Chapter 27
Ember
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Xochitl and Poison talking quietly, both of them silently scanning the room every few seconds as they talk.
I try to concentrate on what Pyper and Rochelle are saying, but ever since Corvus sat down two tables away and made sure he was facing us…
it’s been hard. I feel like he’s watching and monitoring me. But why?
My gut clenches as I remember the hotel security feed. Is Corvus the rat? He was one of the names Wire listed off. Is he working with Oasis or the Chrome Vipers? Or is he working with someone else?
For the next twenty minutes, I continue talking with Pyper and Rochelle while trying to discretely keep an eye on everything that’s happening in the room. However, the only thing that seems odd or off… is Corvus. I just can’t put my finger on what is off though.
“Hey, are you okay?” Pyper asks quietly and I fight to not flinch in response.
I clear my throat and give her a small smile. “Yeah, I’ve just got a lot on my mind.” Which is true, just not the full truth.
She gives me a look like she doesn’t believe me, but thankfully she lets it drop.
The door to Church opens and my nerves instantly skyrocket when everyone files out. All of the officers look relaxed, but it’s their eyes that are different. They’re sharper, colder, and more alert.
Tico steps out of Church and comes to a halt when he sees me, and then his gaze snaps in the direction of Corvus.
Do they suspect Corvus, too?
He and Wire talk quietly for a moment and then Wire heads down the hallway, most likely heading back to his room.
Tico motions for me, and I turn back to Rochelle and Pyper who both saw the gesture as well.
“Time to kick some Sunny ass?” Pyper asks with a smirk, and I huff out a laugh.
“Maybe. He said we’d talk to her after he was done with Church. As for kicking her ass, that depends on what she reveals during our talk.”
Rochelle pats my hand. “Go on, it’s best not to keep him waiting. Though from what Pyper told me about the incidents, I’m hoping for her sake that she changes.”
“So do I,” I reply quietly.
I cross the room to Tico and a moment later, Daemon’s also at my side. Tico leans forward, kissing my temple and places a hand at the small of my back.
“Let’s go talk to Sunny. I want to get this over with so we can celebrate you becoming my Ol’ Lady tonight.”
The heat in his eyes has me clenching my thighs in anticipation and judging by the twitch in his lips, he noticed my reaction.
We follow Daemon down the hallway and when we get to Sunny’s room, I’m surprised to see Liam guarding her door. My gaze drops to his arm where his bandages are peeking out from under his sleeve.
“It wasn’t your fault, Queenie.”
My gaze snaps up to Liam’s and he gives me a small smile.
“I’m fine, and I’ll heal, but you need to get that train of thought out of your head. What happened wasn’t your fault. That attack was caused by the people who thought they could own you and your sister. By people who thought they could just walk onto our territory and kidnap two of our own.”
My eyes burn with unshed tears but I fight to keep them at bay. “I just hate that you and the others got hurt because of it.”
His face and eyes soften. “You’re family, Vicious,” he says, purposefully using my new road name. “You, Pyper, and now Rochelle. We protect our own.”
My throat tightens and I give him a jerky nod.
Liam turns towards Tico. “Everything’s been quiet with her.” He pauses and glances at me before looking back at Tico. “She’s been pretty subdued whenever one of us brought her food and water.”
Hope grows in me that we can put this behind us.
Liam steps aside and after we step inside, he closes it behind us.
I glance around the room, surprised when I see that there are two bunk beds in here along with two tall dressers and two closets.
It almost looks like a dorm room the way they have it set up.
I figured the bunnies would have a room to themselves or maybe two women to a room rather than four.
For a moment I remember the bunk beds in the breeding room at the Crome Vipers compound, but I push those memories aside.
The Royal Bastards are not the Chrome Vipers.
Sunny is sitting on one of the top bunks and, for once, she’s actually fully dressed in a t-shirt and jeans.
Her arms are wrapped around her legs and her eyes are puffy, as if she’s been crying recently.
She eyes me warily for a few moments before she climbs down.
I’m surprised that she’s only a few inches taller than me, but then I notice that she’s barefoot.
“I’m sorry,” she says quietly as she wraps her arms around herself.
Tico squeezes my hand, and I’m assuming that means he’s letting me take the reins for this.
I quirk an eyebrow at her. “What exactly are you sorry about?”
She swallows thickly before taking a deep breath.
“For ratting you out to Sally, and in turn, the Chrome Vipers.” She glances at Tico and then looks back at me.
“And for getting mad about you being with Tico.” She pauses as a slight blush forms on her cheeks.
“I’ve had a crush on him for years and when you came in like a storm, I…
” her voice trails off as she looks away, her face filled with shame.
She closes her eyes and exhales. “I was angry and thought if I could get rid of you, then Tico might finally notice me.”
I want to address our relationship, but first, I need to know something else. “What you told us last night, is that really everything you told Sally?”
“Yes.”
I nod slowly. “And my relationship with Tico. Are you still going to try and sabotage us again or cause more issues?”
She hesitates but shakes her head. “No, I won’t.”
My disbelief must show on my face because she shakes her head again.
“I really won’t. I can’t get kicked out of here. I have nowhere else to go.”
“She’s right,” Tico says and then surprisingly, he cocks an eyebrow in question at Sunny who gives a small nod.
Tico turns back to me. “We got Sunny out of a bad domestic situation a few years ago. If she leaves here, she no longer has our protection and her ex will most likely come after her again.”
Rage fills me and I make my decision. “Then you can stay, but if you interfere with our relationship again, or anyone else’s relationship, then that’s the last straw.”
Sunny sits up straighter, relief filling her. “Thank you, and I won’t interfere again.”
I nod. “I have one more condition.” I look up at Tico.
“I want all the bunnies to learn self-defense. I’ll teach them how to get out of holds and how to fend off an attacker.
” I look over at Sunny who is staring at me in disbelief.
“No one should be stuck in that sort of situation, but if it does happen, you should know how to get out of it.”
Sunny opens and closes her mouth a few times but nothing comes out. Then I’m engulfed in a hug.
“Yes, I want to learn. I don’t want to end up in a hospital again.”
My whole body tenses at the words ‘hospital’ and ‘again’. A part of me wants to go on a rampage against whoever the fuck put her in a hospital to begin with. I may not like the woman, at least not right now, but no one should be treated like that.
“We’ll talk to the others and then set up times where you guys can use the downstairs gym,” Tico says and I dip my chin in silent thanks.
Sunny releases me and Tico steps forward.
“In addition to what Ember just said, you’re off the roster for two months, Sunny. You’re also going to pick up more duties around the clubhouse in the meantime. However, if something comes up where we learned you lied to us, then you will be dealt with. Permanently. Do you understand.”
Sunny straightens, clasping her hands in front of her and nods. “Yes.”
“You will respect the Royal Bastards code. Ol’ Ladies are never to be disrespected. A brother’s woman is never to be disrespected. If this happens again, there will be severe punishments. Same for every other bunny.”
“I will and I’m sorry. I’m sorry I let my jealousy cause harm. I never knew…” Her voice trails off and her eyes turn misty. “I didn’t know about how the Chrome Vipers treated their women.”
A part of me twists at the reminder but I push it away. “Now you know.”
“One more thing,” Tico says. “You discuss nothing of the Chrome Vipers with anyone else. If you hear anything about them, you come to me and let me know immediately. If your friend contacts you again about Ember, Pyper, or Rochelle, you reveal nothing about them and notify me immediatly. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand.”
Tico studies her face for a moment before nodding. “Okay. Your confinement is over. I’ve already talked to the other bunnies about tonight. We’re having a party to celebrate Ember becoming my Ol’ Lady.”
Sunny seems to brighten at the news and she nods. “Are we cooking or ordering in?”
“For tonight, since so much time got away from us, we’re ordering in.”
The light in her seems to dim and I wonder if Sunny happens to enjoy cooking.
Daemon’s arm slings around my shoulder and I almost startle, having forgotten that he was in the room.
“My little Sis is all grown up. Becoming my Prez’s Ol’ Lady,” he fake sniffles and I lightly punch him in the side before hugging him.
“Weirdo.”
He chuckles, hugging me tighter. “Yeah, but you love me anyway.”
I chuckle in return. “Yeah, I do.”
A phone buzzes and Daemon shifts before pulling his phone out of his pocket. His face darkens at whatever he received and my stomach sinks. Then I notice that he isn’t holding his normal phone. It’s his burner phone. My stomach sinks even further at the realization.
Sunny clears her throat. “I’ll go help the ladies set up,” she says as she slips out the door. Liam stops her for a moment but lets her go at Tico’s signal.
Daemon looks up from his phone at me and then at Tico. Some sort of silent communication passes between them and I really wish I knew what it meant.
He passes his phone to Tico and Tico’s face hardens.
“My office,” Tico says as he hands Daemon his phone back.
I hesitate, wondering if I’m supposed to follow him or not. A second later, I get my answer when Tico snags my hand and I follow behind him out into the hallway. In the main room, he must signal Taco because he falls in step beside us.
Once we’re in his office with the door shut behind us, Daemon starts pacing.
“Daemon, what’s going on?” I ask, and I hate how even I can hear the waver in my voice.
“Uncle Marcus texted me.”
My eyes widen and I remember Marcus’ silent signal after the fight last night letting us know he had our backs.
“W-What did he say? Is he okay?”
Instead of answering me, he hands me his phone and Taco leans over my shoulder to read it.
D—Wednesday. Dusk. Gym warehouse.
Today’s Monday. That means we have two days before they try to spring their trap. I look up at Daemon and then Tico, wondering if we ambush their ambush, or if we draw them out sooner.
“Two days,” Taco says as he runs a hand over his face. “Question is, do we let them spring their trap or do we lure them to us before then?”
Tico looks at me as his fingers tap against his chair.
Nerves instantly bombard me, but so does resolve.
My mind goes back to the homestead…the breeding room…
how the Collector and other Oasis members took girls back with them whenever they visited the clubhouse…
how they treated the women and little girls.
Then I remember walking in on Dad and Scooter holding down Pyper before we escaped. I remembered how Dad and the others would treat Rochelle.
And finally, I remember my promise.
Never again.
“We spring the trap ourselves so we control the narrative.”
As if they’d coordinated it, Tico, Daemon, and Taco all smirk in unison.
“That’s our Queenie,” Taco says with a wink.