My head snapped up.
“Bishop? No... it can’t be.”
He crouched in front of me, calm and unyielding, like this wasn’t a kidnapping.
“Why?” My throat burned. “You’re family.”
“Doesn’t feel like family right now, I bet.”
“You knew what Gage was doing. You let him?—”
“I didn’t let anything happen,” Bishop cut in. “Caleb wasn’t supposed to be there. I warned him.”
“But he stayed.”
Bishop’s eyes flickered, almost regretful. “Because he wanted to protect Reaper. Always Reaper.”
My chest ached. “So, you betrayed him?”
“Reaper stopped listening,” Bishop said flatly, “and I got a better offer.”
I forced the words through my teeth. “Jay will find me, and when he does, you won’t have time to explain. He’ll bury you.”
Bishop paused in the doorway. Almost to himself, he muttered, “Let’s hope he’s not too late.”
The door slammed.
I worked the ropes against the rusted chair leg until it snapped. My arms screamed, but I rolled free and crawled to the door. It wasn’t locked, so I guessed they didn’t think I’d run.
The hall stretched long, pipes dripping overhead. I walked fast, without a plan, just moving ahead.
“Lucy.” Bishop stood in front of me, calm and waiting. “You shouldn’t be out here,” he said. “You’re not going to be hurt, but if you keep fighting, it gets harder for everyone.”
“I know you don’t like me, but you were my brother’s friend.”
“Then you know he’d hate this.”
I bolted past him, straight into Gage.
“I admire the effort,” he sneered.
“Fuck you.”
His grin twisted, then a fist slammed into my gut. Pain flared outwards as the air fled my lungs.
“That’s enough,” Bishop snapped, and Gage actually stepped back.
Bishop hauled me up, steadying me. His voice dropped to almost gentle. “That’s exactly what your brother said and look where it got him.”
The world split inside me.
Back in the cell, tied up again, I didn’t close my eyes. Because next time, I wasn’t stopping until I was free.
Chapter 35
Reaper
Rox found me before sunset, pulling me outside behind the clubhouse. His face was stone, his voice flat.
