Chapter 27
BLADE
Carrie reaches for the door handle, her knuckles white, and Jace tenses up in the seat beside me. He grabs her arm. “Wait. We need to make sure you’re safe in there. You know how things can turn.”
Carrie looks back, her eyes clear and stubborn. “I have to do this.”
“And I can’t go let you go just like that,” I say equally stubborn.
“You have any bright ideas?” Levi asks sarcastically.
“Actually…” I say, digging through the glove box, tossing aside old napkins and empty wrappers, until my fingers close around something solid.
I pull out a small, beat-up burner phone.
I hand it over. “Here. It still works. I’ll call your number.
Keep it in your pocket and keep the line open.
If anything’s off, you don’t even have to talk. We’ll hear it.”
Carrie nods, takes the phone, and zips it into her jacket. Her hands are shaking, but her chin is high. She opens the door and steps out, shoulders squared against the cold.
From where I’m sitting, the Reaper clubhouse looks the same as ever—big, low, brick, with the chain-link fence and the heavy, padlocked gate.
Bikes are lined up like guard dogs along the porch but there are fewer than I expected.
Where is everyone? There’s a battered sign painted with the Reaper skull, old colors faded but still mean.
Carrie walks up the drive, slow but steady, her boots crunching on the gravel. I keep the phone pressed tight to my ear, listening for her footsteps, for the sound of voices, anything.
Jace is jittery, staring holes through the windshield. “She shouldn’t have to do this.”
Levi’s got his eyes on the building, one hand flexing on his knee. None of us breathe right until Carrie knocks at the door. She stands there, head high, but I can see the nerves in her posture. If she’s scared, she hides it better than any of us would.
The line is quiet at first, just the squeak of Carrie’s boots on old floorboards. I picture her walking in, chin up, heart racing. Whale’s voice comes through the phone, rough as ever.
“Carrie?” There’s surprise, then wariness. “Haven’t seen you in months. What brings you back here?”
I can hear her hesitate. “I need to talk, Whale. Alone.”
He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Alone?”
Carrie tries to sound brave. “Things changed. Jinn’s gone. I’m not with him anymore.”
Silence, then a slow, suspicious exhale from Whale. “You show up out of nowhere. You got any idea what’s happened since you left?”
She keeps her voice low. “I heard some things. That’s why I’m here. I need help. For me…and for Nico, Jace, and Levi.”
Whale grunts. “Why should I believe you?” I hear him moving closer. “What’s in your pocket there?”
Carrie answers, “It’s just a phone.”
He cuts her off, his voice sharp now. “You recording me, Carrie? You better not be.”
Carrie tries to explain, but Whale isn’t listening anymore. “Who the hell are you working for? You think you can just walk in here and set us up?”
There’s a scuffle, the phone jolts, and I hear Carrie’s breath catch.
That’s it. I’m out of the car. Jace and Levi are right behind me. We run across the yard, the clubhouse looming ahead.
Whale swings open the door, dragging Carrie toward the steps. She looks shaken, hair falling into her face, but she’s still glaring at him, refusing to back down.
I’m there in two steps, grabbing her arm and pulling her behind me. Whale’s eyes go wide as he sees the three of us.
Jace moves in, voice flat. “Let her go, Whale. We don’t want any trouble. We’ll be out of your hair if you keep this quiet.”
Levi stands next to me, expression hard. “Just don’t call the police. That’s all we’re asking.”
Whale squints at us, taking his time. “Why would I call anyone? You think I care that much what happens to you?” He spits on the step, then leans closer, voice low.
“You got balls, coming here after all that shit with Jinn.” He squints at us, then at Carrie.
“When did you even get out of prison, anyway?”
We exchange quick glances. Nobody says a word right away.
Whale shakes his head. “Actually, don’t even tell me. Oh, for fuck’s sake.” He looks over his shoulder, checking the lot, then waves us in. “Come inside. Last thing we need is more trouble out here.”
He moves aside, finally letting us pass. The clubhouse is dim, empty but for a flicker of TV light and the smell of coffee burned into the walls. The air is stale, the place quieter than I remember.
Jace looks around, then glances at Whale. “Where’s everyone else? Feels empty.”
Whale shrugs. “Most of the guys don’t want to be seen at the club right now. I’m the only one holding down the fort these days. Some of them come in to sleep or grab a shower, but that’s about it. Most people are lying low.”
Carrie looks out the window at the row of bikes. “What about the motorcycles? There’s at least six out front.”
Whale gives a short laugh. “Mostly for show. The ATF keeps sniffing around. They get jumpy if they think there’s a bunch of rowdy bikers inside.” He smirks at his own words, then shakes his head. “Half those bikes haven’t moved in weeks.”
I glance at Levi and Jace. The place doesn’t feel much like home anymore, but it’s all we have.
Whale walks over to the kitchen, pours himself a mug of coffee, and nods at us. “Make yourselves scarce. If anyone else shows, you didn’t see me, and I didn’t see you.”
Carrie follows Whale into the kitchen, her steps cautious. She doesn’t sit, just stands by the counter while Whale pours another mug of coffee. She lowers her voice. “Wait. The ATF are still hanging around?”
Whale snorts, blowing on his coffee. “Yeah, some government asshole keeps sniffing around the last few months. I don’t even remember his name.”
“Rodriguez?” Carrie asks, watching him close.
Whale narrows his eyes. “Yeah, that’s the one. How’d you know?”
Carrie glances at us, her hand tightening around the back of a chair. “He’s trouble. He’s the reason we had to run.”
Whale gives her a long, unreadable look. “You bring that heat here, girl?”
I shake my head, tossing my bag on a dusty table. “Not if we can help it. We’ll be gone before sundown.”
Jace nudges Levi, jerking his chin toward the window. “Let’s get rid of that car before someone sees it.” They grab their jackets and slip outside.
Whale steps to the window, his big arms crossed, watching them as they cross the yard to the battered sedan. He raises an eyebrow at me. “What the hell have you all been up to?”
I snort and lean back against the fridge. “Just the usual. Road trips, sightseeing, picking up strays.” My voice is dry as dust.
Whale grunts, but I see the curiosity in his eyes. He can’t help himself. “Cut the crap, Nico. The girl shows up out of nowhere, you three look like you crawled out of a ditch. I refuse to believe that you just walked out of prison like that.”
“We didn’t,” I say, my voice low, not looking away from Whale.
Carrie shoots me a look, tries to catch my sleeve, but I ignore her. I’m tired of running. Tired of pretending.
“We broke out,” I admit. “Walked out the hard way.”
Whale’s eyes widen. He sets his mug down hard, coffee sloshing over the edge. For a second, I see something like pride in his face, but it’s gone in a blink. He curses quietly, fishing his phone from his pocket. His fingers move fast, dialing a number I don’t recognize.
“Jesus,” he mutters, pressing the phone to his ear. “You idiots—”
I grit my teeth, a sick feeling twisting in my gut. “Whale, don’t.”
Carrie clings to my arm, her grip strong but trembling. “Please. Don’t call anyone. We just need time. That’s all.”
Whale turns away, voice flat as he speaks into the phone. “Yeah. It’s me. I need you here. Now.” He hangs up without another word.
I step forward, letting some anger show. “Is that all these years meant to you? You see a chance to turn us in and you take it?”
Whale doesn’t answer, his back still turned. I can’t tell what he’s thinking. The silence fills the room, broken only by the static buzz of the TV and Carrie’s uneasy breathing.
I know what needs to happen. I look at Carrie, then toward the door. She’s watching me, face pale, eyes wide with worry. She whispers, “What are we going to do? How will we warn Levi and Jace?”
Even now, with everything crumbling, she’s thinking about them.
A heavy knock rattles the front door, sending a jolt through both of us. Whale heads that way, not looking back. I watch him, mind racing. He’s going to sell us out if we stay a second longer.
I lean in close to Carrie, keeping my voice just above a whisper. “Stay behind me. As soon as he’s distracted, we go for the side exit.”
Her hand tightens in mine. I can see the fight in her, and something like trust.
I take one last look out the window. Jace and Levi are still by the tree line, out of sight. I have to get a warning to them. My pulse is racing, heart pounding with every second that ticks by.
We don’t have time. I know Whale. He’ll do what he thinks is best for the club, no matter who he has to burn.
Whale unlocks the door and swings it open.
For a split second, I expect to see badges or blue lights flashing outside.
Instead, it’s two old club members—Smoke and Richie—standing on the porch, bundled up in leather, looking uneasy. And between them, half-hidden, is a girl with tangled hair and a swollen eye. She steps forward, flinching at the sudden light.
Carrie’s breath hitches. “Marcy?”
Her sister looks up, her face pale and streaked with tears. She’s wearing jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, but it does nothing to hide the bruises on her cheek or the way she’s holding her ribs. She barely manages a whisper. “Carrie?”
Carrie pulls away from me and crosses the room in three strides. She throws her arms around Marcy, careful not to hurt her. Marcy clings to her, shoulders shaking, sobbing into her neck.
Smoke gives me a wary nod. Ritchie just shakes his head like he’s done with everything. Whale’s face is tight, but he steps aside to let them in.
Carrie holds Marcy close, whispering to her, smoothing her hair. She cups Marcy’s face, searching her eyes, barely able to believe she’s real. “Marcy, what are you doing here?”
Before Marcy can answer, Richie steps in. He leans against the door, his voice low. “Found her at the bus station yesterday. She looked half-dead. Wouldn’t tell us anything except she needed her sister. We figured this was the safest place left.”
Carrie brushes Marcy’s hair back, voice trembling. “Who did this to you?”
I hear the bitterness in my own voice as I step closer. “Who was it, Marcy?”
Marcy’s eyes flick to me, then back to her sister. There’s no hesitation. “Who do you think?” she says. Her voice is rough, defeated, but there’s anger there too.
Jinn.
Carrie hugs her tight, and I can see the way Marcy’s shoulders finally drop, as if she’s been holding herself together for too long. Carrie sits on the couch, gently rocking Marcy, who leans into her, silent and shaking.
The front door opens again and Jace and Levi step in. Their eyes land first on Smoke and Richie standing by the wall.
Jace nods at them. “Didn’t expect to see you two.”
Smoke shrugs, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. “Didn’t expect to see you either, brother.”
Levi glances at Whale, who just grunts. “Relax. I called them here.”
Jace and Levi exchange a quick look, then their gazes shift to the couch. Their faces change when they see Marcy curled up with Carrie. Jace’s eyes narrow, and Levi’s jaw sets hard.
Jace takes a step closer, voice cool. “What’s she doing here, Carrie?”
“She’s not to be trusted,” Levi says. “She literally ran with Jinn, betrayed you.”
Before Carrie can answer, Whale cuts in. “You’re not the only ones with trust issues. Last time I checked, both of you were supposed to be locked up. Nobody here’s innocent.”
Smoke leans against the wall, watching everyone with a wary eye. Richie keeps close, arms folded.
I try to ease the tension, putting myself between the couch and the rest of the room. “Let’s just hear her out, alright? We’re all in the same mess now.”
Jace looks unconvinced. “She needs to talk. We need to know what’s really going on.”
Carrie sighs. “Now’s not the time.”
“We barely have any left,” Levi says. “The cops could be here any minute.”
Jace stops, glaring down at Marcy, his voice harsh. “Enough. Where is he, Marcy? Where’s Jinn?”
She just clings to Carrie, flinching away from him, silent. Levi’s had enough too. He leans in, voice sharp. “You’re not saying a word. Maybe you need to talk to the cops. Let them squeeze it out of you.”
I watch the way his hands clench and unclench, the wild look in his eyes. He’s on the edge. I move closer, just in case.
Carrie holds Marcy tighter, raising her voice. “Stop it. She’s not ready for this. She can barely sit up.”
Marcy shakes her head, pulling herself free from Carrie’s arms. Her voice is rough but clear.
“No, I’ll talk. You want the truth? Jinn planned that ambush for weeks.
The frame job was always his idea. At first, it was just about getting Jace out of the way.
Then he realized Wrecker and Blade were just as much of a threat. And he wasn’t working alone.”
Levi frowns, his voice rough. “What do you mean he wasn’t working alone? Was it someone in the club?”
Marcy looks up, voice flat and tired. “No. Not the club.”
Jace’s anger is like a live wire. “Then who? Who the hell is helping him?”
Marcy takes a shaky breath, staring right at him. “Jinn is working with the ATF.”