mess. Yet again.
Something she quickly proved when her expression shifted. She perked up like she’d just had a brilliant idea, and I immediately recognized the conniving look in her eyes.
“You can fix this for both of us. You’re actually close to Century now. You can get the intel they want. It would save us both.”
Taking a deep breath in the hope I’d stay calm, I reminded myself that I shouldn’t be surprised. Sutton had only ever been loyal to herself. She could never understand why I would find her suggestion so disgusting.
Although we were identical twins, this situation proved again that we were opposites. “Are you serious right now? You want me to betray Levi and the Redline Kings after everything he’s done for me? No. I’m done cleaning up your messes, Sutton. You’ll have to find another solution this time.”
“Oh, so now you’re too good to help me? Acting all high and mighty?
” she lashed out. “I’ve been watching you, you know.
Spending nights at the Redline Kings compound like you belong there.
You’re not the innocent little goody-two-shoes you pretend to be.
You’re no better than me—just another slut using her body to get what she wants from a man. ”
Of course she assumed I was with Levi for what he could do for me.
It probably hadn’t even crossed her mind for a second that I was actually falling for him.
“You don’t understand what’s happening between Levi and me because you don’t believe real trust and loyalty are even possible.
But he’s earned that from me by being honest, protective, and treating me like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him. ”
Sutton scoffed, her expression twisting with anger. “Family first, Saylor. Or did you forget that part? You’re really just going to abandon your own twin sister?”
“You don’t know the first thing about family, Sutton.” I shook my head, sad that she just didn't get it. “Family isn’t using someone, stealing from them, manipulating them, or demanding they betray the people they love.”
“But you—”
“No.” I gripped my keys tighter. “Move. I need to leave.”
Before she could escalate, a Redline Kings prospect appeared almost out of nowhere.
I realized Levi must have had eyes on me after what happened at the racetrack.
A tiny part of me wanted to be annoyed that he hadn’t said anything about it, but a much bigger part was deeply relieved to have the help right now.
The prospect stopped between us. “She asked you to move.”
“This is none of your business,” Sutton snapped.
Not taking the bait, he stepped forward, grabbed her by the biceps, lifted her aside like she weighed nothing, and held her there. “Conversation’s over.”
I gave him a grateful nod. “Thank you.”
I climbed into my car, started the engine, and pulled away without looking back. My hands shook on the steering wheel as I drove toward The Pit. Anger and worry churned together in my chest. I was furious with Sutton, but I also couldn’t shake the fear that she was in real danger.
I wouldn’t betray Levi or risk the Redline Kings for her. But I also couldn’t live with myself if I did nothing and she ended up dead.
My only hope was that Levi would know what to do since he understood the situation better than I did. Maybe he’d come up with a way to keep Sutton alive without letting her destroy anyone else.
My mind was still spinning when I parked and headed inside, going straight to Levi.
He was in his usual bay, working on a custom bike build. But when he saw my face, he straightened and wiped his hands on a rag. “Saylor? What’s wrong?”
“Can we talk somewhere private?” I asked.
“Of course.” He led me to an office, closed the door behind us, and leaned against the desk, giving me his full attention.
I told him everything without softening a single detail to try to make my twin look better.
His jaw clenched tight, fury rolling off him in waves. “Fucking hell.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“Not mad at you, baby.” He moved closer and pulled me into his arms. “I’m pissed because she tried to drag you deeper into her mess.”
I felt the tension in his body and knew he was doing his best to stay calm for me. “Meanwhile, I’m upset that she actually thinks I’d betray you.”
“You clearly got all the brains and beauty because anyone who’s spent five minutes with you would know how loyal you are.
” His arms tightened around me. “We’ll figure it out.
Keep you safe and find a way outta this so Sutton doesn’t get herself killed.
She doesn’t deserve our help, but you do.
And I’ve spent a fuck of a lot more than five minutes with you.
Which is how I know how devastated you’d be if that happened. Gonna protect your heart too.”
The promise hit me right in the center of my chest. Tears pricked at my eyes as I hugged him tighter. Every time I thought I understood how deep his loyalty and protectiveness ran, he showed me it went even further.
This man would burn the world down for me, but he was also willing to wade into my complicated family mess because he knew it mattered to me.