Chapter 4

~death~

Dragging my tired body back through the club's door, I made my way upstairs to my room until I bumped into a small figure.

Grumbling a sorry, I continued walking until I heard her voice.

"Good night, Death," her soft voice echoed along the stairway.

I stopped for a moment, glancing back at her. "Good night," I muttered, barely loud enough for her to hear. Without waiting for a response, I turned and kept walking.

Reaching my room, I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, closing my eyes. Her voice lingered in my mind, soft and gentle.

I sighed and pushed off the door, heading to my bed. As I lay down, exhaustion washed over me, but sleep didn't come easy. Her face and voice kept replaying in my mind.

"Focus, Death," I whispered to the empty room. I had to keep my distance, keep her safe from the darkness that clung to me.

The next day I woke up to banging on my door. I got up and made my way to the door, swinging it open, ready to cuss out the person on the other side.

"What the fuck is it?" I grumbled.

Jax stood there, frozen for a moment.

"Fucking speak," I stated.

Shaking himself out of his daze, he finally managed to say, "Prez wants to see you."

I nodded, closing the door in his face as I got ready. Heading toward the prez's door, I knocked once until I heard his gruff voice say, "Enter."

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes," the prez stated. "I need you to do a job for me."

At that, my body tensed as I prepared to become what the club knows me by—Death. "What do you need me to do?" I asked, tuning out all other thoughts.

"What I'm about to tell you can't leave this room," the prez stated.

I nodded and waited for him to continue.

"My sister's in trouble."

At the mention of his sister, my body tensed further.

"It turns out her boyfriend was doing some illegal shit and had her helping. When she found out about it, she ran. Now her ex and his crew are after her, and probably the cartel too."

"Shit," I cursed under my breath.

The prez leaned forward, his eyes hard. "I need you to protect her, Death. You're the only one I trust with this."

Protect her. The words echoed in my mind, bringing with them a mix of dread. "What exactly are you asking?" I asked, my voice steady.

"Keep her safe. Handle anyone who comes after her. And find a way to end this," he said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

I nodded, "Understood."

The prez's eyes softened just a fraction. "I know this isn't easy, but I trust you."

I nodded again, turning to leave. "I'll take care of it," I said, my mind already shifting into gear. As I walked out of the office, I knew there was no room for error. Not with her life on the line.

But how was I going to protect her when all that went through my mind when it came to her was, "fuck her!" This was going to be a challenge.

As I made my way downstairs, I couldn't shake the conflicting thoughts. I had to stay professional and keep my head in the game. This wasn't just about my attraction to her; it was about her safety.

I found her in the main area, talking to Spider and Drifter. She looked up as I approached a mix of curiosity and apprehension in her eyes.

"Vick," I said, my voice gruff. "We need to talk."

She nodded, excusing herself from the conversation and following me to a quieter corner of the room.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"Your brother wants me to protect you," I said bluntly. "Things are going to get rough, and I need you to follow my lead. No arguments."

Her eyes widened slightly, but she nodded. "I understand."

"Good," I replied, trying to ignore the way my pulse quickened when she looked at me like that. "Stay close, and don't wander off. Got it?"

"Got it," she said, her voice steady.

I said, leading her away from the main area. This was going to be one hell of a challenge, but I had to stay focused. Her life depended on it.