Chapter 31 Promises and threats
Sage's POV
The police kept us separated for questioning.
I sat in the back of a patrol car wrapped in a blanket someone had given me, watching officers photograph bullet holes and collect shell casings. Ryder was in another car giving his statement. Jaxon stood in the parking lot talking to the detective in charge with his arms crossed and his expression carefully neutral.
None of us mentioned the text. None of us told the police this was anything other than a random drive-by shooting. The less they knew, the safer we were.
Or at least that's what Jaxon said when the detective stepped away to take a call.
My phone rang and I jumped. But it was just Tommy calling, not another unknown number with a death threat.
"Yeah?" I answered.
"Where's Jaxon? I've been trying to reach him for the past twenty minutes."
"He's here with me and Ryder. Someone shot up Ryder's apartment."
"Shit. Is everyone okay?"
"We're fine. What's wrong?"
Tommy hesitated. "We have a visitor at the clubhouse. A woman showed up about an hour ago asking for Jaxon. I told her he wasn't here but she said she'd wait."
"Who is it?"
"Elena Vasquez. President of the Blood Sisters MC."
I knew that name. Dad had mentioned the Blood Sisters a few times over the years. An all-female motorcycle club based in southern California with connections that ran deep and dangerous.
"What does she want?"
"She wouldn't say. Just that it's club business and she'll only discuss it with Jaxon." Tommy's voice lowered. "Sage, she's in Vincent's old office. Going through his photos and files like she owns the place."
"We'll be there as soon as we can."
I hung up and caught Jaxon's attention. When he came over I told him about Elena Vasquez and watched his face go carefully blank.
"The Blood Sisters," he muttered. "What the hell do they want?"
"Tommy said she's waiting for you. That it's club business."
Jaxon's jaw clenched. "Perfect. Just what we need on top of everything else."
It took another thirty minutes to finish with the police. They took our statements, told us to stay available for follow-up questions, and finally let us leave. Jaxon insisted we all ride together in his truck even though my car was still at the house and Ryder's apartment was now a crime scene.
The drive to the clubhouse was tense and silent. I sat between them in the front seat, hyperaware of Ryder's leg pressed against mine and Jaxon's white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel.
When we pulled into the lot, I saw a custom Harley parked near the front entrance. It was black and chrome with intricate detailing that looked very expensive.
Tommy met us at the door. "She's still in the office. Been in there for over an hour just looking through stuff."
"By herself?" Jaxon asked.
"I've had Snake watching the door but yeah, she's alone."
We walked through the clubhouse and I felt every eye on us. The brothers knew something was happening and they were waiting to see how it played out.
Jaxon didn't knock. He just opened the office door and walked in with Ryder and me right behind him.
A woman sat behind my dad's old desk with her feet propped up on the surface. She was beautiful in a dangerous way. She had dark hair which was pulled back in a braid, sharp cheekbones and bright eyes. She wore leather and denim like armor and the cut on her back identified her as president of the Blood Sisters.
She smiled when we entered but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Jaxon Romano." She didn't stand up or take her feet off the desk. "You've grown up since I last saw you. How old were you then? Fifteen? Sixteen?"
"What do you want, Elena?" Jaxon's voice was hard.
"Straight to business. I can respect that." Her gaze shifted to me and something flickered in her expression. "And you must be the famous Sage Romano. You look just like your mother. She was a beautiful woman."
"You knew my mother?" I asked.
"Briefly. Years ago when our clubs were on better terms." Elena's smile widened. "Before your father decided strategic alliances weren't worth honoring."
Jaxon moved to stand behind the desk. "Get your feet off my father's desk and tell me why you're here."
Elena took her time complying. She stood slowly, straightening her jacket with deliberate movements. Then she reached into her inside pocket and pulled out a folded document.
"I'm here because your father made promises," she said, sliding the paper across the desk toward Jaxon. "Important promises about our families' futures. Promises that involve your sister."
My heart started hammering. Jaxon picked up the document and I watched the color drain from his face as he read.
"What is it?" I asked.
He didn't answer. Just stared at the paper like it contained his own death warrant.
I stepped forward and grabbed it from his hands.
It was a contract. Typed on official letterhead with signatures at the bottom and a notary seal making it legally binding. I scanned the text quickly, my eyes catching on key phrases.
It was a strategic alliance between Steel Wolves Motorcycle Club and Blood Sisters Motorcycle Club.
The union through marriage was to consolidate territory and resources.
Sage Romano, daughter of Vincent Romano, to wed Diego Vasquez.
Signed two years ago by Vincent Romano and Diego Vasquez.
My hands started shaking so badly I almost dropped the paper.
"No," I whispered.
"I'm afraid it's very real," Elena said. Her voice was almost sympathetic but her eyes were cold and calculating. "Your father and my brother signed this agreement two years ago. You were promised to Diego as part of a larger alliance between our clubs."
"My father is dead. The agreement died with him."
"Actually, according to the terms, the agreement transfers to the current Steel Wolves president in the event of Vincent's death." Elena's gaze shifted to Jaxon. "Which means the decision now falls to your brother."
I looked at Jaxon and saw guilt and pain and resignation on his face.
"You knew," I breathed. "You knew about this and you didn't tell me."
"Sage—"
"How long have you known?"
"Since Dad died. I found the contract in his files."
"And you were just going to let me find out like this? In front of her?"
Elena cleared her throat. "I hate to interrupt the family drama, but we have business to discuss. My brother is very eager to meet his bride. I've come to arrange the wedding details.”