Page 9 of Reno’s Rebel
My body is shaking as I realize this has been nothing more than a vacation. Being away from my family, especially my father, has given me a false sense of safety. The reality of life is that no matter how badly I don’t want to be found, I will be.
The scary thought is, will I be found by my family or by the cult I was saved from?
Both of them can and will destroy me.
I trust no one.
No one but the club that is. Being with the club, with Reno, is the only place that makes me feel safe. They don’t keep secrets from each other or anyone close to them. I’m not worried about feeling a knife in my back when I turn around. Not when I’m with them. They have your back.
Reno spins around and pins me with an angry glare. “What the fuck does that mean?” he asks.
Nervous about his sudden shift, I tilt my head, dipping my eyebrows. “What?” I reply, playing dumb.
“Venom will protect the crown,” he says, crossing his arms.
Fuck. He speaks Spanish. Fluently, it seems. I’ve known him all this time, and I had no idea. If it was under any other circumstance, I would think this is amazing, but right now, I’m terrified more questions will be asked or, worse, answers will be demanded.
“When did you start speaking Spanish? I had no idea you could,” I say, trying to distract him.
He takes a step closer as his eyes bounce between mine. “I’m Latino, Valencia. My mother is from Spain. I’ve spoken Spanish my entire life.”
Well damn. I didn’t know he was Latino, but now that I do, the dark hair and eyes make sense. That should be the least of my thoughts right now because he’s still looking at me with curious eyes, and I don’t need that.
“I’d like to go,” I say, turning and slowly walking away.
I hear him tell the salesman that we don’t need any help. My heart sinks, wondering what the hell is going to happen next. I don’t want to lose Reno or the club, but it’s obvious that I can’t stay hidden forever.
At least not without questions being asked.
Reno catches up to me and grabs my arm lightly, stopping me. I turn around, and he raises an eyebrow. “What the hell is going on, Valencia? You were fine until that guy said that. Now you suddenly want to rush out of here. What’s really going on?” he questions.
I shake my head and force a smile. I’m good at that. Pretending to be happy when I’m not.
“That guy has nothing to do with why I want to leave. I’m just not feeling this place. It doesn’t feel right to me. I don’t want to settle, and I feel like here I’d be settling,” I lie.
I don’t want to explain myself or what that man said. I’ll keep my head down like I have and my hair down with it.
I want to enjoy this feeling of being safe.
Even if it’s just for a little while longer.
CHAPTERFIVE
Reno
Something is off. Valencia gave me an excuse about that guy from the car dealership, and she said she wanted to leave. I knew she was lying about settling for something she didn’t want because she’s a bad fucking liar. I could see it all over her face. From the moment he uttered the phrase ‘venom will protect the crown’, she was rattled. I let it seem like I believed her, but the truth is I got a text from Boss in the Iron Vex MC NYC’s group chat that church was being held in 15 minutes. Basically, it meant everyone who was out of the club had fifteen minutes to get back there, and somehow, I managed to get Valencia and me back to the clubhouse within that time frame.
There hasn’t been anything too crazy going on with the club lately, but the other day Cowboy and Mug told me Liam Mackenzie was in town. If anything, I’m going to bet that he has something to do with why church is being called. He contracts the club to provide security for ships that are incoming with guns, or vice versa. We also run protection detail if he has adversaries in the area on occasion, but he doesn’t call on the club to do that too often. All in all, if he or his family members are in the city, they have their own security team which is equipped to handle their needs. They call their team the brotherhood, but most people know them as the mafia brotherhood.
The second we got back to the clubhouse, Valencia walked off, probably heading back to her bedroom. I’m not following her because there’s obviously some reason behind her being so damn nervous. When she realized I understood Spanish, I saw the anxiety crossing over her body. She didn’t like that I knew what the man said to her, but why? What’s the importance of the words he said? I don’t know as of yet, but I will. Since it’s bothered her so much, I feel like I have to find out why, but I have other things to deal with right now.
My brothers and sisters pass me by as they go into the room where Boss holds church. I stay on a couch nearby while Maddox and Maverick are off to the side playing a round of pool. As prospects, we’re not allowed in the room when Boss holds church. One day we’ll earn that right, as long as we’re patched in. It feels like I’ve been a prospect for ten years some days, and while it hasn’t been near that long, it gets frustrating that I somehow haven’t proven myself, after all this time.
As I sit against the wall, Boss’ voice carries through the wall. I don’t know if she knows we can sometimes hear what they’re discussing on the other side, but then again, I know no one would dare tell her. We’d be accused of eavesdropping or digging for information. So far, I’ve heard that the Mackenzie family wants to increase the number of gun shipments coming into New York City. She’s asked if there are any oppositions, but she also lets them know that it means the club will be making more money for each run we do for them. From what I can tell, there isn’t any opposition. Why would we object, though? More money is better for the club in the long run, especially since there are three charters.
Boss adjourns church, but as my brothers and sisters walk past me, Boss stands in the frame of the door. “Reno, I need to have a chat with you.” She disappears back into the room before I can say anything, and I walk into the room, shutting the door behind me.
“What’s up, Prez?” I question, and Boss walks around the table, planting her hands on the solid wood.
