chapter 3

CHAPTER three:

BLADE POV

The cop let me in, or she didn't have much choice.

I locked the door behind me and my battle instincts kicked in immediately. In three seconds I surveyed the entire one room apartment. I took note of the almost empty sitting room, the kitchen that looked so neat then the bedroom.

Only one escape route, that was the only door I had just come in, and probably where the three Devil's Disciples were about to knock.

"Who are you really?" the cop whispered, her gun still pointed at my chest.

Cute. Like that would stop me if I wanted her dead.

"Someone trying to keep you alive." I pulled out my phone, fingers flying over the screen.

"You got bursted tonight."

"Impossible. My cover's perfect…" I started,

"Your cover's garbage." I sent a quick text, before glancing at the gun that only special agents possess.

"You smell like a cop. Walk like a cop, Talk like a cop. The only reason Tank didn't see it is because he trusts everyone too much. But Venom?" I gestured toward the door. "He is not easily convinced."

"Venom?"

"President of the Devil's Disciples. A paranoid bastard who thinks everyone new is FBI." I looked at her… really looked at her for the first time since the bar.

And I will say I was not disappointed. She was pretty good looking, even without makeup. Brown eyes that turned gold in the lamplight. Fighter's stance. The way the small of her back perked up…

Concentrate. I whispered to myself.

"He saw a new girl asking questions and sent his dogs to sniff around."

The sound of footsteps echoed lightly, before it stopped in front of her door.

The cop… Sophia, her real name was, according to the files I'd hacked… raised her gun higher. Her hands are steady and calm.

At least she was not a novice, Good.

"Why are you helping me?" she demanded, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Because if they kill you, the FBI sends someone worse. Someone I might not spot so easily." It was half true. The real reason was complicated, and right now was not the ideal time to be complicated.

But something about her reminded me of…

No. Don't go there.

"Get in the bathroom," I ordered. "Let me handle this."

"I'm not hiding while…"

"You're FBI. They are suspicious of you already. That's if they don't already know who you are. But if they see me, they see Iron Wolves enforcers who are having a good time in a motel… that would buy you some time to clean your shit." I moved to the door,

"Bathroom, Now. And take that damn earpiece out before they scan for bugs."

She hesitated for three seconds, before she moved.

Smart girl. Definitely not stupid.

I waited until the bathroom door clicked shut, then opened the front door just as they were about to knock.

Three Devil's Disciples stood there, leather vests gleaming. I knew two of them…Cobra and Snake. Real original names. The third was new meat, probably nineteen, trying to look tough.

"Blade!" Cobra said, surprised. "Hell you doing here?"

"Could ask you the same thing?" I leaned against the doorframe, blocking their view inside, while putting out an irritated expression. "This is neutral territory. You lost? Or something?"

"Looking for someone." Cobra tried to peer past me. "New bartender from the Rose. Cute little thing, dark hair, red lipstick. She in there?"

"Why would she be in my room?" I kept my voice bored, it wasn't hard to feign irritation as the mere sight of them irked me to my bones.

Snake laughed. "Blade got himself a girlfriend? Does Tank know about this?"

"Tank knows I don't answer stupid questions." I crossed my arms. I was truly getting fed up. "The girl went home hours ago. Saw her head east in a beat-up Honda."

"You sure?" Cobra, the oldest among them, wasn't buying it. "Venom said…"

"Venom says lots of things. Most of them are wrong." I straightened up to my full height, letting them remember who they were dealing with. "Now unless you want to explain to your president why you started a war over a bartender, I suggest you head back to your own territory."

The young one stepped forward, all puffed up and stupid. "Maybe we should check…"

I moved fast, One hand on his throat, slamming him against the wall hard enough to rattle his young teeths.

"Maybe," I said quietly, "you should learn when to shut up."

Cobra and Snake pulled him back. "Easy, Blade. The kid doesn't know better."

"Then teach him." I released the boy, who was gasping for air. "Before someone teaches him in a less friendly way."

They backed away, hands up in surrender. "No problem here man. We are already going."

I watched them walk down the stairs and drive away on their bikes before closing the door.

The bathroom door opened immediately. Sophia came out, gun still in hand. "They are gone?"

"For now." I walked to the window, checking the parking lot. "But they will be back. Venom doesn't give up easily."

"Why does he care about me?"

"Because you were asking questions about the Iron Wolves. And Venom hates us." I turned to face her. "We have been at war for five years. Ever since…"

I caught myself on time.

"Ever since what?" she pressed.

"Doesn't matter." I moved toward the door.

"What matters is that you are bursted. You need to call whoever is your superior, to come pack you and…"

"I'm not leaving."

I froze, "Excuse me?"

"I said I'm not leaving." She put her gun down, those gold-brown eyes blazing with a kind of fire that made my heart skip a beat.

"I have a job to do."

"Your job that just got you killed."

"Then I will be more careful, next time."

"You don't get it." I walked back to her, getting close enough to see the gold flecks in her eyes. "This isn't some FBI training exercise. These men are dangerous. They can literally murder someone and no one questions them for it."

"I'm aware of the risks."

"Are you?" I leaned down, forcing her to look up at me. "You know what Venom did to the last undercover fed? It took him three days to die. They found pieces all over the desert."

She didn't flinch. I didn't back down like I expected. She just stared right back at me with fire in her eyes.

Damn.

"Why are you really here?" I asked. "What did the Iron Wolves do that made you stupid enough to go undercover? And willing to be a fool to risk everything"

Her jaw tightened. "That's none of your business."

"It is if you're coming after my family."

"Your family?" She laughed bitterly. "They're criminals."

"They're my brothers." I stepped back before I did something stupid like shake sense into her. "And unless you tell me what you want, I can't help you."

"I don't want your help."

"Too bad. You got it anyway." I pulled out my phone again. "Give me your number."

"Why would I…"

"Because when Venom comes back…which he will… you'll need someone who knows how to make bodies disappear." I met her eyes. "Your FBI friends can't help you here, Sophia. But I can. Accept my help now. I am offering."

She froze at her real name. "How do you know…"

"I know everything." I said simply, heading for the door. "Stay off the devils Disciples radar. No more questions at the bar. No more snooping. Just serve drinks and keep your head down."

"And if I don't?"

I looked back at her one last time. Standing there in her cheap motel room with her perfect cover blown and her gun still gripped tightly. she looked young. Too young for this life.

Too young to die.

"Then I will be planning your funeral," I said. "And trust me, sweetheart, you don't want me picking the flowers."

I left before she could respond.

Outside, I sat on my bike for a minute, deep in thoughts. I should tell Tank about her. Should expose her to the club. She was FBI… the enemy.

But I know deep down I wouldn't.

Maybe it was the fire in her eyes. Maybe it was the way she didn't flinch when I got close. Maybe it was because she reminded me of…

No.

I started my bike and rode into the night,

While trying not to think about brown eyes that refused to leave my mind.

Trying not to wonder what the FBI really wanted with us.

And trying really hard not to care if she lived or died.

But as the cool night breeze ripped past me, I stared at the ten digits that had “trouble” saved on it…

I realized I was failing at all three.