Page 183 of Salvation

Frank, Pearl and my father had also hit it off, and the three of them went out together almost every weekend. My dad took the opportunity to travel to Scotland, and they were fast becoming the closest of friends. Leaving my mother was exactly what that man needed! Neither of us had heard from her since they split, and I had no intention of reaching out to her. She was laying in a bed of her own making.

And the best news about Karen visiting? I had seen her eyeing up Pivot. And by the looks he gave her, the feeling wasmutual. The old ladies, including myself, were scheming to get the two of them together, but nothing had come of it yet. We were still hopeful, though.

Dante had finally presented me with an official property cut, and I wore that thing every damn day with pride. The jacket was a gorgeous black leather, that had “Property of Dante” written on the back of it. However, the old ladies had come together and demanded a change. Yes, we were not allowed official Devil’s Disciples cuts, but we wanted our own Sin cuts. My jacket had “Queen of Sin” on the front, right where Dante’s would have said “president.” Jenna kept her “Property of Shark” cut, and we added “Princess of Sin” to the front of hers.

The Devil’s also had “Men of Mayhem” on their cuts, which was their symbol to show that member had murdered someone to protect the club. We had “Mistress of Mayhem” added to the sin cuts, and that was something else I wore with pride, too.

I would do anything to protect my found family, and I wanted the world to know it.

On the less positive side, the truce with the Rough Riders was now over. Dante had one condition, and that was for regular updates on Gabriella. She had not been seen in over a month, and showing them grace had long since grown tiring. Nico had told us Gabriella was none of our business, but it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than us. We all knew Gabriella was our business. Because Vienna would never rest unless he knew she was okay.

Nico had sworn we would regret this, but I wasn’t concerned. We had proven many times as a club that we had what it takes to defend ourselves. The club would always have each other’s backs, and if it meant going to war for the woman Vienna loved, then that’s what we would do.

Besides, the club had a secret weapon.

Me.

There was no more running, and no more regrets. This life wasn’t what I had imagined, but I was done denying it.

For all intents and purposes, I was Rachel King, old lady to the president of the Devil’s Disciples. And I would kill anyone who harmed those who fell under my protection.

“It was my idea!”

“You’re so full of shit!” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “Why do you always want to take credit for the things I do?”

“You didn’t even want to come to therapy!”

“Oh, so you’ve got one thing right! But even if I didn’t want to be here — no offense, Doc — it was still my idea that you come here!”

“And it was my idea for you to come!” Dante snapped back.

“But I started the original plan! You’re—”

“Does it really matter whose idea it was and who is right and wrong here?” Doctor Ashleigh asked, sounding utterly exasperated with us.

We both twisted our heads in her direction and looked at her. “Duh,” I said. “Of course it matters. Because this is typical of Dante. He always wants credit for any improvements made!”

He grinned at me and I grinned back. Sure, we were bickering, but it was light-hearted. We knew it didn’t truly matter.

“I’m more interested in why there’s a large, bearded man sat in the corner,” she replied.

“That’s Vienna,” Dante replied with a shrug.

“Nice to meet you, Vienna. Why is he here? It’s unusual to have someone else join the therapy sessions.”

“Vienna is unusual,” I said.

“And I was dragged here,” Vienna piped up.

“Now you know how I feel,” Dante muttered.

“Ah-ha!” I laughed, poking him in the chest. “So you admit you were dragged here, therefore proving it wasn’t your idea!”

“That’s not what I said!”

“But it's what you meant!”

“No, it’s whatyouwant me to mean!”

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