Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Seraphina

The black sedan glides through the glittering streets of Vegas, whisking me away to another secret rendezvous with my mother.

I stare out at the neon signs and glowing facades, my fingers drumming an anxious beat on the leather seat.

There was something I meant to tell the guys at the clubhouse before I left.

It nearly slipped my mind in the rush to prepare for this meeting.

Damon, Dixon, Turmoil—they need to know the truth.

There is a rat lurking right under their roof.

My stomach twists with unease.

Who could the traitor be?

One of their own, working to undermine everything the Reapers Rejects stand for?

The thought makes my blood boil.

After all the club has been through, all the losses and strife, to have an enemy strike from within their own ranks...it's unthinkable.

I'm terrified the rat is going to report back to my mother that I've been there, but only time will tell.

Still, my heart pounds in my chest.

I'll tell them everything tonight, once I'm back from seeing my mum.

We'll root out this rodent together and make them pay for their betrayal.

The Reapers Rejects are more than just my allies now.

They're becoming something like family.

Dysfunctional and dangerous, sure, but fiercely loyal.

The casino looms ahead, its gilded exterior shimmering against the desert sky.

I straighten my shoulders and check my crimson lipstick in the rearview mirror.

Time to step back into my other skin—the polished veneer of a dutiful daughter.

At least until I can tear it all down from the inside.

"We're here, Miss Bernard," the driver announces, angling the car toward the VIP entrance.

"Thank you, Marcus," I flash him a smile as brilliant and empty as the lights overhead. "Wait here for me, will you? I shouldn't be long."

He nods, ever the obedient servant, and I step out onto the curb, my heels clicking a staccato rhythm.

The casino's doors yawn open, ready to swallow me whole.

I saunter inside, all too aware of the threads tangling me in this web.

Someday soon, I'll sever them all and emerge unbound.

But not just yet. For now, I have a part to play.

The elevator whisks me upward, numbers ticking by in glowing succession.

I drum my lacquered nails against my thigh, a beat to accompany the racing of my heart.

It's not nerves, exactly.

More like the thrum of anticipation before the curtain rises on a particularly crucial scene.

With a muted ding, the doors slide open, revealing the lavish penthouse suite.

My mother sits perched on an ivory chaise, a vision in designer silk and calculated poise.

She rises to greet me, arms outstretched, a smile curving her lips without quite reaching her eyes. "Seraphina, darling. Right on time, as always."

I step into her embrace, inhaling the familiar blend of Chanel and ambition. "Of course, Mum. You know I wouldn't keep you waiting."

She holds me at arm's length, appraising me with a critical eye. "Indeed. Now, let's get down to business, shall we? I'm afraid I'll have to cut our visit short."

"Oh?" I arch a brow, feigning surprise. "Is everything okay?"

"Quite. In fact, things are going rather splendidly. So much so that I'm needed back in London to oversee some critical negotiations." She pauses, fixing me with a pointed look. "Which means I'll need you to keep a close eye on things here in my absence."

I nod, the picture of dutiful acquiescence. "Of course, Mum. Whatever you need."

She leans in conspiratorially, her voice dropping to a silken murmur. "I need you to help me take down the Reapers Rejects once and for all. They've been a thorn in our side for far too long."

I feel a flicker of something like triumph in my chest, but I tamp it down, schooling my features into an expression of grim determination. "I understand. I'll do whatever it takes."

For a moment, my mother's eyes gleam with a fierce pride I've scarcely seen before. "That's my girl."

She clasps my hands in hers, a rare display of maternal affection. "You know, I've been in talks with some other clubs who share our disdain for the Reapers. Perhaps it's time we consider forming some strategic alliances."

I tilt my head, curiosity piqued despite myself. "Oh? Do tell."

I nod, a thrill of anticipation humming through my veins.

The pieces are falling into place, the board set for a game of deception.

And I'll be the one to make the winning move.

My mother hesitates, her gaze flicking around the room as if checking for eavesdroppers. "Well, you know how the Reapers Rejects took down the Bears years ago? Wiped them out completely, or so they thought."

I nod, recalling whispered tales of that bloody turf war. "Right. But what does that have to do with...?"

"Turns out, they missed one." Her voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper. "One of the Bears had a teenage son. He's been biding his time, building up a new crew. Calls them the Kodiak MC."

My eyes widen. "Seriously? And he wants revenge on the Reapers?"

"Precisely." She leans back, a satisfied smile curving her lips. "He's eager to form an alliance with us. Together, we can hit the Reapers where it hurts."

I mull this over, a slow grin spreading across my face. "Sounds promising. How exactly will he help us, though?"

"All will be revealed in due course. In fact, I've arranged for you to meet with their President while I'm away." She arches a perfectly sculpted brow. "You'll need to be at the top of your game, Seraphina. Charm him, gain his trust. He could be a valuable asset."

I nod, already mentally preparing myself for the task ahead.

Infiltration and manipulation are my specialties, after all. "Consider it done."

"Oh, and one more thing." My mother's tone turns sly. "If you really want to get close to the Kodiak MC, you might consider cozying up to their leader. What's his name again… ah! Serpent."

I nearly choke on my tongue. "Seriously, Mum?"

"Why not? He's quite the catch, from what I hear. Ruthless, charismatic, a real man's man." Her eyes take on a distant, almost wistful quality. "Reminds me of your father, in some ways."

I swallow hard against the surge of bile in my throat.

The thought of seducing Serpent, of letting him put his hands on me...

But I force a brittle laugh. "I'll keep that in mind."

Just then, my mother's phone trills with an incoming call.

She snatches it up, her demeanor shifting in an instant as she listens to the voice on the other end.

"I see. Yes, of course. I'll handle it straight away." Her words are clipped, urgent. She ends the call and turns to me with an apologetic smile. "Duty calls, I'm afraid. We'll have to continue this conversation another time."

I stand, smoothing my dress. "Of course, Mum. I understand."

We embrace briefly, the expensive silk of her blouse cool against my cheek. "Take care of yourself out there," I murmur. "And don't worry about a thing here. I've got it all under control."

"That's my girl." Pride gleams in her eyes as she cups my face. "Stay sharp and stay safe. I'll be in touch soon."

With that, she's gone in a whirl of designer perfume and clicking heels.

I wait a beat before exiting the office myself, my own shoes near-silent on the plush carpeting.

My driver is waiting dutifully beside the sleek black town car. "Back to the penthouse, Miss Bernard?"

"Yes, thank you, Marcus." I slide into the leather backseat, my mind already racing ahead.

The drive seems to take an eternity, the glittering lights of the strip blurring together outside the tinted windows.

By the time we arrive at my building, dusk is falling, the sky is streaked with vibrant oranges and pinks.

Perfect.

The cover of darkness is exactly what I need.

I make a show of going inside, even taking the elevator up to my floor.

But as soon as I'm certain Marcus has pulled away, I'm on the move again.

Down the stairwell, out the back entrance, and into the night.

Las Vegas may never sleep, but there are still plenty of shadows to disappear into if you know where to look.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm peeling out of the parking garage in my cherry-red Ferrari, the engine snarling like a wild animal as I weave through traffic.

The Reapers' clubhouse isn't far, but I can't get there fast enough.

I have urgent news for Damon and Dixon. There's a snake in their garden just like they thought, and I'm damn sure I know who the snake is.

Sassy.

The heavy steel gate groans as it swings open, admitting me into the compound.

Gravel crunches under my tires as I pull around the circular drive, the imposing brick facade of the clubhouse looming before me.

I barely have the car in park before Abe pushes through the front doors, his broad shoulders filling the frame.

There's a furrow between his brows as he watches me step out onto the asphalt.

"Hey, beautiful," he greets me, but there's a tightness in his voice that sets me on edge. "Wasn't expecting to see you tonight."

I cross to him in quick strides, rising up on my toes to brush a kiss across his stubbled jaw. "I know, I'm sorry for just dropping by." I search his aqua eyes, trying to read the emotions swirling in their depths. "Is everything okay? You seem...off."

He blows out a breath, scrubbing a hand over his close-cropped curls. "It's been a weird day, Sera. I don't know what to make of it."

A tendril of unease curls in my gut. "What do you mean? Did something happen?"

He casts a furtive glance back at the clubhouse before lowering his voice. "It's Sassy. Her room's cleared out, and no one's seen her since last night. It's like she just up and vanished."

My heart stutters against my ribs.

Sassy's gone?

This only means one thing—I'm right on the money.

Sassy is the rat.

The pieces click into place with sickening clarity.

The way she's always watching, listening, skirting the edges of every conversation.

How she deflects any questions about her past with a wry smile and a quippy non-answer.

And now she's disappeared like smoke on the wind.

Realization hardens in my veins, cold and sharp as a dagger.

I grab Abe's arm, my nails biting into his skin.

"Listen to me, I don't think Sassy left of her own accord." I glance around, lowering my voice to an urgent hiss. "I think she was a rat. A mole, feeding information to the club's enemies."

His eyes widen, shock and disbelief warring across his chiseled features. "What? Sera, that's a bold accusation. Are you sure?—"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," I cut him off, my tone brooking no argument. "We need to tell Damon and Dixon. Now."

He hesitates for only a heartbeat before giving a grim nod. "All right. Come on, they're both in Damon's office."

The heavy thud of our footsteps echoes through the clubhouse as we make our way to Damon's office.

My heart pounds against my ribs, a potent cocktail of adrenaline and dread coursing through my system.

Abe raps his knuckles against the door, the sound sharp and urgent. "Damon, Dixon. We need to talk, now."

A muffled curse, then Damon's gruff voice. "Come on in."

We slip inside, the room thick with the haze of cigarette smoke and tension.

Damon leans against his desk, arms crossed over his broad chest.

Dixon lounges in a nearby chair, his posture deceptively relaxed.

"What's this about?" Damon demands, his gaze flicking between Abe and me.

I step forward, chin lifted, shoulders squared. "It's about Sassy. I think she's the rat who's been feeding info to your enemies."

Stunned silence descends, broken only by the soft creak of leather as Dixon shifts in his seat.

Damon's eyes narrow, his expression hardening into a mask of barely contained fury.

"Explain," he bites out, the single word laced with enough venom to fell an elephant.

I take a deep breath, marshaling my thoughts. "Think about it. She's always been on the fringes, never fully engaged with the club. Always watching, always listening. And now she's disappeared without a trace?"

I shake my head, a mirthless laugh escaping my lips. "It's too convenient. She's been playing us from the start, gathering intel to use against us."

Dixon leans forward, elbows braced on his knees. "She's got a point, Damon. Sassy's always been a bit of a wild card. It wouldn't surprise me if she was working with the enemy."

Damon drags a hand down his face, his expression bleak. "Fuck. If you're right, Sera, then we're in even deeper shit than we thought."

He pushes off the desk, pacing the confines of the office like a caged lion. "We need to find her. Find out what she knows, who she's working with."

Abe nods, his jaw clenched tight. "I'll put the word out. She can't have gotten far."

As they spring into action, a fierce wave of protectiveness surges through me.

I'll be damned if I let anyone, least of all a two-faced traitor like Sassy, destroy the club.