“They don’t play fair and I don’t want you in the crossfire,” she explained hastily as Kenny whistled for them to return.
“‘Kay,” Tara agreed as she clasped hands with Riley and walked toward the bikers. Bernice sneered as Riley placed Tara behind her.
“I have the information you wanted,” she said proudly as she pulled the fat envelope from the front pocket of her backpack. “He’s working as a ranch hand and he keeps hismoney at Forge Bank.” She thrust the envelope into Kenny’s hand. “Here’s ten thousand dollars. It’s more than enough for a scratch on a bike.”
Kenny counted the money as Bernice eagerly held out her hands.
“I didn’t ask you to discover his bank. I wanted his account numbers,” Kenny explained.
Riley shook her head. “You wanted to know where he kept the money. He went into the bank and came out with this. I gave it to you. I’m done.”
“You’re done when I say you are,” Kenny said, jerking his head toward Stitch. “Until then, your sister stays here.”
Riley backed up as Stitch moved toward them. She steered Tara toward the door. Stitch gave them a wide, toothless grin as he reached for her. Without thinking, Riley kicked him in the crotch. The man bent over, groaning, and fell into a heap on the floor.
“Run,” she shouted as she propelled her sister toward the door. The sound of heavy boots thudding across the floor let her know the bikers weren’t far behind them. She grabbed Tara’s hand and ran toward the chain link fence. Clasping her hands together, she hiked Tara over the top.
“Wait,” Tara cried. “How will you climb over?”
“I’ll distract them. Do as I tell you and keep your head down,” Riley said as she took off in the opposite direction. Finding a hole in the fence, she slipped through and ran, holding on to her ribs. Tara couldn’t be too far ahead of her. Bikes rumbled behind her, and she searched for a place to hide. They quickly gained on her and rode in a circle around Riley, corralling her.
“Stop,” she screamed as they taunted her, getting closer with their bikes, almost hitting her.
Kenny signaled for them to stop as he stalked towardher, his face turned a menacing red. He grabbed her by her hair, making her peer up at him. “Nobody outsmarts me, do you understand? Your little stunt will cost you.” He tossed her to Stitch. “Hang on to her this time. Take her back to the clubhouse.”
Stitch snarled at her as he grabbed her T-shirt and ripped the shoulder.
“Gladly,” he growled. “I owe her a kick or two.”
Riley scanned the area, searching for Tara, hoping she escaped. Bernice sat at the bar with her arms crossed as Stitch tossed her inside, making her stumble and fall to the floor. He didn’t waste any time as he kicked her in the back with his heavy boots, making her cry out in pain. She curled up into a ball, hoping to protect her organs as he let out his anger.
“That’s enough,” Kenny shouted after what seemed like forever. “Go find the girl.”
“Where’s my car?” Stitch asked.
Riley felt pure fear trickling down her spine as she propped herself up on her arm, still sitting on the floor. “It broke down,” she explained. “The key?—"
Stitch roared as he kicked out, hitting her arm. Riley’s face hit the concrete as she hugged her appendage to her chest and cried out in pain. A fist hit the side of her head, making her dizzy.
“Take her to the cell. She’ll be our guest until we find her precious sister, and then, we’ll have a party,” Kenny said cheerfully.
“What about the money, Kenny?” Bernice whined.
“Shut up, Bernice,” Kenny ordered, hostilely. He grabbed Riley by the chin. “Why did he give you the money? Did you tell him we’re here?”
She shook her head. “No,” she croaked out. “He accidentallyhit me with his truck and gave me the money because his insurance might take longer.”
“It seems our little Garrett has a heart,” Kenny sneered. “Throw her in the room until I decide what to do.”
Stitch picked her up by her throat, making her claw his hand for air. Her arm throbbed and hung uselessly at her side as she used her nails to dig into his flesh.
He dropped her like a sack of potatoes, making her gasp for air. Unlocking the door, he grabbed the top of her head and yanked her up as he entered the windowless room. Another fist connected to her jaw, knocking her to the floor as he chuckled and slammed the door shut.
Riley whimpered as she rolled onto her back, holding her arm, which already swelled. “Please let Tara get away,” she whispered into the dark.
Tara criedas she watched them haul her sister back to the clubhouse. She managed to stay hidden until the bikers took off toward town. She heard them say they planned to stake out their apartment as they drove away. Music blared, and the remaining bikers seemed to have forgotten about her.
Moving slowly and quietly, she pulled out the envelope Riley stuffed down her shorts. Her eyes widened when she saw the cash. Her big sister always prepared ahead. Tara knew if she handed her this much money, she didn’t plan to meet her. Deciding to help her, she snuck to the back of the clubhouse and glanced inside, searching for her sister.
