AllFreeNovel
Share Us
30
Ryder
The entire house smells of mold, dust, and something dead. Some rats must have starved to death in this place.
With my gun securely nestles in my palm, I make my way through the house with Maddox by my side. It’s completely quiet, a little too quiet, and it was suspiciously easy to get in here.
I glance over at Maddox, and without saying a word, I know he is having the same thoughts, which only intensifies the bad feeling in my gut. Something is off, and I don’t like it.
“I don’t think he is here,” Maddox says when we clear the second floor, anger lacing his voice.
“Who told you he was?”
“Buck. He said he was sure too,” Maddox growls. My anger multiplies. Buck and Tucker are pretty close. “I didn’t think he would betray us.”
“I know.” I nod, and I really do. I believe Maddox, and I didn’t think Buck would have betrayed us either. Not knowing what that would mean. Buck just signed his death certificate.
“The question is, why did he send us here?”
“Let’s get out of here before this place blows up,” I half-joke. Why else would he lead us here? Just to show that he can fuck with us? I wouldn’t put either past him.
Not wasting any time, we move out quickly and get back to the car.
“Fuck,” Maddox punches the steering wheel. “Fucking prick.”
“Let’s go back to your place and figure something out from there.” I try to calm him down while there is a storm raging inside of me as well. “We’ll get him.”
Just as Maddox cranks the car, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I get it out and look at the screen.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me?” I growl. “It’s him.”
I answer the video call, my thumb swiping over the screen so hard it might crack. The video comes on, and I freeze. My heart stops, and terror settles deep in my bones.
“Hello, old friend,” Tucker greets, looking amused with himself. He has the camera angled from above him. He is sitting on the floor, and behind him is Penny. She is lying on her side, her hands and feet tied together, leaving her even more helpless than she already is. The side of her face is swollen, and her eyes are red from crying.
“You’re a dead man,” I grit through my teeth, just as Penny raises her gaze to the phone. The moment our eyes meet through the screen, my chest aches. There is a distinct pain that only she could ever make me feel. It’s a mixture of longing, sadness, and lost hope.
Knowing that I never told her the truth is eating me up inside. I should have told her I forgave her. She doesn’t have to carry that guilt any longer. I should have told her she was safe here instead of toying with her. I should have done a lot of things, but it’s all too little, too late now.
“Am I? I feel like I’ve got a lot of leverage here, and I’m not just talking about your little sex slave here. See, there are some guys in the club who are sticking by my side. They are tired of your bullshit, Ryder, putting some slut before your brothers.”
“You’re lying,” Maddox growls.
“How do you think I got Buck to send you to that house? Are you really that stupid that you can’t see when your men are turning against you?”
“What do you want, Tucker?” I ask him.
“I want you to leave the club. I’m taking your spot. The guys are okay with Maddox being president, but they want you gone.”
“You know there is only one way out of the club,” Maddox answers.
“I guess death for you it is.” Tucker shrugs. “Look, we can do it the easy way or the hard way. Maddox can kill you now where you stand. Quick and easy. I’ll even untie your pet and let her go. Then everything goes back to normal… well, almost. I’ll be VP.”
“Fuck you,” Maddox roars, trying to snatch the phone from me.
“Let her go first. Untie her. I want to see her walk away, then I’ll do it.”
“You think I’m stupid? No deal. Do it now, or I’ll take my frustration out on her.”
