Page 55 of Healed

They had arrived purely to rescue me, and since that was over and done with, we understood that there was the possibility that Nico would call in contacts from his other charters too. We had to be prepared to handle this as a united Devil’s Disciples club, and not just protecting the headquarters.

There was only one rule—Gabriella was not to be told about the strands of hair. If she knew Nico had her mother’s body, she would be overcome with grief. And probably do something stupid like try to rescue her so she could bury her properly.

That wasn’t something we were willing to risk.

Obviously she knew that Nico was still the president. And she had to know that he would return at some point. But she also knew that we were watching the Riders like a hawk, and any sign of him jumping back in, business as usual, we would strike.

As far as Riley could tell right now, the club was being handled by the vice president, Sam, until Nico eventually showed his face.

And that’s all Gabriella needed to know right now.

As members started filing out, I stayed behind with Dante—it was customary for us two to leave last, usually having a brief discussion afterwards. But I had a feeling that he had much more to say today.

So as Darwin left, the door slightly ajar, leaving just me, Dante, and an unconscious Pivot, I turned to him with a rueful smile.

“Say what you need to say.”

“What makes you think I have anything to say?”

“Because I’ve known you since before you could hold your own head up. Give me some credit, Dante.”

“There’s nothing to say. Nico has to pay for what he’s done—I’m in agreement with you there.”

“But…” I encouraged.

He sighed and grabbed up his smokes again.

“That habit is going to kill you if you carry on.”

“The stress of this club will kill me long before this,” he said, sparking up and inhaling deeply. “I just want to make sure you’re doing this for the right reasons, Vienna.”

“What do you mean?”

Dante looked out of the door, leaning back in his chair slightly. I followed his gaze, seeing Rachel and Gabriella laughing together.

Eagle approached them, only to start swearing like a sailor when Rachel threw herself at him, jumping on his back and demanding to be spun around. Gabriella encouraged this by trying to twist Eagle at the hips.

Steph stood at the side, looking menacing, throwing plastic animals up in the air and catching them again in silent warning.

Eagle came to his senses and spun Rachel around.

“Are you doing it because you genuinely hate Nico like the rest of us? Because you want to see him sent straight to hell for the women he’s hurt? Or are you doing it for her?” Dante said quietly.

“Why can’t it be both?” I asked, not taking my eyes off Gabriella for a second.

“It can be. And for anyone else, I’m sure it would work out. But this is you and Gabriella we’re talking about. What if when all is said and done, Nico is dead, and she no longer needs our protection, she decides she doesn’t want to be here anymore? If she decides she can’t get past the history she has—not just with you, but with the entire club. What do you do then?”

“Then I accept it,” I said without hesitation.

I’d always left the ball in Gabriella’s court. Even when we were teenagers, I had left it to her to make the first move, to let me know she was ready to be more than friends. And when she had, I hadn’t hesitated then, either. I’d jumped straight in to being her boyfriend and hadn’t looked back.

If she decided she didn’t want to be with me now… I’d accept it. Because all I ever wanted was for her to be happy. Even if happiness meant leaving me.

“Would you, though?”

I looked back at Dante then.

“You know I’m right. It’s been over ten years, and you still haven’t accepted that she left you last time. Even before you knew the details—before you even suspected there was more to the story—you never accepted that you were over. The night she dumped you, you had me breaking into her clubhouse to leave her a love letter. How are you going to let her go if she decides she only needs you for as long as Nico is alive?”