Cruel Vows

We practically jump a mile when I hear Axel’s voice behind us. “Who’s creepy?”

I turn to face him, plastering on my best fake smile. “This patron who keeps coming in here and hitting on us pretty strong,” I lie.

He assesses me with narrowed eyes before nodding. “Fair enough. You two get ready to leave.”

“Leave?” Alice asks.

“Yeah, we’re going to crash a party and we need a couple of girls with us.”

My brow furrows. “What about the bar?”

“We’re shutting up early.”

Alice and I exchange glances as something is up.

“What kind of party?” Alice asks.

Axel blows out an irritated breath, narrowing his eyes. “Quit with the questions and get ready.” With that, he marches away from the bar and out into the parking lot, lighting up a cigarette before he’s even stepped foot outside.

Rick approaches the bar and lowers his voice. “Axel is crashing a Morrone family party up at their mansion.”

“What?”

“I know.” He nods. “It’s insane, but he’s desperate since the Callaghan Clan hasn’t been able to supply him enough product.”

“And why the fuck does he need to drag me and Alice into it?” I hiss.

Rick winces, shrugging. “You’re under his employ, so he thinks he can boss you around.”

I glare at my brother, who is falling into my bad books more and more with each day that passes. “I’m fucking fed up with this.”

Elijah appears from nowhere, clearing his throat. “Fed up with what, darling?”

I clear my throat. “Rick never paying me back for money he borrows,” I mutter, as I have no intention of telling this psycho that I’ve had it up to the neck with this dive.

He chuckles, nudging my brother in the ribs. “Spending too much on hookers, hey?”

I shake my head and finish wiping down the bar before locking the cash register. And then I walk to the back office, which houses the safe, and lock the door.

“Ready?” I ask.

Alice nods. “Yeah, I’ll lock up. Go ahead.” I walk out of the bar and into the parking lot.

Axel approaches me. “You’ll ride with me, darling.”

It beats riding with Elijah, but I would have rather gone with my brother, even if he is an asshole for getting me into this mess. “Sure,” I say, following him to his bike. I hop on behind him, affixing my helmet and wrapping my arms around his waist.

“Hold on, this is going to be fun,” Axel says, before revving out of the parking lot and onto the road.

Potentially driving us straight toward our demise, as the Morrone family aren’t the kind of people you want to mess with.

* * *

“Areyou sure this is a good idea?” I whisper to Rick.

It’s probably one of the worst ideas I’ve heard Axel come up with in a long time, but no one will challenge him. Breaking into a Morrone family party seems like a dumb thing to do, especially since he wants them to supply him with drugs.

Rick glances at his fellow members and then mutters, “I think he’s lost it, to be honest.”

I sigh in relief, thankful that my brother hasn’t completely gone off the rails. “Can’t we hide somewhere? I think this will end up blowing back in our faces.”

Rick shakes his head. “We have to do what he says.”

I clench my jaw, hating how loyal my brother has become to the motorcycle club. It’s ridiculous, and yet I know he doesn’t really have a choice. Once you’re in, you’re in for life. There’s no getting out, unless you want to be buried six-feet under.

Axel walks straight up to the entrance and speaks with the guy at the front. That’s when I see him pass something to him, no doubt cash. And then he waves us through.

“That was too easy,” I mutter.