He looks to Garrett. “People are going to start coming for you, it’s a lot of money.”

“I see,” Ryder mutters. “Not much different from normal then.”

“You don’t understand. They’re saying once you’re dead…the city will be in new hands. Better hands. They are planning on wiping out the Vipers and taking over, it’s all over the streets.”

My eyes widen at that. Who would be stupid enough to take on the Vipers? They own everything, everyone. They are powerful and fucking terrifying. But Ryder doesn’t seem shocked, his eyes do tighten slightly though, and he nods.

“Stay safe,” Red adds. “Go out the back.” Then, he’s gone.

“Aren’t you worried?” I question as soon as he is.

Ryder smirks, but it’s not a nice one, and it sends fire sparking down my spine. “Worried? No. There are always people trying to kill us, to take what we have. When you’re at the top, the most powerful, they all want you to fall. We never will. It’s just time to show them that again, a little lesson to remind them who this city belongs to.” He shrugs and stands, buttoning his jacket before throwing money on the table, ignoring Red’s words. “Let’s get back, we have some things to take care of.”

Diesel whoops at that. “Hell yes, it’s time to play!”

Oh fuck, I don’t like the sound of that. But they all seem excited at the prospect, happy to get their hands bloody. Sometimes, I forget they are murderers, killers, and snakes.

Sometimes, I don’t care.

Garrett slides from the booth, and I slip across his seat. His hand comes out fast and sharp, and I flinch. He freezes and offers it to me slower. I follow it up to his face and see the understanding in his eyes.

He knows.

Accepting it, I let him pull me to my feet, and he lets go straightaway, but it was a nicety I didn’t expect from him.

As we leave the restaurant, my eyes catch on a woman and a man leaning close together. Her dark hair is pulled back tightly, and she’s smiling—she’s beautiful. The guy is blond and leaning into her, whispering in her ear, and from the grin on her lips, I would say it’s something naughty. She catches me staring and nods at me as she stands.

“Where are you going, brat?” the guy calls, and she looks down at him.

“Bathroom, want to join?”

I turn away, smirking to myself. Everyone in this world is a little crazy, so what does that make me?

We had no issues on the way home, but Garrett kept making sure we were not being followed. When we got back to the high-rise, there were guards waiting at the entrance to the underground. They double checked our vehicle for explosives before standing guard behind us as we parked.

There are even two new guards at the entrance to the elevator. They stay there, though, as we ride it up to the penthouse. I can feel the tension, the anger in the bodies of the Vipers surrounding me, so for once, I stay quiet. As soon as we open the apartment door, I notice all the new guards. There are at least five in here. Shit, what do they expect to happen? They are all big, all burly, and terrifying. Their eyes are sharp, and their bodies are tense—they are obviously professionals.

“Stay away from the windows and inside the apartment. We’ll be back later,” Ryder informs me, as he strips off his jacket and heads upstairs. I watch from the bottom as he scans his hand and gets into that locked room. I see rows of guns from down here before it shuts behind him.

The others are equally as serious, strapping weapons on their bodies. All apart from Diesel, who is laughing to himself. His frame looks like a walking armoury, covered in guns and blades. Are they really going to try and kill them all?

Four against over twenty?

Do they have a death wish?

Ryder comes back down wearing holsters across his chest and thighs. He looks more like Kenzo now, his face cold and deadly. His body is a weapon. He steps closer to me, and I realise the others are at the door, waiting. “Behave, love.”

“When do I ever?” I smirk. He turns away, but I catch his arm. “Aren’t you taking any of these guys?”

Ryder looks over his shoulder at me, his lips turned up into a grin. “No, but don’t worry, love, we can handle this. Just another day in the life of a Viper.”

“There are over twenty of them!” I snap.

He laughs, actually laughs, and honestly, it’s a terrifying sound. “Good, they might give us a better fight. They will still lose, but it will be more fun.” Turning, he takes my hand and places a kiss on my knuckles. “Don’t cause too much trouble, and try not to kill any of them.”

“No promises,” I retort with a laugh, and then he’s walking away.

He looks to the guards. “She doesn’t leave, and you don’t touch her,” he orders, before ripping open the front door. They all glance back at me, and I feel so lost, so suddenly alone without them around me. I have gotten used to their presence, and now they are leaving, maybe to their deaths.

Diesel waves at me. “See you soon, Little Bird, I’ll bring you back a present.”

Then, they’re gone and I’m alone.

Looking around, I spot all the guards watching me. They have orders, but I’m not just sitting here twiddling my thumbs while they’re out here. I have to do something, anything…I’m not worried about them, am I?

Nah, fuck that, if they die, I will too. That’s the only reason I care.

“Well then, boys, what are we going to do while they’re gone?” I ask.

Chapter Twenty-Two

DIESEL

On the way to the warehouse, I strip off my shirt. It’s a nice one that I don’t want to get blood on. Plus, I love it when it splatters across my chest. I have visions of coming back covered in it to impress my little bird.

Ryder is silent, as always, before something goes down. Garrett is angry, his neck cracking and fingers popping as he prepares. Kenzo is also quiet, double and then triple checking his weapons. We know the odds, and for once, someone might stand a chance…well, they might think they do.

We have been fighting together longer than these punks, we know exactly how to work together. We’re unstoppable, and blood will spray before the sun rises. Their blood.

From my blades and guns for their insult.

We’ll remind them exactly why everyone fears us. Maybe we have gone soft recently, so a good massacre ought to take care of that. We stop a block away and get out, locking the car. Ryder has his jacket off, he means business. He palms a gun and looks at me. “Roof.” He looks to Kenzo next. “Back door.” Then he tells Garrett, “Second floor.”

I know he glanced over the blueprints on the way here and devised the best plan, he always does. “And you?” I smirk, knowing exactly what he plans on doing, the crazy bastard.

He grins back, a bloodthirsty one. “I’m walking through the front fucking door.”

Ryder may hide behind suits, but he’s just as much of an animal as we are, and he’s letting himself out to play now, God help them. They thought I was bad, but they haven’t seen anything yet. We split up, no other words needed. I slip down the alley with Garrett, both of us heading in the same direction. We circle the building, the water behind us. They have patrols, but they are sloppy.