I hold up my left arm and pull back my sleeve, revealing the bandaged area on the inside of my forearm. I peel back the edge of the bandage just enough to show the fresh ink beneath — a dragon, identical to the one each Drago’s Inferno member wears.
Atlas goes deadly silent. Beside him, Naomi gasps, her face draining of color.
“You’ve gone traitor,” Atlas says, the words barely audible. “You’re riding with Dragon now?”
“I’ll do whatever I need to do to protect Kayla,” I say. “Even if that means destroying you and your entire club with you, Atlas.”
No one in the room moves. No one speaks. It’s as if everyone is holding their breath, waiting for what comes next. The tension is a living thing, coiling around all of us, squeezing tighter with each passing second.
Finally, Atlas speaks, his voice a low growl. “Get out. Get the fuck out of here.”
“Not until I have your word,” I say. “Swear to me you’ll leave Kayla alone.”
Atlas looks like he might explode, his face reddening with rage. “Fine. I swear. We’ll leave your precious little wife alone.”
“Say it like you mean it,” Gray interjects, his tone bored but his eyes sharp.
“The Devil’s Rejects will leave Kayla Sullivan alone,” Atlas grits out. “Now get the hell out of here, Roman. The only reason you’re walking out of here alive is because you’re Rock’s boy.”
Gray snorts at this, muttering something under his breath that sounds like, “Big words, old man.”
I hold Atlas’s gaze for a moment longer, searching for any sign that he’s lying. Finding none, I straighten up and turn away. Gray and I walk through the silent crowd, men parting to let us through. No one speaks, no one moves to stop us. The tension follows us to the door, pressing against our backs like a physical force.
Outside, the cold air hits my face, a welcome relief after the stifling atmosphere inside. I take a deep breath, feeling lighter than I have in days. Gray is already walking toward his bike.
“Roman!”
I turn to see Naomi bursting through the clubhouse doors, her face flushed, her red curls wild around her face. She’s rushing toward me, ignoring Gray completely.
“Looks like a true viper is incoming,” Gray mutters, but he keeps walking, giving us space.
“Are you really doing this?” Naomi demands, stopping just a foot away from me. “Are you really leaving your brothers for her?”
“It’s already done,” I say.
“Why?” Her voice cracks. “She doesn’t belong in our world, Roman. You know that. She never has. She never will.”
“Then I guess I don’t either.”
Naomi steps closer to me. “ But we can be together now,” she says, her voice dropping to a whisper. “It’s not too late. The Rejects are going to become something great and you can still be part of that. With me, Roman.”
I can’t help the short, harsh laugh that escapes me. “Not interested.”
Her face transforms in an instant, shock and hurt giving way to fury. “What did you just say to me?”
“I said I’m not interested, Naomi.” I meet her gaze steadily.
“I can’t believe you’re rejecting me. After everything we’ve been through together.” Her voice rises, verging on shrill.
I shrug, unmoved by her dramatics. “Believe it.”
“You’ll regret this,” she hisses, her face contorting with rage. “You’ll come crawling back when you realize what you’ve thrown away. She won’t take you back, you know. Everyone knows she’s left you.”
“Whether she takes me back or not, I’m hers.” I say, keeping my voice level, “And the only thing I regret is ever prioritizing you and the club over her.”
Something ugly crosses Naomi’s face then, a flash of something so cold and vicious that for a moment I don’t recognize her. Then she turns on her heel and stalks back toward the clubhouse, slamming the door behind her.
I stand there for a moment, watching the closed door, feeling like I’ve just caught a glimpse of the true Naomi. The one Kayla has seen this whole time. Just one more way I failed her.