Page 29

With my heart pounding, I casually pocketed my phone and began walking toward the cabin, trying to appear normal while fighting the urge to sprint. I kept my eyes forward, not daring to look for Daddy. If they were watching, they'd know if I tried to signal for help.

The distance to the cabin felt endless. My legs trembled with each step, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps that I fought to control. I thought of Daisy's kindness, of Maria's warm smile, of all the people inside the clubhouse who had no idea of the danger.

As soon as I reached the cabin, I slipped inside and locked the door behind me. My hands shook so badly I could barely manage the deadbolt. I pressed my back against the door, sliding down until I hit the floor, tears streaming down my face.

The phone buzzed again in my pocket.

Good boy. Now stay there. And remember, we're watching. Any attempt to warn them, and we push the button.

I pulled my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them as I rocked back and forth. What had I done? I'd walked right into their trap. Now I was alone, and Daddy wouldn't know where I'd gone. He'd be worried, maybe angry, but at least he'd be alive.

Unless there was no bomb at all. What if this was just a trick to get me alone?

The thought had barely formed when I heard a soft knock at the back door.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

The knock came again, more insistent this time.

I rose shakily to my feet, looking around for something—anything—I could use as a weapon.

My eyes landed on a heavy cast-iron skillet hanging above the stove.

I grabbed it, the weight reassuring in my trembling hands, and crept toward the back door.

At the same time, my phone buzzed. I pulled out my phone to check the message.

Open the back door now or we blow the clubhouse. Your choice.

My blood turned to ice. If I ran, people would die. If I screamed, people would die. If I warned Daddy somehow, people would die.

With a trembling hand, I reached for the deadbolt on the back door. The metal was cool beneath my fingers as I slid it open, every instinct screaming at me to run. But I couldn't. Not when so many lives hung in the balance.

I gripped the skillet tighter in my right hand as I turned the knob with my left, pulling the door open just a crack.

"Smart boy," came a voice from outside. "Now put down whatever weapon you're holding and step back."

How did they know? I hesitated, the skillet suddenly feeling inadequate against whatever waited outside.

"Three seconds before I press this button," the voice warned. "One..."

I dropped the skillet with a clatter and stepped back, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst from my chest.

The door swung open, revealing two men in dark clothing, their faces obscured by black ski masks. The taller one held what looked like a remote detonator in his gloved hand. The other pulled a black package out of his pocket.

"Not a sound," the tall one warned, stepping inside. "You know what happens if you try anything."

I nodded, tears streaming silently down my face as I backed farther into the kitchen. The second man followed, closing the door quietly behind him.

"Stand still," he ordered, and I watched in horrified fascination as the second man pulled out a syringe.

"This won't hurt for long," he said almost gently. "Just a little pinch."

And that was it. Panic gripped me and I turned to run.

I made it two steps before cruel hands bit into my arms and a hand slapped over my mouth, just as a sharp pain registered in my neck.

I struggled, but after a few seconds it was like trying to swim in quicksand.

My arms felt heavy and before I knew it, one of them slung me over his shoulder.

The world tilted once, twice, then everything went dark.

"Package secured," someone said from very far away.

Then nothing.

Novo

I finished my conversation with Jono, my eyes automatically scanning the yard for Matty.

He wasn't sitting on the rug. Not unusual—he'd probably gone to talk to Daisy or get another drink.

But as I continued to search, a prickle of unease crawled up my spine.

I couldn't spot him anywhere. I approached Annabel and Bolt, who were returning from the clubhouse.

"Have you seen Matty?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual despite the growing tension in my gut.

Bolt shook his head. "He said he was going to talk to Daisy while we went to the bathroom."

I nodded my thanks and made my way to where Daisy stood by the food table, arranging a platter of cookies.

"Daisy, have you seen Matty?"

She looked up, surprised. "No, honey. Haven't seen him since I chased Sophie off. Everything okay?"

The unease solidified into dread. "When did you last see him?"

"Maybe fifteen minutes ago? He was still with Annabel at the tea party." Her expression shifted as she registered my concern. "Bear, what's wrong?"

"I can't find him," I said, already scanning the compound again. "He wouldn't just wander off."

Not after Sophie's comments. Not after everything that had happened. My instincts were screaming that something was very wrong.

"Jono," I called, motioning him over urgently. "Matty's missing."

Jono's expression hardened instantly. "How long?"

"Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. I was talking to you, took my eyes off him." Self-recrimination burned in my chest. After everything that had happened, how could I have let him out of my sight?

"Prospects," Jono barked, and all four hurried over. "Search the compound for Matty. Every building, every corner. Now." I caught the sneer on Rider’s face before it was quickly hidden, but I didn’t have time to deal with that now.

I was already moving toward our cabin, breaking into a run as soon as I cleared the crowd. The door was locked when I reached it, which wasn't unusual—Matty knew to keep it secured. I fumbled with my key, hands less steady than I would have liked.

"Matty?" I called as I pushed the door open. "Little one, are you in here?"

Silence greeted me. I moved through the cabin quickly, checking each room. The bedroom was empty, and the bathroom too. Nothing seemed disturbed until I reached the kitchen and saw the cast iron skillet on the floor near the back door.

My blood ran cold. The deadbolt on the back door was unlocked—something I never would have left that way.

Matty had tried to defend himself.

I pulled out my phone and called Jono. "Back door of my cabin was unlocked. Skillet on the floor. Someone took him."

"Fuck," Jono breathed. "I'm calling everyone in. Check his phone—can you track it?"

I'd already set up tracking on Matty's new phone after the first attempt on his life. I pulled out my own device, opening the app with trembling fingers. The signal showed the phone was still in the cabin. I swept through the rooms again, finally spotting it on the kitchen counter.

"His phone's here," I told Jono, my voice tight with barely controlled panic. "They made him leave it."

I picked up the device, noticing it wasn't locked. When I checked the screen, my stomach dropped. There were a few text messages from an unknown number.

The first: "Very cute. Hope you're having a nice party. Not sure your new friend will look as pretty after we set fire to the clubhouse she just walked into. Bombs planted just like the whorehouse. Your only chance to stop it happening is go back to your cabin. Now. And we're watching."

The second, sent a few minutes later: "Good boy. Now stay there. And remember, we're watching. Any attempt to warn them, and we push the button."

And finally, the last message: "Open the back door now or we blow the clubhouse. Your choice."

"Jesus Christ," I breathed, rage and fear colliding in my chest. "Jono, get everyone out of the clubhouse. They threatened to bomb it to lure Matty away."

"On it," Jono replied, and I could hear him already shouting orders. "Are there specifics?"

"I don't know," I admitted, scanning the texts again. "Could be a bluff to isolate him, but after the strip club..."

"Not taking chances," Jono said firmly. "I'm evacuating now."

I ended the call, my mind racing. Matty had gone willingly to protect everyone. He'd walked into danger alone rather than risk the lives of people he barely knew. The thought made my chest ache with a complicated mix of pride and terror.

I moved through the cabin again, searching for any clue about where they might have taken him. The back door opened onto a secluded path that led to a service road—perfect for a quiet extraction.

My phone rang—Digger.

"Bear, we've got something. Club security picked up a black van leaving by the service road about fifteen minutes ago. No plates visible."

"Direction?" I demanded, already heading for my bike.

"Headed east toward the highway. Jono's organizing pursuit teams now."

"I want anything you can get, traffic cams, everything," I ordered. "And call Outback. I want to know if Coombes has moved from his estate."

"Already on it. Outback says Coombes has been home all day, but he made a series of calls right before the van was spotted."

I swore under my breath. Coombes was too smart to dirty his hands directly, but this had his fingerprints all over it.

"Bear," Digger said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle, "we'll find him."

I ended the call without responding, running back to the clubhouse. “Jono,” I bellowed just as the members checking the building all came out shaking their heads.

“It’s safe.”

Not that I doubted it, because there was no way even a trusted member could get away with planting bombs. Then I registered the texts. I stopped by Jono and practically dragged him out of earshot. “I found his phone and whoever was texting him had eyes on him. It has to be someone here.”

Jono’s mouth firmed. “Likely possibilities?”

“Sophie and Rider for starters.”

He nodded and immediately had Tex, Tik Tac and Gunner secure them both and drag them to the basement. Sophie started screeching, but Rider looked like he was gonna pass out. Bolt stepped up. “Annabel is with Daisy. It’s been a while but I’m with you.”

I nodded and glanced at Jono. “I’m doing this.” If they were involved, I was going to find out.