The words landed heavy. Final.
Right there in the middle of the lot, surrounded by brothers and engines and noise, somethin’ inside me gave way. It felt like my chest caved inward, breath knockin’ loose as if I’d taken a fist straight to the gut.
Briar dragged in a breath and started talkin’, fast and breathless, like if she slowed down she might fall apart. “Zach called her. Said it was about Sable and the kids. Said it wasimportant. We had a plan. I hid in the backseat. Thought we were bein’ smart about it.”
Her voice wobbled, but she forced herself through it.
“We pulled up to the house and he came out smilin’ like nothin’ was wrong. Like he hadn’t just sold her out.” Her jaw clenched. “Then another man stepped out from behind the house. She called him Jasper. Him and a couple others.”
My hands curled without me tellin’ them to, nails bitin’ into my palms hard enough to sting.
“He grabbed her,” Briar said, swallowin’ thick. “Zach held her there like he was helpin’. Like he was savin’ her from somethin’ worse. I told her not to trust that lyin’ piece of shit after he tried to force that kiss on her at the motel.”
A sound tore outta me, low and feral, before I could stop it.
“Then one of those bastards spotted me, dragged me clear outta the car, and pinned me. Had his hand over my mouth, arm locked tight around my throat.”
Daddy went rigid beside me, his face goin’ dead calm in that way I’d learned to fear young.
“I stabbed the one holdin’ me,” Briar said, turnin’ to him. “Used that pocketknife you never let me forget to carry. Right in his side. That’s how I got loose.”
Daddy closed his eyes for half a heartbeat, then pulled her into him, crushin’ her tight against his chest. “Good girl,” he muttered, fierce and proud. “That’s my girl.”
“I ran,” Briar continued, pullin’ back, fire sparkin’ in her eyes now. “Straight into the woods. Hid and watched ’em. Watched them drag Lark to a black SUV and shove her inside like she was nothin’.”
My stomach twisted hard enough I had to swallow it back down.
“They disabled my car,” she added. “Pulled the starter cable. Didn’t realize I knew how to hook it back up.”
Ash let out a low whistle. “Jesus. You’re somethin’ else.”
Briar flicked him a look, quick and hard, appreciation flashin’ for half a second.
A low growl sounded behind me.
I turned just enough to see Gearhead glarin’ holes through Ash, jaw tight, hands flexin’ like he was one word away from violence. I didn’t have time to think about why, but I clocked it. Filed it away.
“I tried followin’ them,” she said, voice calmer now. “But I didn’t know which road they took. That place didn’t have cell service. That’s what screwed our plan.”
“Where’d they take her?” I asked, already knowin’ I wasn’t gonna like the answer. “You hear anythin’? Any clue at all?”
I hated how bare it sounded. How close to beggin’.
“I don’t know,” Briar said quietly. “But that Jasper guy… he was real damn happy to get her back.”
She looked at me then, really looked, and the next words hit deeper than the rest. “And she was scared, Calder. Like terrified, even though she tried not to show it.”
Of course she was.
That sadistic bastard had already broken her once. Burned her. Owned her.
And I hadn’t protected her.
I dragged a hand down my face, heat and guilt collidin’ until it felt like my skin might split. “Where would he take her?” I demanded, turnin’ to Ash. “Where the hell would Jasper hide her?”
Before he could answer, Mystic’s voice rolled out low and ugly. “Maybe this one can tell us.”
I turned just in time to see Spinner and Bolt haulin’ Jacob across the lot, his boots skiddin’, his face drained of all color.
