Brick had been unreachable.What if he only saw her text hours later and by then, who knew what would happen to her and Dillon.They were both in enemy hands.
Her thoughts shattered into panic, guilt, and one overwhelming certainty that cut through everything else like fire.
Brick would come for her, and when he did, the Iron Serpents wouldn’t survive what they’d started.Tessa took comfort in that knowledge.
Chapter Nine
The call came in justafter the last of the delivery bikes rolled into the Devil’s Crown lot and engines cooled with sharp ticking sounds.The air smelled like oil, exhaust, and sweat.Voices carried through the open bay doors.
There was laughter and the familiar sound of clinking bottles.Life moving forward like nothing in the world was wrong.
Brick was in the garage, stripping down a weapon at one of the worktables, methodical and silent as always, when his phone vibrated inside the pocket of his cut.
He didn’t answer right away.He never liked being interrupted mid-task.
The vibration came again.He frowned and finally answered.
“Brick,” the prospect blurted, panic already crawling into his voice.“It’s Tessa.She hasn’t returned to the clubhouse.”
The words didn’t register at first.Brick straightened slowly, the weapon forgotten in his hands.
“She should’ve been here already,” the prospect rushed on.“She always comes straight after work.Always.Everyone knows that, but nobody’s seen her.I checked the garage, the bar, the common room.She’s not here.”
Cold slid into Brick’s veins like black ice.
“How long?”he demanded.Rage and possessiveness rose up inside of him, but he shoved it back down.He needed to hear all the details and to keep a calm mind.
“Over an hour now,” the prospect said.
The garage suddenly felt too loud.It felt too bright and alive.
“Keep your eyes open,” Brick said, his voice flattening to steel.“If anything changes, you report to me immediately.You don’t wait.”
“Yes, sir,” the prospect immediately answered.
The call cut off.
