Page 80 of Secret Betrayals
I nod, not trusting my voice.
He gives me a beat, then speaks again—calmer now, more resolute.
“Yeah, this shit hit hard. Rocked all of us. But don’t think for a second you’re alone in it. You’re not the only one who missed it, Talon. I should’ve taken Demon and that goddamn club outyears ago. Maybe then you’d still be with the girl who never stopped fighting for you.”
His voice grows sharp again. “Thatbitch—Heather—she’s marked. I don’t give a fuck what she says. She played all of us. Lied. Stole time. Stoleblood.That’s the kind of betrayal you don’t come back from.”
He paces, furious energy rolling off him.
“Seventeen years she kept you from knowing about the kids. Played a role in keeping them from you. Fromme.From yourmother.We missed birthdays. First steps. Football games. All of it. She’ll pay for that.”
He pauses, turns to me.
“But just so you know—those kids? That girl? They’re the ones who took care of your momma’s problem the other night. That’s one less thing on your plate. Gabriella didn’t want to burden you with it.”
That part hits harder than I expect. I figured she’d cut ties, sayfuck us all,and be done. But she handled it. Even now.
Pop sees my reaction and smirks. “Yeah, I figured you’d look like that. She and the kids will be at the meeting this afternoon. Be prepared.”
He steps toward the door, but lingers, like he has one last card to play.
“Heather’s been losing her shit. Calling, texting, throwing tantrums. Your brothers are dealing with her. Your ma wiped her hands clean the second she found out what Heather’s done.”
My head snaps up. “What?”
“Don’t look at me like that. Your mother needed to know the full picture. She’s keeping Luna close. She’s pissed. And Nitro? Let’s just say healmosttossed Heather out on her ass.”
He turns fully, hand on the door.
“I called for church. You’ve got just over an hour to shit, shower, and shave. Then get your ass out there and show this club what it means to carry the title of President. You’ve had your time. You earned it. But now?”
He narrows his eyes, voice hard and steady.
“Now you remind these motherfuckers who the hell they’re dealing with.”
He opens the door, taps the jamb once with his knuckle.
“And don’t forget—we get our retribution. Every last one of those bastards are living on borrowed time.”
The door clicks shut behind him, and I sit there a moment longer. Then I stand, because he’s right.
Time to go to work.
My mother arranged for the big shindig that was supposed to happen yesterday to continue today, which has kept her, Heather, and the other ol’ ladies busy with preparations. Good. Because I can’t deal with that woman right now. I’m grateful to my mother and the ol’ ladies for stepping in, especially since I know my father also had a hand in it. Given how my mother feels about Heather these days, it wouldn’t surprise me if shevolunteered to keep her busy to avoid choking the life out of her. I get it. I’m liable to do it myself.
So yeah, thank fuck for the separation.
I make my way into church, and it’s a full house. Every officer’s present, except the traitorous bastard. Which reminds me, we’ll need a new Road Captain. I pull out my phone and shoot Axel a quick text as a reminder. And then put my phone in the box, he’ll get the message later.
Gabriella’s already here with my boys—and her man, Armand, seated beside her. Then I spot them. Two girls seated to her left. My brows draw together.
The conversation I had in the hospital with my brothers comes rushing back—about the daughter I didn’t know I had. But staring across the table now, I’ve got more questions than answers. They meet my gaze head-on, not flinching, not looking away. My lip quirks up.
Damn. No fear. Not from anyone in their circle.
The boys keep glancing my way, too, not with the same venom as before. It’s not warm, but it’s progress.
I straighten up, slam my palm down on the table. “All right. Before we kick this meet and greet off—get the fuck out.”
