Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Seraphina

The bright Las Vegas sun warms my face as I slide my sunglasses on and step out of my Ferrari convertible.

Palm trees sway in a gentle breeze that carries the faint scent of chlorine from hotel pools.

I inhale deeply, soaking in the perfect weather on this early April day.

My stiletto heels click against the pavement as I stride toward the towering glass and steel casino before me.

This city pulses with an energy all its own, a heartbeat of excess and indulgence.

And for the uber-wealthy like myself and my family, it's our playground.

I'm looking forward to seeing my mother and catching up over a glass of Cabernet.

Previously, our trips to the States used to be all about shopping sprees and spa appointments.

But these days, we have more serious matters to discuss.

Revenge plots aren't exactly typical mother-daughter bonding activities, but then again, we're hardly a typical family.

Not since that MC stole my father from us we've had a different purpose in life—avenging him.

The Reapers Rejects MC and their wannabe badass bikers destroyed everything.

Well, now it's our turn to bring some chaos and destruction to their lives.

An eye for an eye.

There's only one catch, we're not just killing them.

We're going to destroy them until their MC crumbles bit by bit, and then we'll start the killing.

I pull open the gilded glass door, stepping into the opulent lobby with its soaring ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and polished marble floors.

The casino exudes wealth and power—exactly the image my family has carefully crafted over generations.

Power is precisely what will allow us to crush the Reapers Rejects like the cockroaches they are.

No one messes with the Bernards and gets away with it.

They have no idea the hell that's coming for them, but they will soon enough.

I'll make damn sure of it.

With a smile curving my red lips, I head for the elevator to meet my mother and put our next moves in motion.

The elevator whisks me up to the penthouse level in mere seconds.

I stride down the hallway, my Louboutin sinking into the plush carpet, and rap my knuckles against the door to my mother's suite.

She opens it immediately, pulling me into a fierce hug.

The scent of her Chanel No. 5 perfume envelops me.

"Seraphina, darling, it's so good to see you." She ushers me inside the extravagant space, all sleek modern lines and pops of bold color. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine, Mother. Focused on our goals." I accept the glass of cabernet she hands me and we settle onto the leather sofa, a charcuterie board laid out on the coffee table before us.

Thinly sliced prosciutto, wedges of aged cheeses, plump olives, and figs.

All of my favorite indulgences.

"Good, good. That's what I like to hear." She selects a cube of manchego, popping it into her mouth. "Now, tell me everything. How have our efforts impacted those lowlife bikers so far?" Her slate gray eyes, so like my own, gleam with anticipation.

I take a sip of the bold, full-bodied wine, savoring the rich notes of dark cherry and smoke on my tongue. "My sources tell me the Reapers Rejects have been struggling to keep their brothel afloat lately. Bad Bunnies has definitely seen a significant drop in clientele and profits."

"Excellent. Hitting them where it hurts—their wallets." A slow smile spreads across her face, but there's no warmth in it. Only vicious satisfaction. "We'll bleed those bastards dry, just like they did to your father."

Damon.

The biker Prez had mistaken my dad for his identical twin brother in a blind fit of determination to kill Rage.

He killed him in cold blood, stealing a husband from my mother.

Stealing a father from me.

The pain still sears like a hot blade.

No one will ever understand what it's like to be waiting for your father to come home, and then suddenly he never walks back in through that door.

"They'll pay for what they did. Every last one of them," I vow, my hand tightening around the delicate stem of my wine glass.

The plan has always been to systematically dismantle everything the Reapers held dear.

To leave them broken before we finally end them.

Mother reaches over to pat my knee. "That's my girl. Strong and ruthless, just like your father." Pride shines in her eyes. "The Bernards are a force to be reckoned with. And soon the Reapers will understand that all too well."

"We'll start by ruining them here in Vegas," Mother muses, swirling the crimson liquid in her glass. The glint in her eyes mirrors my own—cold and calculating. "Squeeze them out of every business deal, sabotage their operations. Make it impossible for them to turn a profit in this city."

I nod, the gears in my mind already turning.

With my grandfather's vast network of casino connections and our family's wealth, we have the power to make that happen.

The Reapers won't know what hit them.

"Then we'll strike at their newest charter in Mexico." Mother's tone is laced with anticipation. "I know that's where their drug supply is coming from, disrupt their smuggling routes. I'm not just taking down one charter, dear. They stole your father from us, and that is unforgivable."

"And finally, we'll destroy them at their heart in Montana." The words leave my lips like a solemn oath.

They murdered my father in cold blood and they're going to pay for what they did."We'll burn it all to the ground."

Mother's answering smile is sharp and full of wicked promise. "They'll be left with nothing. No money, no power, no place to call home. Just as they deserve."

Triumph surges through my veins, hot and heady.

This is the moment I've been waiting for since I found out my father died.

This is our chance to finally make them pay for all the pain and suffering they've caused.

To watch them crumble beneath the might of the Bernard family.

"What's our next move?" I ask, eager to set our vengeance in motion.

Mother leans back, a smug curl to her lips. "We have someone on the inside. Close to the club. They've been feeding us information, keeping tabs on the Reapers Rejects' every move."

My brows lift in surprise. "A spy? I didn't know that."

"They've proven quite useful." She takes another sip of wine, savoring the secret. "With their intel, we'll always be one step ahead. The Reapers won't even see us coming."

A thrill runs down my spine at the revelation.

Having someone embedded within the MC itself opens up a world of possibilities.

The damage we can inflict will be catastrophic.

I raise my glass in a toast, a wicked grin playing on my lips. "To the fall of the Reapers Rejects MC. May they suffer as we have suffered. And may their destruction be absolute."

Mother clinks her glass against mine, her eyes alight with malicious glee. "To vengeance, my darling. And to the rise of the Bernard empire."

As we drink to our dark desires, I can almost taste the sweetness of victory on my tongue.

The Reapers' days are numbered and I will savor every moment of their downfall.

"So, who is our source?" I ask, setting my glass down with a clink. Anticipation courses through me at the prospect of learning our informant's identity. "This spy of ours?"

Mother's smile falters, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "Now, now, darling. Some things are best kept close to the chest." She waves a dismissive hand. "All in good time."

Frustration flares within me.

After all the work I've put in, the risks I've taken, how can she keep me in the dark? "I'm the one pulling most of the weight here, Mother. I deserve to know."

She arches a perfectly sculpted brow. "You forget yourself, Seraphina. I am still the head of this family. What I choose to share is at my discretion."

I clench my jaw, biting back the retort that dances on the tip of my tongue.

As much as it galls me, I know arguing will get me nowhere.

Mother's iron will is legendary.

"Fine," I say, the word clipped and sharp. "Keep your secrets. But don't forget that we're in this together. Our success depends on trust and transparency."

Mother's expression softens, a conciliatory smile gracing her lips. "Of course, my love. We are a team, you and I. Never doubt that." She reaches across the table, patting my hand. "When the time is right, all will be revealed. Until then, have faith in your mother's judgment."

I force a tight smile, swallowing the bitterness that threatens to choke me.

Faith.

Trust.

Easy words to speak, harder to embody. But what choice do I have?

Internally, frustration simmers beneath my skin, a restless itch I can't scratch.

Being kept in the dark, even by my own mother, is a bitter pill to swallow.

I know I have to bide my time, play the dutiful daughter.

At least I do for now.

"Okay," I say, the word heavy on my tongue. "I trust you, Mother. Just don't forget that we're partners in this. Equal partners."

She inclines her head, a regal nod of acknowledgment. "Of course, darling. Never doubt your importance in all of this."

I drain the last of my wine, the rich liquid doing little to soothe the unease in my gut.

Secrets and lies, even in the name of vengeance, leave a sour taste in my mouth.

But I will endure.

For the sake of our mission, for the memory of my father, I will play my part.

Even if it means swallowing my pride and following my mother's lead.

I rise from the plush armchair, smoothing the wrinkles from my fitted black dress. "I should get going," I announce, my voice carefully neutral. "Lots to do, people to see."

Mother leans back, her calculating gaze assessing me. "Of course, darling. Keep me updated on your progress."

I nod curtly, the click of my heels echoing through the opulent suite as I make my way to the door.

The weight of her expectations, the burden of our shared vendetta, presses down on my shoulders.

But I will not falter.

I am Seraphina Bernard, daughter of Lunatic, and I will see this through to the bitter end.

As I step into the hallway, the door closing with a soft snick behind me, I allow myself a moment to breathe.

The anger, the frustration, the resentment—it all bubbles just beneath the surface, threatening to spill over.

If my mother won't tell me who the spy is, then I'll just have to find out for myself.

I have my own resources, my own connections.

And I'm not afraid to use them.

I'm just stepping into the private elevator when my phone buzzes in my clutch.

Fishing it out, I see Rita's name flashing on the screen.

"Sera!" Her voice is a lively chirp, a stark contrast to the tension thrumming through my veins. "I need a girls' night out. Newly single and ready to mingle, you know?"

Despite myself, I feel a smile tug at the corners of my lips.

Rita's energy is contagious, even through the phone.

"Of course, love," I reply, injecting a note of enthusiasm into my voice. "You know I'm always down for a night on the town. Where are we headed?"

"Ooh, I was thinking Omnia? I hear they have a new VIP section that's to die for."

I hum my approval, stepping out of the elevator and into the bustling casino floor. "Sounds perfect. I'll have my driver pick you up at nine?"

"You're the best, Sera!" Rita gushes. "See you tonight!"

As I end the call, I feel a flicker of anticipation beneath the weight of my responsibilities.

A night out with Rita is exactly what I need—a chance to let loose, to forget about all of the pressing matters on my mind.

But first, I have work to do.

I slip my phone back into my clutch, squaring my shoulders as I navigate through the throng of gamblers and revelers.

It's time to start digging, to uncover the truth that my mother so desperately wants to keep hidden.