The monitor flickered, then played back footage. There was nothing on the fence. The gate was closed. Suddenly, a lone rider with a black hoodie and helmet stopped at the curb, got off his motorcycle with a spray can in his gloved hand.
Even through the grainy footage, Roma recognized the patch on the back of the guy's vest.
"Deception." Kodiak pointed at the television. "The guy's name is Lyon."
A chill went up her spine. Roma hugged her middle. Was this retaliation from Kodiak killing a Deception member? Had he got the wrong person responsible for her father's death and her attempted kidnapping?
Kodiak stood with his arms crossed, face carved in stone. Roma could feel the shift in him. He was already calculating the meaning of the message.
"What the fuck does EYE 4 EYE 4 EYE mean?" said Vein.
Kodiak looked over the group, settling his gaze on Roma. "I went after Deception in retaliation for Chopper's murder. That's the first eye for an eye. Now, they're promising another eye...coming for me."
"They're calling for retaliation on Royalla?" asked Hunter.
"No." Kodiak pulled on his beard. "They'repromisingit."
He stared at the message as if it were meant for him. And maybe it was. Regardless, she understood he would take responsibility for all his men and wouldn't back down.
Roma's stomach sank—an eye for an eye, for an eye.
Now it was the Deception Motorcycle Club's turn to take the life of someone from Royalla. Her stomach cramped, and she hugged her middle.
The members started talking at once—plans, precautions, logistics—but Kodiak barely moved until his eyes landed on her again.
Roma hadn't realized how close she'd stepped until he crossed the space between them in two strides.
"You're not leaving the compound alone," he said, voice low but unwavering.
"But you—."
"You heard me."
She blinked, mouth opening. "Kodiak—"
"If there's a chance they'll hurt you, you'll stay on the compound."
His tone left no room for debate. "This isn't a suggestion, Roma. Deception's going to hit back, and they'll go after anything that'll cause me the most pain. That's you."
Everyone else faded. The guys kept talking in the background. Cruz threw out possible routes the Deception MC members might use to flee the territory. Baker called for extra surveillance. But none of it mattered to her at that moment.
All she saw was Kodiak. His jaw remained tight. His eyes were bright but tired, as if he had tried to hold too much at once.
"Baby girl." His voice dipped low as if the words were only for her. "I'm trying toprotectyou."
"I get that." Roma swallowed hard. "But who is going to protect you?"
His gaze softened. "I'll be okay."
She gave a slight nod. "Promise me."
"Promise." He cupped the back of her neck. "I'll come back."
And even though the threat was getting washed off the fence and Kodiak was trying to protect her, she felt uneasy. Why had Deception Motorcycle Club attempted to kidnap her in the first place? At the time, she was only sixteen years old.
She always assumed they were trying to hurt her dad for wearing a Royalla patch, and everyone knew that hurting her would've killed her dad. But if that was the case, all threats toward her would've ended when her father was murdered.
Chapter 20
