Inferno Souls MC: The Debt of the Forbidden Four

Work Drama

Chapter 3: Work DramaThe lock clicked into place—a final, metallic sound that seemed to seal my fate. I didn’t move for a long time. I just stood there, staring at the closed door, half-expecting Karma to burst back in and demand something else from me. The silence in the wake of his departure was heavy, thick with the unsaid things that had piled up between us over the last five years.I eventually dragged myself to the bed and sat on the edge, the springs creaking under my weight. My hands were shaking. I clenched them into fists, digging my nails into my palms until it hurt. I needed the physical pain to anchor me, to keep the "distracting thoughts" of my past from dragging me under.Five years ago, I thought I had lost everything. My mother had betrayed me, my protectors had turned their backs on me, and I had been handed over to a man who saw me as nothing more than a bargaining chip. I had spent every second since then clawing my way toward some semblance of a life. I had worked three jobs, slept on floors, and changed my name more times than I could count—all to stay one step ahead of the shadows.And now, here I was, right back in the center of the storm.I must have fallen into a fitful sleep because the next thing I knew, a loud pounding on the door startled me awake. The morning sun was peeking through the grime of the window, casting long, dusty shadows across the room."Get up, Princess. We have work to do."The voice didn't belong to Karma. It was rougher, more impatient. I recognized it immediately: Jaxon. He had been one of the five—the one who was always the most hot-headed, the most eager to prove himself. Hearing his voice felt like another blow to my chest.I stood up, smoothed down my wrinkled clothes, and opened the door. Jaxon was leaning against the opposite wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He looked older, his face lined with the stress of club life, but the arrogance in his eyes hadn't changed a bit."Look at you," he sneered, blowing a cloud of smoke in my direction. "Still playing the part of the victim.""I'm not a victim, Jaxon," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "And I'm not playing a part.""Whatever you say. Karma wants you downstairs. We’ve got a situation, and since you’re the cause of it, you’re going to help solve it."He didn't wait for a response. He turned and started walking down the hallway, and I had no choice but to follow. The clubhouse was more crowded than it had been the night before. Men in leather vests were huddled in small groups, their voices low and urgent. The air smelled of grease, stale beer, and tension.As we entered the main room, the conversation died down. Every eye was on me. I felt like a bug under a microscope—or a piece of meat being eyed by a pack of hungry wolves. Karma was sitting at the head of the long wooden table, a map spread out in front of him. He didn't look up when I approached."Sit," he commanded, gesturing to the empty chair at his right.I sat, feeling the weight of the collective gaze on me. Across the table sat Sloane and Ryder—two more of the five. Sloane looked at me with a mixture of pity and regret, while Ryder’s expression was unreadable."The situation is this," Karma began, his voice cutting through the remaining murmurs in the room. "The rival club, the Iron Skulls, have been spotted near the warehouse district. They’re looking for something—or someone. And we know that your husband has been seen meeting with their leadership."A cold dread settled in my stomach. "He wouldn't," I whispered. "He knows what they're capable of.""He doesn't care," Ryder spoke up, his voice like grinding stones. "He wants you back, and he’s willing to burn the whole city down to get you. He’s telling them you have information on the Demons' shipments. He's making you a target.""This is the 'Work Drama' I told you about," Karma said, finally looking at me. "Your presence here isn't just a personal issue anymore. It’s a club issue. If the Iron Skulls think you have information, they’ll do whatever it takes to get to you. And if they get to you, they get to us.""I don't know anything about your shipments!" I cried, my frustration boiling over. "I haven't been part of this life for five years! Why would they believe him?""Because he’s desperate," Sloane said softly. "And desperate men are very convincing."The room erupted into an argument. Jaxon wanted to strike first, taking the fight to the Iron Skulls before they could make a move. Sloane argued for caution, wanting to gather more intelligence. Ryder was silent, his eyes fixed on the map. And through it all, Karma just sat there—the calm at the center of the cyclone.I felt like I was drowning in the drama. These were the men who were supposed to protect me, and yet here they were, arguing over my fate like I was a piece of territory. I looked at Karma, hoping for some sign of the boy I once knew, but all I saw was the President."Enough!" Karma’s voice boomed, silencing the room instantly. He turned to me, his gaze piercing. "You’re going to help us. You know how your husband thinks. You know his patterns, his hideouts, and the people he trusts. You’re going to give us everything you have.""And if I don't?" I asked, my heart hammering."Then you’re of no use to me," he said, his voice cold and flat. "And in this club, we don't keep things around that aren't useful."The betrayal stung more than I expected. I had hoped that maybe, just maybe, there was still some part of him that cared. But I was just a tool in his shed—a weapon to be used against his enemies."Fine," I said, my voice hard. "I'll tell you what I know. But under one condition."Karma raised an eyebrow. "You're in no position to make conditions, Princess.""I want out," I said, leaning forward. "Once this is over—once the Iron Skulls are dealt with and my husband is gone—I want you to let me go. Truly go. No 'debts,' no 'protection,' no more ghosts. I want my life back."The room went silent again. Karma stared at me for what felt like an eternity, his expression unreadable. I could see the gears turning behind those icy blue eyes."Deal," he finally said. "But if you hold back even one piece of information, the deal is off. And you won't like what happens next."He stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. The other men began to filter out of the room, leaving me alone with the four men who had once been my world. The "work drama" was just beginning, and I knew that the road ahead was going to be paved with more than just words.As I watched them walk away, I realized I was playing a dangerous game. I was trading my secrets for my freedom, but in a world where loyalty was everything, I was starting to realize that the price of freedom might be higher than I was willing to pay.The distracting thoughts came back then—memories of the five of us as kids, running through the woods, oblivious to the darkness that was waiting for us. We had been a family once. Now, we were just players in a game that no one was going to win.I looked at the map on the table, the lines and marks representing a city that was about to go to war over me. I wasn't just a victim anymore. I was a catalyst. And as the "work drama" unfolded, I knew that I would have to find a way to survive not just my enemies, but the men who claimed to be my protectors.