Page 131 of Indecent Lies

“The women…” he rattled off to anyone who would listen, “they’re… drugged or something, help those women.”

The cops would be here any second.

“Already seen,” one of theSoulsboys said and went on to say the sets were abandoned, camera dudes must have escaped the building upon hearing those first shots.

“On it,” this from Tag.

Things moved fast after that, or maybe Texas just had enough blood loss to blink out for a while.

His wound wasn’t too bad, a through and through on his upper arm, as he watched them load Rider onto the ambulance rig and another medic tried to direct Texas to the second one, “He’ll be okay?” He caught the medic by the arm and the guy looked at him sympathetically. He needed to know. “We’ll do our best, sir. Come on, we need to get you to the hospital too.”

In the distance, he saw Tag carrying out the woman Marianna, then loaded her into theSouls’cage backseat. Texas hoped she was okay. Poor bitch deserved better than this life.

Talks with the cops would come.

He didn’t know how they’d get out of this, or even if he cared.

He’d do jail time, maybe that was his penance after all.

But Rider had to live.

EverySoulsguy there climbing on their bikes ready to escort the ambulance with Rider inside would agree.

The Prez had to live.

THIRTY-ONE

“The future is not clear … until it’s diamond clear.” - Zara

There were certain things Zara didn’t like to see.

One was when the cable went out and she couldn’t get Paw Patrol for Harper on the flat screen for hours. That meant she couldn’t get any housework done.

Like at all. Her girl was needy.

The TV and iPad, as any parent will tell you, are the best babysitters of all.

She couldn’t be guilted into thinking it was bad from do-gooder moms who probably had a team of nannies anyway, just because she sat her kid in front of the box. Hells no, that thing was a godsend and she would go into panic mode and demand Rider fix it if that thing ever went out, even for a minute.

She also didn’t like seeing clothes on the floor, it was one of those things she had to get used to living with a guy.

Rider was messy as hell.

Seriously, he would dump his clothes where he was.

She still didn’t like it, but they compromised because he contributed to their life 200% and more.

But the worst thing… the absolute worst thing of all was opening the door that day to see five of the Renegade Souls on her doorstep.

Solemn faces making her belly pull in a tight fist.

She knew without one of them having to say a word.

Any military or emergency services wife will tell you; they never ever want to see anyone from their partner’s work on the doorstep because it’s undoubtedly going to be bad news.

The same went for a MC.

A lot of bikers can turn up at the house at the same time, usually coming through the garage to see what’s on offer to eat. A heavy stream of them one at a time.