Page 41 of Ryder
“Ryder was right, Finn, my life is none of your business. You left us. After that, you only had the right to ask about our daughter.”
“Rule two,” he continued, ignoring her comment, “If you attempt to break rule number one then Harlee will suffer.”
I jump to my feet and he does the same, meeting me chest to chest. “Don’t you dare threaten my daughter,” I hiss.
Finn grins, running a finger down my cheek, using enough pressure to hurt. “She’s our daughter, Neve.”
I take a breath and a step back. If I goad him to hurt me, it leaves me weak and I have to be strong for Harlee. I have to get us out of here. I give him a pleading look, “Why can’t you just let us go, Finn, and get on with your life?”
“I’ll leave the iPad with you for Harlee, there’s no internet, the movies are pre-downloaded so don’t even think about trying to contact anyone on the outside. The sooner you accept this life the better. I’ll leave the door unlocked so you can explore but remember what I said.”
He leaves, keeping the door open a jar. I go over to the window and stare down at the high wall surrounding us. There’s no way I can jump that, especially with a five-year old. And Finn wasn’t lying, there are men walking around the grounds, some even have dogs. I sigh out loud. Fuck.
Chapter Sixteen
Ryder
I wake with a start and glance around. My head still aches bad and it takes me a second to focus. There’s an irritating beeping sound and I glance to my left to see a machine.
Griff appears, placing a hand on my chest. “Take it easy, pres.”
“Where the hell am I?” I growl, feeling irritated.
“Hospital. We found you at Neve’s place passed out on the bed. You’ve had a bleed on the brain.”
I frown, letting his words process. I remember everything up to calling Griff for help. “How long have I been here?”
“Three days. How are you feeling?”
“Like shit. Three days in here when I should have been looking for Neve and Harlee.”
I push to sit up but he stops me again. “Relax,” he orders. “We’re on it. Finn was asking for security a couple of days ago. We’ve put a man on the inside. He’s not wherever Finn is keeping Neve, only his inside circle are there. But there is an event happening tonight and he thinks Neve might be there.”
“Can trust this guy? Who is he?” I’m not used to being out of touch or not in control of everything. The fact I’ve been out of it for three days makes my guilt ten times worse. She needs me and I’m stuck here.
“Yeah, he’s an ex-copper, a good guy and a good friend of mine. I wouldn’t have put him on it if I wasn’t one hundred percent sure I could trust him. Let me call for the doctor.”
“Don’t bother, I’m going home.” I sit up and begin pulling the wires off my chest.
“Pres that’s not a good idea. The bleeds stopped but one knock and who knows. You need rest and time to heal.”
“I am not lying in bed while my old lady is held up fuck knows where, going through fuck knows what. I want her back and I want that fucker dead.”
Griff sighs, “I’ll speak to the doctor but he’s gonna advise against it.”
“I don’t give a crap, do whatever it takes to get me out of here.”
Neve
Three days, we’ve been here for three damn days with no sign of the mc and not a single chance to escape this hell. All kinds of scenarios have filled my head these last few days, one being that Ryder hasn’t made it. That breaks my heart. And the other being that the mc have found him and think I’ve done it and gone on the run.
“Mary do you like working here?” I ask, peeling a potato.
“Neve, you know we can’t talk about things like that. If Finnegan overheard, he’d be mad.” It’s another one of Finn’s stupid rules. All staff have been warned not to befriend me. He’s already guessed that I’d try that first. If the staff feel sorry for me, they might help me leave. Mary gives me a sympathetic smile. “I’ve worked here a long time. Since Finnegan was a small boy.”
“You knew his parents?” I ask, feeling relieved that she hasn’t chose to work for Finn but has perhaps done it more out of obligation.
“That’s enough chit chat, chop those potatoes.”