“Prez isn’t here.”
“Then we wait.” Dane drops onto my chair, pulling Sadie down onto his lap while the others hover awkwardly.
“Jax, take the girls to the clubhouse and get them a drink.” Noble’s name is on the tip of my tongue. But after not being able to give Sadie what she needs right now, I figure that I can at least give her this.
“But I—”
“Now, Jax,” I boom, ripping my door open and pointing through it.
Quinn levels me with a look that I think is meant to scare me. “Do not make this any fucking worse, Savage.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Renshaw. Look after my little sister, yeah?”
“Fuck you.”
River meets my eyes, silently asking me if I’m okay. I nod, and a smile twitches at her lips.
I fucking hate that I dragged her into this life, but I know that what Dane has said to me time and time again is true. There’s nowhere else she’d be safe. No one else I’d trust her with more other than my brothers.
The second the door closes behind her, the atmosphere in the room ramps up to almost unbearable levels.
“Sadie,” I say. “Tell Stray what you told me.”
She gives me a double take, momentarily forgetting her suspicions before it hits her and she nods, turning to Dane to break the news.
22
Sadie
“I don’t think this is just about me.” I stand up, needing to pace as my words perforate the air.
Dane blinks at me. “What?”
“Think about it. They tried to run us off the road, and I wasn’t the only one in that photo, Dane.” My stomach knots.
“Maybe they think you’re together,” Wes suggests. “Maybe it’s a two-for-one kind of deal. Take out the club’s princess and her guy as retribution.”
“Hey, asshole,” Rhett growls. “Watch it.”
Wes snorts. “You know I didn’t mean—”
“Stop,” I snap. “This isn’t helping. I’m just saying that photograph, what they did to it, it felt… personal.” My eyes linger on Dane, but he isn’t looking at me. He’s staring at the wall, his eyes cloudy.
“Dane?”
“I recognized him.”
“Who?” Rhett spits.
“That motherfucker who hurt Sadie… Justin.”
“But that’s not possible. He’s one of Darren’s guys. Our paths barely crossed the Reapers until recently.”
“Yeah,” Dane says, but I see the doubt in his eyes.
We’re missing something. I don’t know how I know, but I do. And it has something to do with Dane, I’m almost certain.
“What do you remember about when you arrived here?” I sit on the edge of the bed.
“Shit, Sadie, girl, it was a long time ago.”
“I know. But it could be important.”
“What are you thinking?” Rhett asks, clearly confused.
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “But something doesn’t add up.”
Dane stares at the wall again, that forlorn look on his face. I open my mouth to say his name, but Rhett snags my gaze and shakes his head.
Releasing a shaky breath, I hug myself tight. “What happens now?” I ask, a lick of fear racing down my spine.
“We wait for Prez and Micky to get back and go from there.”
“But we’re on lockdown?” I meet Rhett’s dark gaze, and he nods.
“Until we know more, yes.”
“Fine. I’m going to find Quinn and River.”
“Hey,” Rhett snags my wrist as I reach him, “you good?”
“No, not really. But it isn’t like I have a choice, is it?”
He stands up, towering over me. “Sadie—”
“Let’s not. It’s going to be a long weekend. I need a drink.” Or three. “Wes, want a tour?” I ask him.
“Sure.” He follows me to the door after I yank out of Rhett’s grip.
“You two need to watch it,” Rhett hisses. “The last thing we need is Prez thinking that—”
“Seriously, that’s what you’re choosing to focus on right now?” I arch a brow, cutting him with a deadly look.
His lips press into a tight line, but he holds my gaze. God, when he looks at me like that, I want to believe he’s in this with me.
With us.
Rhett steps aside, and I slip out of his room with Wes hot on my heels. I’m too restless to sit still. And being in the same room as all three of them… it’s the sweetest kind of torture. But now isn’t the time to play, not when a psychopath is gunning for blood.
My blood.
A shiver runs through me, and Wes touches the small of my back. “Sadie, I—”
“Don’t.” I shoot him a weak smile. “I’m fine. I just needed some air.”
“They’re just worried,” he adds. “We all are.”
“Yeah, I know. But I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel right now. The bike accident was one thing… but the photograph in my locker… it feels different somehow. More personal.”
“No one—”
“Sadie Ray?” Dad’s voice echoes through the clubhouse, and I hurry into the main room, rushing into his arms.
“Shh, sweetheart, I’ve got you.” He hugs me tight, and until this moment, I didn’t realize how badly I needed to see him.
“I need to meet with the guys, okay?” Easing me back, he holds me at arm’s length. “You and the girls sit tight with Pitbull and Pacman. The women will be here soon.” He drops a kiss on my head. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Sadie Ray. Not you or anyone else in this family.” His eyes hold mine, full of fire and promise.
“I know, Daddy,” I whisper.
The clubhouse doors open, and Aunt Dee, Rosita, and the other old ladies pour inside.
“Dee,” Dad goes to her. “You know the drill. We’re on lockdown until I give the word.”
She nods softly, something passing between them. I can’t remember the last time we had to go on lockdown, not like this. Sure, there have been threats over the years, but never such an open declaration of war.
“Sadie, sweetheart,” Rosita approaches me, “how are you holding up?”
“I’m okay, thanks.”
“You’re built of strong stuff, sweetie.” She leans in, smiling. “And something tells me you have plenty of guys looking out for you.”
I glance over my shoulder to find Wes watching me. Dane and Rhett have also appeared, standing over by the bar, their eyes fixed in my direction.
“I…” I trail off, not really sure how to answer her.
She lets out a small chuckle. “The heart wants what it wants, Sadie Ray, don’t you forget that.” Cupping my face, she leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead before walking over to join the other old ladies and girlfriends.
“Come on.” I beckon to Wes, and he follows me over to where Quinn and River are sitting.
“Everything okay?” my cousin asks, and I nod.