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Cypher arched his brow. “I suggest you stop trying.”

“I will. Right now.” She gulped.

“Best not to get that one riled up,” Inez said, gaining her attention. “After my boys showed up, was it you or Penny who called Nash.”

She pressed her hand on her chest. “It was me.”

Inez smirked. “Wanted him to come save you?”

“Yes,” she muttered.

“Then why’d you run?”

Charley refused to share any information Penny had given her. But she could be honest without giving away too much.

“I got scared. Zeke is lying and telling everyone that I stole his drugs, and that I knew about my brother working with the police.”

“Didn’t trust Nash enough to save you?” Inez’s tone was taunting.

She did, initially. But Charley was learning quickly that she was deep in a world she knew nothing about.

“I don’t know who to trust,” she whispered.

It was the biggest truth she told in quite some time.

Inez took a slow drag and slowly blew out the smoke, looking over at Ace.

“Hide her.”

Hide me?

****

Where the fuck is she?

Nash had spent the last hour exhausting all his connections to find Charley and came up short every time.

The most alarming concern was his inability to get in touch with Ace or Inez.

Even Oz had tried reaching out directly and got no response.

Everything was pointing to them knowing her whereabouts.

Trey tapped the screen of his phone and turned. “I had Jared check with Keely. She hasn’t seen or heard from Charley.”

Rogue scoffed. “That girl lies like it’s her fucking job.”

Trey shook his head. “I had Jay go to her apartment to confirm Charley isn’t there.”

“Where the hell did she go?” Nash snapped.

“Police station?” Rogue said.

Nash spun around, sending a scathing glare in his direction. “Shut the fuck up, Rogue.”

Rogue laughed. “I love a golden boy unhinged. What do you say, Nash? Wanna go another round?”

“Rogue,” Oz warned.

It wasn’t enough for Nash. He rushed toward Rogue, stopping only a foot away. The tension was high as Trey moved closer. He was prepared to separate them. Again. This time it wasn’t necessary. Nash wasn’t going to take a swing at Rogue. At least not physically.

“When your woman went up against Killcreek, it wasn’t just Trey standing there making deals on her behalf to ensure her safety.

I was right there, motherfucker, making sure Quinn was safe.

You remember that? ’Cause she does. Said it to me right in front of you.

She felt safer because I was there.” Nash clenched his jaw.

“I was there for your woman. I’m not asking you to return the favor, Rogue. I just want you to shut the fuck up!”

Nash had reached the end of his rope. All his control wavering, he walked across the room and slammed his fist into the wall, shouting, “Fuck!”

Nash braced his arms on the wall, and his head hung low. Never in his life had he lost control like this, nor had he felt this desperate or hopeless. When he felt a hand on his shoulder, he expected to see Trey standing next to him. It was Oz.

“Go see Inez.”

“She’s not gonna open the door.”

Oz narrowed his gaze. “Then you break the fucking door down, and you tell her the order to do it came from Sal.”

It was an order, retired or not, no one disobeyed.

Not even Inez. Nash was out the door and in his car within minutes.

Oz offered security, but it would be less threatening coming alone.

What should’ve taken at least twenty minutes was cut down to ten.

He was aware with her high-end security, she’d been alerted that he was on his way up to her apartment.

It was confirmed when he stalked down the hall and saw her door ajar. He didn’t even bother knocking.

Inez was standing in her kitchen, leaning against the counter with a drink in hand.

“Well, this is a fucking surprise.” Her tone laced in sarcasm.

“Where is she?”

When Inez shrugged, Nash slammed his hand down on the counter. She didn’t even flinch.

“Where the fuck is she, Inez?”

“Safe. And she’ll remain that way since I decided I’m keeping her.” Inez took a drag from her cigarette.

What the fuck?

His brows shot up. “You’re keeping her?”

“Why not? She’s obviously safer under my protection than she is under yours.”

Nash grounded his teeth and hardened his gaze. “Inez.”

She laughed. “For fucks sake, Nash, lighten up. Plenty of women out there. Find another one.”

“She’s not a pet, Inez,” he snapped.

“Ah baby, you’re all pets to me.” Inez winked and took a swig from her glass.

Nash fisted his hands. Dealing with Inez required patience he didn’t have at the moment. He glanced around the apartment. Clearly, Charley wasn’t there, but Inez knew where she was holed up. Process of elimination had his mind going to one conclusion.

“Can’t get in touch with Ace.” He snarled. “There a reason for that?”

“My boys didn’t force her out, Nash. She ran out of that house like her fucking life depended on it, and they grabbed her. She was running from you.” Inez raised her brows. “Someone’s been feeding her the truth about you and the Underground. Got that girl scared of you.”

He drew in a level breath, trying to control his heartbeat. Charley was the last person who had anything to fear from him.

“I would never hurt her.” He spoke through a clenched jaw.

“She doesn’t know that.” Inez scoffed. “You’re all a bunch of assholes.

You bring these women in without them knowing anything about our world.

Of course she fucking ran. Wouldn’t you?

You keep them in the fucking dark in the name of protection.

But really all you’re doing is making them so vulnerable that when they become a target, they’re fucking lost. And that’s exactly how she came to me.

” Inez pointed at him. “You failed at protecting that girl.”

For as angry as he was, he couldn’t argue with that accusation. It was true.

“Where is she?” Nash asked.

Inez remained silent, sipping her drink.

“She’s at Killcreek, isn’t she?”

Inez shrugged. “Got my boys on high alert. You’ll never get past the first gate without my consent. And I’ve given strict orders. If you try and breach their clubhouse, it’s shoot now, and we’ll sort it out later.”

Nash stalked forward. “I don’t have time for this, Inez.”

“This girl of yours is in a world of trouble. I suggest you fucking make time, baby.”

Nash cursed under his breath, yanked out the stool, and sat, glaring at Inez.

She burst out laughing, pouring vodka in her glass. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you like this. Always the fucking professional. Never loses control. It makes you the perfect second-in-command for Oz.”

Where was she going with this?

“Lot of people compare you to Trey. Of course, you’ll never have that title, but you two got a lot in common.

For most people, it’d be hard to see the difference.

So fucking controlled and devoted to the Underground.

I once heard Sal say ‘Trey humanizes Oz and Rogue.’ He provides the compassion necessary so no one goes rogue.

” The corner of her mouth spiked. “No pun intended. You have that too, bringing it to Oz’s side.

But you? You have the killer instinct. Protective and loyal, at all costs. ”

Where the fuck was she going with this? Nash didn’t have time for this diagnosis on his personality traits.

“Inez…”

“She makes banana bread! She was gonna put a security deposit on a shitty apartment. And I know she can’t afford that.

I had that girl sitting in that chair.” Inez pointed over his shoulder to the living room.

“She’s got me and half a dozen bikers surrounding her.

Knowing that there is no escape. And she never gave up Penny.

Charley wouldn’t say her name. Lied straight to my face and stayed loyal to Penny. ”

Nash tightened his fists, knowing how scared Charley must’ve been.

“So, if you think I’m gonna hand that girl over without any fucking guarantees and your word that she’s gonna be protected, then you don’t fucking know me, Nash.”

“I would never let anyone touch her.”

She arched her brow. “Willing to go head-to-head with Oz?”

“I already did, along with Rogue.” Heated blood raced through his veins. “No one will touch her. And if they try? They have to go through me.”

Inez took a drag from her cigarette, squinting from the smoke. She lifted her chin and walked over to the counter, grabbing her phone.

“I’ll let Ace know you’re on your way.”

Nash gave a curt nod and was out the door within seconds.