Page 115 of The Loves We Lost

“We’ll find them both,” Niro says behind me, his voice colder than I’ve ever heard it.

“Vi’s pregnant,” I say. “Didn’t want anyone to know yet because it’s so soon but ...”

“Then we bring all three of them back,” King says.

“Give them the money back. Need my girls, King. Don’t know what the fuck I’d do without them. And once they’re safe, I need to kill every last motherfucker who took ’em,” I manage to grind out.

“We’re not voting,” Niro says. “Because I know without asking, we’re all with you.”

36

VIOLA

Two thoughts rotate through my mind on repeat.

The first, Noah is a dead man walking.

The second, I’m so stupid.

My panic button is in my purse with my phone. Both of which Noah took from me before I could activate it. And I forgot my tracker in the denim jacket I wore yesterday.

On the way over here, I actually remembered, but I was so close to arriving, I felt it was fine given I was going to another Iron Outlaw’s home.

How could I have been so lax? Perhaps I felt too comfortable because I was with Miles. Because I felt invincible with the security of the club behind me. Because I’ve hung out with Sarah and Rebecca and never felt a threat. Because it was Noah. A prospect for the club whose job was to protect us.

Except now I know Noah isn’t even a real prospect.

Avery’s tracker is in her sneakers, but at the last minute before we left the house, she’d changed to her sandals because she really wanted to show Rebecca her toenails that I painted last night.

Miles knows I was coming here today. But I don’t know how long it will be before he realizes I’m in trouble. My car is out front, and I pray someone sees it.

But even if they did, they would think nothing of it. I’ve visited Noah’s home before.

I bite back tears and swallow down my nausea because I don’t want to scare Avery. If she thinks it’s odd that she’s suddenly been brought from Rebecca’s bedroom to the basement, she’s not showing it.

I’ve walked the room a thousand times, but as it’s a playroom for Rebecca, it’s devoid of anything that could be considered a weapon. There are two narrow windows near the ceiling showing slivers of light, but they are both locked.

I don’t scream because Sarah’s warning was clear. I make a sound and the first person to be shot is Avery. If I try to escape, Avery will pay the price. Maybe I was mistaken, but I thought I saw Noah wince when she said it.

“It’s too early to blow our cover,” I hear Noah yell. The words travel through the vents in the ceiling.

“And my brother was clear about what he wants. I saw an opportunity and I took it.” Sarah’s voice is raised, but clear and pragmatic.

I don’t know who her brother is or what he wants, but my guess is it’s something from the club. Otherwise, this makes no sense.

I’m collateral.

If it’s true, as soon as the club realizes I’m in trouble, I know Miles will do whatever it takes to get me out of here. But I need to think and act between now and until then to give Avery and me the best chance.

I glance at the windows again. If I could just get out of them ... There are windows that lock in my basement at home, and I keep the key to them on a shelf in the playroom tucked ina little dish. I look around, trying to see if I can find anything similar.

There’s the slam of a door, more footsteps on a wooden floor above. More people are arriving. If they’re here to take us away, I need to stall leaving for as long as I can. While my hands shake, I try to focus on everything in my control for the next few minutes and nothing more.

“Hey, pumpkin,” I say, keeping my voice as neutral as I can, given the panic swirling in my chest. My heart races so fast, I can feel the pulse of it in my temple. “Should we make a den?”

“Yay. Will Sarah let us?”

Sarah, with her biblically named family of assholes who threatened to kill a child.