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BLYTHE

I wake up and see that Hartley is still sleeping. I don’t see Reed. He never came to bed last night, and I’m worried this has something to do with me.

I’m glad the men who hurt me are finally getting justice, but I don’t want anyone else to get hurt. I promised Reed I’d stay in the room, but I’m tired of sitting here without him. I leave a quick note beside Hartley, letting him know I’ll be right back, and then slip out of the room.

Following the long hall, I hear voices and make my way to the front of the building. The hall opens into a large bar room. There are tables all around, and I see couples lying on sofas and a couple half dressed women on tables. The reality of what Reed had before I returned hits me for a moment, and I stare at the woman nearest to me. She’s in a tiny leather skirt that barely covers her ass. She doesn’t have a top on, and her overly inflated breasts are on display. I had to have breast augmentation with implants after the attack, but mine don’t look anything like hers.

“What you staring at, bitch? You into chicks?” she slurs as she sits up.

I start to step back, but then decide to stand my ground.

Reed chose me.

“Trying to figure out why you’re still here when I heard they were clearing the tramps out.”

She jumps down from the table, and the others start to stir. She walks toward me, but I don’t back down.

“Tramp,” she says, then stops as she stares at me. I look down and realize I’m still in Reed’s cut. “What the fuck are you doing wearing Hem’s cut?”

“Hem?” I’m confused. I’ve heard that name referred to him a couple of times, but I don’t know why. I look down at the vest again and take in the name tag. Hemingway.

The name hits me, and my gut twists.

“I asked you a question, bitch.” She moves closer to me, and on instinct, I bring up my elbow, biting my tongue when it causes a pull in my chest. I shift to the side so if I have to defend myself, I’m prepared. I hear a bark before Moose is between the woman and me.

“Candy, get the fuck out. You were already told twice.” Reed’s voice echoes through the room. I don’t take my eyes off the woman because she’s still close enough to attack me.

She huffs and steps back. “Put a leash on your bitch, Hem,” she says as she turns to grab a shirt and slip it over her head.

“I’m not a bitch.”

“Come here, Bly,” he orders me, and I move around her. He takes my hand and leads me from the room. Reed pushes the door of the first room he comes to open and drags me inside. “I told you to stay in the room.”

“I’m getting hungry, and I need some tea. Plus, you’ve been gone a long time.”

“I’ve been in meetings and keeping an eye out for trouble.”

“Is this because of me?”

“No, babe. Someone went after Gambit’s girl and her adopted family. Leif and his girl, Ridley, were both shot.”

“Leif! I need to go.” I head toward the door, but he stops me.

“You can’t.” He pulls me into his body. “It’s too dangerous. Castor called and said the state police searched Randall’s house today. Nolan disappeared. He’s worried about you.”

“But Rika could need me.”

“Nope, her husband has her on lockdown with his brother’s guards on her while he helps Ridley.”

“I’m confused. Guards? I just met Ridley.”

“Ridley is Grey’s sister. Their other brother is the head of the Vegas Bratva. Rika is under heavy guard, so you won’t be able to get to her. She’s not at the hospital. The group that is after Ridley is also after her adopted daughter, who is here on the compound in hiding.”

“That’s a lot,” I croak, the stress causing my voice to crack. “Tell me why your road name is Hemingway.”

Reed pulls me into his arms and kisses me.

“I always carry a book with me.” He doesn’t have to explain further. I know what book he carries. I gave it to him.

“You still have it?” I can’t believe he didn’t destroy it after how bad I hurt him by leaving. He told me he was angry, but now that he knows why, he’s not anymore.

“Kept this too, even though you sent it back to me.” He reaches into the front pocket of his jeans and pulls out the engagement ring I haven’t seen since the night of the attack.

My tears start flowing, and he holds me tighter.

“I didn’t send it to you. They took it from me that night.”

We both look down at the small, simple diamond ring, and I can’t believe how badly we’ve been manipulated. Randall has been watching both of us.

“This means we are both loose ends. You can’t leave either.” The fear is instant, and my chest aches.

“I’ll be okay, baby.” He leans down and kisses my lips softly, but as usual, our kisses turn steamy, and he’s angling my head to the side.

My hands grip his sides when a voice ricochets off the walls.

“Where is he?” a woman with a slight accent yells, and we jump apart.

“Hem, she won’t stay put. I tried,” another guy says, looking at Reed.

“I want to know where Gavin is right now.”

We all look at her. I don’t know who Gavin is. I glance at Reed, who looks confused for a moment until recognition dawns on him.

“Gambit! Where is he?” The angrier she gets, the thicker her accent becomes. She’s tiny, with blue eyes and brown hair streaked with lighter caramel highlights. Her skin is pale, and she looks like she isn’t out of her teens.

“He’s out looking for Crank,” Reed says in a calming voice as he pulls me close again and wraps an arm over my shoulder.

“I need a phone,” she says, and neither Reed nor the other guy hand her one, so I give her mine.

She dials a number and speaks to someone for a bit before telling them she’s on her way.

She looks at me with a soft smile before saying, “I’ll owe you.”

She opens my car service app and orders a ride before handing my phone back to me. She then takes off out of the room.

“Stay here,” Reed orders as he runs after her.

Moments later, he walks back in, talking on the phone.

“He’s got her, Prez. She ran to an Uber, and it was him. He took off with her. She was trying to go to the hospital,” Reed says. I hear the person on the other end yell, then silence. “He’ll call back.” Reed pulls me toward the kitchen area. As we pass the main room, I notice it’s cleared out of women, and the drunks are awake, moving around.

Before we get to the kitchen, his phone rings. He answers it, and I can hear a man yelling before he hangs up on Reed.

“Okay, Bee, I’ll have a prospect get Hartley and bring him in here. You’ll have to make breakfast. Stay here. I have to go help Gambit get his girl back.”

“Wasn’t she a teenager?” My voice rises in shock.

“She’s an adult in college.”

“Okay, we’ll stay here.” I know he needs to focus on his task so he doesn’t worry.

After he leaves with a kiss from me and a hug from Hartley, I make breakfast for everyone, not just us. Not all the men left with Reed. Butcher is standing in the corner, watching me as I work around the kitchen.