Chapter 27
CASSIDY
The door to the clubhouse bursts open, and Dagger marches toward Savage with purpose. Though Savage jumps out of his chair to reprimand whoever opened the door, he sits down when he realizes it’s Dagger approaching.
“This is urgent.” He slaps an envelope on the table in front of Savage.
“Where did you get this?” Hunter asks.
“A prospect said it was out front, taped to a dead pig.”
“The fuck?” Malice spits out. “Did you get the pig’s number?”
My gaze bounces from one to the other.
“I’m guessing it’s the one who chased him into the Valley,” Dagger says, spinning his phone round to show him what I assume is the body of a dead police officer.
Hunter taps away on his laptop and nods. “That’d be the one.”
“Get rid of it,” Savage snaps. He rips open the envelope, and the seconds tick by like an eternity, and when he pulls a sheet of paper out, all the color drains from his face and his hand shakes. The hairs on my body stand on end.
My body becomes rigid as Warrior storms around the table to snatch the sheet from Savage.
“Fuck.” Warrior exhales loudly, and anguish mars his features.
“What is it?” Killa asks.
“He has Stella.” Warrior takes the photo from Savage and spins it around to face us.
I read the single word written in black marker—Swap?
She’s cuffed to a familiar bed, one that makes my eyes close before I find the strength to view it again.
Her mouth and ankles are taped. The fear in her eyes haunts me as they plead with me to help her.
Did I look as petrified as her when he used to treat me the very same way?
A whimper leaves me, and I close my eyes, but her eyes linger, seeking out help. Begging for me to take the pain away.
This needs to end. Once and for all.
He’d kill Stella with a deranged smile on his face just to hurt me. He’s done it before; he’ll do it again.
Maybe he won’t hurt her as much if he has me to hurt instead?
I need to do something.
A ball of dread builds inside me. I know what I have to do, and doing it is going to crush Killa’s tender heart.
Exhaling, I turn toward Savage and lick my lips. “You once said if I ever needed a favor.”
His gaze slices to mine. “Yeah,” he rumbles.
“I need that favor right now.” I glance toward Killa’s strong hands, the hands I love with all my being, and a pain slices through my chest, knowing he’s unaware of what I’m about to do.