She had grown up hearing Killy’s advice to the other bitches, and Ginny didn’t have high hopes today, either.
Offended at the look on Ginny’s face, Killyama straightened to her full height and poked a finger at her chest. “I’m the only one who bagged a Last Rider.”
Ginny couldn’t let her sister be one-upped. “Trudy nabbed a movie star who used to belong to Oceane Fournier.”
“Used to be, so he doesn’t count. Besides, I wouldn’t expect T.A. to be giving you advice anytime soon.”
“No, I don’t expect she will.”
“You’re better off. T.A. gives shit advice. I’m all you need to get the job done.”
Ginny held her hands up in surrender. “Fine. If I do feel the need for anymore advice, I’ll call you.”
“I’m not done.” Killyama grew serious again, using her hands on Ginny’s arms to move her backward until the swing bumped against the back of her thighs. “There’s a few things you need to know before you make another move on Reaper.”
Ginny sat at the tone of Killyama’s voice.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat what I’m going to tell you, and if you ever breathe a word that I told you, I’ll call you a damn liar.”
Ginny licked her suddenly dry lips. “I don’t need sugarcoated. I’ve learnt it doesn’t make it go down any easier. Do you know anyone better at keeping a secret than me?” Raising a questioning brow, Ginny didn’t think Killy did, because she began without preamble.
“Have you heard about the dark web?”
Her blood went ice-cold. “Yes, but I’ve never gone there.”
“Buckle up, this isn’t going to be a fun trip.”
Chapter Five
“Is that everything?” Keeping her face expressionless, Ginny prayed there wasn’t a tell showing.
“Yes, it’s likely Hammer and Jonas have more information, but good luck getting it out of them.” Killyama cast her a worried look. Ginny could see that she was having second thoughts about entrusting her with the confidences that she had shared about Gavin. “If any of The Last Riders or Hammer ever found out what I told you, they’d hate me. I jeopardized my marriage, little bitch. You better not make me regret it.”
“I won’t. Thank you, Killyama. I owe you one.” Shakily, Ginny got to her feet.
“I didn’t ask for anything in return, but since you offered, don’t think I won’t if I ever need to.”
Ginny nodded, well-aware that Killyama would if the need arose, which was why she hadn’t offered the repayment lightly.
“You should go. Someone will have noticed us talking so long. I’ll walk you to your car.”
When she lifted a foot to move, her knee buckled. Killyama grabbed her arm, pulling her into hug. Ginny managed to return it.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Didn’t want you to bite the dust in your nice outfit.”
“Not for that. For being there when Gavin needed you.” Ginny tightened her arms around Killy. “Anything, anytime. Without you, Gavin might still be in that hellhole. I won’t ever forget that you were willing to sacrifice your love for Train to help Gavin. You’re the best person I’ve ever met, and I’ve been blessed to have good people in my life.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m the best, but if you say it, I’ll take your word for it.”
Ginny managed a laugh as they pulled away and started walking.
As Killyama got in her car and closed the door, Ginny used her hand to stop the door from shutting.
“I owe you a debt that I’ll never be able to repay.”
“You know me well enough to know I’ll cash that promise in if I need to. You okay? You’re looking a little green around the gills.”
“I’m fine.” Ginny removed her hand from the car door.
“Before I leave, there is one other thing I meant to tell you.”
Ginny didn’t know if her queasy stomach could handle much more.
“Before I left the club, Reaper was on a rampage, trying to get Shade or Rider to change their minds about returning to Nashville with you.”
Ginny frowned. “Viper told me he was the one coming back with me, not Gavin.”
Killyama shrugged. “I don’t know why the change of plans, only that Reaper was freaking the hell out on them.”
“I’ll call Viper. I don’t want Gavin forced to do anything he doesn’t want to do.” Ginny began reaching into her pocket for her cell phone.
“Don’t be stupid. Nothing is going to happen with Reaper in Treepoint and you in Nashville. Reaper will ignore any attempt you make to contact him, and he sure as fuck won’t be calling you. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Don’t think I didn’t get some dirt under my nails when I wanted Train. Reaper is a mean fucker, and if you’re his soul mate like you think, you better be prepared to use every motherfucking advantage you’re given. I didn’t spill my guts to you about Reaper for you not to use it to your advantage. Look at it this way, you’re not forcing Reaper to do a damn thing; Viper is. See? Problem solved. You can keep a clean conscience and have Reaper with you in Nashville. Enjoy the plane ride.”
Ginny jumped back from the car as Killyama jerked the door closed. Jesus, and they call Crazy Bitch crazy. She and Killyama should switch names, Ginny thought to herself aloud, getting in her own car. There was no way she could go inside the church now with her stomach churning from the information Killyama had given her.
Merging into slow traffic on the main road, Ginny drove to a quiet spot where there wouldn’t be many around—the lookout, where Willa had almost fallen to her death trying to save Sissy. Parking in an empty space, she got out of the car, walked to the edge of the cliff, and looked out over the town. Seeing that she was alone, Ginny released the torrent of emotions that she had kept bottled-up in front of Killyama. Low sobs turned into louder, harder ones that had her falling to her knees and clutching her belly.
How had God allowed one of his precious souls to be treated that way?
When Trudy told her that Gavin had been found while she was living in Queen City, she’d told her that he’d been in bad shape. Trudy had given her a few details but hadn’t gone into the graphic ones that Killyama hadn’t held back. Imagining the pain Gavin had been forced to endure had her wanting to drive back to The Last Riders’ clubhouse just to assure herself that he was still there.
Minutes turned into an hour, as her anguished sobs transformed to painful hiccups. The mental and physical abuse he suffered was more than horrendous; it had been pure evil. Ginny was no stranger to true evil; however, what Gavin survived had taken a mental, emotional, and physical toll on him. Locking him in a basement, unless being used for someone’s amusement, would have driven any normal man insane. The isolation of being separated from The Last Riders would have made it much worse. Ginny had worked with them, she saw how close they were, so being left to himself must have been a torture in itself. Ginny knew how lonely she was when she’d been separated from the Colemans.
The feelings that must have gone through Gavin’s head during the years he was held captive had her snatching up a rock and throwing it as far as she could.