Page 12 of Razor (Road Reapers MC #4)

The knock on the door startled her. The only person besides Razor to know where they were staying was Spade, and if he was at the door, it meant that something was wrong—something horrible.

She pulled the front door open to find Spade standing on the other side. “Oh, God,” she breathed. “What’s happened to Razor?”

He quickly walked into the house and shut the door behind him. “What do you mean? Has something happened? I thought that he’d be here with you.”

“With me?” she asked, “He said that he had to run into town to pick up a few groceries.”

“Shit,” Spade spat, “that fucker has gone rogue, and now, I’m going to have to go and drag his ass back here. About how long ago did he leave?”

Ella felt as though her head was spinning from just trying to keep up with his train of thought. “Can you please slow down and tell me what’s going on here? You didn’t know that he was running to the store?” she asked.

“No,” he breathed, “and if we slow down, it will only prolong the danger that he’s in. How long ago did he leave?” he asked again.

“Um, about two hours ago,” Ella said, trying to remember the exact time he left.

He promised that he wouldn’t be long, and even when she protested his leaving her and Violet at the safehouse, he assured her that they’d be safe.

She just never imagined that Razor would be the one in danger this time.

“You’re sure?” he asked.

She nodded her head, “Yes,” she said. “He said that you okayed him running to town for a few groceries. You two were texting each other just this afternoon about it.”

“I lost my phone and that’s why I stopped here tonight.

I wanted to let you guys know that my old number has been suspended, and I have a new one.

Are you sure that the text came from my old number?

” he asked. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

She wanted to think that Razor wouldn’t lie to her, but she had only known him for a short time now.

Could anyone really know someone in just six short months?

She thought that she knew Razor, but what if she was wrong?

What if he were capable of lying to her and making her promises that he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep? God, she was a fool.

“I can see your wheels turning, Ella. I don’t think that Razor would do anything that would put himself or you and Violet in danger,” he assured.

“But you just said that he went rogue,” she reminded.

“I did, but that was before I started putting the pieces of the puzzle together. I’m betting that the Devils somehow got their hands on my cellphone, and they sent Razor the message that he thought was from me.

You know that he’d jump at the chance to close this case and be able to get you three back home, right?

” She really didn’t know if that was what Razor wanted.

He and Violet had a home and life to go back to.

But once the Devils shoved her into a cage and started selling her to the highest bidders, her life ended.

Her things were sold, her apartment was leased to someone new, and her job was given to another employee.

She had no life to go back to, and that scared the hell out of her.

Sure, Razor had hinted at wanting a future with her, but did he really hope that once this mess was over, she’d end up at his place with him and Violet?

How would she even fit into their lives?

At the safehouse, they all had put their lives on hold, but once the Devils decided to leave her alone, what would her life even look like?

None of that mattered now. Right now, she needed to help Spade find Razor, and then, she’d have to figure out her own problems.

“I’m not sure what I know anymore, Spade—except that I need you to find him and bring him back.

Violet needs her father,” she said. She thought about adding the truth that she needed Razor back, too, but she didn’t need to get all sentimental now.

Spade had to find Razor, and the less he had to deal with her hysterics, the faster he’d be able to track him down.

“You know that he’s crazy about you, right?” Spade asked as though trying to comfort her in some way.

She shrugged, “I know that he wants to help me, and I know that he’d do anything to keep the Devils from doing to me what they did to his wife.” Spade grimaced, and she instantly regretted her words.

“He told you about that?” he asked.

“Yes, and I know how hard that was for him and Violet. I just hope that we’re both wrong and that the Devils don’t have him, because they won’t give him up very easily. They want me back. I’m their property, and the sooner that happens, the sooner Razor and Violet can get back to their lives.”

“Now, don’t go and do something stupid, Ella. I need you to stay here with Violet, and I’ll find Razor,” Spade insisted.

“And how will you track him down?” she questioned.

“You forget that I’m a Detective?” Spade asked. She couldn’t forget that either he or Razor were detectives. They lived dangerous lives, and their sense of protecting innocent people was what was going to get them both hurt or worse. She couldn’t let that happen.

“No, I haven’t forgotten,” she grumbled.

“Good,” Spade said, “I’ll ping his cellphone and will hopefully get his location.

In the meantime, you stay here with Violet and keep your ringer turned up.

I’m betting that he’ll be back here with the two of you in no time.

” He smiled, but Ella noticed that it didn’t reach his eyes.

She wondered if that was due to the worry about his partner or the fact that he didn’t believe his own promises that he had made her.

“You’ll let me know when you find out where he is?” she asked.

He nodded, and again, she worried that he wasn’t being completely truthful with her. “You might think that I’m weak, but I’m not, Spade. I can handle the truth.”

“Got it,” he said. “I’ll be in touch soon.” She thanked him and walked him back to the front door. “Lock up behind me, and don’t answer the door for anyone. I’ll use Razor’s key when I get back.”

“Please, be careful,” she breathed.

He turned back to her and winked, “It’s the only way I know how to be.

” Ella rolled her eyes as he stepped outside.

“Talk soon.” He left, and she quickly shut the door, locking it as instructed.

Ella said a little prayer that the pretty promises that Spade had just made her weren’t just that.

She needed Razor to come home safely, and then, they were going to have to sit down and figure out what they were going to do once this nightmare was over—if that time ever came.

“When will the pizza get here?” Violet asked.

Spade showing up at the safehouse had delayed their plans for a girls’ night of pizza and a princess movie.

Violet was as impatient as Razor and reminded Ella of him in so many ways.

Every time she looked into Violet’s green eyes, she saw Razor’s, and God, she was worried about him.

She just hoped like hell that Spade would be able to keep his promise and find Razor and bring him back to her and Violet.

“Any time now,” Ella promised. “I’m sure that they are just busy tonight. Pizza places are always busy on Friday nights.” The kid looked her over again, as though she was trying to decide if she believed her or not, and Ella couldn’t help her giggle.

“Why are you laughing?” Violet asked. Sometimes, when the kid asked her a million questions, she wondered if she was really just four years old. She seemed so mature for her age, and she was probably smarter than Ella already.

“Because you remind me of your dad when you look at me like that,” Ella admitted.

“Will Daddy be home soon?” Violet asked again.

Shit—she needed to try harder to avoid bringing up Razor in front of Violet.

Ella had almost gotten her to quit asking her every five minutes about when Razor would be home, and yet, they seemed to be back to square one now.

The kid was definitely smarter than she was, and if she didn’t stay on her game, Violet would always outsmart her.

“He’s working, honey,” Ella lied. “I’m not sure when he’ll be home, but I bet that as soon as he can get away, he will.

You know that he loves pizza and princess movies, so I’m sure that he’ll hurry.

” She felt bad about lying to Violet, but it was her only option.

What else could she do? She couldn’t tell her that her father might be in danger and was possibly being held by the Devils.

Ella knew firsthand what being held by those assholes was like, and she was away for months.

She just hoped that Razor wasn’t with them and that she’d be able to keep her promise to Violet and that he'd come home soon.

The man did seriously love his pizza, and even though he protested every time Violet asked to watch a princess movie, Ella could tell that he loved being a girl dad.

“Did you get his favorite pizza?” Violet asked as though that might bring him home faster.

“Yep,” Ella said, “Pepperoni and olives.” She made a face, and Violet giggled. It was Violet’s favorite, too, and Ella was fine with it as long as they didn’t mind her picking the olives off the top.

“I picked out the movie,” Violet said, pointing to the television.

Ella couldn’t help but smile at the picture of Wonder Woman on the screen.

She thought that it was pretty damn cute that the kid thought of the superhero as a princess.

She and Razor had debated about Wonder Woman being a princess every time Violet asked to watch the movie.

As far as Ella was concerned, Wonder Woman could be whoever she wanted to be, and if Violet wanted her to be a princess, then she was one.

“Well, she’s my favorite princess,” Ella said.

Violet smiled at her as she took her hand and led her to the sofa.

She sat down, and Violet snuggled into her side.

It was strange how that simple act always brought her so much joy.

She had never thought of herself as maternal.

Heck, she couldn’t ever see herself having kids, even someday.

After her time with the Devils, she had given up hope of anything like meeting a man and starting a family ever happening for her, but Razor had changed all of that for her.

He and Violet gave her hope that all the horrible things she had suffered at the hands of the Devils could eventually be forgotten, and she’d be able to move on and have a future that she never thought possible.

The knock at the door had Violet jumping up from the couch.

“The pizza is here,” she shouted. She started to run for the door, and Ella stood and reached for her, but the little girl was too fast. She had pulled the door open before Ella could stop her and gasped when she found two men covered in tattoos standing on the porch.

“Hey, little girl, is your Mommy home?” the taller man asked.

Violet looked back at Ella as she pulled her into her body and held her close.

The Devils had found her, and she worried that meant that Razor was in more trouble than Spade had let her believe.

If he gave up their location, Razor would have to be in a lot of pain or dead, because she couldn’t see him ever giving that information to the Devils willingly.

“You’re not the pizza guy,” Violet said, sounding as though she were accusing him of some wrongdoing.

“No, I’m not,” the stocky guy said, taking a menacing step towards Ella and Violet.

“I’ll lock the little one up in her room, and you get our property ready to move.

You know what to do if she gives you any trouble.

” The bile rose to her mouth just thinking about what the Devils used to do to her if she gave them any trouble.

She still had the scars to show for the trouble that she gave them.

The stocky guy grabbed Violet by the arm, and she screamed. “Please, don’t hurt her,” Ella shouted at him as he pulled Violet down the hallway to the bedrooms.

“Whether or not Lefty hurts her is up to you,” the tall guy said.

Ella remembered him from her captivity at the Devil’s warehouse.

He had taunted her most nights when he told her to stop her crying or he’d make her regret it.

She knew that he meant it, too. Ella still wore the scar from the knife that he used to slice her right arm open.

She rubbed the scar, and he chuckled. “I see that you remember me, honey,” he said. “So, you know that I’m not just blowing smoke. Let’s go,” he ordered, holding the front door open wide.

“What about Violet?” she stuttered.

“She’ll be just fine,” the guy promised, shoving a few strands of his long, greasy hair behind his ear.

“Lefty is gonna stay right here with her to make sure of that. And if you give me any trouble, I’ll call him, and he’ll take really good care of the little brat.

” His smile was mean, and she didn’t need to ask him what he had meant by his comment.

She knew that the Devils not only trafficked women, but they also trafficked little girls, too.

They’d have no problem putting little Violet into the system to be sold off, and she couldn’t let that happen—ever.

She wouldn’t give the greaseball any cause to have to call Lefty.

Violet’s life depended on her cooperation—even if that meant she’d have to spend eternity in a fucking cage.