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“I’ll drive,” Betty said and strolled out the door.
So much for a phone call. On an exhale, I trudged outside. Time to face the bikers.
ChapterNine
PEYTON
Ten years,two months, and five days since I was at the clubhouse. Not that I was counting or anything. The clubhouse of my memories no longer existed. The last time I was here, it was one story, the outside dingy and in need of a paint job. It was simple, because the men who lived there only needed the basics. A place to sleep, hang out, and party when the mood struck.
What was once the clubhouse was now a compound. The building in front of me had grown to two stories and extended farther out on the bottom level on either side. One side had an open garage-style door, which housed a massive gym. The picnic tables in the front were the same, but newer, and the entire clubhouse had been repainted. The changes helped center me.
New clubhouse, new club. I didn’t know this club, or its brothers, and that solidified my resolve to treat them like unknown but welcome partners.
I got out of the car and headed toward the front, except I barely made it two steps before my team converged in a line in front of me. I was so focused on myself that I hadn’t clocked them following Betty and me.
“You guys didn’t need to come.” But I was grateful they were here.
Chris huffed out a sigh. “Yes, we did. And not just because we never got the chance to explain to you one thing. We will always side with you, Pey. Always. But working with Redemption was the right call, and you know it.” Chris opened her mouth again, probably to keep pleading with me to not be angry with them.
It was time to put them all out of their misery. “I get it. If it was the other way around with one of you, I would have done the same.” I took a step forward. “I’m only slightly mad that it took this long to come out, and that’s partly on me for not asking more questions. But you don’t need to worry about me. I won’t be combative, promise.”
Tyler and Izzy narrowed their eyes at me but let me pass.
When we hit the concrete walkway leading to the front, my uncle opened the door, a frown on his bearded face. I wanted to tell him not to worry, to reassure him that nothing horrible had happened, but I held my tongue. Some stuff was better spoken about behind closed doors.
I followed him into the house, my team right behind me. It was hard to look around without turning my head, but I noticed the differences. The whole place was a lot nicer than it had been, with plush furniture on one side of the space and pool tables on the other and the extended bar in the middle. I followed Uncle Wolf, and it didn’t hit me until we reached the hallway where he was taking us.
Chapel.
The only people who were allowed in Chapel were brothers and the invited few. I was officially one of them. I’d been curious about it when I was younger, and my imagination had run wild. Younger me would have been disappointed. The room was big but fairly plain, with dark blue walls that ate up the light. At the center of the space was a massive wooden table with the club’s emblem etched in the center.
Uncle Wolf crossed his arms and tried to glare at me, but his gaze softened and he swiped a hand over his face.
“Hey Uncle Wolf.” I gave him a tentative smile, and with a sigh, he pulled me into his arms. The riot of emotions that had bombarded me for the past hour finally calmed. His hugs had been my greatest source of comfort my whole life. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed.
He pulled away but stayed close. “Betty sent a text. What’s so urgent?” He jerked his chin at the girls. “And why’d you bring the cavalry?”
Because they knew coming back might be hard for me. Because they’re my emotional support people.
Thankful that he was letting me get right to it, I did. “Short story shorter. The woman hiding in your cabin is married to a rich guy. Rich guy went on television and did a PSA, offering twenty million dollars for anyone who finds them. It’s made national headlines.” I took a breath, then added, “Two other men, both connected to other women we helped rescue, reached out to him.”
“You’re fucking kidding me,” Uncle Wolf said, uncrossing his arms and putting them on his hips. “So what does that mean for us? Why’d you come all the way over here instead of calling?”
I elbowed Betty, annoyed because I’d wondered the same thing. “I need to talk to the guys who handled the transport. And I need the phones they traveled with,” I said, listing my two areas of focus.
He gave me an apologetic shrug. “Peyton, sweetheart, I don’t deal with that stuff. When Betty came to me, I put it to a vote, but once it was approved, I put someone else in charge of the whole thing.”
“Reasonable. Who?” I wasn’t averse to working with another brother.
He grimaced. “Reaper.”
I was averse to working withthatbrother. “Is there a reason I can’t deal with you? You’re the president.”
Uncle Wolf sighed. “He wanted to be completely in charge of this. He knows more than anyone else. He’s the one responsible for planning the routes and everything. But if you need me, sweetheart, I’ll be around.” He lowers his voice so only I could hear him. “If you really don’t want to work with him, I can relay your questions and get back to you with his answers, but it will slow you down.”
So this was what it felt like when fate laughed in your face.All right, Peyton, time to pull on your big girl pants.
I scrubbed my hand over my face and let out a resigned sigh. “Go get him.” What else was there to say?
