Page 29 of The Riders’ Reign

My chest aches at the loss of our friendship. I wish it hadn’t been a choice between the two of them, but she’s the one who’s made it that way. I do understand, but it doesn’t stop it hurting. I hope she’ll come around to seeing things from our point of view eventually and be happy for us, but I won’t hold my breath. I wonder what everyone will have been saying back at college about it all. I know Mack is still my friend and believe Ophelia will be too, but I bet the gossip and rumors are wild. Not that it even matters now. There are far bigger things to worry about.

Now I know Jack will most likely be fine, and make a good recovery, all my focus goes to Ghost. He’s the one who needs me now, and even if I can’t be with him physically, I’ll make sure my heart is with him. I hope he knows how much we’re thinking about him and that he doesn’t feel like he’s alone. Every time I picture him, taken and possibly hurt, I want to cry. I know how it feels, because I’ve been there myself. Rook had come for me then, but Ghost has no one. He must be feeling like he’s back in his military days, and he’s been taken prisoner again.

If he’s suffering, it’ll be down to me.

Rook has already let me know via text that the conversation between Hector and the recording of Ledger went as well as could be expected. There were a couple of hairy moments, like when Hector spoke in Spanish, but he seems to have bought it.

Now the guys want to talk to me, according to Ace, and my stomach churns about what the next steps might hold.

We arrive back at the compound, but instead of going to the bar or Jack’s office, Ace takes us to my place. I’m surprised to find Rook sitting on the porch outside, waiting for us. He has his hands clenched between his knees, his head down, but he glances up at our arrival.

Ace stops the bike, and we both climb off. He takes my helmet from me, and I shake out my hair then rush to greet Rook.

He kisses me on the mouth. “How’s Jack?”

“He’s good. Getting stronger with every passing hour.” I can’t help but tell him about our conversation. I’ve already told Ace, who grinned and said ‘told you so.’ “Jack said he loved me. He knows how I feel about each of you, too, and that doesn’t change things for him.”

Rook’s handsome, young face twitches. “He’s not going to make you choose?”

“No, he’s not. I promise.” I kiss him again.

I want him to be happier than he seems, but I guess he’s got a lot on his mind right now—we all do—and I realize that now isn’t the right time to be worrying about or discussing our relationship dynamics, with Ghost in the situation he’s in. I curse myself for blurting it out the way I did. It makes me seem as if I don’t care about Ghost when I do.

“Jack wants you to call the hospital and be put through to his room,” Ace says to Rook. “You know what happened and where he was shot. I think he just wants to piece things together, you know?”

“Okay, but first we need to talk. Let’s go inside,” Rook suggests.

He seems different, older than before, as though the weight of responsibility of the day has aged him more than his years.

“Okay.” My stomach sinks farther at his serious tone.

Rook takes my hand and leads me inside, to the living room. He presses me onto the couch then sits beside me. Ace takes the other side, so I’m sandwiched between them. I think of how different the circumstances were last time we were in this position. I’d believed then that we’d gotten over the worst of things, but how were we to know there was more to come?

Nerves flutter within me. “Why do I feel like you’re going to give me bad news?” I swallow, hard, and give voice to my worst fear. “Is Ghost still alive?”

Rook nods. “Yes, he is. It’s not about Ghost… well, kind of not about him. I want to tell you what Hector said, the offer he made.”

I look between him and Ace. Did they talk before we got back to the compound when Ace left me alone with Jack? Does Ace know what he’s about to say?

“Hector will exchange Ghost for Ledger…”

“Right,” I say, already knowing this.

“But he will also free your mother and bring her to America in return for the location of the safehouse… and for your brother’s life.”

I jerk back in my chair. “No! Absolutely not.”

“He’s promised he’ll leave you and your mother alone, Camile. That’s not nothing.”

Ace covers my hand with his. “You’ll be safe.”

I yank out of his grip. “And I’ll have betrayed my family! I’ll have murdered my brother as surely as if I’d put a gun to his head myself.”

Ace softens his tone. “You’ll have your mother here, in America, and no one will be coming for you anymore. Your brother would probably agree to this.”

I bark out a sob and cover my mouth with my hand. “And my mother will never forgive me for getting her son killed. She’ll hate me forever.”

I can barely believe we’re having this conversation. It feels like a betrayal that they’re even contemplating I do this. How could they think it of me?