Page 52 of Hellfire

Steele rounded the corner, a knife in one hand. “Katrina, what happened?” he asked, pulling me into his warm embrace.

“They took her,” I managed to get out.

“Who?”

“The vampires,” I whispered. My eyes darted to the doorway of a nearby store, making sure no one overheard us.

Steele’s gaze locked onto mine, a determined look on his face. “I should have never left you alone,” he growled. “I need to get you back to the clubhouse.”

“But what about Diamond? We have to save her,” I said, my voice cracking. My heart raced with fear and adrenaline.

Steele’s expression softened, and he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “We will, Katrina. But we need to regroup and come up with a plan first.”

As we climbed into Steele’s car and sped off, my mind raced with thoughts of Diamond.

Is she hurt? Scared?

I couldn’t bear the thought of her being alone with those monsters.

Chapter Twenty

Katrina

I paced restlessly in the empty clubhouse, the echoes of my footsteps a constant reminder of the absence of the crew. The weight of worry clung to me like a suffocating embrace and tugged at my insides with relentless force. I only hoped that Diamond would be okay once the club found her.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, I stumbled outside, hoping the night air would breathe some clarity into my racing thoughts. The crisp evening air sent a shiver down my spine. I wrapped my new cardigan around me tighter as I walked.

As I approached the garden, the moon cast a haunting glow over the deserted parking lot. As I ventured deeper into the garden, a chill danced along my spine, sending a wave of unease. My eyes darted around suspiciously. And then I saw Chris, the prospect who had always unsettled me. A shadow seemed to cloak his figure, accentuating the darkness lurking beneath the surface.

I averted my gaze, instinctively trying to avoid the intensity of his stare. Something about Chris had always put me on edge, an unsettling aura that whispered danger. And now, with the club away, I felt vulnerable in his brooding presence.

Chris sat alone at the garden table, his features etched with bitterness and resentment. My steps faltered, hesitation flooding my veins as our eyes locked. In that moment, I could sense the depth of his animosity, a seething anger directed solely at me.

“You always thought you were better than me, didn’t you?” Chris’ voice dripped with hatred, each word like a venomous arrow aimed straight at my heart. I flinched, my steps faltering. “Rejecting me, acting as if I was beneath you, unworthy of your attention.”

My heart skipped a beat, a mixture of shock and confusion washing over me. I had never intended to belittle Chris or make him feel insignificant, but the rejection of his advances had clearly left a bitter mark on his soul.

The weight of his words bore down on me, filling the air with tension. I struggled to find my voice, afraid to anger him further. What was once a subtle discomfort between us had now transformed into an open wound. I had the sudden urge to flee, but I stood my ground.

But before I could respond, a second figure emerged from the shadows. I gasped in a mixture of surprise and relief.

Diamond.How? Did she escape? Did the club rescue her?

I hadn’t heard the sound of the bikes returning. I rushed forward with relief flooding through me.

“Diamond!” I gasped, my voice catching in my throat. “How did you...?”

My words trailed off as Diamond’s expression hardened, a malicious smile playing upon her beautiful face. I stumbled backward, my heart pounding with a mix of disbelief and unease.

“You thought you could just waltz in here and take what’s mine?” Diamond’s voice dripped with icy disdain, and her bitter laughter echoed through the garden. “Oh, Kat, you truly are blind.”

Diamond stepped forward, her movements fluid and graceful, predatory. Her eyes locked with mine, an icy determination in their depths.

Confusion and betrayal clashed within me, leaving me disoriented and vulnerable. Diamond had been my friend, or so I had believed.

I struggled to make sense of the situation, my mind grasping for answers amidst the chaos. It left me with nothing but shards of shattered trust. My heart ached at her betrayal.

I was so damn tired of the secrets and lies.