My fists clenched. This was my fault. If I hadn’t pushed so hard, if I hadn’t gone looking for answers, none of this would be happening. People could be hurt.
I wanted to stay, to watch it burn, to see if anyone needed help, to make sure no one was left behind.
“Go. I need to check on people, see if anyone needs help.”
Riot pulled up beside us. “Pres, we need to go now. Cops are on their way.”
Jay revved his engine low beside me. “You don’t have to stay,” he said quietly, eyes scanning the perimeter. I knew he couldn’t stay but didn’t want to leave me.
“I need to,” I whispered. “What if someone’s trapped? What if they’re hurt because of me?” I turned to him, begging him with my eyes to understand. “Go, Jay. I’ll be okay. I’ll call you if I need you.”
Jay’s gaze softened, but his voice was firm. “I’ll be close. I’ll keep watch. When you’re ready, call me. The club can’t be seen here. Not tonight.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.
He didn’t wait. Engines revved again, brothers peeling away into darkness until they were nothing but shadows.
I stayed rooted, eyes locked on the burning motel, every flicker of flame a reminder of the chaos I helped unleash and the fight I wasn’t ready to walk away from.
The smoke stung my eyes as I edged closer, boots crunching on shattered glass and twisted metal. Instinct screamed at me to stay back, to run, but guilt pressed heavy on my chest. I had to make sure no one was left behind.
“Anyone here?” I called, my throat raw from holding back the tears.
Flames cast flickering shadows against the walls. No answers, just the crackle of fire and distant sirens.
At the back of the building, where the fire was thinner, a faint sound caught my attention, a muffled groan.
Heart pounding, I followed it to a half-collapsed doorway. Smoke was thick, burning my lungs, but I forced myself forward.
“Hey! You okay?” I asked, reaching out.
A figure shifted in the shadows. Relief surged through me when I thought someone was safe, there was someone I could help. Until more shadows shifted behind them.
There was movement too fast to see clearly, but I knew before I could react.
Fangs.Their kuttes came into view as my heart lodged in my throat.
They emerged like ghosts from the smoke, silent and lethal, surrounding me like a noose tightening.
I reached for my phone, fingers fumbling, panic rising. Jay... I needed to call Jay, but my hand froze. Too slow.
A heavy hand clamped over my mouth, and another yanked me backwards. I struggled, heartbeat slamming in my ears.
“Quiet, little rat,” a voice hissed in my ear. “You’re coming with us.”
I tried to scream, but nothing came out. Why had I left my gun in the motel room? I’d become soft, relying on Jay for backup instead of remembering what Caleb had told me: always be prepared.
The smoke burned my throat and stung my eyes. Hands pinned my arms like vices, dragging me backwards through the dark. I thrashed, bit, and clawed at anyone and anything I could reach, but it was useless. There were too many.
The voice in my ear was cold and cruel. “Stop fighting, sweetheart. You’ll like what comes next a hell of a lot less if you make us work for it.” A rough rope was tied around my wrists too tightly, the fibres biting into my skin.
I tried to scream again, but a hand over my mouth smothered it. Panic flared, mixing with the sting of smoke in my lungs. I could see the flames behind me, the motel collapsing in on itself, and all I could think was,Jay will come. He has to.
They hauled me around the corner, away from the firelight. A black van idled with its headlights off, and one door slid open with a metallic clang.
“Get her in.”
I kicked back hard, my boot connecting with someone’s shin. He swore and slammed me against the side of the van. Pain rattled through my ribs, but I still fought.
