When he’d turned and walked away, abandoning her and her future, she’d cursed him.

Hated him.

Wished him dead.

But he’d fought, as always, for the right reason. He’d pushed back against the injustice held by high-powered people in privileged positions.

And now he was back.

To keep his promise.

She felt bad, watching him shift uncomfortably on the spot. Despite the split eyebrow, bruised eye, and broken wrist, Sam was looking in decent shape. His grey T-shirt clung to his muscular frame and his hair, neatly cut, moved gently in the breeze.

‘Look, Sam. I’m sorry,’ Alex said, stubbing out her cigarette. ‘But I can’t back out now. I’m so close.’

‘Close to what?’ Sam asked. ‘To getting yourself killed?’

‘To getting my family back.’ Alex leant forward, tears in her eyes. ‘I know you lost Jamie, Sam. And I can’t imagine how hard that must have been. But I haven’t lost them, not yet. And I need to hold on to that. You might not understand it, but it’s just how it is. So, if I have to play these games, if I have to get my hands dirty, if I have to walk through the fucking gates of hell for just a slither of a chance to see my brother and sister again, I’ll do it.’

The silence hung between them like an unwanted third wheel.

‘What do you need me to do?’ Sam eventually responded. He swigged his beer, popping the empty bottle on the small table.

‘I need you to leave.’

‘No.’

‘Sam, please.’ Alex reached forward and her fingers clasped around his functioning hand. ‘Please.’

Sam relinquished her hold and ran his hand across his stubbled jaw.

‘Alex, if the Riders find out you played them in any way, they will kill you. That is a fact.’ Sam angrily ruffled his hair, wrestling with his own train of thought. ‘What’s the deal? What do you have to do?’

‘Just keep my guy informed.’ Alex replied, lowering her voice to a whisper. ‘Apparently, something is happening over the next few days. Something big. I just have to keep my ear out for the name of Vasquez and pass on what I know.’

‘Vasquez?’ Sam’s eyebrows raised. ‘I keep hearing that name.’

‘He’s a big deal, apparently. He’s a threat to the Riders and Wyatt has encouraged Sykes to take steps to stop the rise.’

‘Your guy told you this?’

‘It’s a working theory. Plus, you’ve seen what a good lap dog he is.’ Alex lit another cigarette and swigged her beer. ‘Sykes has been all over it. Seriously, Sykes says he hasn’t been this taken with something than when he was begging Wyatt to move me to The Pit.’

‘That was Sykes’s idea, too?’

‘Yup.’ Alex shuddered.

‘You didn’t…you know?’ Sam shrugged.