Page 38

Charley sat on the bench in the hallway and rested her head on the wall.

It had felt as if she’d been awake for days.

Sleep wouldn’t come anytime soon. Her adrenaline and her anxiety were through the roof.

Not to mention the uncertainty. She was flying blind with little to go on from anyone.

Charley was still trying to wrap her head around everything that had happened at Inez’s place.

More importantly, all she’d learned about Nash’s real life.

“Have you ever been in a MC clubhouse before? Looks different than TV and the movies, right?” The soft female voice came out of nowhere.

Charley swung her head to the left. There was a girl about her age, possibly younger, standing a few feet away in the hallway, clutching onto a small basket.

Charley had assumed she was the only woman in the house since she hadn’t see any others.

She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or more concerned. Was this girl being held captive too?

“Most people have this idea of women in bikini tops and cutoff shorts having sex in every corner of the rooms.” The woman raised her brows. “That only happens on nights the club throws parties.”

Interesting. And bizarre that they were even having this conversation in the midst of her being kidnapped. It was all so strange. For all the fear running through her body, this woman appeared completely comfortable. For the first time, all night, a calm washed over Charley.

“Hi.”

The woman’s face lit up, and her smile widened. Without hesitation, she rushed forward and sat next to Charley.

“Hi, I’m Cleo.” Her smile faltered, and she lowered her voice, “Are you okay? You look a little scared.”

I am.

“I’m okay.” Charley leaned closer, whispering. “I don’t know what’s going on or how long they’re going to keep me, or” —Her voice cracked— “What they’ll do to me.”

Cleo rested her hand on Charley’s leg. “They don’t usually kidnap women. This has only happened one other time, as far as I know.”

This has happened before? The fear must’ve been evident on her face, because Cleo quickly turned on the bench and squeezed her leg.

“But they let Taryn go and didn’t hurt her, I promise. And, um” —Cleo leaned closer, whispering— “I overheard them talking. Nash is coming to get you.”

“He is?”

From everything she’d learned and everything she’d been told, doubt should be plaguing her mind. But knowing he was on his way gave her an unexplainable ease.

Cleo tapped her leg, offering a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. You’re going to be okay.”

Am I? Only time would tell. But Charley was willing to believe in everything Cleo said. It gave her hope. This is all going to work out. She just had to keeping believing it.

“So,” Cleo dug in her basket pulling out a washcloth and a small bottle of peroxide, offering it to Charley. “I thought you might want to clean up your cut.” Cleo leaned forward, staring at the side of Charley’s face. “I have some ointment you can have so it doesn’t scar.”

“Thank you.” Charley took the washcloth and winced as she dragged the cloth over her wound. She hadn’t thought much of it until now.

“Do you want me to do it?” Cleo asked but didn’t wait for an answer.

She grabbed the cloth and gingerly cleaned the cut.

She dabbed some peroxide on the cloth and tended to her injury.

At one point, the sting was so strong, Charley squeezed her eyes shut.

She heard a faint gasp and a whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m almost done.”

Cleo slathered her cut with a generous amount of ointment, and when Charley opened her eyes, Cleo was tucking the materials in her basket.

She’s like a little nursing fairy.

“Thank you.” She drew in a breath. “I’m Charley, by the way.”

Cleo cocked her head. “Are you” —She paused— “Are you Penny’s Charley?”

Penny’s Charley? She’d spent less than forty-eight hours with this woman and somehow had become a possession of Penny’s. And right now, I’m okay with that.

“You know Penny?” Charley asked.

“Yeah.” Cleo shrugged, “I mean, we’re not friends or anything. but I know her a little. She only comes around when…”

“Jesus fucking Christ, Cleo!” The man shouted so loud, in the narrow hallway his voice echoed off the wall.

“I was just…”

The man glared, and his brows dipped tightly. “Yeah, I know what you were just fucking doing. Do you understand that every time you pull this shit, it’s me who has to deal with Wraith? Not you. Me.”

“I didn’t do anything. I just wanted to…”

His phone rang, and he pulled it out from his pocket and looked down at the screen. His brows knitted, and he held it up to his ear.

“Yeah?”

Charley couldn’t hear the person on the other line, but from his facial expression, it wasn’t a welcomed call.

“None of your fucking business.” His lips twisted. “I ain’t putting anyone on the phone.”

His jaw squared, and his grip tightened, whitening his knuckles.

“I don’t owe you shit and neither does the fucking club. Being with a brother doesn’t make you a fucking member. I don’t know how he puts up with your ass.”

Cleo’s soft giggle seemed so out of place for a hostile situation. It had Charley peeking over at her. She was clearly amused though trying to cover up. Cleo looked over at her and mouthed, “Penny.”

My Penny?

He laughed, though it lacked genuine humor. “You ain’t got shit on me.”

Cleo leaned closer, continuing with her commentary and whispered. “Penny has shit on everyone.”

Charley shifted her eyes to the man. He balled his fist, and his face turned a dark shade of red.

“You’re an asshole, you know that, right?” He scoffed. “Good, as long as we’re on the same fucking page. You get thirty seconds.” He stalked over and shoved the phone in Charley’s face. “Take it.”

She grabbed the phone cautiously and lifted it to her ear. “Hello?”

“It’s Penny. You okay?”

Charley sucked in a breath, feeling the relief of just hearing her voice. After tonight, Penny might be the only person she trusted. “I’ve been better.”

She snickered. “That’s my girl. Keep your sense of humor. So listen, Oak is being a dick, and I’ve only got a few seconds. I’m assuming he’s standing next to you counting?”

His lips weren’t moving so she couldn’t be sure, but he was watching her intently.

“Yes.”

“Jury is still out on whether he can count to thirty, but let’s not take any chances. Need you to listen to me, and more importantly trust what I say.”

“I will.”

“You’re going to be okay. No one is going to hurt you. I spoke to Inez, and she promised me you’re not in danger. I get that it doesn’t look like that right now, but you’re safe, Charley. You have my word.”

If only it was that easy.

“What if she’s lying?”

Penny snorted. “Inez doesn’t lie. She doesn’t have to.”

“Time’s fucking up.” Oak’s booming voice had her jumping in her seat.

Before Charley could say another word, Oak ripped the phone from her hands and tapped the screen. He pointed his finger to the ceiling. “Get up.”

She slowly stood, noticing Cleo did the same. Oak gestured to the end of the hall, and Charley started walking. What other choice did she have?

“Not you, Cleo.”

Charley looked over her shoulder. Oak was standing between them, facing Cleo and pointing in the opposite direction.

“I don’t mind keeping her company.”

“Wraith will, and I’d rather you be pissed at me than him, so go.”

Cleo peeked around Oak’s body and waved. “Bye, Charley.”

Charley lifted her hand in a short wave but started walking down the hall when Oak turned, scowling.

The hallway opened up to a large room with a bar lining the wall and table, chairs and couches occupying most of the space.

There was a larger, long table near the back where a few of the members were seated.

Charley was hoping to avoid that table, but Oak led her right to it.

“Sit down,” Oak ordered, and she took the chair farthest from Ace at the head of the table.

He was on the phone, but she could feel his eyes on her.

“Alright, but he’s not gonna be happy.” Ace paused. “Yeah. I’ll be in touch.”

She stared down in silence at the battered wood. In its day, it was probably beautiful. Now, it had deep scratches, burn marks, and condensation rings.

When the chair across from her moved, she glanced up to see the familiar redhead.

“How do you like our place, darlin’? Wanna stay a bit longer? I could have that arranged,” Gent said.

“I want to go home,” she muttered.

He hummed. “You sure about that? Heard you fucked up, keeping secrets, lying to everyone around you. And to the queen?” His tone was laced in sarcasm.

“You’re probably out of a job.” He spread out his arms. “We got some openings here. You got any unknown talents you’d like to share with us?

Or?” His gaze traveled across her body, lingering on her breasts. “Show us?”

Oh God.

“Gent,” Ace warned. “Get the fuck outta here.”

Gent winked at her but thankfully followed his president’s orders, leaving her alone in the room with Ace and Cross. The silence was deafening. It seemed the threat to hurt her was mild, but it did nothing to calm down her nerves in their presence.

She cleared her throat, gaining both men’s attention. She offered a shaky smile, which neither returned. Charley’s smartest move probably would’ve been to remain quiet and wait for Nash to arrive. She tapped her foot on the wood floor, eyeing the room and taking it all in.

“I like your clubhouse.”

They both stared back.

“It’s, um, bigger than it looks from the outside. And it’s very homey inside.”

Cross’s hardened stare didn’t ease at all, but she noticed Ace’s eyes soften slightly.

“It’s nice you can all come back here and hang out after taking a ride together.

” She swallowed the lump in her throat, desperate to keep this conversation open.

At this point, it was one sided. “I actually, um, went on a motorcycle for the first time a few weeks ago. I loved it.” She smiled, thinking of the ride with Nash.