“Don’t give me any bullshit about it not being safe. Hiding me away didn’t help last time. Plus, if I’m with you two assholes, I know you’ll keep me safe,” I said it with a straight face but then half grinned when Warren narrowed his eyes. “Look, I just need to see him, okay. Lily told me he was dead. For three days I grieved him. I need to see him. I need it.”
“Okay,” Warren held up both hands. “Later, after this is all sorted and we know what dad wants us to do. We’ll go see him,” he huffed out and looked away from us.
I exchanged a confused look with Hudson, who looked back at my brother in concern. A whistle had us all looking up before I could question Warren’s reaction. Ballistic was standing by the back door. We hurried inside, Hudson putting his palm on the small of my back.
“Mace is moving to the compound,” King said.
“Not the Shed,” I said anxiously.
“Shed’s full,” Ballistic answered and I swore he was laughing internally at that.
I waited for someone to ask the question but realized no one was going to, because King wouldn’t answer while I was here. What little ground I’d made, was slowly falling away.
“But he’s going willingly?” I asked.
“Well, I wouldn’t put it that way, but he knows what he needs to do.”
“Dad-”
Warren stopped me from taking a step forward. “We’re going to see Connor. Wave’ll let this go if you allow that. Right Wave?”
I pursed my lips at him. The prick.
“Waverley, Mace is not going to come to any harm, we just need a more in-depth discussion. Besides, there are people out looking for him, it’s within all of our interests to get him somewhere they can’t get their hands on him or know that he is with us.”
I was only mildly reassured by that. At least my father was giving me something. He agreed we could go and see Connor, suggested we even spend the night down there, which made me even more suspicious.
I was about to argue when the front door opened. I was surprised to see Ransom. I hadn’t seen him since the party at the compound. He was wearing a suit but no tie and his top button was undone. He greeted everyone and tossed a set of keys towards my brother, who caught them despite the surprise.
“What’s this?”
Ransom shrugged. “Dad said you needed a car, where’s mom?” he asked Ballistic.
“Paterson with Stitch. These guys are headed down there for the night so shecan come home.”
All three of us made an ‘oh’ gesture as King shook Ransom’s hand and thanked him for coming. “When did he become psychic?” I muttered to my brother.
“He always has been,” he smirked. “Come on, we need to go back to the compound anyway and get cleaned up. Get you some proper clothes before we head out.”
I agreed. I was still wary about leaving without having seen Mace. For all I know, he could have been battered to within an inch of his life, but everyone once again reassured me things were fine and I let Warren steer me out to the car. We dropped Hudson at his dad’s place to pick up his bike, then headed back to the compound.
It felt weird pulling back in through these gates. I had no recollection of leaving, having been drugged and stuffed in a trunk. I’d sensed Warren still wasn’t in the talkative mood so remained quiet too, watching through the window and thinking over everything that I’d learned in the last few days.
We were greeted with cheers and hugs and Handlebar held me longer than the rest.
“I’m glad you’re okay, kid,” he told me.
“I’d release her before her man gets in,” Warren slapped him on the back with a laugh. Handlebar stepped back but not because he felt bad about it or worried what Hudson would say.
I balked at going into the house where my stuff was. Where Connor and I had been attacked. War volunteered to go get what I needed then we went over to the clubhouse. Hudson was already inside. He was drinking from a bottle of coke, but he left it on the bar when I walked in, looking at the bag in my hands, he took it and led me upstairs. Warren stayed downstairs and I heard him laughing and talking with the others.
“In the interests of water preservation,” Hudson ushered me into his bathroom.
“Oh, really, cos you’re Mr. Environmental.”
He kicked the door shut and pulled his t-shirt off, reaching in to turn on the shower.
Hudson didn’t do anything more than get washed up, stepping out and letting me finish up washing my hair. Warren was waiting when we came downstairs. Everyone seemed less cheerful than when we came. A few of the guys looked downright murderous.
