Being in Alex’s room alone makes me feel awkward, but she said she would be back in a moment, so I don’t want to run out and miss the chance to hang out. In her absence, I pace awkwardly, unable to stay still. That fight with Jeremy is making me stupid needy, but I can’t seem to help myself. I crave having a friendship with someone who doesn’t have to “follow orders” all the damn time. Then again, I don’t really know anybody very well who isn’t under control of the club.
Muted voices bring my attention to the hallway. I try not to be nosy, but the masculine conversation draws me in. The men speak in hushed tones as if trying to hide, but they’re not doing a very good job at it. I can hear them really well the more I listen in and the closer I get to the open doorway.
“Got everybody up here,” the deeper voice says. “Fucking idiots don’t know it’s coming.” I hold my breath and give it a moment, trying to place the voice. When it comes to me, it’s like a freightliner crashing into my chest—Uncle Rig. I don’t know who he’s talking about, but something doesn’t sit right with me.
“Good. He know I’m coming?” the other voice asks. The slight Midwestern inflection of his voice tells me it’s Daniel. I close my eyes and pray that listening in on this conversation isn’t as bad as it feels.
“No, couldn’t get to him. Should only have one guard on Michael right now. Get in and get him out as quickly as you can.”
“Where am I taking him?” Daniel asks.
“Get him to the Italian. He should be nearby if not already there. Keep your cover as long as you can,” Rig says.
Get Michael? What the hell? Their heavy steps creep away from Alex’s room and toward the sliding glass door at the other end of the hall. I suck in a breath and place my forehead on the wall before me. It sounds like Uncle Rig and Daniel are thinking about busting Michael out of the Ian’s house. And even though I know that’s what I heard, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it. That doesn’t make any sense at all. They’re Forsaken.
Still, I have to talk to somebody about it. Somebody I can trust.
I have to find Dad or Jeremy.
CHAPTER 24
April
12 months to Mancuso’s downfall
In the moments that pass after hearing of Uncle Rig and Daniel’s betrayal, I find myself unable to breath. My lungs drained with the need for oxygen, but my body refuses to comply. My muscles grow tense, and it’s difficult to move the longer that my body fights its natural need to care for itself.
Once I’m sure they are long gone, I dart out of Alex’s room intent on finding anybody I think I can trust. That’s not a whole hell of a lot of people, to be honest, but if I can find Dad or Jeremy or maybe even Aunt Ruby, I might be able to stop the entire world from imploding.
Rushing out into the hallway, I practically slam right into Alex. She laughs with the surprise shriek and asks if I’m okay.
“Where’s your mom?” I ask, not taking a moment to be polite about it.
“Outside, I think,” she says.
I don’t bother to thank her. I just push past her and rush out the front door.
Just off the deck, surrounded by a couple of old ladies and Chel, Aunt Ruby stands with a beer in her hand and a casual smile on her face. I push off the side of the house and run to her, tugging on her arm the moment I reach her. She jerks back violently with wide eyes and an explosive fear plastered on her face.
“What the hell?”
“Need your help,” I say and tug her away from her conversation. With jerky movements, I survey my surroundings and make sure we’re alone once we reach the garage. The door’s open and nobody is in sight, so we should be safe. I hope.
“Problem,” I say. “I have to tell you something, and you’re probably going to think I’m crazy, but it’s super important that you know I’m telling you the truth.” It’s not just kind of a big deal to tell somebody that somebody is betraying the patch—it’s the kind of deal that wars start over and entire villages get slaughtered because of. Trusting Aunt Ruby with this should be considered a compliment, but I have a feeling she’s not going to consider it as such.
“If it’s important, just tell me,” she says softly. Aunt Ruby doesn’t do soft very often, but when she does, you know she means business.
“I overheard Uncle Rig and Daniel talking about getting Michael out of Ian’s house. They called the club a bunch of idiots, and they said something about working with ‘the Italian,’ ” I tell her in a rush.
Ruby appraises me. Everybody who knows me is well aware that I’m comfortable telling a little white lie, but I hope they all know I wouldn’t lie about something this serious.
“Baby, I’m sure you heard them wrong. I know that sounds scary, but the club probably has a reason for what they’re doing.”
“No,” I say, “I heard Uncle Rig call everybody a bunch of idiots. He’s betraying the club, like right the hell now, and I need you to help me get Dad down there to stop him.”
“Cheyenne, have you been drinking?”
“No! What the hell?”