Page 5

CHAPTER FIVE

LUCY SAT STIFFLY in the chair in Devil’s office, her posture ramrod straight, her eyes darting around the room like she expected someone to jump out of the shadows. The light from the overhead fixture cast stark angles across Devil’s face as he stood across from her, arms crossed over his broad chest, his expression carved from stone.

“So, we meet again,” Devil said, his deep, cutting voice slicing through the tension hanging thick in the room. “You’re here about the woman we found.”

“Yes.” Lucy’s voice sounded relaxed, but I caught the slight tremor in her hands as she gripped the armrests. “I know you have her, and I need to see her. She’s my friend.”

Devil raised an eyebrow, the motion so subtle it was almost imperceptible. “And how do we know you’re not working with Dragon Fire?”

Lucy’s eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening. “I don’t work with sick, abusive pigs.”

The corner of Devil’s mouth twitched, though it wasn’t amusement that lit his eyes. “Maybe not. Or maybe this is all a setup.”

“She saved my life,” I said, stepping forward without thinking, my voice firm but careful. Interrupting Devil was walking a thin line, and we all knew how much he hated it. He was the only one in the club who knew I’d met Lucy before the fire, and I had no idea how much of that he was going to let slide.

Devil’s cold gaze shifted to me, his expression unreadable. “And that’s supposed to mean something? Trust isn’t earned with one good deed, Spinner. She lied about knowing anything about Dragon Fire—or you—when I questioned her after your attack.”

“No,” I admitted, holding his gaze. “But it means we should hear her out.”

Lucy shot me a look that could’ve cut glass. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and I could tell she wasn’t thrilled to hear me say I didn’t completely trust her. Tough. The stakes were too high for blind faith.

“I’m not a threat to your club,” Lucy said, her voice firm despite the flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “I’m just worried about Zeynep. She can vouch for me.”

Devil stared at her for a long moment, the silence dragging out until even I started to feel the weight of it. Then he let out a low sigh and nodded. “Fine. You can see her. After that, we’ll talk more. But until I know for damn sure you’re not a threat, you’re not leaving this clubhouse.”

Lucy’s head snapped up, her eyes blazing. “What?”

“You heard me,” Devil said, his tone flat and final. “Spinner, she’s your responsibility. If she so much as breathes wrong, it’s on you.”

“Got it,” I said, swallowing a chuckle at Lucy’s reaction. I glanced at her, but she refused to look at me, her jaw set, stubborn as ever. She hated being told what to do, I knew that much. But she was lucky to get even this from Devil.

“Welcome to the Devil’s House,” Devil said with a smirk, stepping back as Lucy and I turned to leave the room.

The door clicked shut behind us, and Lucy let out a tense breath, her fists clenching at her sides. “You can’t just keep me here.”

“Looks like we can,” I said, leaning casually against the wall, trying to diffuse the tension. Her glare, sharp enough to cut a man down, only made my smirk widen.

“This isn’t over,” she snapped, her fire flaring bright and unapologetic.

For some reason, it made me chuckle. I liked that fire, it was part of what made her who she was. “Didn’t think it would be,” I said. “Now let’s go see your friend.”

THE AIR INSIDE the clubhouse was almost suffocating as Spinner led me down the hallway, his usual swagger tempered by something quieter. Why was that?

My stomach churned as I followed him, a heavy wave of foreboding hit me. The last time I’d seen Zeynep, she’d been laughing, her red curls bouncing as she spun me in a clumsy dance around the room. That memory kept me going through sleepless nights and dead-end leads since she vanished.

But now, with each step closer, a knot of dread twisted tighter in my chest, a feeling I couldn’t shake.

Spinner stopped outside a door and turned to me. “She’s in here.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat at the concerned look on his face.

“Just... be prepared,” he added, his voice softer. “It’s not easy to see.”

My heart dropped, but I didn’t let it show. “I’ll be fine.”

Spinner opened the door, and I stepped inside.

The room was lit by a lamp on the bedside table, the soft hum of a ceiling fan filling the silence. Zeynep lay on the bed with her face turned away, but even from here, I could see the bruises.

“Zeynep,” I breathed, my voice barely a whisper.

She slowly turned her head, and the sight of her almost took me to my knees.

Her left eye was swollen shut, the skin around it an angry mix of purple and yellow. Cuts lined her cheekbones and jaw, and her lip was split. A thick bandage wrapped around her neck, peeking out from the oversized sweatshirt she wore. Her hands were bandaged, and I couldn’t comprehend what had happened to my beautiful friend.

“Oh my God,” I said, taking a shaky step forward. “What did they do to you?”

Zeynep’s one eye filled with tears, and she shook her head, her throat working as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t. Spinner had warned me it wasn’t good, but seeing her struggle against the silence was unbearable.

“She can’t answer you.”

The voice came from the corner of the room, where I hadn’t noticed the hulking figure leaning against the wall.

His cut read Mystic.

He was tall, scarred, and damn scary, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His mismatched eyes burned with anger as they flicked between me and Zeynep.

He didn’t trust me.

“She’s still healing,” Mystic said, his voice hard and protective. “The bastards crushed her windpipe. Doc says she’ll talk again, but it’ll take time, so make sure you don’t upset her.”

My fists clenched at my sides. “I would never upset her.”

Mystic nodded, his jaw tight. “Just make damn sure you don’t.”

I turned back to her, sinking to my knees beside the bed. “I’m so sorry,” I said, my voice cracking. “I should’ve found you sooner. I should’ve—”

Zeynep was one of the strongest people I knew for having gone through so many unspeakable horrors. But seeing her like this, her spirit battered along with her body, made my anger on her behalf burn through me.

She reached out; her bandaged hand brushing mine. The small gesture stopped me in my tracks. Her gaze, though filled with pain, was now steady. She wasn’t blaming me. She was just glad I was here.

I swallowed hard, squeezing her hand gently. “You’re safe now,” I said, forcing the words out even as my chest tightened. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Mystic shifted in the corner, his presence a constant reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. He’d been watching over her so protectively.

“You’re the one who pulled Spinner out of that fire,” Mystic said, his tone carefully neutral.

I glanced at him, nodding. “Yeah, that was me.”

He gave a slight nod in return, his gaze softening just a fraction, but still wary of me. “She’s under our protection. That means no one touches her again.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, a silent promise I knew he’d keep.

Turning back to Zeynep, I reached into my jacket and pulled out the small book she loved so much. “Here,” I said, placing it by her side. “I made sure to bring it.”

She gave me a tired smile, and I wanted to ask why Drago’s men did this to her, but now wasn’t the time and she couldn’t answer me anyway.

I glanced at Mystic, who gave me a single, pointed nod, saying, “She just had her pain meds, so she needs to sleep.”

“They’ll pay for what they did,” I said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her bruised face. “Every single one of them. I’ll come back later.”

Zeynep’s lips pressed into a thin line, but there was a flicker of relief in her eyes.

Mystic stepped forward, his presence towering but not threatening. “You’re welcome to visit her, but know this, you step out of line, you’re out of here. Her care and safety come first.”

I met his gaze, fire burning in my chest. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m here to help her. That’s all that matters.”

Mystic studied me for a moment, then nodded, satisfied.

As I turned back to Zeynep, I felt the familiar burn of anger under my skin, stronger than it had ever been before. This wasn’t over. Dragon Fire had done this to her, and I wouldn’t rest until they paid for every mark, every bruise, every scar.

The only thing those sick bastards knew how to do was hurt women.

“Devil called church, and he wants you there,” Spinner said. He had been so quiet I had forgotten he was in the room.

As we walked out the door, an older woman came into the room. “I’ll be back as soon as we’re done, Brenda,” Mystic said, closing the door and shutting her inside with Zeynep.

As the door clicked shut behind us, I glanced at Spinner. “Looks like she’s got her own personal guard dog.”

Spinner smirked faintly. “And he bites.”