Page 65 of Quadruplets for the Vipers

“You’d give your club to me?” his voice is incredulous.

“Only if I lose, and I ain’t planning on doing that.”

It’s an offer Lucifer can’t refuse. “Deal.”

The terms of the race are discussed and agreed upon. The rain is still hammering down, and the risk of crashing is going to be high. Lucifer is known for being a cheat, he’ll do his best to run Axel off the road. He won’t be satisfied with just winning, if he can, he’ll kill Axel.

“Are you sure about this, Prez?” I say quietly as he climbs on his bike.

“Yes. This is the only way. Even if we take them all out, chances are we spend the rest of our lives in jail for it. Leah and the babies need us, they need you. This way gets them off our back.”

“But what if—”

He cuts me off, “I’m gonna win. There’s no ‘what ifs’.”

“But Leah and the babies need you to, you’re no use to anyone dead,” I say.

“I’ll be fine, brother,” he promises, we both know he can’t be sure of that though. Lucifer revs his engine, and the race is about to start. “Knox. I need you to do this. Once the race beginsand everyone is distracted, I want you to get on your bike and drive as fast as you can to Leah. Do you understand me?"

“But...”

I want to say that I’ll miss the race, I won’t know if we win or lose or if Axel even survives, but the words die on my lips. He’s right, I need to make sure Leah and the babies are safe, they have to be my main priority, now and always.

“Do you understand?” he repeats hurriedly.

I nod. “Yes.”

The race starts and Lucifer is off to an early lead. With great effort, I force myself to look away and focus on everyone else. The second I spot my opportunity I don’t hesitate, I jump on my bike and tear out of there as quickly as I dare. By the time the Hellhounds realize what’s happening I’m already far ahead and to catch up to me would risk crashing. They fire off a few shots, one sails past my head, too close for comfort and I accelerate, picking up the speed and making my bike skid on the slick ground. I don’t slow down until they’re out of sight and I see they’ve given up on following me. If Lucifer survives, I’m sure he’ll be having words with his men about that.

I try not to think about what we’ll do if Axel loses. The thought is inconceivable to me. We’d lose our best friend and the club in one fell swoop. He has to win. Even if the odds are stacked against him.

Chapter 33

Leah

Ican’t stand here watching any longer. Ashley is doing this to buy me time to escape. As quietly as I can, I tiptoe to the nearest room, hoping to find a way out. I peek out the window, looking at the trellis outside. It’s old and rotted, there’s no way I can climb down. The fall is too high, I can’t try to jump either. I go back out into the landing, trying not to listen to the sickening sounds of Tony beating Ashley. I can’t believe that she’s not given in yet. All Tony would need to do is stop and come upstairs to find me. He knows full well I’m up here.

He also knows that I’m not the sort of person who can listen to this without trying to help. He’s trying to lure me out of my hiding space. He’s toying with us both. He’s enjoying this.

I can’t believe I’m not going to help her. What sort of a coward am I? But what could I do to help? And if I do, I’m doing exactly what he expects of me, what he wants me to do. No. I need to be smart about this.

A gun. There has to be a gun here.

Abandoning my plans of escape, I change tactics and look for a weapon.

A floorboard squeaks.

It falls silent downstairs.

“There you are, Leah. I was beginning to think you were going to do nothing while your friend died for you. Not very noble of you,” he calls out, his voice taunting and yet strangelyproud. He’s happy I was willing to put myself first, he wants me to be as selfish and emotionless as he is. “Why don’t you come on down here and join us?”

I hover indecisively for a second before deciding to continue my search. Without a weapon, I can’t save Ashley or myself. I also know Tony, right now the only thing keeping Ashley alive is that she’s something he can use against me. He’ll hurt her, but he won’t kill her.

“Don’t…” Ashley croaks. “My… room…”

I don’t wait to hear the rest of her sentence, I know what she’s telling me. There has to be a gun in her room somewhere.

I race across the hall, not caring how much noise I make now. The deafening sound of a gunshot makes me come to a screeching halt. A sob catches in my throat as I realize it can only mean one thing. He’s killed her. He actually killed her. I could have saved her, and I didn’t. I can’t let myself dwell on my guilt and shame though.

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