He coughs, making a harsh rasping sound. “Got jumped. Same fucking guy came for Christina, the one I saw that day in the parking lot.”
I collapse back against the side of the building. “You sure it was him?”
“Positive. He knew my name. Got me with a stun gun before I could draw. The next thing I know, I’m in the trunk of his car, with my wrists zip-tied. He kept me there for a while, driving around, talking to himself. Wanted to know where Christina was.”
“You sound horrible. Are you alright?”
“I’ll live. He eventually stopped at some old, abandoned house. I got a little banged up. Probably have a cracked rib or two. Fucker did that when I wouldn’t talk. He smashed my handin a vise when I wouldn’t open my cell phone for him to have a fuckin’ snoop. Shattered the bones in two fingers.”
Inside, my anger is churning like a volcano, but my voice stays steady. I am going to track this fucker down and make sure he stops hunting the terrified woman I’m becoming more obsessed with by the damn day. “Did you get a look at his plate?”
“No, but I heard him on the phone before he thought I was awake. He called somebody named Neal. Said he’d check the warehouse off Imperial.”
That’s all I need to hear. Imperial runs through the industrial strip outside Los Angeles. It’s the kind of place where you can make someone disappear and nobody will ask any questions.
“Where are you now?” I ask.
“At a hotel just outside of Riverside. I’m fine.”
“What happened with your job?”
Rivera replies, “When I said I was here for work, it was an interview. Dude drove around with me in his trunk for over a fuckin’ day and had me chained up in his basement for two more days. I missed my damn interview, and they hired someone else.”
“Well then, you’re coming home with me. Grab the nearest hotel room, text me the address and then hang tight. I’m on my way.”
“Slate, don’t do anything stupid.”
“I don’t do stupid shit. I only do fuckin’ brilliant shit. You know that, Rivera.”
“I’ve found that to be a matter of perspective,” he deadpans back.
I end the call and stand there for a long minute, weighing my options. Within moments, I’ve worked it all out in my head. I’m going to hunt this fucker down and make sure he can’t come after Christina again. I’m taking the men I trust most on this mission.
I check my watch, then scroll through contacts until I hit Jinx’s number. He answers on the second ring.
“Yeah?”
“Gear up. Bring Maddox, and Onyx. Have Stitch meet us there. He’s over in Vacaville today. Tell them we’re taking a run back to LA today.”
He doesn’t ask why. “You want all bikes or mixed?”
“Mixed. We’re gonna need one with a cage for the ride back.”
“You got it, bro.” He hangs up without another word. This is why I trust him, because he’s not a nosey fucker. You ask him to do something, and he gets his ass movin’ without dickin’ around.
I pocket the phone and begin looking for Christina. I find her kneeling in a flower bed beside my ma. Katie wanders around holding a watering can that’s half her size. They’re laughing together.
This is such a sweet moment for them that I hate to interrupt it, but I have to because she needs to know what’s going on. The thought of watching her face change from this kind of contentment back to the naked fear I saw the night I rescued her, ties my stomach in knots.
In the end, I decide I can’t take that away from her. So, I shout out to them, “I’m making a parts run. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
They both look up, but I walk off before they can second-guess the information I just gave. My father’s words circle in my head. A lie of omission is still a lie. But he’s also the guy who always said club business is not for women’s ears. Yeah, my old man was a long series of contradictions.
I head to the garage to get my bike, just as Jinx rumbles up in his truck. Maddox leans out of the passenger window, raising a brow. “You want me on my bike or in the truck?”
“Bike,” I say. “Let Jinx take the truck. You and Onyx ride with me. I want to keep our options open. I want wheels on the pavement in twenty minutes.”
“Copy that,” he says, eagerly hopping out to get his bike.
