Unknown: Heard a rumour your Pres has the drive. Passed it along. Let’s see how long he lasts once the wolves catch his scent.
Jay’s eyes darkened. His hand flexed like he wanted to punch steel.
“He put this on me,” he ground out.
My throat was raw. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you looking at me like it was my fault.”
His gaze snapped back to mine. “It’s not your fault. None of this is, but I need you safe. They were already coming for you, now they’re coming for me, too.”
Fear pressed cold in my stomach. I shoved it down. “Then let me ride. You wanted proof I’m not just a shadow here? That’s it. I ride with you to that cabin.”
His jaw worked, muscles twitching. “Don’t slow me down.”
The words stung, but when I swung onto the back of his bike and felt the engine roar to life, I let the anger roll off me. He didn’t have to forgive me tonight. I didn’t need him to.
I needed to prove I was there. All the way in.
The cabin looked like it had already given up. Half-sunken in the trees, draped in shadow and silence, it seemed to know why we were there. I stayed behind Jay, the flash drive in my jacket pocket like a talisman. There was no way I was leaving it at the clubhouse.
Riot killed his engine first, then Jay. Three bikes in total, all off the main trail, no lights, no talking.
Jay raised a fist then two fingers and swirled them.Surround.
Riot veered left. Link circled around back. I followed Jay, steps even, every nerve screaming. At the porch, Jay’s hand brushed mine, only for a second, but it set my heart racing.
His voice dropped low so only I could hear. “I need him alive. For now.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“Because if I end him out here, it’s murder, not justice and he’s still holding pieces we don’t have. Where he talked, who he sold to. We can’t bury him until I know it all.”
The words settled uneasy in my chest. I wanted that bastard dead. Though I nodded once, forcing my shoulders square.
Jay stepped onto the rotting wood, his tone cold. “Open the door. No guns, Gage. Let’s talk.”
Silence. Then a scrape and the door creaked open.
Gage.
He looked like death had been taking notes and trying out different looks on him: shirt soaked in sweat, eyes sunken, gun limp in his hand.
“You came,” he muttered.
“You knew I would,” Jay said.
I stepped into view. His eyes found mine, and for a second, he froze.
“You should’ve stayed gone,” he rasped.
“So should you,” I shot back.
We moved in. Riot and Link flanked. The cabin swallowed us, door thudding shut behind.
“You broke the code,” Jay said.
“You think I wanted this?” Gage whispered.
Riot snarled. “You think that matters?”
