Jericho, Cash, Gunner and Max were huddled in a circle in front of the kitchen, deep in conversation. Their faces looked grim. My body went rigid. Something was up.
“Wonder what that’s about,” Angel said casually.
Jericho looked up as we approached.
“What’s going on Richo? You guys all look as if someone just ate the last cookie in the cookie jar.” Jericho didn’t smile at her comment. I wasn’t garnering any suspicious glares, which put my mind somewhat at ease. Whatever was going on, it didn’t seem to have anything to do with me.
“Griffin left a message on Dreygon’s phone that there was a truce,” Jericho said.
“That’s good, right?” Angel asked.
Cash shook his head. “He said we were already even. Which means that they must have taken out someone in the club. Dreygon is calling around to find out what’s going on.”
Right then, Dreygon walked out of the kitchen with his phone pressed to his ear. “Yeah, let me know as soon as you hear,” he said before hanging up. He shook his head and came down the steps. “No one has heard anything. Everyone seems accounted for so far. No idea what the hell is going on.” He looked at Angel. “So, you went to the ridge?”
“Yep, she’s floating with her sister now.”
He’d lost both children, but there was only a glimmer of emotion in his hard face. His phone rang. “It’s Griffin.” He answered it. “What the fuck is going on?” he asked sharply. His brow creased, deepening all the wrinkles in his sun-weathered skin, as he listened. “What desert gift? You’ve been snorting too much blow. You’re not making any sense, Griff.”
My body stiffened, and a surge of adrenaline pumped through my veins. Dreygon turned away from us and listened again. His shoulders went rigid and waves of anger seemed to roll off of him. Angel looked questioningly at Jericho. He shrugged in response. He had no idea what Griffin was telling him, but I knew.
My mind raced. I was standing in the middle of Dreygon’s prison with all of his guards standing around me. I was fucked. Angel looked at me. She, no doubt, sensed that something was going on and that it had to do with me.
“Sonavabitch,” Dreygon muttered. He put his phone in his pocket but didn’t face us. His tightly wound posture reminded me of a lion waiting to pounce on its prey. And that prey was me.
“What’s going on?” Cash asked.
Dreygon rubbed his face with his hand and sighed loudly as he turned around. If it had been physically possible, flames would have been shooting from his angry nostrils. He stepped directly in front of me. I didn’t flinch but stared down hard at him as he stuck the barrel of his gun under my chin.
Angel sucked in a breath. “What are you doing?”
Dreygon looked straight at me as he spoke to Gunner and Cash. “Grab him.” They hesitated for only a second and then took hold of my arms.
“Angel knew nothing,” I said quickly. “She had no idea.” The old man in front of me looked insane with rage. He had already proven himself to be a fucking madman, and I worried that he might take this out on Angel. And I would no longer be around to protect her.
Angel reached for her grandfather’s arm. He lowered the pistol and grabbed roughly ahold of her face. She cried out as his fingers dug into her skin. I struggled to free my arms, but Gunner and Cash had an iron grip on me.
“You brought a fucking DEA agent into my compound? You stupid, spoiled girl. I will never forgive your mother for bringing you home.” He released her, and she stumbled back.“You’re crazy,” she screamed at her grandfather. “He’s not an agent.” Dreygon’s fingerprints were still on her skin. Tears ran down her face. She looked at me. “Tell him, Luke. Tell him you’re not,” she cried.
I looked at her. “I’m sorry.” I’d fucked this up badly, and now I was going to lose her for good. It felt as if someone had punched me square in the chest.
Angel swayed on her feet. Jericho raced over and caught her before she collapsed. I’d done this to her. She’d been nothing but honest and good to me, and this was how I repaid her, with a shocking lie that was going to cost me my life. I’d broken my promise to her. I was leaving this fucking hell hole without her.
Dreygon paced back and forth like an angry animal in a cage trying to figure a way out.
“What the hell does Griffin have to do with this bag of shit?” Gunner asked.
Dreygon skewered me with eyes so cold, they were almost not human.
“You want to tell him or should I?”
“It’s all yours,” I said tersely.