Page 23 of Where We Ended

“Pen is right, we need a plan. We can’t go half-cocked, Silas. We need intel, and to get the layout, we want her back safely, not shot in the crossfire, or hurt because we snuck up and didn’t know his security measures. Why don’t you go back into the clubhouse, stay in Natty’s room.”

A quick shot of panic shot through me at the notion of waiting. I had to play this right because this club had already been searching for her. They had a map. They were her friends…her family. It wasn’t like I could just go and not have them chase me. They could endanger our entire rescue if they showed up without a plan in place.

It was like swallowing nails to agree to stay put, but I knew it was the right thing to do. For Natty.

I didn’t trust myself to walk with Connor in my arms, so I gave a pleading look to Jameson who seemed to understand and left his perch to come grab his son.

Once he was safely in his father’s arms, I took a step back.

“I will give you one day to organize what you need to…just one, and then I’m going in with or without you.”

The eyes around the room remained on me while I turned on my heel and walked out of the house. Within seconds, my phone was up to my ear, my vice president on the line.

“We have a club to visit tonight.”

The only man I ever called a friend hummed in reply, “We leaving a message?”

Gravel crunched under my feet as I made my way over to my bike. I gave the club one last glance, wishing I could bury my face in some of Natty’s clothes, or sheets, just so I could have her scent wrapped around me.

“We’re sending an eviction notice.”

There was a pause, which didn’t happen often with my second. He was level-headed, unlike me, but he was fair and calculated.

“Which club?”

Going to war with a club wasn’t something to take lightly, especially for one as dangerous as ours. Just the same, it had to be done.

I straddled my bike and ignored the blood roaring in my ears as I pictured my brother, and what he might be doing to Natty.

With ice in my tone, I simply replied, “Sons of Speed.”

NINE

NATTY

PRESENT

It was still dark in the room when a phone began to ring. I felt groggy as sleep continued to pull at me, like tiny talons. My arm ached, my eyes burned, and I tried to fall back asleep until the second ring blared through the room. Adrenaline surged forward like a spike in my chest as the realization of what that ringing meant.

A phone meant communication.

Help.

I could find it and call someone.

Sitting up lightning fast, my chest heaved as I looked over at the side table, seeing nothing. The phone rang again, but there was no light, nothing at all indicating where the device might be.

Alec was positioned between me and the end table, and with my arm chained to his, there was no way to get around him. Besides, I didn’t want to crawl over him. I had to think through a plan, just as long as whoever was calling stopped and he didn’t wake up.

I held my breath as another loud ring resounded through the room.

Alec stirred, but I was too enraptured with the idea of freedom to fall back to my pillows. Instead, I waited and watched as he slowly twisted to the side and pulled the phone out from the drawer. There was no way to charge it in there, so he must have already done so, or had a burner phone.

His thumb slid over the screen as his deep voice replaced the ringing.

“What?”

There was a pause, while someone spoke, and then Alec was sitting up, mirroring my position.