Page 155 of Depraved

“Granite,” Onyx stepped in next to me, “tell me you’re not actually considering this.”

I ignored him while contemplating Slither’s offer. Fucker was sly, I’d give him that. It was brilliant, actually. He knew the only way he’d get me to back down was by taking what was most important to me. A man’s heart was his weakness, and Slither used that to his advantage in a very creative fucking way.

Usually, this kind of decision needed to be discussed at church. Ending a war that had been raging for years was something everyone needed to agree on. But right now, I didn’t give a shit about getting a unanimous decision or adhering to club bylaws. All I cared about was Alyx.

“You’ll have your ceasefire when I have Alyx—unharmed.”

“Granite, what the fuck, man?” Ink was on the edge, and I could practically feel his fury leaching onto me.

“It’s the only way, Ink,” I said without taking my eyes off Slither. “You’d do the same if it was Neon.”

Slither rubbed his palms together like a predator about to slice through raw skin for dinner. “Remember, Granite. A man’s word is his bond.”

“Don’t you fucking tell me about a man’s word. My word has more honor than you’ll ever have, you son of a bitch.” This time I stepped right up to him, not caring that his crew was ready to shoot my spine full of fucking holes. “You give me Alyx back, and I give you my word that for as long as I’m president, the Kings will no longer be a threat to you.”

Slither pinched his eyes closed, pulling his face like he was about to come in his fucking pants. “God, that’s like music to my fucking ears. Who knows, we might even become, I dunno, allies down the line.”

“Do not mistake my agreement for anything other than giving in to your fucking blackmail.”

“Nonetheless,” he shrugged, “I look forward to our new arrangement.”

“Take me to her before I change my mind,” I snarled, practically spitting in the asshole’s face.

“This can be an ambush, Granite,” Onyx chimed in from behind. “Don’t trust the fucker.”

I smiled wickedly while still standing up close and in Slither’s face. “Don’t worry, brother. I don’t. That’s why Slither here is going to tell me where Alyx is, and then stay behind with Ink and Manic,” I shrugged, “just in case it’s bullshit.”

Slither pulled his lips in a straight line. “Fine by me. However you wanna do this, man.”

I stepped back and lifted my cut up behind my back. “Ink, take your gun. You know, just in case.”

For a moment, Slither’s confident expression faltered as he watched Ink take the gun and place it behind his back. Ink might be a loose cannon right now, but if Slither was feeding me bullshit, there was no better man to execute the punishment.

“Now,” I crossed my arms, “where is Alyx?”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

ALYX

“Jesus. How much longer?”

Tanit paced, heels clicking on the concrete. I watched her with weary eyes, observing how agitated and nervous she was getting with every second that passed.

Every thirty seconds, she would look at her phone, and I noticed the wet fabric of her white shirt along her armpits. She was sweating, worried, no longer as confident as she was before the snake came by.

“You don’t have to do this,” I said in a soft, calm voice. “There’s still time to stop this.”

“Shut up. God, it’s hot in here.” She glanced up at the ceiling. “Fucking old buildings with no air conditioning.”

I pressed my lips together, my palms sweaty and wrists burning, still trying to wriggle them free from the rope.

“I’ll go home, you know. If you free me, I’ll be able to go home. Then you can have Granite for yourself again.”

Her top lip pulled up, her eyes narrowing at me. “Let’s get this straight, okay? You never had Granite. He was never yours to begin with. You were nothing but a mere distraction, new pussy to fuck until he got bored with you. That’s what they do, you know,” she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, “fuck women until they grow tired of them, tossing them out like garbage when a new cunt walks in.” She snorted, steadying herself against the desk, looking down at her phone. “We’re nothing but tits and ass for them. All they care about are their stupid bikes, money, beer, and whores. Dirty fucks.”

“If they’re so bad, why are you doing this?”

She let out a laugh, throwing her hair back. “I already told you. A woman like me needs a man like Granite if she wants to live a decent life. I don’t have a rich daddy like you do, princess.”