Page 74 of Hawk's Cry

Wizard hears and throws me his keys. “Take my bike. It’s outside.”

“I can—”

“Go get your wife.”

The concern in his eyes mirrors mine. It’s possible Archangel left orders in the case that he didn’t return. Orders that would ensure his depravity continued after his death.

I follow the others outside. From the rest of the houses, the brothers are all in various stages of bringing injured and captive men out. Glancing around, I see all of Archangel’s men were taken by surprise, and all captured without one gunshot.

Even the shooting by the gate has ceased now.

“Olivia okay?” Wraith asks fast.

“When I left her,” I tell him. “Unharmed, but scared.”

“Go get her.” Drummer catches my eye as he pushes his captive so hard he crashes to his knees on the ground.

Wraith’s eyes narrow. “What are you fuckin’ doing?” he asks as I go to Wizard’s bike. “She’s fuckin’ pregnant, you moron. Take Sophie’s car.”

I raise my chin at him, acknowledging his point. I exchange the keys, then slide into the driver’s seat, having to push it back as far as it will go. The passenger door opens, then one at the back. I glance to the side, then behind me. Drummer and Wraith. I’m not in the least surprised.

The scene is bloody down by the gate, but none of it ours, theirs. Fuck, I don’t know what to call the Devils anymore. Fighting alongside them tonight, leading Archangel into the trap, well, it was like slipping on some old familiar boots. A role that was comfortable, soothing, even.

It might not be my life anymore, but everything inside me makes it wish it were. I left under false pretences, things I was pretending to myself. Now I wish I could turn back time and cry out for help rather than bottling everything up.

“You did well, Eli. Your plan worked like fuckin’ clockwork,” Wraith tells me.

“Anyone hurt?” Drummer asks.

“Lady got a scratch, but it’s only superficial,” Wraith responds. “I don’t think anyone else was injured.”

“We had the element of surprise,” I remind them.

“Thanks to you, Eli.” That comes from Wraith. “You thought fast.”

“Luckily,” I tell them. “Archangel came for me as soon as I ended the call.”

“Luck didn’t have anything to do with it,” Dad states firmly. “You had a plan. Like you always do.”

I sigh. “That’s pressure, Dad. The expectation that I’ll always know what to do.”

I can sense Wraith’s head shaking. “Sometimes you won’t. That’s why the club isn’t about one man. That’s why we vote. Wizard brought your proposal back to the table and we all said yes. Could have said no, Brother. Could have come up with something else. You know that’s the way we roll.”

He’s right. I know that. It’s just got all back to front in my head. The weight on my shoulders hadn’t been just mine, it belonged to the whole club. He doesn’t know it, but he’s given me something else to think about.

Thank fuck Archangel hadn’t blindfolded me when he’d taken me from my house. I suspect if things had gone his way, neither I nor Liv would still be alive. It makes me worry whether Archangel had pre-empted things. I’m banking on him keeping her safe in case he had a use for either of us later.

I make my way directly to where she’s being held captive, trying to push down the fear inside of me. I slip back into biker mode as I start to brake. “House is up that driveway. We’ll walk from here. There’ll be at least one guard on her. Maybe more.”

“Where’s she held?”

I notice neither man objects to me issuing instructions. “First door on the right. I didn’t see much more than Archangel’s office and where Liv is being held. I did notice a kitchen and a back door.”

“You take the back seeing as you know the lay of the land better, we’ll go in the front and take out the guard,” Drummer suggests.

I’d rather it was me being the first to get to Liv, but I can feel my way around the house better, having taken at least some of the layout in when I’d scanned where I’d been brought. I’m mentally picturing rooms to check in case there are more guards lurking.

Once again my adrenaline rises as we approach the house. Light is streaming out of the windows, including the room where I know Liv is being held. My heart is in my mouth as I creep up close, staying in the darkness, then let my breath out as I see her restlessly sleeping, curled up on the couch. As I watch she jerks awake, as if she can sense I’m there. She looks exhausted as her eyes close again.

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