Chapter Sixteen
Ender
Wrecker stood at the head of the table, hands planted flat and shoulders squared. He didn’t pace. Didn’t fidget. When Wrecker was still like that, it meant whatever he was about to say wasn’t good.
Pipe sat to his right, jaw tight, his phone face down on the table like it had personally offended him.
“We haven’t heard from Yogi,” Wrecker said.
That was it. No buildup. No softening the blow.
A low murmur rippled through the room.
“Not a damn thing?” Slayer asked.
Pipe shook his head slowly. “I’ve called him six times since we got Clove back. Texted. Left voicemails. Wrecker’s done the same. He answered right away before. Now? Nothing.”
“So the coward is icing us out,” Kingston muttered.
Brinks snorted. “He realized he’s about to have a very bad week.”
“Life,” I growled.
A few sharp chuckles cut through the tension, but nobody was really amused.
“The Prez of the Northbound Reapers just ghosts us?” Thorn said. “That’s his play?”
“Guess the Reapers aren’t too brave when the blade’s pointed back at them,” Pipe said.
“Northbound Reapers,” Slayer scoffed. “Sounds like a weather pattern, not a motorcycle club.”
That got a laugh.
I leaned forward with my forearms braced on the table. “What about the camper?”
The humor evaporated.
Mason straightened. “Thorn and I went back up there early this morning. Searched the area around the pipeline site. Found a clearing where something had been parked.”
“Had been,” I repeated.
“Yeah,” he said. “Ground was churned up, tire marks, and boards tossed into the brush. Someone didn’t want to leave anything behind.”
“So it’s gone,” I said.
“Gone,” Thorn confirmed. “Could’ve been hauled. Could’ve been driven out. Hard to say, but it wasn’t there anymore.”
My jaw clenched so hard it ached.
“That’s where they were keeping her,” I said. Not a question.
“We think so,” Mason replied. “Fits the terrain. Remote. Quiet. Close enough to the pipeline that no one would question traffic, and right by where you found Clove.”
Fits perfectly.
“What are we doing?” I asked, the words sharper than I meant them to be. “Because I’m not real big on sitting around while these assholes scatter.”
A few heads turned my way.
“These guys hurt Star,” I continued. “They grabbed Clove. They beat the hell out of both of them. We took care of one, but there are still three breathing. And now their Prez knows what his guys did and suddenly he’s gone quiet?
” I shook my head. “That doesn’t happen unless he’s either scared or complicit. ”
“Or both,” Brinks muttered.
Basil leaned forward with his elbows on the table. “Then we take the fight to them. Road trip to Northbound territory. See how brave they are face-to-face.”
Wrecker held up a hand. “That may happen, but not blind.” He straightened, and his eyes scanned the room. “We’d be riding into another club’s turf. We don’t know their numbers, their alliances, or how strong they are.” Then he pointed. “Brinks. Thorn. Nickel.”
They all looked up.
“You three head to St. Paul. Scope it out. I want to know where they drink, where they sleep, how many bikes they’ve got, and whether they’re still flying colors.”
Nickel nodded. “We’ll get eyes on everything.”
Kingston leaned back and crossed his arms. “For all we know, they’re a half-dead crew. Might’ve packed up once they realized their guys crossed the wrong club.”
“Even if they did,” I said quietly, “we’ll still find them.”
The room went still.
“They don’t get to grab women from our world and disappear,” I continued. “They don’t get to hurt Clove and Star and just vanish.” I lifted my gaze. “They’re going to pay.”
Brinks barked out a laugh. “Easy there, Joker. You don’t need to lose your mind on us.”
Jude grinned. “Think that’s the first time I’ve heard him sound unhinged enough to earn a road name.”
I shrugged.
Wrecker studied me for a long moment. Then the corner of his mouth twitched. “Joker, huh?” He nodded once. “About time one of you earned a road name.”
“Shit,” Slayer said. “Should’ve happened years ago.”
“Guy’s been coiled tight since he learned to ride,” Pipe added.
“Now it’s just official,” Kingston said.
Wrecker knocked his knuckles on the table. “Enough. Back to business.”
He ran through the rules again. No woman alone. Ever. We wait for intel before making a move on the Northbound Reapers.
Everyone agreed.
I didn’t.
Every hour we waited was another hour those guys had to bury evidence, skip town, or hurt someone else.
Church broke, chairs scraping as the guys stood and filtered out.
I headed straight for the common room.
My eyes found Clove immediately.
She was in the kitchen with Carnie, leaning against the counter, laughing softly. Her shoulders were relaxed. Her posture was loose, like she wasn’t constantly bracing for impact anymore.
She saw me and smiled. Just like that.
She grabbed a plate and walked toward me, holding it out. “Want one? Gingersnaps. Still warm.”
“Always,” I said, taking one.
Our fingers brushed.
She didn’t pull away.
“How’d the meeting go?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Same shit. Different day. We’re getting closer.”
She nodded, like she believed that without question.
We stayed in the common room after that. Talking. Not talking. Just existing in the same space. She sat on the couch with Nikki and Alice, listening more than speaking. I hovered nearby, pretending to be engaged in conversation while tracking her every move.
She was safe, and I wasn’t letting that change again.