“Shit.” I toss my phone on the bed and pull on a pair of black pants. I’ve barely stuffed my feet into my boots before I’m shoving my phone into my pocket and running out the bedroom door.
“Aiden?” Nova calls from the top of the steps as I take them two at a time.
“I’ll be back. There’s an emergency!” I swing the front door open, not bothering to close it behind me.
I sprint down the driveway and hit the curb, my head swinging back and forth as I search for a sign of the escapee or my friends chasing after him. My eyes widen when I spot Ryder running down the street, his arms pumping by his sides as he sprints. Without thinking, I follow him and soon spot Kyle diving through bushes to cut through yards.
“Oh, fuck no,” I growl, and widen my strides to catch up to Kyle.
The asshole glances back, his face riddled with cuts and bruises, and he yells when he notices my lean, smirking, six-foot-three ass lunging for him. We go down in a tangle of limbs. I take a punch to the face that I barely feel, thanks to the adrenaline pumping through my veins.
“You motherfucker,” Ryder snarls behind me. His boots pound against the grass as he marches up to us.
Kyle yells and lands another punch. I cackle, spit the blood gathering in my mouth, then swing my fist. Pain cracks through my knuckles as they connect with Kyle’s temple.
“Night, night, asshole.” I laugh and relax on top of his slumped body.
Ryder stops by my side and scowls at Kyle. “I can’t wait to kill him.”
“How the fuck did he get out?” I spit another glob of blood and unfold myself from Kyle to stand.
“He pretended to be dead.”
“I can’t believe you fell for the oldest trick in the book.”
Ryder shakes his head while mumbling something under his breath, then says, “Help me get him back to the safe house.”
“I think I deserve a thank you for saving your ass.” I snicker.
Ryder huffs and grabs Kyle’s wrist, then drags his unconscious body across the grass toward the street. “I’ll do it myself, then.”
I blow a raspberry and take Kyle’s ankles. “It’s not hard to say thanks, but whatever.”
Ryder raises his head enough to direct a sharp look at me, a warning that I’m getting on his nerves.
“All right, all right. I’ll shut up,” I say with a chuckle.
I drop Kyle’s ankle and watch Ryder drag him through the mansion and toward the laundry room. I roll my lips togetherto keep from bursting into maniacal laughter every time Kyle’s head hits furniture or the corner of a wall. The asshole deserves every bit of pain he gets.
Ryder clasps the chains around Kyle’s wrists and straightens. I follow him as we leave the room and lock the door behind us.
Jaxon and Hawk burst through the front door, their chests and shoulders heaving, and they look between Ryder and me.
“Don’t worry. We got him.” I shove my hand into my pocket for my vape, then sigh when I realize I left it at the house.
“Sorry I got here too late.” Jaxon flops onto the couch. He runs his fingers through his hair and drops his head against the cushion.
Ryder brushes past me and shakes out a cigarette from its pack. “You live across town. I’d say you got here in record time. Besides, Aiden and I took care of the problem.”
Jaxon directs his glare to the hallway.
“How the fuck did he get out?” Hawk says.
I cackle and turn to Ryder. “You gonna tell him, or should I?”
He scowls at me and folds his arms over his chest. “He pretended to be dead.”
Hawk and Jaxon share the same bewildered look, making me laugh harder.
