Archer’s hand sat on his chin, scrubbing through his beard every few seconds as he thought about everything I had just told him. “You’re going to have to come clean, Dillon. Not just to me, but to everyone. Especially to Scorpio.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad you told me, but this isn’t something I can keep from my brothers. It’s something that I’m going to have to tell them. We’re drowning in the aftermath of Brooklyn’s death. Drowning in shit that we never expected. We got lucky that Juliette has connections in the CIA, otherwise we’d probably all be dead.”
“Is Juliette the female cop I’ve seen hanging around Scorpio?”
“Yes, she’s also the late sheriff’s daughter, and the only cop in Rising Star we can trust.”
“Damn. I feel so bad for her.”
I was about to say something else when my phone chimed in my pocket. It was a text from an unknown number and contained a video message.
“What’s that?” Archer asked.
“I’m not sure. I don’t recognize the number.” I hit play and my jaw dropped when I saw what was happening on the video.
“What is it?”
My mouth opened, ready to relay everything I just saw, but then another text message came through from my sister’s number.
Joey: Get that to the Celestial Sons. Maybe they will show you mercy and help get me out of here. I don’t have much time. Shotgun was waiting for me when I got back and it’s not looking good for me. Hurry, Dillon. I think they’re going to kill me.
Me: Joey, where are you?
Joey: With the bike. Hurry, Dillon. Please. M.
I may not have been able to see her hold up our universal sign of danger, but her leaving that M at the end of her text message told me everything I needed to know. My sister was in dire need of help, and I was the only person on this planet left that could help her.
Fuck.My head shot up, and it was like Archer could see the fear and terror in my eyes.
“What’s wrong, Dillon?” Archer asked, looking genuinely concerned.
“It’s my sister. Fuck, I have to find Scorpio now!”
Archer quickly stood up. “I think he’s at the clubhouse. We’re having a barbecue today for baby Brooklyn. If he’s anywhere, he’s going to be there. Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
My anxiety was on high alert as Archer pulled into the Celestial Sons’ clubhouse parking lot. When he put the vehicle in park, I felt frozen to his seat. I noticed that Archer often chose to drive instead of ride a bike. I didn’t know if that had something to do with his past, or if he was just the person who drove the cages for the club. One day I would ask him, but not today. Not when more pressing matters were at hand.
“You’re going to have to face the music, Dillon. I can’t tell you how Scorpio is going to react, but if I had to guess, whatever was on that video may help you. Otherwise, your sister wouldn’t have sent it.”
The fear of what could be happening to Joey overtook me. I was doing my best to suppress my emotions, but it was getting harder with every damn second that ticked by.
“What if she’s already dead, Archer? What if they saw the text message she sent me and killed her for it?”
He laid a hand on my shoulder, giving it a tiny squeeze. “Then we better get in there and let the rest of the club know what’s going on.”
“Why don’t you hate me for what I did?”
He frowned. “There’s something about you, kid, that speaks to my younger self. I feel connected to you somehow, and I know that you wouldn’t have done what you did if you had any other choice. We all make mistakes, Dillon. It’s how we fix them that makes us a man.”
I nodded, knowing he was right.
“Now go on. Go find Scorpio and tell him what you know.”
I hesitantly threw open the door, but not before taking a much-needed deep breath.
