Take care
Mason POV
Earlier
"What just happened?" Raven inquires after we watch Hera walk out of the clubhouse three armed ladies following behind. The rest of the crew turns to look at me seeking answers. Answers that I fucking don't have. I am just as confused as they are, shocked even.
I still can't erase or relate to the scene of Hera firing shots and tentatively missing Helena's head with inches. The look on her face,that badass posture she adopted. All that seemed too unbelievable considering the person in question.
"MG? That's what the lady called her?" Jepoy asks with an unbelievable look on his face.
"That's what I heard,Zero." Shadow replies to him.
"She is the legendary MG who has been terrorizing the dark world for five years? The one with the biggest bounty on her head?" Zero exclaims and I purse my lips at his declaration.
"It's crazy to think that she's a woman, everyone thought it's a man. No one knows the identity of the leader of the killer angels." Raven chims in, looking as shocked as the rest of us.
Things start making sense as I listen to my team blabber about MG and the killer angels. The phantom bike parked outside Hera's house that night, the tattooed lady I found chatting with her and the mysterious call she received while we were at the cabin. It all makes sense and points to one thing Hera is no ordinary woman. She is not damsel in distress who needs a charming prince to rescue her. She is a force to be reckoned with. A badass queen.
The revelation is like a splash of cold water hitting me. I'm in love with a fucking killer. The thought should make me run in the opposite direction but my body betrays me as excitement starts pooling in my stomach. I am disappointed she didn't consider revealing that part of her life to me but that disappointment can't compare to the relief I feel. Now,my team has nothing to worry or accuse Hera of.
If there's something I know,the killer angels have Zero association with any group be it a biker,a gang or the Mafioso. They act on their own and don't engage in anything illegal like drug trafficking, weapon smuggling or money laundering.
They are a team of hired assassins who take jobs to eliminate anyone who is deemed to be a threat by a group,an individual and rarely,the government.
"Seems like we are back to step one. Since she is not part of the attack,we have to find out how Carlos Tevez and Hector managed to stage a surprise attack." Ghost announces and Helena scoffs.
" I don't think she is free from accusation. It's an undeniable fact that she met with that bastard Carlos." Helena insists and I glare at her.
" Do you have something against her? Hasn't she proved that she means no harm? Would she have allowed her team to offer reinforcement to the clubhouse if she wanted all of you dead?" I ask,my gaze boring into hers.
"You can't be sure." She states and I shake my head.
"Yes,I can. You are being unfair and a bitch for no reason. What happened to Gazelle and Fiona is unfortunate but you can't go around accusing someone without any concrete evidence. Don't think that CCTV footage is enough to convict her." I tell her and she rolls her eyes.
"You are just biased." She counters and I shrug.
"I will gladly admit that but you are the one who is blinded by your hatred towards Hera. If you think she is guilty of something then prove it. Otherwise,leave her the fuck alone." I state,my voice firm.
"Fine! We will do things your way,you are the leader after all. But,don't expect me to trust her or act friendly towards her. I will be keeping my eyes on her." She threatens and I smile at her.
"Feel free to do that. Just don't act like a bitch towards her." I reply. Helena doesn't like Hera that's for sure. She is hellbent on using Linda's past mistakes to describe Hera. I admit that not letting me know that she is a killer angel sounds like there's no trust between us but to some extent,I can understand. As the leader of the Shadow Riders,my identity is kept a secret too. There are people who are out to get me and my team and keeping ourselves away from the limelight helps reduce the death threats we receive.
Besides, some of my team members didn't receive her relationship with me well. I can trust a few of them to keep her secret but not all. Having her identity exposed thanks to me and something happening to her would be devastating.
"You should tell the same thing to the guys. They don't seem too happy to be associated with the killer angels." She tells me and walks away.
" Someone has a problem with that?" I ask and my team shakes their heads.
" Viper,your relationship with Hera is private. We don't get to say what happens in your life. You just need to be careful. We don't want the crew being dragged through mud if the higher ups learn about the relationship between you two." Jepoy aka Zero tells me and I nod my head.
"I understand."
"Do you? Because the way you acted back there seemed like you were willing to sacrifice the club for her." Ghost interjects and I look at him.
"Is that a problem,Ghost? Am I not allowed to love someone without the approval of my crew?" I ask him and he shakes his head.
" Not at all. I just want to remind you that there's alot at risk if your relationship is exposed. Not only will the higher ups have a problem with us,we will have all the dark Web gangs coming after our asses." He replies.
" Is that a problem? We have always survived through shit, that's who we are." Raven exclaims and everyone nods their heads.
"We can survive anything that comes our way but it will affect the reputation we have built over the years." Ghost openly counters.
"We are not saying you can't be in a relationship with her. We are just asking you to be discreet about it and to think through the pros and cons of your relationship." He adds.
" I understand. In the meantime,not a word about what happened here earlier goes out. We are not going to be the ones to expose MG to the dark web. She was exposed to us when protecting us. That's the least you could all do to thank her."
Now
Hera laughed, a slow, deliberate and mocking laughter.
“It's not safe but this is where I've lived for the past five years.”she counters then lifts her eyebrows at me.
“I get it you are afraid that your family will report me for being the leader of angel killers?” She mused,as if she was talking about the weather and not the danger she could be if her identity went to the public.
“Leave from here I don't need your protection. I can take care of myself.”