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“Listen, Riley, can’t this meeting wait?” Daniel argued. “Breaker will be home soon.”
Riley shook her head. “I have to meet my brother now or he might change his mind.”
After a few more arguments, she finally convinced them to let her go alone. If Rob saw her with the two bikers, he’d freak out. That was the last thing she wanted. As Riley took the elevator to the third floor, she wondered why Rob chose this location.
Sure, Rob explained he was crashing at his friend’s place, but most of Rob’s friends were addicts like him. It was hard to believe any of them could afford a place like this. Maybe it was just paranoia speaking.
Finally, she arrived at the front door. She rapped her knuckles against the wooden door and wondered what she should say to Rob first. Riley decided she’d leave the topic of rehab for last. She’d soften him up first, get him to trust her a little.
The door opened and a jolt of surprise coursed through Riley’s veins when she realized Rob wasn’t alone. Standing before her was her brother, Rob, his weary face etched with a mixture of emotions that mirrored her own. By his side stood a figure that Riley hadn’t expected—a large, inked biker with a Black Vipers patch on his cut.
The chill in the air seemed to intensify, the atmosphere growing taut with unspoken tension. She had convinced Breaker she would be safe, but now, facing the unexpected reality of the situation, doubt gnawed at the edges of her resolve.
Riley’s heart raced as she studied the man beside her brother, the inked biker with the Black Vipers patch on his cut. The weight of betrayal settled heavily upon her shoulders, memories of past deceptions mingling with the cold dread that gripped her chest.
The parallels between this moment and the time Snake had infiltrated their apartment seemed uncanny, a chilling reminder that danger often wore the face of those who were supposed to be trusted.
“Riley,” Rob’s voice cracked with desperation. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
Rob looked like he’d been through the wringer. He was covered in bruises and looked utterly defeated. The biker’s gaze shifted to her, his eyes dark and unreadable.
“Rob,” Riley finally managed to say. Her voice was a mere whisper, her heart a turbulent sea of emotions. “How could you do this to me again?”
“Riley, I swear, it should’ve been different this time around. This is … Sledge. Snake sent him to find me,” Rob whispered.
Sledge curled his lips to a cruel smile and Riley avoided a shudder. This man, Sledge, was nothing like Rat, who was desperate and cowardly. Sledge was dangerous. Riley’s instinct screamed at her to be cautious, to tread carefully in the midst of this volatile situation.
She recognized the calculating gleam in Sledge’s eyes, a predator assessing its prey.
“Nice to meet you again, Riley,” Sledge drawled, his tone pocketing.
Again? The familiarity in his tone sent a shiver down her spine. She had overheard some of Snake’s men talking about him. He was the guy Snake sent whenever he wanted something awful done.
“Riley,” Rob said, a hidden plea in his voice.
Riley took a deep breath. She knew she had to act, to find a way out of this perilous situation without raising Sledge’s suspicions. The two prospects were still downstairs but she’d definitely raise Sledge’s suspicions if she reached for her cell phone.
“All right,” she said to Sledge. “Let’s talk.”
Sledge’s cruel smile widened, revealing a glint of something darker beneath the surface.
“The talking part is long over, missy,” he sneered. His movements were deliberate as he revealed the gun concealed within his leather jacket.
Riley’s pulse quickened, her mind racing to find a way out of this mess. Her instincts screamed at her to act, to find a way to turn the tables in her favor. Sooner or later, the prospects would check up on her. One of them had probably called Breaker as well. Rob and she would no longer be at a disadvantage.
She held Sledge’s gaze, her expression a mix of apprehension and steely determination.
“Listen, Sledge, whatever problems you have with my brother, I’m not part of this. Let’s talk, figure something out,” she urged.
Sledge’s laughter was a cold and humorless sound that echoed through the room, sending shivers down Riley’s spine. “You think you can just talk your way out of this? This isn’t some negotiation table, sweetheart. You’re in way over your head.”
Anger made Riley curl her fists by her sides. Only Breaker could call her sweetheart.
“Riley, I promise you, I never wanted any of this to happen. I really thought I could get a fresh start with you,” Rob whispered.
Riley’s heart ached for her brother. Rob really did sound genuine for once.
“I get it, Rob,” Riley said. “I forgive you.”
