Page 82 of Serpentine

He turns and becomes a shadow again, barely discernible through the night veiling him.

Love?

TWENTY-FIVE

MILES

It’s been a full day since the explosion. It’s also been a day since we left a little treat for the Jackals leaning against The Dirty Pour's entrance. I don’t know if Vito’s true intent was to start a war over his sister, but after I killed his man in the restaurant bathroom, it turned into something personal. Especially after they blew up Kylo’s tow truck. Had it been anything else, we’d have decimated the fucking bar, and they likely knew that.

How they found us is the more pressing issue.

“So, we think it was Aella?” Kylo asks, and I come back around. Braxton and Kylo are before me in my office, and I reach up and rub my temples.

Anger has been my constant state since she left and all this shit began. Since Aella Montague showed up, our lives have been turned upside down, and it’s easy to see the two as connected, even if I know they’re not.

“What do you mean it was Aella?” I ask, voice leaking venom.

Brax clears his throat, pulling my stare over to him. “He means she came here, and she was likely followed. They had eyes on her before, when they infiltrated that restaurant. They know she’s a sore spot for us, and they’re angry. It would stand to reason she was being followed, even if she didn’t think she was.”

I know he’s right. She didn’t realize how far away someone could be and still have her on their radar. I’m still angry that she didn’t listen, even if I had registered the change in my brother since she came into his life. After so much commotion last night, he’s being helpful in my office rather than being dug into his basement and overwhelmed. I wholeheartedly believe it’s because of her.

Since then, I’ve thought of nothing but them on the hood of that fucking Lexus, fucking under a blanket of Oregon stars. Half of me is happy it finally happened. The other half of me is jealous. Not because it was him instead of me, but because I wasn’t there to witness it.

I scrub the thoughts and words that have been lingering in my mind.

There had been a moment between Braxton and me, one I don’t like to think about because it confuses me. It seems he’s comfortable discussing it as if it’s as natural to him as breathing.

My upbringing was clear cut, black and white, especially in this world, but Braxton believes sexuality is as fluid as you want it to be. He has no shame in his feelings or wants, and I wish I could be the same.

“Hello? Pres?” Kylo says, waving his hands in front of my face. “What’s our next move?”

“Is Sully back on Aella?” I ask Braxton, ignoring Kylo completely. He huffs at the dismissal and sits back in his chair.

Braxton nods. “He is. He swapped with Blaze early this morning. However, Blaze said she came running out into the street when she couldn’t get you on the phone last night. She was distraught, he said.”

“She can’t be doing that,” I tell him, scrubbing my face in annoyance.

“Blaze told her as much,” Brax replies.

My eyes snap at him. “How did he tell her?”

Blaze can be a loose cannon. He also has very pointed views on relationships inside the club.

“Told her she needs to lie low and behave herself was all he told me,” Kylo answers.

A snarl gets caught in my throat at the thought of anyone telling her what to do other than myself or Braxton, and Brax smirks knowingly.

“Where do we think they’re going to hit back?” Kylo says, not realizing the moment going on between Braxton and me. He’s oblivious to most things surrounding him, making him easy to work with.

“If I were them? Zeke’s. I’ll need you to get a couple of men on watch over there.”

Kylo nods. “Will do, Pres.”

Braxton and I remain silent when he stands and moves out of the room like he knows I need it.

“Blaze was doing his job,” Brax says, breaking the silence.

“I know that.”