Page 22 of Devil's Queen
“Was there a purpose to his ‘surprise’ visit?” Maya asks, air-quoting the end of her statement.
“He came to warn me. Apparently, there’s been some talk amongst the old guard of their club to try to stir up shit again with the shop.”
“He came here to warn you? Doesn’t that strike you as a little odd considering that’s about the same time he would have been here, a one-of-a-kind bike from the shop is stolen?”
“It’s not him,” I recoil.
“How do you know that? He could have very well come here to serve as a distraction. It’s a little too coincidental, don’t you think?” Cheyenne declares. “You’re smarter than this, Remy. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a fucking duck.”
I go on the defensive. “It wasn’t him!”
Cheyenne’s eyes narrow. “You can’t know that. He’s the president of the Zulu Kings, Remy. The club that has made your life and ours a living hell the last eight years. Those bastards are as slimy as they come, and the reason why half of the French Quarter is rolling deep in meth and fentanyl addicts. What’s so special about this dickhead that you are so defensive about him?”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the rising tide of emotions within me. Cheyenne’s words are cutting, but I understand her concern. The Zulu Kings have caused us more trouble than we can count, and it’s difficult for anyone to trust someone with such close ties to them. Especially me.
“Look, I get it,” I say, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “But Rex is not like the rest of them. We had our history, our own messed-up relationship, but he’s not involved in this. I know him well enough to see that.” I may not be able to forgive him, but I know, deep down, he wouldn’t have come here to warn me and have direct involvement with the bike theft.
Tinley leans forward, her piercing gaze locked onto mine. “Remy, you need to give us more than just your word. We’re all in this together and deserve to know the whole truth.”
She’s right. They deserve an explanation, even if it means revealing parts of my past that I’ve worked so hard to keep hidden. With a heavy sigh, I begin to share the story that has shaped my life and led me down this road—the breaking point that became the foundation of our club.
“Rex came here to tell me that my dad didn’t commit suicide. He was murdered. Apparently, he had his suspicions but was only able to confirm the information he’d overheard when he took over as president.”
“And you believe him?” Tinley asks warily.
“I want to believe him, but with the bike, I haven’t had time to process it yet,” I admit.
“I’m sorry, but this is bullshit. You know it is, Remy,” Cheyenne declares, shoving away from the table to stand up. “Your ex and the Zulu Kings’s president shows up here on the day a bike gets stolen with some incredulous story about your dad, and you believe him. Think about it for a second. He was the patsy. There’s no reason to trust him or his word.”
“Rex is Beaux’s father.” The words blurt out faster than I can stop them. The room erupts into a cacophony of startled voices and incredulous expressions.
Tinley’s eyes widen, her hand covering her mouth. “Oh my God, Remy. Why didn’t you tell us?” she asks, her voice filled with a mix of concern and disbelief.
“You said that his dad was a one-night stand?” Cheyenne’s accusatory tone comes through loud and clear.
“I lied.” I shrug. “Rex and I were together for about a year. When everything went down with Wolff and his demands, we left, and he stayed with the Zulu Kings. I didn’t know I was pregnant until weeks after that.”
Cheyenne’s face contorts with anger as she takes a step forward. “You lied to us? You say that like it’s such a simple explanation. We’re your fucking sisters, Remy. Your club. We, of all people, should have been clued into the fact that your son is the son of a Zulu King. Does he even know about his kid?”
I wince at her words, understanding the weight of my decision now more than ever. The consequences of my silence are staring me in the face, threatening to tear us apart. “He doesn’t know about Beaux. Until this morning, the last time I saw Rex was the day I buried my dad.”
“That doesn’t make it any better, Remy,” Maya interjects, her voice tinged with frustration. “We trusted you, Remy. And you kept something this important from us?”
The room falls into an uncomfortable silence as my friends grapple with their emotions. It feels like the foundation of our bond is crumbling beneath us. In that moment, I realize that secrets have a way of unraveling even the tightest of relationships. “I know I messed up,” I admit quietly, my voice laced with regret. “But you have to realize I was barely an adult when I had Beaux. Mom and I had been out on our asses for two months, living here in the office when I found out I was pregnant.”
The room’s tension softens slightly as my friends listen to my confession. Their eyes soften with understanding, empathy replacing their anger. I continue, my voice filled with vulnerability.
“I was scared, overwhelmed, and completely unprepared for motherhood. The last thing I wanted was for my child to grow up in the chaos of the Zulu Kings. So, I made the difficult decision to keep Beaux a secret, not just from Rex but from all of you as well.”
Tinley reaches across the table, her hand finding mine. “Remy, we can understand why you did what you did. We may be hurt and angry right now, but deep down, we know how fiercely protective you are of those you love. I think we can all agree that this is a shock to us all.”
Maya nods in agreement. “We’re not saying it was the right choice, but we understand why you made it.”
“I’m not so sure that I do. Do you realize how much of a target this could paint on you and us if he finds out about Beaux?” Cheyenne’s expression remains hardened, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Not to mention the bike theft. This is giving them more ammunition to come after you.”
“Rex isn’t behind this. You have to trust me on that.” I take a deep breath, bracing myself for Cheyenne’s reaction.
“I’m not sure I can trust anyone who wears their colors.”