Page 38 of The Devil's Wrath

I ignored her question as a group of girls came toward us, no doubt intent on getting out of the woods as soon as possible. “Why don’t you follow that group of girls and text me when you make it out?”

She nodded and gave me a small smile before turning and disappearing into the woods.

I looked back at Theo, and he met my gaze as he turned. His expression was unreadable, but he strode toward me with a curt nod to his men, his long legs eating up the ground between us.

“Are you hurt?” His voice was rough, strained as he touched the blood that stained the front of my dress.

I shook my head mutely, unable to find my voice.

He reached out, his fingers grazing my cheek, and I flinched involuntarily. His hand dropped to his side, and a flicker of pain crossed his face before he masked it with a stern, impassive expression. “You shouldn’t be here, Wrenly. It’s not safe.”

“What happened?” I managed. My voice sounded small and far away to my ears. “Who was shooting?”

His jaw clenched, a muscle ticked in his cheek. “It’s complicated. There are things you’re better off not knowing.”

Anger flared within me, cutting through the numbness. “Don’t give me that cryptic bullshit, Theo. I just watched a man bleed out in my arms. I deserve some answers.”

He studied me for a long moment, his green eyes shadowed andunreadable. Then, with a heavy sigh, he took my arm and guided me further into the trees, away from the lingering chaos of the quarry.

“The Brotherhood has enemies,” he said finally. “Dangerous ones. And sometimes those enemies decide to send a message.”

A chill skittered down my spine. “A message? You mean this was some kind of fucked-up gang retaliation?”

His lips pressed into a grim line. “Something like that. The details aren’t important right now. What matters is getting you somewhere safe.”

“So this is what you meant when you said your world was dangerous?”

He glanced over his shoulder at the carnage behind us. “This is just a taste of it. You don’t belong in this mess.”

I started to protest, but someone yelled his name, and I saw one of the men he’d spoken to earlier signaling for him.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

I watched him jog over to the stranger and noticed how the man assessed me as he spoke to Theo. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it was only a few seconds before Theo returned to me.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Yeah. That’s Kai. Kai Montgomery. He’s in The Brotherhood with me.”

I glanced back at Kai, taking in his tall, muscular frame and the intricate tattoos that twisted up his arms. He had a dangerous air about him, like a coiled snake ready to strike at any moment.

“Let’s get you out of here.” Theo took my hand, his grip firm and reassuring as he led me deeper into the woods. The sounds of the quarry faded behind us, replaced by the eerie stillness of the forest at night. My mind raced with questions, but I bit my tongue, sensing that Theo needed a moment to collect his thoughts.

After a few minutes, we reached the small clearing where a few cars and motorcycles were still parked. Theo released my hand and turned to face me, his expression grave. “Wrenly, I need you to listen to me carefully. What happened tonight . . . it’s not something you can unsee or forget. And I’m sorry you had to witness it.”

I wrapped my arms around myself. “I don’t understand whysomeone would target you or this Brotherhood you belong to like that. What kind of enemies do you have?”

He ran a hand through his dark hair, and I could see the frustration in the tense set of his shoulders. “It’s a long story. We’re not just a group of college guys who party and ride motorcycles. We have a history—a legacy that stretches back generations.”

I frowned, trying to make sense of his words. “What kind of legacy?”

“The kind that’s steeped in blood and secrets. The Brotherhood was formed long ago by men who swore an oath to protect their own, no matter the cost. Over the years, that oath has led us down some dark paths.”

“‘Dark paths?’ What does that even mean?”

He hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. “Let’s just say that The Brotherhood has made some powerful enemies over the years. Rival gangs, corrupt politicians, even members of law enforcement who resent our influence. And sometimes, those enemies strike out at us in the most brutal ways.”

The image of the man bleeding out in my arms flashed through my mind, and I felt bile rise in my throat. “So tonight was, what? Some kind of warning?”

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