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“I don’t want to be here,” Aspen cries, her shoulders shaking with each sob. “Please, let me come back to your house. I won’t cause any problems, I promise. I will change.”

I’ve heard all of this before, and even though I hate to see her like this, she needs tough love. When I got there, the staff almost didn’t let me in, but when I explained that I’d come from Rest Falls, they said I could have an hour with her. Now we’re sitting outside in a little garden, a forgotten chess board between us.

“I’m sorry, Aspen. You know I love you, but I did this for your own good. You can’t keep going on like you have been,” I say gently, rubbing the back of my neck.

I texted Luella again, but she hasn’t replied. She must be upset with me for just leaving like I did. I didn’t even walk her back inside the clubhouse. I just left.

I’m an asshole.

I’m just so used to running in and saving the day with Aspen, almost like a father and child. She has no one else.

But right now, all I want is to be with Luella.

When War’s name pops up on my screen, I quickly answer. “Yeah?”

“Lu’s been taken. Lore’s in the hospital. We haven’t heard from them yet,” he says, and my body goes rock solid.

“What? I’m two fucking hours away,” I reply, fear making my stomach twist. “Insanity?”

“We assume so. I’ve got everyone on this. We’re going to get her back, Haze.”

My old lady has been taken, and I’m not even fucking there.

I left her there.

And now she’s been kidnapped.

“I’m on my way there now.”

“Ride safe, brother. We don’t need another man in the hospital,” he says in a gruff voice, ending the call.

I stand up, and the chess board and pieces go flying to the ground. “I’m sorry, Aspen. I have to go. I’ll come and visit you another time, all right?”

“Yeah, of course, you go running off for Lu. You will always choose her over me!”

I’m taken aback by the jealousy and bitterness in her tone, but I don’t have the time to unpack all of her issues right now.

I kiss the top of her head and run out of there.

The ride back is the longest two hours of my life.

LU

Trying to move around doesn’t work well for me. One of my legs has a giant bruise, and while I’ve pulled out the small pieces of glass in my arm, there’s one big one that I’m going to need help with. I don’t know how long I’ve been lying here, but it feels like about an hour before Grip opens my door, this time without Pippa. He has a bottle of water in his hands, and he sits on the edge of the bed next to me, studying me.

“Spoke to Rome. He said he agrees to my terms, and they will be here in twenty minutes to do the trade,” he says, lifting the bottle of water to my lips.

I open my mouth and take a few sips. He’s surprisingly gentle as he helps me.

“How’s your arm?” he asks, his brow furrowing. His demeanor is a whole lot different without Pippa around, which is interesting.

“I’ll be okay,” I reply, not wanting to give him anything to use against me.

“Let me see,” he murmurs, reaching over and having a closer look. “Fuck, that looks deep.”

The door slams open, and Pippa stands there with two hulking men behind her. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Making sure she doesn’t bleed out before the Serpents get here,” Grip comments, his voice nonchalant. He quickly stands and crosses his arms. “She’s going to need to go to the hospital.”