“Yeah, but good luck getting it. The Artillery isn’t going to let you just waltz on in there and steal it back. It would take an army to go up against them, and last I checked, the Sons were a peaceful group who don’t believe in violence.”
“Then I’ll go to the cops. I’ll let them know about the stolen bike and go in with them.”
Joey laughed mockingly at me. “That’s probably the worst idea you ever had, Dillon. You can’t trust the damn cops in this town because they’re all dirty. That stupid bastard Hollender is working side-by-side with the Artillery, and he even has two of his deputies in on it. They won’t help you. They’d probably just lead you to the slaughter if you tried. Like I said, Dillon, just keep your mouth shut.”
She started to walk away from me, but I grabbed her hand, desperate to change her mind.
“Joey, if shit gets bad and you need a way out, call me. I’m here for you. I’ll help you get out of there. Hell, I’ll extract you the same time I take the bike, if that’s what it comes down to. Don’t think you’re stuck here because you’re not. We’re Murdocks and Murdocks stick together, even when all hope is lost. Forever and always. We’re stronger together than we are apart.” I held up the sign for everything is okay, making the letter M with my fingers.
Tears formed in her eyes. “Just forget about me, Dillon. It’s easier that way. Save yourself before it’s too late.”
I squeezed her hand, trying to show her just how much I cared about her. “I can’t do that, Joey. You’ve spent most of our lives protecting me, and now it’s my time to protect you. I know you’re scared and think that there’s no hope, but I’m going to get you out of there. I don’t care what it takes, but I will get you away from the Artillery. That’s one promise I will keep.”
She choked down a silent sob, pulling her arm out of my grasp.
“I’ve got to go, Dillon. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid. Just forget about the bike. Forget about me. Just keep living your life with the Celestial Sons. They’ll keep protecting you, but they won’t if you tell the truth.”
This wasn’t my sister. My sister would never tell me to keep something like this a secret. She’d tell me to come clean. She’d tell me to fix the mistake I made. It was like this Joey was afraid of her own shadow now—something she had never been before.
What the hell did the Artillery do to her?
What changed her?
What caused her to be this way?
As my sister walked away from me, I felt a jolt of protection rush through me. “I love you, Joey!” I screamed after her. “I’m going to save you from them. Just you wait and see!”
But my sister didn’t turn around. She didn’t even flash me a sign showing that she had heard me. No. Joey just kept on walking. And that’s when a sudden rush of panic coursed throughme.
Shit! Was that the last time I’d ever see my sister?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sienna was waiting for me when I got back, sitting in my tiny room with her hands in her lap. When I walked through the door, she rushed towards me, hugging me so tightly I could barely breathe.
“I was so worried,” she mumbled into my neck.
Gently, I pulled her away, smiling as I brushed her hair back with my fingers. “I’m okay, Sienna, but thanks for worrying about me.”
“I wasn’t the only one,” she said quietly, motioning to the door. His massive body took up the whole door frame as he studied me curiously.
“You told Archer?”
She looked down at the floor. “I had to, Dillon. What if something happened to you? They would’ve never known.”
“We need to talk,” Archer exclaimed, motioning for Sienna to leave the room.
Shit.
“I didn’t tell him details, Dillon, just that you were about to do something stupid. You can trust him. He cares about you. They all do.”
Sienna pressed a quick kiss to my cheek before rushing from the room. It was incredibly early, and I was surprised Archer was even here waiting for me.
“I’m starting to think that there is more to your story than you’ve been letting on, Dillon.” He closed the door behind him, but not before grabbing a chair from outside and placing it in front of the door so he could sit down.
I was trapped.
“There is, but I’m afraid to tell you all the details.”
