Ace: His Angel (Phoenix Riders MC 1)

40: Toe-to-Toe

Ace POV

The more Angel talked, the more I wanted to watch the blood drain from Tank's body. It took everything in me not to shred him piece-for-piece as Angel pulled information from him. However, the information she did get came at a price. A price I never want her to pay again.

If Angel wasn't part of the club, she would make one hell of an interrogator. She studied him, allowing him to talk with his body, giving her everything we needed to know and more. Angel shut down, turning off all emotions to protect herself, but ultimately, she failed.

 We missed so many things, and her pain is all our fault. She saw this a mile away and didn't tell us. Why?

Secrets came spilling out, ones I knew Angel tried desperately to hide from us. She never told us Tank was at the warehouse, watching everything unfold, nor that her anxiety and stress derived from him. There's more to their story, but I'm not sure I want to know it all.

The last thing I expected was when she told him she wanted him to live. Guilt and regret would eat away at him, causing him to hurt tenfold than what she felt all those years ago. However, I know that the fact that his life is in her hands scares her. I do not possess the strength and restraint that she does, and the urge to kill the fucker became inescapable the longer he yelled at her.

Kaitlyn walked out, never looking back, and in that moment, she gained a part of herself back. But the strong, confident girl she had become fell away. The door closed behind her, and I moved towards Tank. Fear flashed in his eyes, and my hellhound laughed.

Killer grabbed my arm, and I whipped my head in his direction. He let go and nodded towards the door. Once outside, he said, "Hawk found everything we need and is already working on finding his sister."

Sniffles pulled my attention, and I found Angel sitting against the wall. I nodded to the others and sat with her, giving her space, not wanting to let my anger dictate what she may need. She buried her head in her knees, but I could see tears dripping off her chin. It took everything in her to walk out with her head held high, but her secrets are eating her alive, and I feel useless.

Talk to me Angel. I'm not here to judge you, but help. If you tell me how...

Earlier she was ready to move forward with me, but now she's shut me out. Her walls are higher than before, and I can't do anything. I know she loves me and is mine, but I don't want her to feel like she owes him anything, or that she needs to protect him.

Kaitlyn's breathing evened out, and she sat back, leaning against the wall. She let out a sigh, and I could tell she was struggling internally. Fighting with herself and what to do and go from here.

"The aftermath is what I'm worried about. I become someone I'm not when he's around. Someone I hate because he brings out the things I try to hide. Feelings of being unwanted, unworthy of love, and not wanting to live. You know who I am, but he turns me into someone I don't even recognize. It's hard to explain, but I lose myself every time I see or even talk to him," she choked out, letting more tears escape.

"You would think after how that went, I would be fine, hell, even happy," she dryly laughed.

Angel looked at me with bloodshot, tired green eyes, tears still spilling from them. Wiping them away, I pulled her into me, kissing her head as she rested it on my chest.

"Forgiving someone is the first step in healing. The second is forgiving yourself," I whispered.

*****

Angel's stomach growled, and I let out a sigh of relief. The last few days, I noticed she wasn't hungry or eating as much, which concerned me. She's paled, her pants were bigger, and her waist felt smaller than before. If she hadn't wanted to eat today, I would've forced something down her throat, but thankfully I didn't have to. Yet.

"Let's go eat," I suggested. Angel nodded against my chest, and we headed inside for some food. I don't care what she wants, I will make it, or have Whiskey make it, but this is progress.

Kaitlyn finished eating some ramen when Killer came out of his office and called for a meeting. "Thanks to Tiger, we have new information. The Italians have Tank's sister and are using her as leverage. I'm not about to let an innocent girl die because of her idiot brother. They will reach out to Tank tomorrow, but we're not leaving until we go over every option," he asserted.

"We make a trade," a small voice said.

Angel's words cut through the silence as everyone stared at her.

"I know. It's too dangerous, and you're not about to let me walk into the lion's den, but hear me out. Time is not on our side, and we do not know where they are hiding her. The fastest way to find her is to make a trade," she stated.

"Me for her."

Has she lost her fucking mind?! We will NEVER hand her over to our enemies. Angel thinks she is helping, but I will sacrifice myself before letting her go.

Killer's hands fisted, restraining his anger at her absurd suggestion. His eyes went wild, trying to process it all, and it was only a matter of time before he snapped.

"No," he thundered.

Angel got off my lap and stood toe-to-toe with her brother. He may be a foot taller than her and physically dominating, but Kaitlyn will fight for what she believes in. No matter the cost.

"No...what do you mean-"

"I mean no. You're not going any-"

"That's not your choice, and you know that it's our best-"

"We will find another way, Kaitlyn! I'm not about to lose you."

"You won't!"

"You don't know that!" Killer bellowed.

"Did you stop to think that if you don't give me to them, then others will die?! What happens when I'm not enough? They'll come after my family. My people, and I'm sure as hell not going to let them die because you're too stupid to see beyond what's in front of you!" Kaitlyn retorted, storming out.

Killer's face softened as the weight of what she said sunk in. She's right. More than just her family here would be in danger, and that's not what we wanted to do, either. I got up to find her, but Killer stopped me. Kaitlyn is my old lady, but she is a sister first. Only Killer can fix this and hopefully before she runs away again.