Page 48 of His Flawed Ride

Slade’s pacing keeps an edge in the room and as the minutes roll by, he doesn’t stop. Not until he’s came to a decision.

“Fuck it. I’m just gonna call him.”

“Who? Hopper?” Zach asks for conformation.

“Yeah.”

Frowning, son asks father, “Do you honestly expect him to just give her over? It didn’t work out well the last time.”

“We’ll find out,” Slade mutters.

He calls Lily’s phone until his call is picked up. I sit up as if it means I’ll be able to hear any better.

My phone rings, Annie again, I send her to voicemail and switch my phone onto silent.

Slade puts the call on speaker and the room falls silent.

“No call before you got here?” a gruff voice fills the line.

“No worse than what you offered,” Slade retorts.

“Fair enough. I take it you’re here for your sister? And don’t tell me, you’re not leaving until I hand her over.”

The sarcasm oozes from him.

Slade flexes his hands into fists, but he keeps his calm, somehow.

“What’s it gonna take? Name your price, everyone’s got one.”

The line goes quiet while the fucker thinks it over.

“Luckily for you, I’ve grown tired of her. I’ll tell you what, you bring me thirty grand and you can have her.”

Slade doesn’t hesitate. “Let me know where and when.”

The call ends.

“Where are we getting thirty thousand from?” Zach enquires.

“Give me a minute.”

Slade makes another call. “Leo, Hopper’s gonna give Lily back for thirty thousand.”

“Can you cover it? Cause the club ain’t gonna pay it. Sorry, brother.”

“Fine.”

Slade hangs up and returns to pacing. It drives me crazy, but I keep my mouth shut.

The sound of tires peeling away from the motel has us going to the window. I catch the taillights of a dark van leaving before my gaze drops to a crumbled heap on the parking lot ground.

Myles casually opens the door and steps outside. The rest of us follow suit and then Slade and Zach are running toward the heap.

It’s Lily and in a state I’ve never seen a woman in before. Both of her eyes have swollen shut, discolored with bruising. Her entire face is unrecognisable through the blood and bruises.

Slade goes to scoop her up into his arms, but she cries out and it takes all of us to carry her in and place her on the bed.

“Call an ambulance!” Slade roars.