Page 17 of Victorious: Part 3

“Holy shit,” Rip shouts, running toward the truck. “Doughnut!”

Sure enough, our missing goat is in the back of the pickup, looking completely unbothered by his adventure.

“Where the fuck did you find him?” Alpha asks, incredulously.

Lyric steps forward, still overwhelmed but eager to explain. “He just… showed up at my flower shop three days ago. Scared the hell out of me when I opened the rear of my truck and found a goat eating my inventory.”

Alpha furrows his brows. “He wasn’t dropped off? You didn’t see anyone with him?”

Lyric shakes her head with a shrug. “I was at my usual supplier doing a pickup, and from what I can tell, he hopped into the back of my truck to get a good feed. How he got to the supplier, I’m not sure. Sorry, I’m not much help.”

Rip shakes his head. “How the hell didyouget involved, bro?” he asks Chase.

“I was buying flowers for my mother from Lyric’s shop, and I saw her with the goat. With all the pictures Rip sends me of Doughnut, and the one time he brought him to our catch-up lunch, I was sure he was Doughnut. Then Lyric confirmed as much when she said she checked his name tag.”

Rip beams with excitement as he climbs into the truck bed to check on Doughnut. “Dude, we were totally worried about you. How the fuck did you get so far away?” The goat bleats in response, and Rip laughs. “Yeah, I missed you, too, buddy.”

“So, you two drove all the way here just to return our goat?” Iask, though I am grateful as hell to have Doughnut back.

Lyric nods enthusiastically. “Chase insisted we had to bring him back personally. Said it was the right thing to do.”

“Plus…” Chase adds, his expression growing serious, “I figured I owed Rip more than just a phone call. And when he mentioned you guys thought he was taken, well, I definitely wanted to get him back to you. I didn’t want him to think I was holding him against his will…” Chase narrows his eyes on Alpha, “… like he was in prison or anything,” Chase says, clearly a message in his tone.

Alpha glances at me, and I get the hint instantly.

Whoever this Chase guy is, he knows something.

But Lyric, the woman with him, bursts out laughing at Chase, slapping his arm. “We spoiled that goat rotten, Chase. Why would he think he was in prison?” she chimes, completely oblivious.

Chase chuckles, shrugging. “You’re right, Lyric. We did spoil him. I’m sure he’s glad to be home.”

Chase smiles at her, then glances back at Alpha, swallowing hard.

Alpha clears his throat and then waves his hand toward the clubhouse doors. “Where are my manners. You guys had a long drive. Why don’t you come inside, have a drink, something to eat, and rest for a while before you head back?”

Lyric goes to wave it off, but Chase butts in, “I’d love to check out where Rip’s living… if you don’t mind, Lyric?”

She hesitates for a moment, then smiles. “Sure. Spending the day at a biker’s clubhouse. What could go wrong?” Her tone is light, but the hesitation in her voice shows she’s definitely wary.

Sadie leans forward, taking Lyric’s arm in hers. “Hey, you have nothing to be scared of here. I promise you. Come with me, we’ll head to the kitchen and grab some food.”

I grin at my woman, giving her a small nod as she rushes offwith Lyric, who looks completely out of her depth. Rip tends to Doughnut, while the rest of us walk inside.

Alpha moves in beside Chase, and I flank him on the other side. “I heard the message you were putting out there. Something you wanna tell us, Chase?” Alpha grumbles as we enter the clubhouse.

Chase looks around, watching as Sadie takes Lyric into the kitchen away from prying ears. “Is there somewhere private we can chat. I don’t want Lyric to know any of this.”

Alpha cranes his neck. “Is this something all my guys need to hear?”

Chase rubs the back of his neck, like he’s uncomfortable, as he looks around, noticing the entire clubroom of brothers watching him right now. “Yeah… they’re going to want to hear what I have to say.”

Alpha straightens his posture, throwing his hand in the air, but calls quietly, “Chapel, now.”

One by one, everyone starts moving toward the Chapel stairs, and Alpha and I lead Chase up.

The Chapel fills quickly, Alpha at the head of the table, with Haven just behind him. Loki sits to his left. Ink to his right. I sit at the opposite end of the table to Alpha. The other brothers fill the rest of the table while Montana takes his usual spot on the wall, but I see the strain around his eyes. The stress of worrying about his mother while trying to help coordinate the club’s response to the Cartel is wearing on him.

Chase stands at the rear of the room, near Nighthawk, her posture tense. Haven notices, too, and subtly positions herself where she can keep an eye on everyone.