Page 55 of Princess of Vengeance

“I think we should join forces again,” Zoey continues. “We could bring the Twisted Tyrants and what’s left of Carnage back together. One banner, one club.”

The silence that follows is deafening, and I can’t stop myself from taking a quick glance around, wondering who is going to break it first.

“You’re joking,” Killian finally says.

“I’m dead serious.” Zoey steps closer. “Look around if you don’t believe me. Detroit is changing. The balance of power is shifting. We’re all vulnerable on our own, but together? We could take back what is rightfully ours.” Her tone is almost pleading now, and my jaw clenches when I think of all the times I fell for her shit in the past.

I can feel my brothers thinking it over—not because we’d ever consider it, but because we’re trying to figure out her angle. What has changed over the past few weeks to make her come crawling back like this?

Whatever the reason, I’m not biting. Nico isn’t either. He snorts, shaking his head. “It’ll never happen, Zoey. Not in this fucking lifetime.”

Her features harden again in an instant, and I’m amazed all over again how she can flip her emotions off and on like a goddamn switch. “You’re making a mistake. A huge one.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve thought that about me,” Nico says with a shrug.

Frustration flashes across her face and she lets out a frustrated, angry little noise that almost makes me laugh in her face. This is the leader of the Tyrants? This immature woman who is just seconds away from throwing a full-blown tantrum?

Jesus, no wonder her people are coming crawling back to us.

“What is it with you?” she asks. “Why can’t you see reason for once instead of letting your pride get in the way?”

Stefan puts a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugs it off angrily. “It’s that bitch, isn’t it?” she spits out. “Quinn. She’s the reason you won’t even consider what I’m offering. She’s poisoned you against me just like she poisoned everything else.”

The mention of Quinn’s name makes my blood run cold, and it takes everything I have not to step forward and shut her mouth myself.

“You know what I don’t understand?” Zoey continues, seemingly oblivious to the hole she’s digging for herself with every word out of her mouth. “What does she have that I don’t? What makes her so special that you’d throw everything away for her? Your club, your brothers?—”

“That’s.Enough.” The words are out of my mouth before I even realize I’ve spoken. Everyone turns to look at me, but I don’t give a shit. I’m done listening to her trash Quinn.

“You want to know what Quinn has that you don’t?” I take a step forward, and Nico doesn’t stop me. “Loyalty. Honor. Fucking integrity. She stood by her people when they needed her most.”

Zoey’s eyes widen, but I’m just getting started.

“When her tattoo shop was burning to the ground, she ran back inside to save her people. While you were busy stabbing your brothers in the back, she was dodging bullets and taking literal fucking knives to the gut for hers.” I’m getting louder, but I can’t seem to pull it back in. And I’m honestly not trying too hard to check myself. “She sacrificed everything to protect what’s hers. What would you sacrifice, Zoey? Besides everyone around you?”

She flinches at that one, and angry reddish-purple splotches start creeping up her neck to her cheeks.

“Quinn Kent is twice the leader you could ever hope to be. And she’s ten times the woman.” I jab a finger in her direction. “So keep her name out of your mouth. You’re not worthy to even speak it.”

There’s another round of excruciating, deafening silence. Zoey looks truly deflated, like someone punched all the air out of her. She stares at me for a long moment, then turns to Stefan and the others.

“Let’s go,” she mutters, not meeting anyone’s eyes. Her little crew follows her back to their bikes with their tails between their legs.

Not a single one of them glances back in our direction.

Nico claps me on the shoulder as we watch them leave. “Well put, brother. Do you feel better now?”

I shrug, the anger draining out of me and leaving nothing but an aching emptiness that always comes when I think about Quinn. “Someone had to say it.”

“I think she finally got the message,” Killian says with a rare hint of approval.

We climb back into the SUV and I stare out the window as Nico drives us away from the meeting spot. The rush of putting Zoey in her place is fading fast, leaving me feeling almost empty inside.

It’s fucking pathetic how much I miss her. Like I’m missing an arm or a leg, walking around with an open wound that won’t heal. The brief update from Nico about seeing her was like a life vest when I was drowning, but now I’m starting to sink again.

“Do you think Zoey will try something after that shit show?” Killian asks from the back seat.

“I doubt it,” Nico says, checking the rearview mirror. “She barely has enough support to keep the Tyrants together, let alone come after us.”

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