Whale turns away, voice flat as he speaks into the phone. “Yeah. It’s me. I need you here. Now.” He hangs up without another word.
I step forward, letting some anger show. “Is that all these years meant to you? You see a chance to turn us in and you take it?”
Whale doesn’t answer, his back still turned. I can’t tell what he’s thinking. The silence fills the room, broken only by the static buzz of the TV and Carrie’s uneasy breathing.
I know what needs to happen. I look at Carrie, then toward the door. She’s watching me, face pale, eyes wide with worry. She whispers, “What are we going to do? How will we warn Levi and Jace?”
Even now, with everything crumbling, she’s thinking about them.
A heavy knock rattles the front door, sending a jolt through both of us. Whale heads that way, not looking back. I watch him, mind racing. He’s going to sell us out if we stay a second longer.
I lean in close to Carrie, keeping my voice just above a whisper. “Stay behind me. As soon as he’s distracted, we go for the side exit.”
Her hand tightens in mine. I can see the fight in her, and something like trust.
I take one last look out the window. Jace and Levi are still by the tree line, out of sight. I have to get a warning to them. My pulse is racing, heart pounding with every second that ticks by.
We don’t have time. I know Whale. He’ll do what he thinks is best for the club, no matter who he has to burn.
Whale unlocks the door and swings it open.
For a split second, I expect to see badges or blue lights flashing outside.
Instead, it’s two old club members—Smoke and Richie—standing on the porch, bundled up in leather, looking uneasy. And between them, half-hidden, is a girl with tangled hair and a swollen eye. She steps forward, flinching at the sudden light.
Carrie’s breath hitches. “Marcy?”
Her sister looks up, her face pale and streaked with tears. She’s wearing jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, but it doesnothing to hide the bruises on her cheek or the way she’s holding her ribs. She barely manages a whisper. “Carrie?”
Carrie pulls away from me and crosses the room in three strides. She throws her arms around Marcy, careful not to hurt her. Marcy clings to her, shoulders shaking, sobbing into her neck.
Smoke gives me a wary nod. Ritchie just shakes his head like he’s done with everything. Whale’s face is tight, but he steps aside to let them in.
Carrie holds Marcy close, whispering to her, smoothing her hair. She cups Marcy’s face, searching her eyes, barely able to believe she’s real. “Marcy, what are you doing here?”
Before Marcy can answer, Richie steps in. He leans against the door, his voice low. “Found her at the bus station yesterday. She looked half-dead. Wouldn’t tell us anything except she needed her sister. We figured this was the safest place left.”
Carrie brushes Marcy’s hair back, voice trembling. “Who did this to you?”
I hear the bitterness in my own voice as I step closer. “Who was it, Marcy?”
Marcy’s eyes flick to me, then back to her sister. There’s no hesitation. “Who do you think?” she says. Her voice is rough, defeated, but there’s anger there too.
Jinn.
Carrie hugs her tight, and I can see the way Marcy’s shoulders finally drop, as if she’s been holding herself together for too long. Carrie sits on the couch, gently rocking Marcy, who leans into her, silent and shaking.
The front door opens again and Jace and Levi step in. Their eyes land first on Smoke and Richie standing by the wall.
Jace nods at them. “Didn’t expect to see you two.”
Smoke shrugs, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. “Didn’t expect to see you either, brother.”
Levi glances at Whale, who just grunts. “Relax. I called them here.”
Jace and Levi exchange a quick look, then their gazes shift to the couch. Their faces change when they see Marcy curled up with Carrie. Jace’s eyes narrow, and Levi’s jaw sets hard.
Jace takes a step closer, voice cool. “What’s she doing here, Carrie?”
