I text him with shaking fingers, telling him to call me.
The Ridge Renegades clubhouse is a converted warehouse outside Ember Heart Ridge. I have the address because Clay gave it to me so I could send a box of event flyers for the club to distribute.
I park and walk straight in. The main room is mostly empty. There’s a pool table, a bar and worn leather couches dotted around the room. A young guy looks up from behind the bar.
“Help you?”
“I'm looking for Clay.”
“Prez is in church.” He nods toward a closed door at the back. “Can't interrupt.”
“It's important.”
“Church is important. You can wait.”
I sit on one of the couches, my leg bouncing and stomach churning. Muffled voices drift through the door. I can't make out words, just tones. Clay's deep rumble and other voices I don't recognize.
Then I hear my name.
I stand up. The prospect opens his mouth to stop me, but I'm already moving toward the door.
“—Karina doesn't know anything.” That's Clay. “She's clean.”
“You sure about that, Prez?” Another voice. “She's been working with Morgan for three months.”
“She's a victim, not an accomplice. Chet Morgan targeted her specifically because she's trusting. Because she's kind.”
A pause. Then a third voice: “How long have we known about Morgan?”
“Five days.” Clay's voice is flat. “Since she walked into that meeting room and I saw his picture.”
I go cold all over.
He’s known for nearly a week that my boss is a criminal. While I carried on working with Ty, trusting him. And getting together with Clay, I trusted him too. It’s all been a lie.
I push open the door.
The room goes silent as the bikers stare at me from around a long wooden table. Clay is at the head, and when he sees me, a muscle leaps in his jaw.
“Karina—”
My voice comes out strangled. “You've known forfive days?”
Clay stands slowly, hands raised like I'm something fragile. “Let me explain.”
“Explain what? That you've been lying to me since the moment we met?” I'm shaking. My whole body is shaking. “You knew my boss was a con artist and the charity was fake. And you let me keep working for him, looking like a fool… was I the only one that didn’t know?”
“I was protecting you?—”
I laugh, but there's no humor in it. “You slept with me! You knew everything, and you didn't say a word.”
His jaw tightens. “I was gathering evidence. If I told you too soon, you would have confronted him. He would have run.”
“So you made the decision for me. You decided I couldn't handle the truth.” Tears spill down my cheeks. “Everyone thinks I'm a screwup, Clay. My family, my boss, everyone. And you just proved them right. I was so stupid?—”
He steps toward me. “You're not stupid. You’re kind. He took advantage of that.”
“And so did you.”
