I pull around to the back entrance, away from prying eyes. The last thing we need is some hang-around seeing us arrive looking like we just escaped a murder scene.
"Brace yourself," I warn as I kill the engine. "This isn't going to be pleasant."
"Being kidnapped wasn't pleasant either," she retorts, some of her usual fire returning. "I can handle your biker friends."
I'm not so sure about that. Reaper doesn't take kindly to outsiders bringing trouble to his door, and this is trouble with a capital T. But there's no other option. The club is the only protection worth having in Pine Haven.
We enter through the back door, which leads directly to the club's private area—off-limits to anyone but members and their invited guests. The main room is empty, but I can hear voices from behind the closed chapel doors. Church is in session. Perfect timing.
"Wait here," I tell Maddie, gesturing to a worn leather couch against the wall. "I need to interrupt a reunion."
Her eyes widen slightly. Even she knows that's a major violation of club protocol. "Is that a good idea?"
"No," I admit. "But it's necessary."
I leave her there and approach the chapel doors, pausing to take a deep breath before knocking three times—the emergency signal.
The voices inside immediately fall silent. A moment later, the door swings open to reveal Ghost, his expression changing from annoyed to concerned as he takes in my appearance.
"What the fuck happened to you?" he demands, stepping aside to let me enter.
The chapel—our meeting room—is occupied by the full members: Reaper at the head of the table, Ghost's empty VP chair beside him, then Wilder, Blade, Ace, and Viper around the table. Every eye turns to me, and I feel the weight of their collective stare.
"Sorry to interrupt." I say, addressing Reaper directly. "We've got a situation."
Reaper takes in my bruised knuckles and disheveled appearance. "What kind of situation requires interrupting a club meeting, prospect?"
I stand straighter, knowing I need to get this right. "James's friend, Maddie, was set up tonight. Men tried to abduct her. They knew about her, about James, about me and the club. They were professionals."
"And how exactly do you know all this?" Reaper's voice is dangerously calm.
Here comes the hard part. "Because I was there when it happened. I stopped it."
The room erupts in voices, everyone talking at once. Reaper silences them with a raised hand.
"Explain," he orders. "From the beginning."
I take a deep breath and lay it all out. Maddie's text asking for help, my decision to go alone, the theft she was planning, and the men who were waiting to grab her. I leave nothing out, not even my own role in agreeing to help her. Lying now would only make things worse.
When I finish, the silence is deafening.
"Where is she now?" Ghost finally asks.
"Outside. In the common room."
Reaper's face betrays nothing as he considers this information. "Bring her in."
I fetch Maddie, who's sitting exactly where I left her, tension radiating from every line of her body. When I tell her Reaper wants to see her, she nods once, squaring her shoulders like she's preparing for battle.
"Follow my lead," I murmur as we approach the chapel. "And whatever you do, don't lie to them. They'll know."
The club members watch in silence as Maddie enters the room. She holds herself with remarkable composure for someone who nearly got kidnapped an hour ago and is now facing a table of outlaws who have every reason to be pissed at her.
"Ms. Brooks," Reaper acknowledges her with a slight nod. "Seems you've brought trouble to our door."
"Not intentionally," she replies, her voice steady. "But yes, it appears I have."
"Dice tells me you were hired to steal a prototype watch. The job went sideways when men were waiting to abduct you. Men who knew about your connection to his brother, and to him." Reaper leans forward. "What I want to know is why."
