CHAPTER SIX: THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

Colt dragged me out of the warehouse on a run. Razor followed, speaking rapid commands into his radio.

"How many?" Colt demanded.

"Twenty-three now. More coming." Razor's voice was grim. "Viper himself is here."

Colt cursed. "Get everyone armed. Women and prospects to the safe room. I want snipers on the roof in two minutes."

"Who is Viper?" I gasped, struggling to keep up.

"Their president. A psychopath who thinks he owns the world." Colt pulled me into the clubhouse, slamming the door behind us. The room was chaos—men grabbing weapons, women being herded toward a back hallway, everyone moving with military precision.

Candy appeared, her face pale. "Colt, what is happening?"

"The Serpents are here for her." He shoved me toward her. "Take her to the safe room. Do not let her out of your sight."

"No." I yanked my arm free. "I am not hiding while people die for me."

"You do not have a choice."

"Yes, I do." I stepped closer, my voice shaking but firm. "If they want me, I will go. I will not let you start a war over—"

His hand shot out, gripping my throat. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make his point.

"You are not going anywhere." His voice was deadly quiet. "You think I fought this hard, bled this much, to hand you over to a monster worse than Derek? Not happening."

"But—"

"No buts. No arguments." He released me, turning to Razor. "Get her in the safe room. Chain her if you have to."

A knock echoed through the clubhouse. Slow. Deliberate. Mocking.

Everyone froze.

"Colt Richardson!" A voice called from outside. Smooth. Cultured. Wrong. "Let us talk like civilized men. No need for violence. Yet."

Colt's jaw clenched. "Hammer, you are with me. Everyone else, stay alert."

"Colt, do not go out there," I pleaded. "Please."

He looked at me one last time. "If something happens to me, Razor is in charge. You do what he says. Understand?"

"Colt—"

He was already gone.

Candy pulled me toward the back. "Come on. Now."

"I cannot just—"

"You can and you will." Her grip was iron. "You think you are being brave? You are being stupid. Men like Viper do not negotiate. They take what they want and burn everything else."

She shoved me through a doorway and down concrete stairs. The safe room was underground—reinforced walls, cameras, enough supplies for a siege.

Six other women were already there. They stared at me with a mix of fear and anger.

"Is this because of her?" one hissed. "The Serpents are here because of the runaway bride?"

"Shut up, Crystal." Candy locked the door behind us. "We have bigger problems."

A monitor on the wall showed multiple camera angles. I saw Colt and Hammer walking toward the gate. Beyond it, twenty-three motorcycles. And standing in front, a man who made Derek look like a child.

Viper.

Tall. Silver hair despite looking only forty. Expensive suit. And eyes that were completely empty.

Colt stopped ten feet from the gate. "You are on my property. State your business."

"Business?" Viper smiled. "I am here to collect what was purchased. A transaction was made. Fifty thousand dollars for one Jenna Marie Carter. I have the contract right here."

He held up papers.

"I do not care about your fake contract," Colt said. "She is under my protection. Leave. Now."

"Protection?" Viper laughed. "From what I hear, she was your runaway bride. The girl who destroyed you. Why would you protect her?"

"That is none of your concern."

"But it is." Viper stepped closer to the gate. "See, I did my research, Richardson. I know all about your tragic love story. And I am willing to make you a deal."

"I do not make deals with traffickers."

"Not even to save your club?" Viper's smile widened. "Give me the girl, and I walk away. No blood. No war. You keep your territory, and I get what I paid for. Everyone wins."

"Except her."

"Does she matter?" Viper tilted his head. "Really? After what she did to you? You could have your revenge. Hand her over, and she gets exactly what she deserves."

I watched Colt's face on the monitor. I saw something flicker there.

Doubt? Temptation?

My chest tightened.

"No deal," Colt said finally.

Relief flooded through me.

"Pity." Viper sighed. "I really hoped to avoid this." He pulled out a phone, tapped something, and held it up.

The screen showed a woman. Older. Gray hair. Tied to a chair.

Colt went rigid. "Mom."

"Found her at her house about an hour ago." Viper's voice was casual. "Nice lady. Made me coffee before we tied her up. Very polite."

"You son of—"

"The deal is simple, Richardson. The girl for your mother. You have five minutes to decide." Viper checked his watch. "After that, your mother starts losing fingers. Then toes. Then we get creative."

Colt's hands were shaking. I could see it even through the camera.

"One minute has passed," Viper said cheerfully.

Hammer leaned close to Colt, whispering something I could not hear.

Colt shook his head violently.

"Two minutes."

I stood up. "I have to go out there."

"Sit down," Candy ordered.

"They have his mother! I cannot let them—"

"You go out there, you will be sold to the highest bidder." Crystal's voice was sharp. "Used until you break. Then killed. That is what the Serpents do."

"I do not care." I moved toward the door. "Unlock it."

"No."

I spun on Candy. "He is going to trade his mother's life for mine. I can see it on his face. And I will not let that happen."

"Colt gave orders—"

"I do not care about his orders!" I was screaming now. "That woman raised him. I loved him. She does not deserve to die because of me."

On the monitor, Viper spoke again. "Three minutes. Tick tock, Richardson."

Colt's shoulders sagged. "If I give you Jenna, will you let my mother go? Unharmed?"

"You have my word."

"Your word means nothing."

"Then what choice do you have?" Viper spread his hands. "This is business, Richardson. Nothing personal. The girl was purchased legally. She belongs to us now."

"Four minutes."

Colt looked back at the clubhouse. Directly at the camera.

And I knew.

He was going to do it. He was going to trade me.

"Candy, please." Tears streamed down my face. "Let me out. Let me choose this. It is my life. My choice."

She stared at me for a long moment. Then slowly, she reached for the lock.

"Candy, no!" Crystal shouted. "Colt will kill you!"

"Probably." Candy opened the door. "But she is right. It is her choice."

I ran up the stairs, bursting into the clubhouse. Men shouted. Tried to grab me.

I was faster.

I threw open the front door and ran toward the gate.

"Jenna, no!" Colt's roar echoed behind me.

But I was already at the fence. Already climbing over.

Already making my choice.

I dropped to the other side and stood before Viper.

"I am Jenna Carter," I said, my voice steady despite the terror flooding through me. "Let his mother go. I will come willingly."

Viper's smile was terrible. Beautiful. "Smart girl."

He snapped his fingers.

One of his men handed him a phone. Viper tapped the screen, and I heard a woman's voice. "Colt? Colt, what is happening?"

"Let her go," I repeated. "Now."

"Done." Viper pocketed the phone. "She is being released as we speak. See? I am a man of my word."

Behind me, Colt was screaming. Fighting against Hammer and three other men holding him back.

"Jenna! Jenna, do not do this!"

Viper's hand closed around my arm. "Time to go, sweetheart. You are going to make me a lot of money."

They dragged me toward a bike.

I looked back one last time.

Colt had broken free. Was running toward the gate.

Our eyes met.

And I mouthed two words: "I am sorry."

Then Viper's men threw me onto a bike, and we were moving.

Away from the compound.

Away from safety.

Away from the only man I ever loved.

And toward a hell I could not even imagine.

Behind us, I heard one last thing.

Colt's voice, raw with rage and grief, screaming my name into the night.