Page 12 of Viper's Salvation
"Thank you," I say, meaning it. "For coming for me. For killing Mike." I swallow hard. "For seeing me as someone worth saving."
Viper's hand moves like he wants to touch my face, then stops, hovering just shy of contact. "Get some rest," he says instead, his voice rougher than before. "We can talk more tomorrow."
As Evelyn leads us away to our rooms, I feel Viper's eyes following me. There is definitely something happening between us, something unexpected and probably unwise given the circumstances, but for the first time in a long time, I'm curious about the future instead of dreading it.
And that, maybe, is the most dangerous feeling of all.
Chapter 6 - Viper
I watch Amy disappear down the hallway with Evelyn and Kelly, my eyes lingering longer than they should. When she's finally out of sight, I drag a hand down my face and exhale slowly. Fuck.
What is it about this woman? She's bruised and broken, just escaped captivity, and I'm already—what? Interested? Attracted? Both feel inadequate to describe the pull I feel toward her.
"You going to stand there all day looking like a lovesick teenager, or you joining us for a drink?" Ghost's voice breaks through my thoughts.
I turn to find him leaning against the doorframe, a knowing smirk on his face. The asshole.
"Shut up," I mutter, following him to the bar where the rest of the crew is already gathering. After a mission like today's, we need to decompress, to wash away the adrenaline and violence with whiskey and brotherhood.
Reaper is behind the bar, pouring shots for everyone. His face is grim but satisfied, the look of a man who's closed a chapter on something ugly. He slides a shot my way as I take a seat.
"To ending that piece of shit," he says, raising his glass.
We all echo the sentiment and knock back our drinks. The whiskey burns a familiar path down my throat, warming my chest.
"His face when you pulled that trigger," Wilder chuckles darkly. "Priceless."
"Should've made it slower," Ghost mutters. "After what they did to those girls."
My mind flashes to Amy's bruised face, her split lip, the way she held herself to protect her cracked ribs. Anger flares hot in my gut.
"Mike got what he deserved," I say, my voice harder than intended.
The guys exchange glances.
"Speaking of the girls," Ace says, pouring himself another shot, "that older one—Amy—she seems... interesting. Feisty like Venom likes."
My head snaps up, and I fix him with a stare that makes him raise his hands defensively.
"Just an observation, brother," he says, trying to suppress a smile. "Didn't realize you'd already staked a claim."
"I haven't staked anything," I growl, but my tone says otherwise.
Reaper stares at me with that penetrating gaze that misses nothing. "Be careful there, Viper. She's been through hell. Not exactly in the right headspace for whatever you might be thinking."
I know he's right, which only irritates me more. "I'm not thinking anything," I lie. "Just want to make sure she's safe after what they put her through."
"Uh-huh," Blade says, unconvinced. "Like I'm just concerned for Kelly's safety."
"Different situation," I argue. "Kelly wasn't beaten half to death."
"True," Blade concedes. "But trauma is trauma. And those girls have had more than their share."
The conversation shifts to the raid itself, everyone recounting their part in the assault on the compound. I contribute when necessary, but my mind keeps drifting back to Amy. To thefierce defiance in her eyes even with Mike's gun at her head. To how she drove her elbow into his ribs the moment I created an opening. Fighter's instinct. Survivor's instinct.
Two hours and several drinks later, the clubhouse has settled into its usual evening rhythm. Music plays from the jukebox, a few of the guys shoot pool, and the atmosphere has lightened considerably. A successful mission tends to do that. Reminds us why we do what we do.
I slip away from the main room, telling myself I'm just checking the perimeter like we always do after an operation. But my feet carry me toward the east wing where Evelyn took the Stone sisters. I'm not planning to disturb Amy. She needs rest more than anything, but something in me needs to know she's okay.
