Page 23

***TW - Drug use reference***

Lynsey

I’m looking forward to the interrogation of Joyride, especially after hearing Paisley relate her story.

Joyride is a self-centered piece of work that has been getting away with too much for too long.

I usually don’t participate in the day-to-day workings of the club, but they called me in to kidnap Paisley, so I’m now involved in righting this injustice done to her.

Since Snake, and let’s face it, most of the club, are enamored with Joyride–I'll take care of this personally.

To prevent everyone from rioting, especially Snake, I had to concede to questioning her here in the office, rather than in the basement.

I wanted to wait for Drágon to return and assist me, since everyone’s acting stupid, but he hasn't returned yet, and it’s been over a week since her arrest. So, Que, Snake, and I are in the office with Joyride.

I sit her down on a ladder-back armchair in the middle of the room. We typically use these chairs when we need to restrain someone; it just makes it easier. Even though she’s a mouthy she-devil and I’ve had enough of her, she’s not yet tied to the chair.

“I demand to be let go,” she shrieks, standing up in my face menacingly.

“Ho-ride,” I growl. “You need to back down before I stomp you on the floor.”

“You hear that, Snake?” she frantically asks, her eyes wide.“She’s threatening me. Are you going to let her get away with that?”

Snake studies Joyride silently with a confused expression.

“Snake!” She jumps up and tugs his shirt.

He sits her back down on the chair, firmly.

Taking out a couple of zip ties, he fastens her wrists to the arms, all without saying a word.

Quite frankly, I’m surprised.Of course, Joyride fights him every step of the way, but she’s no match for Snake’s strength, and he easily subdues her.

“What are you doing, Snake?” Joyride screams, struggling to pull her arms free.He removes his belt, wraps it around her mid-section, and fastens it behind the chair, pinning her in place.

“Why are you doing this, Snake?” Her eyes plead with him as her movement becomes more restricted.

“What’s going on, Joyride?” Snake asks quietly, crouching in front of her with a confused look. “Something feels wrong.” He shakes his head.

Her eyes widen, and a fearful expression flickers across her face. “Snake,” she says calmly. “I need my medication. I’ve been without it for a week, and it’s in my room.”

“What medication? I’ve never seen you take any medication.”

“Well... it’s a tea—a calming blend I drink every day. I haven’t had any all week.”

A sense of distrust crawls up my spine. She’s hiding something . “What kind of medication is it, Joyride?” I press. “What’s it for?”

“Anxiety,” she spits out.

“No,” I reply.

“What do you mean, no?” she shouts, desperate.

“You’re not being truthful.”

“Snake, please,” she begs, turning to him and blatantly ignoring me .

He shakes his head. “No. If Dragoness says you’re being dishonest about something, we go no further until you spill it.”

Joyride’s eyes dart between Snake and me, frantic as if she’s searching for any sign of mercy.

Her hands twist against the zip ties, cutting into her wrists, but she doesn’t seem to notice.

Her gaze locks on Snake, pleading and desperate.

“ I-I need my tea,” she breathes. “Please,” she whispers, the words barely escaping.

Her eyes keep shifting between us, growing more frantic with each second, her yearning for the drink obvious.

I glance at Snake pointedly. It appears as if Joyride is coming down from some drug and needs her next fix. “Where’s this tea, exactly?”

“In my room,” she sighs desperately. “On my bedside table in an unlabeled jar. Thank you,”she breathes out jerkily, almost soothed.

“Do we have permission to go into your room?”

“Yes, yes, anything,” she dismisses. “Just get my tea.”

I walk out into the hall where guards are stationed.

“Two of you go search Joyride’s room for anything suspicious.

There is a jar of tea on her bedside table.

Bring that to me immediately and bring Sawbones back with you.

Tell him to bring his medical bag and drug test kit.

Let me know if you find anything unusual there.

” They nod as I turn back to the office.

The air inside feels different now, thick with tension. The calming, intoxicating atmosphere is entirely gone. Snake’s gaze is locked on Joyride, full of hostility. The softness is gone from his eyes, replaced by raw anger.

The atmosphere in the office feels different now, heavy with tension.

The calm, almost seductive vibe that used to surround Joyride is gone.

Snake’s glare is fixed on her, full of hostility.

The softness in his eyes is gone, replaced by pure anger.

I realize he’s no longer under her spell—he sees her for what she really is, and the truth is clear: she’s been using magic to make herself more attractive.

The tea she has been without for a week is her potion.

A prospect comes back with a jar containing a black viscous substance. I remove the lid and am hit by an overpowering stench of black magic and death. I hurriedly replace the lid. "What is that, Joyride?"

"None of your business!" She screeches. "Give it to me now!" She resumes her struggle to free herself from the chair, becoming more frantic and hysterical when I sit the jar on the desk in front of her.

"Did you need me Lady D?" Sawbones asks as he comes into the room carrying his medical bag. His nurse, Gina, follows behind.

“We found this while searching Joyride’s room,” I say, nodding toward the jar on the desk. “Her desperate behavior toward it makes me think it’s some type of drug. It definitely has a black magic feel to it. Can you run tests on it and on Joyride to see what we’re dealing with?”

"Yes," he states as he takes out various items and sets them on the desk.

"You’re not taking any blood from me!" Joyride screams. Snake tightens the belt around Joyride's torso and clamps his meaty hands down on her to hold her still.

Within minutes, Sawbones has a couple of vials of blood and the “tea” tucked into his bag.

“It’ll only take a couple of minutes, and I’ll have an answer for you.

But I can tell you right now, just from scent, you’re right.

My heightened sense of smell is sharp enough to pick up on the black magic contained in this. ” He gestures toward his bag.

As Sawbones and his nurse leave, I follow them out into the hallway.

I stop at the door, arms crossed, watching those who have gathered to support Joyride.

Some of the brothers, with a few prospects, stand off to the side, along with a couple of club girls and ol' ladies, all quiet now, their loyalties shifting with the lifting of the spell.

“Dang, Dragoness,” Shade mutters, his voice thick with regret. “She played us. All of us.”

Gearhead shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot, his expression pensive. “Let her woman’s wiles blind me. Should’ve realized it sooner.”

Bulldozer scowls, anger written across his face. “Thought she was one of us. What an idiot I’ve been.”

Beside him, Melitta, his ol’ lady, remarks, “I told you that you should always listen to Lynsey, you old fool.”

I look each of them in the eye—Shade, Gearhead, Bulldozer, Razor, and the others—my gaze steady, unflinching.

“I've known most of you for years, and I deserve for you to have faith in me,” I say coldly. “But we now suspect that she used black magic to make herself more attractive and you all more biddable.”

Razor steps forward, guilt and remorse shining in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Dragoness. We should’ve listened.”

I glare at him for a few moments more. “Words won’t fix this–just make sure you don't fall for any more of her lies or trickery. ”

Shade finally looks up, his voice sincere. “We should have trusted your instincts. You've never led us wrong, Dragoness. You were right. Always.”

The brothers nod, their heads dipped low, as they begin to disperse. The few prospects follow suit, shame written all over their faces. The club girls and the ol' ladies stay quiet, but I can feel their eyes on me. I watch everyone leave, and a quiet sense of rightful vindication settles in.

I walk back into the office to continue the investigation so we can decide what to do with Joyride next. Drágon has the final say on all punishments, and if I were a betting woman—and I am—I’d say she’s headed for Prisoner Island for an extended stay. Drágon doesn't suffer fools lightly.

With my knack for sniffing out lies, it’s clear that Joyride is at least a skilled liar.

She keeps denying any wrongdoing and claims that Paisley is the one supplying drugs to kids in her pack.

So, like something out of the Jerry Springer show, we decide the best way to handle this is to bring everyone involved together for a meeting here on the club grounds.

Once Drágon returns, we’ll contact the Alpha of the Wind Howl Pack .

Alpha Stone

“What do you mean Paisley is missing?” I ask Knight as we talk over the phone for our weekly pack meeting.

“Just that, Alpha,” he states. “She’s been gone a week, and we’ve searched for her everywhere. She’s disappeared into the wind, just like Marissa did.”

“I assume you have an elite tracker team out looking for her?”

“The first thing I did was deploy them,” he says. “She had an appointment with Dr. Bishop last week, but he says she never showed up for it. She hasn't been to work all week and never called in. Her scent has gone cold everywhere.”

“Any leads? Does anyone know if she’s visiting family in another pack or where she might be?”

“No one I’ve spoken to knows anything,” Knight answers.

“They’re about to magically and surgically remove Miles’ mate mark,” I warn.

“We need to find her, and fast. We don’t know what that could do to her.

It might not affect her, but from everything I’ve seen between them—the lingering effects of their bond, her sadness, and his obsession with her, even after he bonded with Marissa—this is like nothing I’ve ever witnessed.

If something goes wrong, it could hurt her.

And if it does, she’ll need medical intervention again, from someone who knows what they’re doing. ” I swallow, my voice tight.

“I’ve got all available units on it, Alpha,” Knight grits out hopelessly.“She’s my number one priority.”

“Keep me updated on your progress.”

“Will do.”

After we end the call, I pace the hallway in front of Miles’ room. The surgical team comes out pulling his gurney.The doctor follows behind.

“Wait,” I plead, reaching out to grab the doctor’s arm. “You can't do this yet, we can’t locate his fated mate.”

“He can’t wait,” the doctor informs me. “You need to either allow me to proceed and take that risk, or we let him die. If they’re still connected in some fashion, it’ll affect her anyway. Nothing changes that outcome. However, with surgery, we’ll save him.”

My hand drops to my side in defeat. I nod. “Proceed.”