Page 49 of The Riders’ Reign

I don’t think I will. Not ever. Frankly, I don’t understand how Ace can be so calm either. Doesn’t he care about Jack? About this club? I remember what he did to the Numbnuts after they’d betrayed us, and yet for Shelley, he’s poured her a goddamned drink.

Is it just because she’s a woman that he’s not holding her to the same standards as the men? Well, he might have some moral code that says he won’t hurt a woman, but I can’t say the same for me.

For the second time that day, again on behalf of Jack, I find myself lunging across a room, claws fully out. If Ace won’t make her pay, then I will.

But Ace predicts my actions and catches me around the waist before I can reach her, swinging me off my feet.

“Put me down, Ace!” I kick out, trying to get free. “She deserves everything she’s got coming.”

Shelley shrinks back in her chair, her face haunted, but I still can’t dredge up any pity. I find myself thinking of Vani, of telling her what Shelley’s done. I know Vani will be on my side with this, which seems crazy. But someone doing something to harm Jack could be what unites us.

“Hector has taken her sister!” Ace says, his mouth close to my ear. “She didn’t know what they were going to do.”

Her sister?

I stop struggling, and Ace puts my feet back on the floor, though he still doesn’t release me. I’m breathing hard, my pulse racing. My anger hasn’t completely abated, but I’m listening now. I know how it feels to have loved ones put in harm’s way, after all.

“I’m so sorry,” Shelley sniffles. “They’ve threatened to rape and kill her. She might even be dead already, for all I know. They said they just wanted information. I had no idea they were going to take Ghost or hurt Jack.”

“You could have come to Ace or one of the others before it happened!” I cry. “They could have done something to prevent it.”

“Would you have taken that risk? If it was someone you loved? They said if I uttered one word, or if things didn’t go to plan, I’d find my sister’s head in a cardboard box on my doorstep. I couldn’t risk saying anything.”

“But you’ve told someone now.”

“Because I didn’t know how far they’d take it. If I had, I’d have realized they never had any intention of letting my sister go.” Tears stream down her cheeks and she covers her face with her hands as she sobs.

The ice around my heart cracks. “What’s her name?”

“Megan. Her name is Megan. She’s twenty-eight years old. Her little boy died of cancer, and she’s only just rebuilding her life. She doesn’t deserve this. I keep picturing how frightened she must be and imagining how they might have hurt her.”

I soften my tone. “She lost her son, and she carried on living. She’s already shown how strong she is. She will get through this. Even if it means carrying some scars with her.” I don’t add, I know because I went through something similar, but it’s right there in my words.

Ace squeezes my hand, letting me know I’ve done well. Okay, maybe I’m not so pissed anymore, but I still wish Shelley had handled this differently.

“We’ll get Megan back,” he tells Shelley. “Just like we’ll get Ghost back.”

Shelley lifts her head, the first glimpse of hope in her blue eyes. “You think they might be in the same place?”

“It’s possible,” Ace says. “I doubt the cartel have use of multiple locations around here, or enough men with them to keep two places secure.”

Stupidly, I experience a twinge of worry when I think of Ghost being held with Shelley’s younger sister. I know it’s wrong to be scared that they will bond, but I am.

Deep down, I know it’s because of what I went through with Rook, and I now understand trauma bonding all too well. I’m stupidly worried the two of them might create a relationship by going through this together. What if they’re forced into doing what Rook and I were, and made to ‘entertain’ Hector’s men? The possibility makes me feel sick. She’ll look to Ghost—handsome, brave, stoic Ghost—as her protector, and maybe he’ll stop thinking of me at all if they get incredibly close.

I grit my teeth and push the ugly emotion away. I’m being selfish and insecure, and I don’t like this part of me. I want to do better.

These past twenty-four hours have been such a headfuck. I barely know what I’m thinking anymore. My mother and brother are still in hiding, and I’ve turned down the chance to bring my mom safely to America. A tiny part of me is questioning if that is even the right choice, and I hate myself a little for doubting it.

I want my family safe. I want Ghost to be safe. I want Jack to be well and for us to be able to get on with our lives, however that will look.

But it seems like everyone and everything is standing in our way.

21

ROOK

We deliver Jarrod to the huge refrigerator in the kitchen and make our way back to the clubhouse. I ensure a couple of the guys stand outside of the refrigerator door, making sure no one can enter and that Jarrod can’t get out. A couple of the ol’ ladies grouse about it being for food storage, not people, but they’re going to have to manage. Hopefully, it won’t be for long. I haven’t heard that we’ve got a meeting time arranged yet to do the swap, but Hector is bound to get in touch soon.