Page 81 of Sacrifice
"Few hours. You should sleep."
"I don't think I can." Every time I close my eyes, I hear gunshots. "Will you stay? Just until I fall asleep?"
"I'm not going anywhere."
We lie down together, careful of his arm.
I curl into his good side, ear pressed to his chest.
His heartbeat is steady, alive, reassuring.
"What happens at the meeting tonight?" I ask.
"We coordinate. Figure out where Los Coyotes are holed up, how many, what they want. Then we make a plan."
"To kill them."
"Yes." No hesitation, no sugar-coating. "Every last one who had a hand in hurting Elfe or coming after you."
"Good." The viciousness in my own voice surprises me. "I want them dead."
"You're learning."
"Is that a good thing?"
"In this life? Yeah." His good arm tightens around me. "The club's going to war, Saga. It won't be pretty, won't be quick. You sure you can handle that?"
"They hurt my best friend. They tried to kill us. I can handle whatever comes next."
"That's my girl."
We lapse into silence.
Through the thin walls, I can hear the clubhouse—voices raised in anger, bikes coming and going, preparing for what’s to come tonight.
This is my world now. No more standing on the sidelines.
"I love you," I whisper into the darkness.
"I love you too. Now sleep. I'll wake you when it's time."
"Promise you'll be careful tonight?"
"Always am."
"That's a lie."
"Okay, I'll be more careful than usual. How's that?"
"Better."
I drift off to the sound of his breathing, the weight of Dad's gun on the nightstand, and the knowledge that everything's changed.
When I wake, it'll be to a new reality—one where I'm not just a biker's woman, but a target.
Where love means accepting violence as part of the package.
But with Emil's warmth beside me and the club's protection around me, I've never felt safer.
