I don’t turn around to look at my dad. There’s no sense in arguing with him. He doesn’t know Teddy like I do. And I can’t help but wonder if he’d even care what type of man his treasurer is.
I smirk at Teddy. He’s saved once again by my father. I stalk off toward my bike, cussing myself, damning the whole situation. I helped her once and lost my place in the club, lost the respect of my family. If I help her again, I’ll lose it all.
But as I kick my bike into gear, I can’t help but wonder what I’ll lose if I don’t help her.
Chapter 5
Mona
I drive my bike further up into the Klamath Mountains. I just need to hang low and wait until I can talk to Klaus. I saw the way he looked at me. He wanted to help me, just like he helped me five years ago. I’ve blocked out a lot of that time, but I’ll never forget him. He saved me and even though I owe him, I’m here again, asking for his help. It doesn’t seem right.
But I don’t have any other choice. If I leave here, I have nothing. To some this is just a necklace. Not something to risk your life for. But not for me. No, to me it stands for what my life was meant to be. It’s like I not only let Mandala take away my innocence, but he also took away the only link I have to my mother. Maybe it would be different if I had something else in my life, something to keep me going. But I don’t.
Hours go by and I do my best to make a plan of attack, but no matter how I look at it, I know I can’t do it on my own. My last hope is Klaus. Seeing him tonight sent a shock to my system. Five years ago, was he that big, that handsome? I don’t remember him that way. But today, when I recognized him it stirred something in me that I thought I had lost. It was an awakening. My face was heated, my heart raced and there was a pull in my lower belly. Attraction, plain and simple.
I try to shake the image of him from my mind as I come down the mountain. I stay upwind and track Klaus’ position. Even after all this time, I still know his scent.
I find him on sentry duty. I know he’s the son of the president and if he’s on sentry duty, he must be out of favor with his father. But after earlier tonight, I’d sort of already figured that out.
When I see him standing on the side of the cliff, overlooking New Law territory, I stop my bike and sit there for a minute. I know he’s heard me. I know he knows I’m here, but he doesn’t turn to look at me. It’s as if he’s waiting for me to say something. Or maybe he’s hoping that I’ll just drive away. I get off my bike and walk over to him.
But before he acknowledges me, before he turns around to face me, he says, “I’m not going to help you.”
His words gut me. He was my last hope. I know without him, none of the other members of New Law are going to help me. I study him for a few minutes. But he still doesn’t look at me. I walk closer to him and the closer I get, I see his body tauten, like he’s dreading talking to me.
When his face comes into view, I stop. “I never did get to thank you all those years ago. My family was going to leave me. You were the only one that came for me and I, well, I appreciate you standing up for me,” I tell him honestly.
He doesn’t respond, but I can see in his eyes that my words mean something to him. His face softens and his body relaxes, even if it’s only a tiny bit.
I take another step toward him. “I’ll pay you ten grand if you’ll help me get my necklace back. Even if you buy it off of Mandala, I don’t care. I just want it back. It’s all I have left of my mother.”
Klaus sighs deeply. He still won’t look me in the eye, but I can tell even now he’s trying to help me, but this time with his words. “Give it up, Mona. You need to leave New Law territory and go back where you came from. Keep your life and return to the Last Omens.”
His voice is gruff and his tone is probably meant to push me away. But it doesn’t work. My insistence only grows.
I throw my hands up, frustration edged in my voice. “I don’t have a life. Not since I left here. My family hates me; they blame me for losing their territory. My dad can barely stand to be in the same room as me. I don’t have anything or anywhere to return to. That necklace is the only thing I have left that ties me to the one person that loved me unconditionally. I need it back. I can’t move on without it.”