Page 106 of Vicious Cycle
Knowing full well that Rev and Bishop would tell him about the encounter, I replied, “He paid me a visit yesterday.”
“Tell me everything,” Deacon demanded.
One of my favorite poems has always been Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”. As I stood there in Deacon’s arms, I faced my own crossroads. One way would be the easy route where I told Deacon about Sigel wanting the cut. That way would lead to a showdown that would end with one or both of them dead. I had just gotten Deacon back. I didn’t intend to lose him again.
The second path entailed the plan I had masterminded on the back of Archer’s bike. It entailed me not only lying to the man I loved, but it meant putting myself into extreme danger to ensure the safety of the ones I held dear. In the end, it wasn’t as hard a choice as I had thought it would be. It was the reason why I’d stolen the cut tonight. Only I would face Sigel when it came to handing over the cut.
“Alex, what are you hiding from me?” Deacon inquired.
In that instant, I realized there was a way to be both honest with Deacon at this moment and still enact my plan. “He wants his son’s cut from the War Closet.”
Deacon’s brows furrowed. “He came to your school to ask you for it?”
“I think he knew he wouldn’t have a shot to talk to me anywhere else that wouldn’t be overrun with Raiders. Maybe it was a ploy to make the Raiders back off of me. I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either, but whatever it is, I sure as hell don’t like it. I’m thankful that you didn’t bring Willow home yet.”
I gasped. “Wait how did you know Willow was still there and not with us?”
He gave me a shadowy smile. “I have my ways of checking on her.”
“Some sort of GPS like in my bracelet?”
“Yeah.” After Deacon swiped a hand over his face, he asked, “What about the cut?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is it still at the clubhouse?” When I hesitated, Deacon grabbed me by the hands. “Dammit, Alex, you have to be honest with me right now.”
“Fine. I have it.”
His eyes bulged in horror. “You stole the cut to give to Sigel?”
I jerked my hands away from his. “What did you expect me to do? I thought you were dead, and I had to protect myself and Willow.”
“Fucking hell,” Deacon muttered as he jerked a hand through his dark head.
“He’s supposed to call me to meet up for the trade,” I whispered.
“The trade? Do you honestly think he’s just going to take the cut and let you live happily ever after?”
“Of course not. I’m not an idiot!” I screamed.
Deacon neck snapped back like I’d slapped him. “Then just what exactly were you planning on doing?”
A ragged breath shuddered through me. “Kill him.”
With an expression of utter and complete disbelief, Deacon said, “Are you fucking with me?”
“No.”
“You were going to try to kill Sigel?”
“Yes, I was.”
“Christ, Alexandra, have you lost your mind?”
“Fuck. You,” I muttered.
