Page 80 of The Order of Disorder

“…slow leak in the fuel line,” I catch. “Rear brake’ll give…Feds…A dead man…”

A younger voice, nervous and eager—maybe Ruckus—is easier to hear. “Cash signed off on the inspection and then I swapped the lines after he cleared it. No one’s gonna check it again. It’s set.”

I strain to hear more, crouched low, my heart starting to race.

“…what they’re supposed to…” comes a snippet of Silas’s voice. Then, clearer, like he’s moved closer to the vent: “You don’t get loyalty these days. You manufacture it.”

The words loop in my brain, thick and slow. Are they planning to cause an accident?

But what comes next slices through me like a blade.

“Ryan Porter’s a stubborn fuck,” I hear Silas say, clear as day. “Cracked two ribs and the motherfucker still won’t talk. But he will. Pain makes everyone honest eventually.”

Two ribs. My breath catches like I felt the break myself.

“Jesus. What if someone hears him in the paint booth? That thing’s out in the open.”

“It’s soundproof, dumbass. That’s why we use it. No one hears a thing over the engines anyway.”

I stagger back from the closet, hand braced on the sink. My head spins but my body’s already moving. I have to get to him.Now.

The door swings open and Rox steps in with a small black bag in one hand.

“You good?” she asks, catching my face in the mirror.

“No. No—I need to get out there. I need—I need to get to him.”

“Max, what?”

“Ryan,” I choke. “He’s in the fucking paint booth. They’re hurting him.”

She moves toward me, cautious now, hands raised. “Okay, slow down, babe. You’re high. Just breathe. Let’s sit, okay? Let’s just sit down and talk this through—”

“No,” I snap, backing away. “You don’t get it, I heard them. He’s hurt. They’re torturing him and I’m just…just—” I shove her as she reaches for my arm. She stumbles back into the counter, eyes wide.

“Max,” she pleads, voice cracking. “You can’t go charging in there. We’ll figure something out, okay? Let me talk to Maze.”

“No more talking!” I wail, my voice breaking. “He’s all I have, Rox. He’s everything. If I don’t go now, I might not get another chance!”

The door slams open.

Maze storms in. “What the hell is going on in here?”

“She’s freaking out,” Rox says, eyes wild. “She says Ryan’s—”

“Heis!” I shout. “He’s in the booth, Maze, they’re hurting him!”

Maze steps forward, his face darkening. “You need to calm down.”

“I can’t!” My throat is raw. “This is life or death. You don’t understand. Hematters. I can’t let them kill him.”

Tears break loose, but I don’t even feel them. “Please,” I say, to both of them. “Please just let me go to him. I’ll do anything. Just let me go.”

“No.” Maze moves fast and grabs my wrist. “You’re going to see Billy or you’re going back in the kennel. Not my call, babe, but you’re out of moves.”

I yank hard, try to twist free, but I’m clumsy. Weak. The pill makes my limbs slow and uncooperative. Maze keeps a grip on me as I flail, trying to land a hit, trying to scream loud enough for someone, anyone, to listen.

“Max, stop.” Rox’s voice is tight and pleading. “You’re scaring me. Please just—just come with us, okay? Don’t make this worse.”