Page 51 of His Flawed Ride

I watch as she looks down at her phone and then straightens up. She steps between Nora and the sister and quietens them both down.

She speaks quietly and I can’t catch what’s being said. But the end result is the sister off of my property.

I make my way over to Grim and Nora and she can barely meet my eye.

“What was that about?” I ask wanting to hear it from them though I know already.

“The sister isn’t giving up. She’s convinced Nora knows where that asshole is,” Grim tells me.

“I see. I’ll talk to the sheriff and get her to end this once and for all.”

“Leo!”

Over my shoulder, Dad stands with Sparky and beckons me over. Thankful to get away from Nora, I walk over to my father.

“We heard you got a call from Slade,” Dad says.

“Yeah, he’s on his way back with Lily.”

“I hear you wouldn’t give the cash to get her back,” Dad says.

I shrug. “It didn’t matter in the end. They got her back without handing a cent over.”

“You think that’s gonna matter to Slade? She’s been beaten to nearly an inch of her life, Leo.”

Looking to Sparky, I say, “Dramatic, much?” Looking back to dad, I ask, “Are you telling me you would’ve given him thirty grand of club money for a woman who knew exactly who she was getting involved with?”

“I don’t know.”

“Fuck, yes you do. You would’ve made the same decision as me. You’re doubting it now cause it’s Slade. As far as Lily’s concerned, you wouldn’t piss on her if she was on fire.”

“Can’t disagree with you on that, but Slade has given years of his life to this club, not to mention the loss of his daughter alongthe way. He’s loyal and strong, sometimes it’s not a question of who you’re paying to get back, but who you’re paying it for.”

This isn’t the shit I want to hear. “I stand by my decision. Slade has the cash to pay if it had to come that. As it stands, she’s on her way here, which is why Slade went there in the first place.”

Dad shakes his head. “You can tell your sister. And make sure you use a sympathetic tone if needed.”

“You’re her dad, you should be the one to tell her,” I argue.

“Nah, you’re calling the shots. This is on you.”

Dad and Sparky walk off and I want to punch something. Choosing to get this over with, I head over to Harper’s.

I knock and let myself into the house and find her out back with JJ and Gunner.

“Hey, can I have a word?”

“Sure.”

I sit on the lounger besides her and desperately want to light a cigarette.

“What’s happened, Leo? Just spit it out.”

“Slade and Zach went to get your mom back with Shane and Myles.”

“And?”

“Hopper has beaten her, bad. He dumped her outside the motel the guys were staying at and they’re on their way back. They’ll be another day or so.”