Page 36

Charley paced around the dark room. She hadn’t turned on any lights, but it was only hyping her anxiety.

Where is he? Nash had promised to come get her, and she’d watched the time, every minute ticking.

She didn’t know what to make of any of this.

She’d gone her whole life with barely any excitement, and in a matter of two hours, she been attacked, chased after, stalked by bikers, and was waiting on her boyfriend to rescue her.

This was something out of a movie, not her real life.

Her phone rang, and she immediately answered.

“Hello?”

“Are they still there?” Penny’s breath hitched.

Penny was turning out to be one of the greatest allies she’d ever had. To think they barely knew one another, and she’d stepped up for Charley several times. It didn’t make sense, but Charley wouldn’t question it. She’d just be thankful.

Charley sighed. “No. Nash made them go away.”

The line was silent.

“You called Nash? What did you tell him?” Her tone had an edge. Not necessarily angry, almost incredulous.

“I told him everything.”

Penny groaned so loud Charley had to pull the phone away from her ear. “Christ, Charley! I’m trying to save your ass, and you’re sabotaging that at every turn.”

Why was Penny upset? This was a good thing. As far as she could tell, Killcreek had left by Nash’s orders, and he was on his way to get her. There’d been no other sign of Zeke. Things were looking up.

“He’s going to come get me and…”

“Charley!” she snapped. “Get out of the house right now. Leave. Do you have an out of town friend you could stay with?”

What?

“But Nash is coming.”

“Shit,” Penny snapped. “I can’t get in touch with Inez, which makes me think she knows something.

This puts you in a shitty and dangerous position.

You need to get out of there. Killcreek and the Underground know you have an affiliation with an informant.

They probably think you’re linked. They’re coming for you to silence you, Charley. ”

Nothing Penny was saying made any sense. Inez? The Underground? It was impossible to follow this conversation.

“But Nash…”

Penny scoffed. “Nash is in the high ranks of the Underground, and he’s not going to turn his back on the organization for anyone. You stay at my house, you’re a sitting duck. Get the fuck out of there. If you need cash, I’ll send it, but get out now .”

“I don’t even know what the Underground is, Penny. I don’t understand…”

“Everything illegal that happens in this state from drugs, guns, to murder for hire is courtesy of the Underground. And Nash is part of that. If they think you have any connection to an informant working with the authorities, they’re going to make it so you can’t be found, Charley.”

Every muscle in her body locked, and her heart pumped in her chest. Nash was involved in illegal activity? Guns, drugs, and murder? A wave of coolness washed over her. It was anything but comforting. If what Penny was saying was true, did she even really know Nash?

“Charley!”

She jumped and pressed the phone to her ear.

“Get the fuck out of the house!”

Her mind hadn’t quite caught up to her body, but Charley rushed out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

She shoved her phone in her pocket and ripped open the door.

She had zero plan on where she’d go and hide out, but it didn’t stop her from running.

She made it just past the sidewalk when she felt a set of arms wrap over her stomach and yank her into the brush near Penny’s house.

When she attempted to scream, a hand covered her mouth.

A familiar man stood in front of her, smiling.

“Hey, darlin’.”

Gent.

*

“It’s always the quiet ones.” Inez shook her head, pulling a cigarette out of the box and bringing it to her lips, lighting it.

The last thirty minutes were a blurred, panicked mess.

As if she hadn’t gone through enough tonight, she was now adding kidnapping to the long list of unfortunate events.

Charley was beyond fear. She was well past crying.

She’d gone numb on the ride over in the van.

Most people might’ve tried to run, but she was no match for five bikers.

Charley had been taken back to the complex and escorted up to Inez’s apartment. It was oddly calm considering everything. The bikers hadn’t been too rough with her, and it seemed as long as she cooperated, they wouldn’t be.

“You had quite the night, fancypants.” Inez took a drag from her cigarette.

That was an understatement.

“I got Penny blowing up my phone trying to save your ass. Little did she know my boys were trying to find you. Zeke had a lot to say.” Inez’s gaze darkened, and a chill ran over Charley’s flesh. “I got questions, and your ass better answer me.”

“O-okay.” Her voice trembled, and she had to fight against her whole body shaking.

“Penny tell you not to let my boys in?” Inez watched her.

Penny did, but she wouldn’t throw her under the bus especially since she tried to help Charley.

“No, she didn’t. I saw them outside and got scared. That’s why.”

Inez smirked with a slow nod. She didn’t seem convinced. “Penny tell you to run when the coast was clear?”

Again, she did. But…

“No. She never told me anything like that.”

Inez burst out laughing, which rolled into a cough. She covered her mouth with the back of her hand, circling the small living room.

Charley clasped her hands, looking over the bikers one by one. She’d seen them all before with the exception of one. He had a large frame, mohawk, and a scowl that had her shifting her gaze to the floor.

Inez pulled out her chair, placed it directly in front of Charley, and sat.

“Here’s the problem, fancypants. We got Zeke telling us a story that doesn’t paint you in a good light. He says you’ve got his missing product that your brother was holding. Your brother, the informant.” Inez narrowed her gaze. “It’s not looking good for you.”

She could only imagine how this must look to everyone.

Charley slouched in her seat and tucked her hands under her thighs. “I didn’t steal anything, Inez. I swear. I don’t know about Zeke’s stuff. You can check everything in my apartment. I-I’ll give you my key.”

“Aw baby girl, we flipped your apartment hours ago,” Gent said with a smile playing on his lips as his gaze dropped to her lap. “Nice panties, by the way. You don’t strike me as a thong gal, but I like it. Got a great visual.”

A frantic shiver raced through her blood.

“Charley.”

She looked over at Inez. “Don’t tell me what you don’t know. Tell me what you know.”

This would be her only chance with Inez, and she wouldn’t take any chances lying.

She swallowed the knot in her throat. “My brother has been an addict for a while. He’s gone to rehab a few times, but without fail, he always goes back.

But he tries.” Her voice shook. “A few weeks ago, he was having an episode, I guess withdrawals. I didn’t know he was back to using, but I kind of suspected it.

His behavior was different. He was yelling because he thought I took his stash. ”

“Did you?” Ace asked, and she looked up, nodding.

“I thought it was from before his rehab and didn’t want him to come across it. It was a small bag of pills. I flushed it, and when I told him, he got really mad, and he um—” She paused, feeling the heavy weight of the admission.

“What did he do?” Inez asked.

“He wrapped his hand around my throat and started to choke me.” Charley dropped her chin to her chest as a tear fell down her cheek. “I fought with him, trying to get him to let go, and I was begging him to stop.” She sniffled. “And he did.”

The silence lingered.

Inez reached out, putting her fingers under Charley’s chin, forcing her to meet her stare.

It was impossible to read Inez’s expression.

Her face was tight, the corners of her eyes crinkled, and her brows knitted together in a severe scowl.

Anger would’ve been her first guess, until her gaze softened, and she slid her finger under Charley’s eye, wiping away her tear.

The moment was short-lived. Inez sat back and lifted her chin for Charley to continue.

“A neighbor must’ve heard the disturbance because two officers showed up, and…”

“You get their names?” Ace asked.

“Mitchell and Becker.” She cleared her throat. “They took Cody out of the house, and I was alone for a while, then when they came back they said they could get him into a rehab out of state. They told me I couldn’t have contact with him for a while, but they’d call and give me updates.”

Inez furrowed her brows. “Have they?”

“Just once. A few days after. Becker said my brother was doing good and settling in, but it would be weeks before I could talk to him. And he reminded me.”

Inez squinted. “Reminded you of what?”

“That I can’t say anything to anyone or it would jeopardize the deal for Cody to go to rehab instead of jail.”

Inez shared a look with Ace, and he scoffed. “And you believed that shit?”

She darted her gaze between him and Inez. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Christ!” Inez laughed, shaking her head. “I always forget what naivety and innocence looks like.”

Charley flattened her lips, unsure what to make of the comment.

“Give me your phone.” Ace held out his hand, and she pulled it from her back pocket, handing it to him. He turned, giving it to the man with the mohawk. Ace’s voice was low, but she made out his words. “See if you can track it to a location.”

Charley straightened in her chair, pointing to the phone. “It came from an unknown number. I don’t think you can track it.”

The room sounded with muffled laughs. Gent being the loudest of the bunch. He pushed off the wall, walking to the man with the mohawk.

“I think she’s challenging you, Cypher.”

She looked up at the man and shrunk under his glare. She was in no way challenging anyone especially this man. He could probably snap her in half in ten seconds flat. She quickly shook her head.

“No, I’m just trying to help.”