This is a double update as per usual- Chapter 25 was uploaded before this so please make sure you read them in the correct order :)

♛Cameron Dawson ♛

We all stand awkwardly, the words dangling in the air by a thread. It seems that Harley has picked up on it too, slowly moving closer to me by instinct.

"A proposition?" I repeat what Katalina had blurted, incredulity lacing my tone and my eyebrows raising high.

"Yes." She exhales and Ramiro says her name in an almost warning tone but she just responds with a defiant look. The two Kings members alongside Katalina and Ramiro stand stiffly, looking between us and the girl's hand rests on the waistband of her jeans, in case her weapon beneath it needs to be retrieved.

"Nita, Cruz you guys can go. We got this covered. Tell Rob to leave the store, I'll lock up. Be careful alright? They're swarming the streets tonight." She says without looking at them.

The two people she addressed give lingering glances before obediently listening to Lina and leaving the store. We hear them talking to Rob for a short time before the sound of the door closing can be heard. It's then that Katalina lets out a sigh, running a hand through her hair.

A beat of silence passes before Harley says, "So you're both Kings members?" She asks, voice showing her disbelief. Ramiro's gaze lingers on her as he nods before meeting my eyes. They're guarded, not revealing a thing.

"The rivalry between the gangs has never being this intense. Ever." Ramiro explains then. "They're going to go to war before anyone can even register it and before we know it-"

"Concord California will have nothing but blood and dead bodies." Katalina cuts her brother off, giving both Harley and I pointed looks. "Jack wants to turn this place into an empire and spread his influence. The Kings don't want that."

"That still doesn't explain why you're double crossing the gang." Harley snaps from beside me, shoulders squared and her arms crossed over her chest.

"We're the eyes and ears. With Ramiro dealing with so many files and me being surrounded with the members constantly, we're bound to find things out."

"So why should we trust you?" Harley asks and Katalina exhales harshly, almost frustrated that we're not getting it.

"Stop acting like we're trying to kill you, alright? We might be double crossing the gang but if I wanted to kill you, I would have already done it. I made a point to befriend you guys because you're genuinely good people so, please, stop acting like I'm a fucking asshole!" Katalina suddenly says, that fiery and sassy attitude making an appearance. Her eyebrows are pinched together and her lips are turned down into a scowl.

"Lina." Ramiro says to his sister, gripping her arm to get her attention. She looks at him, breathing ragged and eyes wild. Ramiro's hazel eyes look between Harley and I again. He's trying to ground his sister, I can tell. But even I doubt that he'll be able to do that- Katalina seems to be frantic. Angry. And I don't think that's a good combination for her.

"I'm the one who found the video of you killing the officer." Ramiro says, looking at Harley. "Before I could get rid of it, Jack saw it. I'm the one who has dealt with everything regarding it- all the copies, where they are..."

"You're blackmailing us." I breathe out, putting his words together and catching the underlying meaning. Fucking hell. When will someone not have dirt on us so we can actually live our lives?

"No. I'm offering you one thing in exchange for another- we need more eyes and ears in the gang and with Cyrus being Harley's brother, you two are perfect. Help us get leverage over the Slither gang and I'll delete every copy of the video in existence." Ramiro offers, slipping his hands into his jean pockets casually. Katalina is watching us silently, eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Even her black mane seems to be wilder than usual. For a moment, I forget all the kindness these siblings have shown us and see the burning love and scorching loyalty of two members for a gang.

"Sounds a lot like blackmail to me." Harley quips, something like hurt lacing her voice. More than once she's told me that she likes Ramiro- his gentle but bold aura and his caring heart that seems to be behind a "layer of stone". Maybe her views on him are shifting slightly.

"I don't want to blackmail you guys." He responds, lips pursing thereafter. "But we need to have our own backs. I'm giving you both an opportunity- there's gonna be a war between the gangs and the Slithers are not going to protect you from the Kings. If they need to sacrifice you, they will. The Kings won't do that."

"We're a family." Katalina says, looking at us with softened features.

"You might still have to be a part of a gang but I promise it's better than being a Slither." Ramiro nods. "You want freedom? We can offer you a family."

I don't look away from the siblings- one patient and one reckless. Harley's gaze burns holes into the side of my face, no doubt leaving the decision up to me with hopes that I know what's right.

But do I? It doesn't seem like any of my decisions have led anywhere good at this point...

"And if we don't want to join?"

Katalina opens her mouth to say something but her brother cuts her off, saying with conviction: "If you stay quiet, we can go on as if this whole thing never happened."

My eyes narrow slightly. If there intentions really were impure, they would be forcing us into the gang. Using what they know as leverage. However, they're not doing that. They're offering us- what they think is the best they can- a different direction in this mess. Even though we'll still be stuck in a cage maybe it will be bigger, gold. Rather than this minute and cheap metal one.

"We won't say anything. But we need to think about it first." I respond and Katalina's eyes meet mine and I see the honesty, the concern and the hope in her eyes. It's almost like she's pulling me to her like a magnet, telling me that she's offering hope for me and the woman I love in another hopeless situation.

"That's fine." Ramiro says and Katalina stares at her feet. "Let's get going. Before this becomes suspicious."

Nodding, I glance at Harley who has a permanent frown on her face. We leave the store, Katalina locking up the shop before we climb into the car. The drive back is different- heavier. Denser. But somehow... hopeful. They stop outside of the gang's building and we climb out.

"Cameron." I hear Katalina say and I pause, my leg already out of the car. I glance at her and she frowns, chewing on her lip as she looks over her seat. "We care about you and Harley. I just want you to know that. I know you don't believe it sometimes but I don't intend on hurting you guys. Even if you don't choose us."

Her words ring in my mind and I nod, climbing out of the car and to mine where Harley is already waiting impatiently. I unlock the doors and we both slide in, Ramiro and Katalina driving off. No words are exchanged for a moment, both of us just staring straight ahead as we no doubt think about everything that has happened today.

But Harley eventually breaks it, muttering: "What the fuck?"

****

Entering the house, I toss my keys onto the kitchen counter, just as Harley rounds it to go fill the kettle up with water. The sound of it boiling fills the silence so that Harley says nothing as she gets out two mugs and inserts two camomile teabags in them. I'm pulling my jacket off and then my shirt, feeling abnormally warm. When the water is boiled, she pours it into the mugs, letting my teabag brew for longer and then adding a little bit of milk- just the way I like it. With a quick glance at me, she slides it over and I take a seat on a barstool before grabbing the handle of the mug and taking a seat.

There's so many thoughts racing through my mind, the loudest one being how did I not figure it out? Ramiro and Katalina didn't leave many clues or traces but their lack of loyalty to the gang is what I should have questioned. They've being so willing to help us that it should have being clear- they're different from the other Slither members.

But does that mean that we should side with them?

"What are we supposed to do?" Harley asks, softly, her words getting swallowed up in the mug in front of her mouth. Pursing my lips, I run a hand through my hair.

Double crossing a gang is dangerous and can do so much harm for us but... the love and adoration that Ramiro and Katalina seem to have for their real gang makes me think that there's something more there. Maybe they really are a family. If the members there are anything like the brother and sister I've come to know, isn't it unquestionable that they're better people?

"What do you think?" I ask instead, meeting Harley's eyes before she looks down at her mug of tea.

"What do we have to lose?"

"Our lives." I respond and she gives me a one shoulder shrug.

"Whether we want to admit it or not, our lives are on the line now too. The only difference is that I know Jack doesn't give a shit about us." She says, bitterly, scowling at just the thought of the man who dragged us into this mess.

Harley has a point. No matter whose side we're on, we're in danger and part of the mess and violence. But with Jack, we'll just be collateral damage. Maybe it's wrong of me to still feel like I can trust Katalina after she's being lying to us this whole time, but my gut keeps telling me to do that- trust her.
Maybe the Kings will offer us the protection we'll need when everything goes to shit because it sounds like it will- soon. We don't know what the hell Jack is planning and I'm pretty sure it's nothing Harley and I will want to support.

"I don't want to dig us any deeper into this mess." I mutter and I feel the weight of her gaze on my face. When I look up, she's watching me with a solemn look on her face. It seems that neither of us know what's the right thing to do right now. I thought that having no options was bad but having more that have an unknown outcome is even worse.

"I don't know Danté. I don't know anything at this point. It's being a long day, maybe we need to sleep on it. Hopefully we'll be able to make a decision with a clearer state of mind tomorrow." She suggests, finishing off her tea and placing the mug in the sink, the sound of it clattering filling the silence.

With a nod of agreement, I run a hand through my hair. "Yeah, I think so too."

The beautiful woman in front of me offers a small, tired, smile before walking over to me. Gently, she takes my face in her hands and looks down at me before placing a kiss on my lips.

"I love you." She says and for a split second- everything feels okay. Everything feels perfect.

"I love you too." I respond and she gives me one last kiss before walking to the bedroom. Her shadow tells me that she's getting undressed and I soon hear the ruffling of bed sheets, letting me know that Harley has slipped into bed. When I enter, she has not yet entered a peaceful slumber and is still lying in bed, blinking up at the ceiling.

"You alright?" I ask in concern and she nods.

"I'm just struggling to sleep." She murmurs into the quiet and I nod, knowing that I probably won't get much sound sleep tonight with everything on my mind either.

Quickly, I pull off my shirt, and then my pants before slipping on some sweats. As I climb into bed, she rolls onto her side and watches me. One hand is placed under her cheek on the pillow and the other is resting on her thigh. Her hair fans out around her like a halo and I notice the way her dark roots are making an appearance. The green in her eyes seem to sparkle in the dim light and I want to press a kiss to every one of her freckles. Harley looks like such a fucking goddess.

"You're so beautiful." I whisper and she smiles, showing her teeth.

"I used to think that the word 'beautiful' was a lousy way to describe any woman. But you make it feel like it could mean a million and one magnificent things."

"You're beautiful in every sense of the word, amado. I don't think there really is quite a word accurate enough to describe you." I respond and I see the mischievous glint in her eye.

"Reckless, wonderful, sexy, unreasonable, talented, breathtaking-" She begins naming different words to describe herself and I roll my eyes playfully, pulling her into my chest and squeezing her tightly. She laughs into my shirt, her small body vibrating in my arms.

"You should add 'know-it-all' to the list." I tease and she pinches my bicep so that I loosen my grip on her.

"You are such an asshole." She tries to say angrily, but I hear the way her voice shakes with threatening laughter.

"You love it." I respond with a smug smirk and she rolls her eyes, getting comfortable by my side and snuggling into me.

"Mmh, yeah, I do."

Slowly we go quiet, Harley's breathing evening out and I kiss the top of her head before hoping sleep will take me too.

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