We were having a great time. We called Leti as soon as the guys left, letting her know we were having a girl's night at the clubhouse. Chucky had gone to pick her up about an hour ago, and they had come back laden with pizza – much to Izzy's delight.
We had scoffed the lot whilst playing pool, blasting out all of the music the guys would kill us for listening to whilst in the Mayan clubhouse. I would've loved to see the reactions of people walking by, hearing Jessie J reverberating into the street from our speakers. Even Leti was enjoying it, singing along to Taylor swift at the top of her lungs. That's how we ended up squealing when Chucky pulled out an old beauty from the storage cupboard.
"Karaoke!" Izzy yelled happily, already half way through a bottle of JD. I had opted not to drink, knowing one of us should be sober as we were here without a patch. Leti and Izzy were halfway through murdering a Nickelback song, fully encouraged by the cheers of Chucky and the sweet butts who normally manned the bar, when my phone buzzed. I smiled when I saw it was a text from Angel.
A: All good here, business settled. Wuu2 querida?
I really needed to buy myself a Spanish dictionary for times like these. I quickly sent a text back.
H: Karaoke full blast. Santo Padre is loving the Mayan's new found love of trashy white pop music. Don't tell Coco, but Izzy is getting Leti shit faced.
I giggled at my reply, especially when Angel wrote back instantly.
A: Don't let Bishop find out. He might set Hank on you… or Alvarez.
H: That doesn't scare me. Something tells me you're all more scared of my supposed brother than I am of you lot. You're a bunch of teddy bears. Speaking of brothers… are you and EZ playing nice? Will you be home soon? X
His response made me smile.
A: Guns haven't been drawn… yet. I promise I'm behaving. Won't be home tonight… getting some new ink with Coco, Gilly and EZ. We've got something to celebrate. I'll tell you about it when I'm back. Have a good night with the girls. Stay outta trouble. Te quiero x
H: Ok, ride back safe please! I love you, Angel. Always x
I closed my phone, wondering what they were celebrating. It was certainly odd that only the 4 of them were getting ink if it was a club win. The only thing that those 4 were involved in without the others was… the rebels. My heart sank. What if the rebels were somehow involved with their 'celebration'? Of course Adelita couldn't possibly be at the hotel with them, but what if they had made contact along the way? I couldn't help it… no matter how much I loved and trusted Angel, I didn't like the thought of him around Adelita one bit. She was the one who couldn't be trusted.
I was determined not to let it ruin my night though. I trusted Angel and I had a horrible feeling my anger towards the idea of them seeing each other had more to do with the guilt I felt for lying to him. I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind; there was nothing I could do about it tonight. I was just glad that Angel was safe, with his club and he had let me know what was going on. So, for now, I would throw myself in with the girls and leave the worrying until the morning.
*** MAYANS MC *** *** MAYANS MC *** *** MAYANS MC ***
I woke up with Let's toes in my face. Me, Leti and Izzy had all ended up falling asleep together in my bed after a late night of too much drink and a lot of laughs. It felt amazing to wake up with my girls after a fun night, without worrying about all the stress of the last few days.
Izzy and Leti had drunk a hell of a lot more than me last night, so I left them snoring and headed into the clubhouse. Chucky was already awake, merrily humming to himself as he made breakfast. 2 of the sweet butts were also back, busy tidying up our mess from the night before. I hurried to help them, throwing the pizza boxes in the bin and putting the chairs back where they belonged.
"You don't need to do that, Hope, that's our job," one of the girls, Angela, smiled at me.
"It's ok, I made just as much mess as the rest of you," I laughed, which she returned.
"Yeah but… we're not with one of the guys," She said meaningfully, but I didn't understand what she was getting at. I must have looked confused because she sighed, leaning closer to me.
"Being an old lady? It comes with privileges. Perks. Like you don't have to clean up from the night before," she explained and I blushed. "Don't be embarrassed. You earned that spot. Otherwise you look weak and other girls will try and take advantage of your man. Not us of course… but you can never trust everyone." She shrugged, continuing to clean up like she hadn't just dropped a massive bomb shell on me. Was I Angel's old lady? Was it now considered that I had a role to play in the club? All these club rules were new to me and I knew it was only going to get worse if not only my man was a biker, but also my brother too.
I pondered this whilst drinking the coffee that Chucky brought over for me, until I heard the familiar rev of a Harley pulling into the lot.
I peeked through the blinds, pleased to see it was EZ backing his back up into his usual spot. I grabbed another mug of coffee and went outside to greet him.
"You're early," I commented, handing over my pace offering. I wanted him to know that, despite the tension between him and Angel, the two of us were cool.
"Morning trouble," he responded, smiling in thanks for the coffee. As he reached for the cup, I noticed the newest addition on his arm.
"A… snake?" I asked, indicating his arm. "That's a strange… celebration. That's what you boys were up to last night?" He looked down at the serpent, sighing, and touched his arm subconsciously as he replied.
"Yeah. Guess it was Angel's way of paying me back," he laughed bitterly.
"What do you mean?" I asked confused. "I thought you guys had sorted it." He sighed again, sitting down on the steps outside his trailer.
"Not exactly… does this look sorted to you?" He asked rhetorically. "Branded me a snake and painted it as a warrior symbol." My insides burned with anger… surely Angel wouldn't be so cruel? EZ continued before I could respond.
"He told me he would never rat me out. But I have to give up my spot in the club and leave Santo Padre."
"What?" I asked, dumbfounded. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"We got a call from the DEA. There's something Angel and I have to do. Once we do it, my deal will be gone. Erased," he explained. "Angel wants us complete the task and then told me I have to leave."
"Fuck," I responded, sitting down next to him. "What's the task?" I knew that, whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good. He looked over at me for a second, and I could see he was debating whether or not to tell me.
"I'm in this now, EZ. Whether you like it or not," I reminded him. He sighed but nodded.
"We have to kill KJ. My deal handler," he answered and my heart stopped.
"You have to murder someone?" I choked out. I knew that they were involved in some shady things, especially where the cartel was concerned, but just killing someone for doing their job was down-right wrong. There were no ways of looking at it. I was willing to overlook what happened to Celia, as she deserved nothing more after what she put Leti through, but this was in a whole new ball park of fucked up.
"It gets worse," he continued, taking in my reaction. Somehow, I found that hard to believe.
"Exactly how is that even possible?" I asked and he sighed, looking intently at the mug in his hand.
"KJ is family. He's our cousin." I stared at him in shocked silence.
"You can't do it," I said adamantly. "You guys… that's not you. Killing for the club is one thing… but murdering your cousin? Jesus Christ!" I ran my hand through my hair, barely believing that this was a conversation that even needed to be had. Surely, neither of them would do it?
"If we don't… my deal gets pulled," EZ said shortly, though he looked as disgusted as I was at the prospect. "I'll go back inside, painted as a rat. And you know damn well that the club will tarnish Angel with the same fucking brush. They'll kill him Hope. So it's KJ for our out."
"Jesus fucking Christ," I whispered, feeling like all the air had left my lungs. How could I possibly say that this was right? But, the alternative was to see the man I loved butchered for something he didn't do. The only thing Angel was guilty of, was loving his brother. I couldn't help but be pissed at EZ all over again, for putting Angel in this position. Surely, he must have seen this coming? Every show on television highlights that deals like these never end well.
We both had to stop talking, as the familiar rumble of bikes could be heard down the street, before a few of the guys rolled into the lot. I tried to smile at Bishop and Hank as their dismounted their bikes, pretending that the whole world hadn't just gone to shit. Again.
They surprised me by walking over, Bishop planting an affectionate kiss on my cheek.
"Morning sweetheart," he greeted, before looking at EZ, confused. "You're back early."
"Yeah, wanted to check on my pops," he nodded, playing it way cooler than I was. I figured silence was the best policy at this moment in time.
"Everything good here last night?" Bishop enquired and I nodded.
"Yeah, nothing to report. Just had a girl's night with Izzy and Leti… we might owe you a bottle or two though," I told him cheekily and he laughed.
"Don't worry about it, you're always welcome to help yourself, you know that," he said fondly. "I just wanted to let you know that the Reaper lands tonight. Happy will be here." My stomach fell to the floor.
"Oh… great," I answered, trying to sound enthusiastic but failing miserably. Thankfully, they both seemed to read my answer as nerves, and Bishop put a comforting arm around my shoulders.
"We've got your back, sweetheart. You're one of us now. Don't worry about it," he told me, and I smiled gratefully.
"Thanks, prez," I replied honestly, and we exchanged a smile. Hank looked up at EZ.
"Need you to do a meat run, prospect. Mix it up. Enough to feed 60 – 70 people," he told him.
"Yeah, no problem," EZ nodded, looking between them. They all nodded to each other before Hank and Bishop took off towards the clubhouse.
"You can't do anything stupid, EZ," I hissed, as soon as they were gone.
"Would you rather the blood be on Angel's hands?" He asked sarcastically, and I had to fight the urge to punch him. "You know as well as I do that Angel won't let me go back inside again, Hope. So, if I don't do it, he will. This is my fault, my responsibility. I need to clean up the mess I've made."
"EZ… you can never take this back if you do it," I tried to reason with him, but even if my heart I knew if I had to pick one of the Reyes boys to commit this terrible act, I'd choose to save Angel any day.
"I don't have a choice," he said calmly. "I don't need your permission, Hope. I'm doing it and it's final. I only told you so you'll keep Angel occupied until it's done." I screamed into my hands in frustration.
"I don't know if I can keep lying about all this, EZ," I told him honestly. "He's going to see straight through it and you know it."
"You only need to pull this off until I'm back. Then it's done," he answered shortly, before looking at me. His eyes softened seeing the anguish in mine, and he pulled me close to him for a moment, kissing my forehead.
"I'm sorry. You don't have to be ok with all of this. Please just.. stay here and keep Angel occupied. I'll see you later," he told me, before standing up and stepping into the truck.
I was barely keeping it together as he pulled out of the lot, only to be passed by Angel, Coco and Gilly, as they made their way in. For once, I wasn't happy to see them. I needed to think fast or this was all going to go to shit.
Chucky had come outside, to close the gate as the last of the Mayans rolled back home. Angel jumped off his bike, and I could hear him asking Chucky where EZ had gone. When Chucky couldn't answer him, he started to get snappy with him and I stepped in.
"Hey!" I called, irritated that he would start on Chucky, despite the stress he was under. It wasn't cool. They all turned to look at me as I walked over.
"Leave Chucky be, he doesn't know anything," I growled, frowning at Angel.
"Come on Chucky, let's leave the love birds to it," Coco said to Chucky, and the three of them walked off, leaving Angel and I alone In the yard. I turned around, walking back over to EZ's trailer. I could hear Angel following behind me.
"Where did EZ go? I need to know," He asked impatiently, as I sat down on the steps.
"Bishop and Hank asked him to get some meat for tonight. Why are you so intrigued about where he is going? Figured you'd wanna be a thousand miles away from him… given the fact you've branded him a snake." I couldn't help it. I didn't want to get involved in their beef really… but I wanted to see if he would be honest with me, and also I was pissed that he would trick his brother the way he had. Despite what EZ had done, he didn't deserve that.
He looked shocked at my outburst. I watched as he folded his arms, his walls going up as he stood there.
"What do you know about that? Guess you and EZ have been getting pretty close, huh?" He spoke, and I could hear the bitterness in his voice.
"He's your brother, Angel. I want to get on with him. You should want that too," I pointed out before sighing. "He is upset that you've fallen out. He wants to make it right. Bishop and Hank came to talk to us both. Happy is coming tonight, and Bishop wanted him to get meat – that's the reason we were together and I know where he's gone. Besides… he tells me a lot more than you do. What was that tattoo about anyway? What are you celebrating exactly?" His eyes hardened and he pulled me around the corner, out of earshot.
"Los Olvidados and the cartel are now longer at war. Adelita and Gallindo? They're working together now. Me, Gilly and Coco? We did it. No more having to play both sides," He told me smiling, but my stomach was in knots. Maybe it was because I was already stressed out about the EZ situation. Either way, I couldn't help but let my insecurities show.
"So she was there last night, at the hotel with you?" I clarified. "Adelita?" He nodded, oblivious to what I was getting at.
"Yeah, we all got 'introduced' to her. It was fucking weird," he laughed, before catching sight of my expression and quickly backtracking. "No, not like that! She wasn't at the hotel with me last night. They all left. I stayed with Coco and Gilly."
"Yeah and tricked your brother into getting a brand to remind him of his betrayal," I said bitterly, realising my mistake a little too late. My slip up didn't go unnoticed and Angel stiffened.
"I never said shit about a betrayal, Hope," he said quietly, staring me down, "so what the fuck has little brother been telling you?"
"Nothing just-" I didn't get to finished my sentence.
"Don't lie to me!" He exploded. "I've had enough of that from everyone, so don't you start doing it too. What do you know?" I knew the game was up and, honestly, I didn't want to lie anymore. Consequences be damned, I couldn't cope.
"Everything," I whispered. He scoffed at my answer, not believing it to be true, and my temper flared.
"Don't laugh at me Angel Reyes! I've been dragged into this fucked up mess trying to keep you safe!" I exclaimed, and his eyes narrowed, realising I was suddenly serious.
"Keep me safe?" He echoed. I watched as his brain put the pieces together. His brown eyes glazed over, suddenly cold as they looked at me. I'd never seen that look aimed at me before, and it was gut wrenching.
"You know about EZ's deal?" He whispered icily. I nodded miserably and his hands dropped mine, moving away like my proximity burned him. "For how long?" I knew the game was up.
"I wanted to tell you!" I tried to reason with him. "I begged EZ to tell you. But he kept saying that the club would kill you, frame you as a rat too. He told me just before you went to bury Celia and I didn't have time to speak to you. I was going to tell you that night when you returned, but then you got arrested and found out anyway. I was so worried and I wanted to tell you that I knew, so you didn't feel alone. But then Felipe said if I told you that I knew, then you would feel like you'd lost everybody. I couldn't bear that thought and I didn't know what to do! I'm so sorry Angel, please say something!" He was silent for several moments, but I could see from the flare of his nostrils that he was fuming.
"Pops was right," he finally spoke, laughing, though the situation was far from funny. "I have lost everybody."
"Don't say that," I whispered, reaching for him but he pulled away.
"Why? It's true. You betrayed me. You and my brother and my pops. And all this fucking time, I thought you were different. That you gave a shit. But, like everyone else, you chose EZ over me," he spat.
"That's not true!" I cried, tears springing to my eyes. This was worse than I feared. "I love you. I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to keep you safe. And now… I know what you've been asked to do. You can't do it, Angel. He's your family." He smirked at me.
"What? Like my family doesn't stab each other in the back enough?" He laughed, before growing serious. "You think it's better if EZ does it? If I let my little brother get more blood on his hands? Can't you see how fucked up this life has already made him? Enough!" He yelled, as I tried to speak again.
"You, EZ… everyone has fucking betrayed me. As soon as this is done, EZ will be out of here and I can get my life back to how it was. How it's supposed to be," he nodded, determined. I swallowed hard, dreading what he was going to say next.
"So you're going to run your brother out of town? I know you're hurt but he is family. You don't really want him to go anywhere," I whispered. He didn't respond.
"And me? You gonna run me out of town too?" I whispered. He glanced at me for a second before looking at the floor.
"I'm not running you out of anywhere. You don't belong here, you never have. You made your choice when you picked EZ over me," he muttered, and I looked at him, gobsmacked. "All this time you've been jealous about Adelita, when you're the one who has been dishonest. She's the only one that has kept it real with me. You've been so worried that I'm gonna betray you when you're the one who's betrayed me. As far as I'm concerned… we're done. And when Happy gets here… well you'll have no reason to stay. You don't love me, Hope," he added, taking a step away from me. "If you did… you never would've done this."
I stood there in shock, as he turned and walked back to his bike. I knew I should run after him, to stop him from going after EZ and doing something I knew they would both regret, but I couldn't. I was rooted to the spot, my heart breaking. I had done everything I could to protect him… and now I'd lost him.
A/N : Hey lovelies! I've got 2 more chapters typed out and ready to go, so you can enjoy some more updates over the coming days.
One quick thing... it takes me on average 6-7 hours to create each chapter for you to enjoy, and it only takes you 5 minutes to review if you're enjoying it. I can't lie, I find it disheartening when I see several hundreds followers but only get 1 or 2 reviews :( So please. if you're enkoying it, let me know! If there's something you'd like to read or see, let me know!
Stay safe everyone, times are crazy
~Fear the Dark~ xxx