Page 46 of Devil's Vengeance

“I…” I debated using the lie I told Nevada, but I didn’t think it’d help anymore. I fought off a grimace as I explained. “I was approached a week ago at my work. A man I didn’t know flirted with me, asked me out. I didn’t realize he was dangerous until he took me to a bar filled with his crew. I got scared and called Chase for help. He told me I could call him if I ever needed help.”

I was trying to show he was a good and trustworthy man, but they didn’t blink.

“I tried to get out on my own, but one of them followed me. Chase showed up just as he attacked me. That’s when I found out I was bait to get Chase to that bar. More of my date’s crew came out and attacked us. We got away, but… My date threatened me. Said he’d come after me because he thought I was seeing Chase. I’ve been staying here ever since.”

They must’ve believed my story because they quickly dismissed me and turned back to Chase.

“What bar?” Croy demanded.

Chase hung his head, defeated. “Outpost.”

I thought Croy was scary before, but watching his face transform to something feral was terrifying. “That’s in our territory! How the fuck long have you known they were here?”

Chase shook his head again. “It didn’t matter. It was personal. He was here for me and–”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence before Croy hit him again.

“Obviously fucking not! And you’d know that if you used your goddamn head and told your crew that someone was in our territory who didn’t belong!”

I’d wondered at one point why Chase never got his crew involved. It was him against all of Trick’s crew at the bar, and still Chase never told anyone. It didn’t feel like my place to ask before, and now that I felt like I could talk to him about it, I might not get the chance. It looked like Croy was ready to kill him.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t end you right now,” Croy demanded. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you sold your crew out for an old grudge. You ignored a direct order to let it go and drew them here. So give me one good reason to keep you alive.”

He didn’t answer, and I knew what would happen if he didn’t speak up. It scared the hell out of me.

“Chase,” I pleaded. He looked up at me, his expression full of pain andguilt. I knew how hard it was for him to tell me that story the first time. I wasn’t sure he could get it out on his own. “Let me tell them.”

He looked conflicted for a moment. When he finally agreed, it was with a barely there nod that I wouldn’t have noticed if my gaze wasn’t glued to him. Sucking in a sharp breath, I swung to look at Croy, firming up my resolve. I had to protect him, just like he protected me.

“Itwaspersonal. Trick and Chase went to high school together. They were friends. Them and the third in their group. Hannah. She was Chase’s girlfriend for a while before she switched to Trick. Chase warned her against him, but Trick is slimy and manipulative. I should know since he used the same act on me. Made me think he was sweet and honest, when he was actually a snake.”

Croy scowled at me. “Get to the fuckin’ point.”

I hurried to get the rest of the story out. “Trick brought Hannah to a biker bar when they were seventeen. The crew who was there was in the middle of a war with another club and they were attacked. Trick survived. Hannah didn’t. It never had anything to do with your crew or Trick’s. It was personal. To pay back Trick for not protecting Hannah like he should’ve. It shouldn’t have gone past the two of them.”

I wasn’t sure if the story made a difference. Croy didn’t look any less pissed. I tried again.

“He was going to deal with it. It wouldn’t have taken this long if it wasn’t for me. He’s been protecting me from Trick, who targeted me because I was in the vicinity when he came looking for Chase. Please. It’s my fault Trick escalated it. I got in the way.”

CHASE

I wanted to tell her to stop. She wasn’t to blame for any of this. It was my damn fault she got caught in the crossfire. And it was my fault Trick hung around long enough to cause trouble for my crew. A part of me thought the phone call to Ruiz was just Trick playing games with me. Trying to get me in trouble with my crew like I did with him. But I couldn’t tell that to Croyright now. He was already pissed. If I wanted to get out with my life, I needed to know when to keep my mouth shut.

Keeping my head down was both a show of remorse and a necessity. My head was screaming and my body throbbed in each spot Croy hit me. The bastard could throw a punch just as well as Reaper could. It would be days before I could stand upright again. Which was how I didn’t notice Croy’s order to release me until Brewer and Clink let go. I dropped to the floor, only just catching myself before my face hit the ground. When I looked up, Croy’s glare was locked on me.

“I thought you were done lying to me, Chase.”

Shame slammed into me, but I stayed silent.

“What are you talking about, Prez?” Clink demanded, looking between me and Croy. I shook my head, but I knew I couldn’t stop him from sharing that stupid story. Just another nail in the coffin showing the crew that I’d lied to them from day one.

“Right before his initiation, I found out he gave me a fake name. That’s why I never gave him a new one. He told me his old name was dead and buried. I let him off because of what he did for Riley. Do you remember what I said I’d do to you if you lied to me again?”

“You said you’d gut me,” I replied, eyes downcast. I really fucked up this time. I just hoped they’d deal with me away from Mariah. I didn’t want her watching when they killed me. I didn't want her here now.

But instead of reaching for me, Croy walked away, stunning us all.

“Officer meeting,” he called over his shoulder. “We’re taking a vote to decide his fate.”