Chapter 20
Tico
Both Ember and Rochelle look up at me in shock.
“After the fights, you’re coming back with us. I’ve made arrangements for someone to go and get some supplies for you, Rochelle. We’ll keep you hidden and safe until this all blows over. Then, you can go wherever you want. Or you can stay.”
Ember opens her mouth to say something but then my phone rings, interrupting her. Pulling out my phone, I see that it’s Wire and my gut twists. “I’m gonna step out and take this,” I say before leaning down and kissing Ember’s forehead. “Be back in a few.”
She nods and as I turn, I catch the soft smile on Rochelle’s face at the gesture.
Out in the hall, I answer.
“Talk to me.”
“The three of them are there. They’re not wearing their colors and are trying to blend in.
Right now, they’re in the northwest corner as they watch the fights.
Bug has caused some problems with the waitresses and is apparently trying to get into their pants from what the bar manager told me.
The waitresses have all ignored their advances so far.
Hopefully they won’t try to pull any other shit tonight.
The bouncers have been warned and are keeping an eye on them.
Most of our guys are in their usual spots but a few are fanned out amongst the crowd.
Scooter and Drone have been watching our guys closely. ”
“Is it just those three or did they bring others?”
“There are four others with them, also not wearing colors. I asked Pyper the names of the other members to double-check what my system brought up. She confirmed who they were. Stitch, their medic, real name Brian Cross. Crank, their secretary, real name Roger Wright. Rover, their road captain, real name James Davidson. And lastly… this one surprised me. Wrench, their cleaner, real name Marcus Diederich. Daemon’s uncle.
I don’t know if they have any other people hiding outside out of camera reach or that are still at the hotel.
Pyper gave me the names of the rest of the club, which matches what I found, so my system should let me know who all is here.
Another problem is, I don’t know if they have any Oasis guys with them or not. ”
“Chingar (Fuck),” I curse under my breath. I pause, weighing the options. “Let me know when you find out more. Keep an eye on the ones here for the fight and let me know if they try anything.”
“Will do, Prez.”
I hang up and stare down the hall as my mind races.
Why did Daemon’s uncle tag along?
From what Daemon told me about him, he hates everything that’s happened since Scooter killed Daemon’s parents. That he wanted out but never saw a way out. As for the women, his wife is among the best treated in the club and he never brings her to club events as a way to keep her safe.
So, is he here willingly? Or was he forced to come?
And what will Daemon do when he finds out he’s here?
The door behind me opens and I turn. Ember steps out and I can tell she’s shaken from everything Rochelle told her but I’m almost positive she won’t let herself break down. Not yet at least. I check the time and realize more time has passed than I previously thought.
Ember steps forward and it’s written all over her face and posture that she’s at war with herself. Taking a chance, I pull her into my arms. At first her body remains stiff as a board with tension but after a few seconds, her body relaxes.
“I don’t know if I’m going to survive this,” she whispers. “If they get their hands on my sister and me…”
Her voice trails off and I tighten my arms around her. Her shoulders tremble slightly, but I just hold her.
After a few moments, I pull back slightly and grip her chin, making her look up at me. “Vicious, you are one of the strongest women I know.”
She opens her mouth, most likely to say otherwise, and I shake my head.
“You are. Yes, we just met today but don’t forget that Daemon told us how the Chrome Vipers operate and how they and Oasis treat women.”
Ember stiffens slightly in my arms at the mention of them. Her eyes widen in worry and I know where her mind went. I release her chin to caress her cheek.
“Only Taco and I know the full details; the others just know the basics. But you can bet your luscious ass that none of us are going to judge you for surviving in that fucking hell hole all those years. And I’m sure the conditions worsened after Daemon left.”
Ember hesitates but gives a small nod. “Yeah, they did,” she whispers.
“But you and Pyper aren’t alone anymore. You’ve got me. You’ve got Daemon. You’ve got the entire club at your back. Same for Rochelle if she wants it. And when mi familia (my family) finds out about you? You’ll have them at your back as well. Maybe even Maria’s club, too.”
Ember stares at me in shock. “But we just met hours ago, Diego. Why are you doing all of this for me? We barely know each other.”
My grip tightens around her, and I lower my voice.
“Because with you, I feel like I’ve come home.
That you see me for me. Not for what I can do for you.
Not for my patch and the status that comes with it.
You see me. And outside of mi familia y hermanos (my family and brothers), that hasn’t happened in a really long fucking time.
But I also see you. I know you’re strong and can handle shit by yourself if need be.
Your past and where you grew up does not define who you are.
I see how you are with your sister. How supportive, protective, and caring you are.
I see the real you just as you see the real me. ”
Her lips part in surprise and then her body fully melts against mine. “I do see the real you. Thank you, Diego,” she whispers as she goes up on her toes to kiss me. When she pulls back, her brows furrow. “Wait a minute. Did you say Maria’s club? Who’s Maria?”
I smirk. “Yeah, she’s mi hermana (my sister). She’s the President of the Royal Harlots MC, an all-female MC. Xochitl [SOH-chee] is her road name. Their clubhouse is up in Kiel.”
She blinks a few times as she absorbs that information. “Fuck, she must be badass to be a President of an all-female MC.”
I can’t help it. I laugh and the action startles Bobby for a moment before his face reverts back to neutral. I tap Ember’s hip. “She is absolutely going to love you, but we can talk about her later. Right now, we need to get you ready. It’s almost time.”
Forty minutes later, I follow behind Ember as we step out into the tunnel that leads to the pits.
Daemon, Reese and Taco follow behind me.
Casually, I look over at the northwest corner and immediately spot the Chrome Vipers.
Their gazes narrow when they spot Ember, but none of them leave their spots.
If Ember spots them, she gives no indication that she’s seen them—her gaze is fixated on Banshee.
Behind me I can almost feel the fury and tension radiating off Daemon and I know he’s spotted them and his uncle as well.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Daemon mutters under his breath, but thankfully, he keeps his head and sticks to the plan.
We escort Ember to the ring, and before she steps into it, I snake my arm around her waist, pulling her into me. She looks up at me, surprised that I’m stopping her but before she can say anything, I lean down and kiss her.
“For good luck,” I whisper and she huffs and slightly shakes her head.
“Thank you, but I also know what you’re doing,” she whispers back and I cock my eyebrow at her.
“Are you pissed?”
She shakes her head and pats my chest. “Not in the slightest. It’s a good plan and I think it will throw them off their game. And yes, I did see them.”
I give her one more quick kiss. “Go get her, Vicious.”
She smirks up at me. “Will do, Handsome.”
I step back, following the others to where the trainers and managers stand .
It’s only then that I notice the crowd’s and my staff’s reactions to my claim on Ember.
A few people in the crowd look surprised.
Others assessing. And surprisingly, some more money is exchanging hands quickly before the match starts.
As for my staff, most nod their heads in acknowledgement, understanding my claim.
However, a few of the waitresses look downright pissed and I’m going to have to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t cause any trouble.
“Assholes and bitches, it’s time for our final fight!
” our announcer, Big Al, yells into the microphone and the crowd goes wild.
Then he extends a hand in Banshee’s direction.
“In one corner, we have Banshee!” The crowd roars and then Big Al points towards Ember.
“And in the other corner is someone I’m sure some of you have recognized.
No longer does she go by Viper. Tonight is her first fight debuting as the Fox! ”
Once again the crowd roars as Ember and Banshee both step forward and tap gloves before sinking into their fighting stances.
“Fight!” Big Al yells and true to Ember’s style she strikes first, fast and hard.
Banshee puts up a good fight, and a part of me wonders if I’ll be getting a phone call later from her manager, bitching me out for the last-minute change.
However, it’s obvious Banshee is no match for Ember.
Her punches and movements are a hair too slow.
Ember picks up on it instantly before landing a couple of brutal punches to Banshee’s ribs.
Ember dodges a punch and lands a hard right hook to Banshee’s jaw which momentarily stuns her, but she shakes it off.
Like her other fights, Ember quickly darts out of range after landing her attacks.
I glance at where the Chrome Vipers are sitting and note that Drone and Bug are looking pissed as they watch Ember, but Scooter…
Scooter is staring straight at me. He smirks and makes a finger gun gesture towards Ember before doing the same to me and then dragging his thumb across his throat.
My phone buzzes twice, then one, then three times in my pocket, Wire’s signal that he saw the threat as well.
“Clocked it,” Taco says quietly and out of the corner of my eye, I can see Reese and Daemon give a slight nod as well, indicating that they saw it, too.
I keep them in my peripheral as I refocus back on Ember, but my gaze scans the room more frequently for other possible threats.
As the fight progresses, both women get in good, hard hits on the other, but then I notice Banshee is starting to flag.
A few minutes later, Banshee stumbles after another blow to her ribs and Ember takes advantage, striking faster and harder.
As I see Ember line up for another punch, I know it’s going to happen even before her fist lands against Banshee’s face.
Her eyes roll and her body falls limp as Ember knocks her out cold.
My gaze focuses on Banshee’s chest, worry eating at me until I see the rise and fall of her chest. That’s the one major danger of this sport.
One wrong hit could kill you. My gaze snaps to Ember’s, and her relief that Banshee is still alive is obvious.
Big Al enters the pit and raises Ember’s hand declaring her the winner.
“They’re on the move,” Daemon whispers as he steps closer and my gaze snaps to the northwest corner, watching the Chrome Vipers retreat.
At the last moment before they disappear from view, Wrench looks over his shoulder and he does some sort of hand signal as he feigns running his hand through his hair. I feel Daemon stiffen next to me and then he breathes a sigh of relief.
“What the fuck was that?” I ask him and when I glance at Ember, I notice she was watching them, too, and saw it.
“It means,” he says and then he pauses as he and Ember share a relieved smile, “that we have a man on the inside.”