“Galen wants to meet at the barn.”
“Why?” Theo asks, materializing behind Caz.
“I don’t know, but I’ll kick his fucking ass. I made myself clear.” Galen does not get to challenge my decisions. Especially not this one. Not when it comes to her safety. I stuff the rest of Lo’s things into the bag, grab my duffel, and stride toward the door.
“You drive,” I tell Caz when we emerge outside, tossing him the keys to my Land Rover. “I want to keep trying the asshole.” Caz puts his foot to the pedal, and we floor it out of there with Theo hot on our tail in his SUV.
I call Galen repeatedly, but he’s not picking up. I go to call Lo before remembering I smashed her cell to smithereens. Couldn’t risk Dad tracking it when she doesn’t show at the training facility.
“What do you think is going on?” Caz asks, taking his eyes off the road for a split second to look at me.
I drag a hand over my shorn blond hair. “I’ve no clue. This is Galen we’re talking about. His recklessness is legendary.”
“Or maybe, Sinner sent a tail, and he’s taking necessary precautions.” It’s no surprise Caz jumps to Galen’s defense, because he is loyal to a fault.
“I have a bad feeling,” I admit, hoping my gut is wrong. But it rarely is.
“How do you plan on keeping her away from Sinner?” Caz asks, taking the exit off the highway for Prestwick.
I sigh, kicking my booted feet up on the dash. “I’ve no clue,” I admit. “I’m winging it here. I just know she can’t undergo initiation. I don’t want that for her.”
“It’s fucked up, dude,” he agrees. “What is Sinner up to?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.”
We don’t talk again until we reach the hidden entrance at the far side of Prestwick Forest. Caz puts my Land Rover in park, hops out, and slides the gate back. I scoot over into the driver’s seat and drive the car forward. When Theo is inside, Caz closes and locks the gate and hops in the passenger seat.
I drive us along the narrow dirt track for a few miles until our place comes into view.
Theo found it a couple years ago, and it was exactly what we’d been looking for. Someplace close by, under the radar, where we can disappear to when we need to regroup. Theo handled all the paperwork, purchasing it under a pseudonym, so it can’t be traced back to us. We got it for a song which meant there were funds left to do some repairs, because the barn was basically a shell when we bought it. Thankfully, the structure and roof were sound, but we had to replace all the windows, and the interior was just this giant open space that needed work. Now, we’ve added bedrooms and bathrooms in the loft area, installed a basic kitchen, upgraded the rudimentary heating, and fashioned a living area and game room, complete with a pool table.
It’s not plush, by any means, but it’s home.
And Sinner doesn’t know about it.
I’m sure he’s figured out we have someplace we go to, or maybe, he assumes we’re crashing at chicks’ houses, but he hasn’t asked, and we’re not volunteering.
I park in front of the large wooden structure beside Caz’s Mitsubishi Eclipse—the car Galen was driving—and kill the engine. Even though I’m wound up over this unexpected development, a sense of calmness washes over me like always when I’m here.
Towering trees surround us on all sides, hiding us from prying eyes. It’s at the far side of Prestwick Forest, miles from the areas normally frequented by partygoers and nowhere near the section Sinner uses to bury his enemies or conduct initiation tasks.
Still, we know not to take chances, so we used the last of our change to install a few cameras on the perimeter and a wireless alarm system. Theo has it set up to activate remotely, and if anyone should happen across our place, the alarm will trigger a warning that will be sent to all our cells.
I get out the same time Caz and Theo do, and we stride toward the door together, all alert and on edge. It’s fucking Arctic out tonight, and my balls are freezing. I open the door and step inside, spotting Galen standing by the window at the far end of the barn, staring out into the darkness. His spine stiffens as he hears us approaching, but he doesn’t turn around.
Caz closes the door, frowning.
My eyes scan the room, but I don’t see her. Theo keeps pace beside me as I advance toward Galen, his gaze growing in concern along with mine.
Galen slowly turns around, jutting his chin up and spreading his legs a little, standing tall, holding my gaze confidently as I walk up to him. A muscle clenches in his jaw as we square off.
“Where is she?” My voice betrays no hint of my escalating fear.
“Not here” is his clipped reply.
“What the fuck did you do?” Theo demands, nudging me aside and shoving Galen’s shoulders.
“Something you three pussies were too weak to do.” His lips curl into a snarl as my hands automatically clench into fists at my side.
Theo shoves Galen again, but I pull him back, putting my face all up in my cousin’s. “Where is Lo?”
“She’s with Knight. He’s probably put a bullet in her skull by now.”
I ram my fist into his stomach, and he stumbles back. He lifts his head, smirking. “When you remove your head from your ass, you’ll see I’ve done the right thing. She betrayed us. She played us. And she had you all under her thumb. That shit would not end well.”
I slam my fist into his face this time, and blood bursts from his nose. “You’re a fucking idiot.”
His laugh is bitter. “Bullshit.” He spits blood on the concrete floor. “You’ve lost your touch. She made you weak. I eliminated the issue. Feel free to thank me anytime soon.”
His arrogance will be the death of him someday and if he doesn’t shut his stupid fucking mouth, that day might be today.
Caz charges past me, leveling Galen with one of his signature punches. Galen falls back, crashing awkwardly to the floor. “You’re all overreacting,” he shouts, losing the smirk. Anger flares across his face. “And you’ve forgotten the brotherhood! Forgotten what’s important!”
I lean over him and punch him in the gut again. “She’s one of us, you reckless fucktard.” I slam my fist into his ribs, and a cracking sound reverberates through the cavernous space.
It’s telling that he’s not fighting back. He knew to expect this. He’s taking it like a man, but he fully believes he’ll be vindicated once we cool down.
“She’s a hot piece of ass!” he yells. “That does not make her one of us.” This time, Theo gets one in, pummeling his jawline. Galen spits more blood out.
“Sinner branded her with our mark when she was thirteen,” I explain, thrusting my fist in the other side of his ribs. “And he ordered us to take her to the training facility to start initiation.” I slam my fist into his face as Caz paces, pulling frantically at his hair, and Theo pulls out his tablet.
“What?” Galen croaks, his brow puckering in confusion.
“It happened after the ambush, when you were nowhere to be found.”
“Because you were busy making plans to hand our girl to the enemy,” Caz says, grabbing Galen up by the shirt and punching him.