Chapter 12 #2
Without looking up, Zen answers, “I found it. It’s over in Redwood County, on Route 60.
It had the same VIN and license plate numbers.
” He turns on the big screen and uses it as a monitor so we can see what’s going on.
“I got a security cam sighting on that lift van a couple of blocks from Redwood Medical Center,” he announces.
I take a step forward, worried that something happened to Lila that made my stepfather take her to an emergency room.
I want to ask, but I don’t want to distract them.
So, I stand here with my arms wrapped around my waist and wait for Zen to hack into the hospital’s security feed.
It takes him multiple attempts before he gets in.
When the van pulls into the hospital parking lot, Tank whistles. “That’s got to be him.”
“It could be him,” Smoke counters gently. “We won’t know until we can get a closer look at their faces.”
We watch the van move past the emergency entrance. Zen looks confused and toggles a camera feed. It stops at a part of the hospital with a sign that says oncology. “Why is he going to the cancer center?” Siege muses out loud.
The minute the door opens and a man steps out, Zen thumps his fist on the table. “Because this isn’t him, dammit!”
I feel my stomach drop because Zen is right. The driver is younger and wearing jeans. He’s definitely not my stepfather. We watch as he helps out an elderly man and wheels him towards the cancer center. I can’t help but tear up. This was our only lead, and it wasn’t even him.
After a brief pause, the brothers begin to regroup. Patch walks over, gives me a hug, and whispers in my ear, “We’re not done,” he says into my hair. “Don’t worry, we’ll find Lila.”
I nod into his chest, and when we pull apart, he turns back to the task at hand.
Watching them start all over from scratch is dispiriting.
I need a minute to myself, so I go to the restroom and sit on the toilet with the lid down.
I run my fingers through my hair, turning the situation over in my mind.
My phone vibrates against my thigh. When I pull out my phone, it’s a text from an unknown number. I don’t want to look, but I do anyway.
Last chance. Either you come back, or your sister goes in your place. Do not test me on this, Elizabeth.
I freeze, staring at the message as I unpick what my stepfather is telling me.
He’s saying he’ll traffic her instead of me.
But how does he know that I figured out his plan for me?
He can’t know that I listened to his conversation the night everything changed.
I made sure he couldn’t hear by being quiet as a mouse.
I tiptoed to his office door and listened to him offer me to his associate to settle a business debt.
He’s never hinted at it in all the unhinged text messages until now.
Somehow, he’s figured out I know and is weaponizing it against me.
The room spins and I feel lightheaded. If I hadn’t been sitting down, I would have fallen to my knees.
I choke back tears as I think about my frail sister being trafficked instead of me.
I won’t let that happen. Not ever. I feel tears break free and go tracking down my face, but my sister is in danger, and that means now is not the time for crying.
Knowing I have to be brave for her sake, I wipe them away roughly with the back of my hand.
With shaking hands, I text him.
I’ll come. I want proof she’s with you, though.
It takes him only a few seconds to respond.
Leave now. Head west. I’ll send the address once you hit the county line. No cops, or bikers from the Legion. If you show up with anyone or tell anyone about our meetup, you’ll never see your sister again.
I text again.
I want to see Lila, or no deal.
There is another ping. It’s a blurry, low-light photo of my sister’s face. Her eyes are glassy, and she doesn’t look well. She has her inhaler clutched in one hand. His hand is grasping her hair, likely to pull her head back to capture the image.
I can’t let this happen. I have to save my sister.
Part of me wants to tell Patch, I know he and his club brothers are doing everything they can to get my sister back, but I know my stepfather.
I know what he’s capable of. I can’t risk that he’ll follow through on his threats.
I need to do this alone. Once I know she’s safe, I’ll find a way to contact Patch and the Savage Legion.
Bolting into action, I slip out the door and into the bar area.
The second I step out of the room, Roxy pops right up in front of me. “Well, aren’t you hogging the attention of every brother in the clubhouse today?”
She catches me by surprise. I push her away from the door and hiss, “Keep your voice down.”
Instantly suspicious, her eyes narrow on me. She whispers, “What the hell is going on in there?”
I lie my ass off. “I don’t know. No one will tell me anything, and I’m done with this place.”
She motions towards the door with one hand, trying to hold back the smug expression that wants to jump onto her face. “You know where the door is. Don’t let it hit you in the ass on the way out.”
“I can’t leave. I wish I could, but I came on Patch’s bike and have no ride back to his place to get my car.”
“You serious about breaking it off with Patch?” she asks.
I nod, trying to look earnest. “Yeah, it’s like you said. I don’t understand how the brothers think, and I’m tired of trying to figure it out.”
“Seeing the outside is good enough.” She makes a snap decision and says, “I’ll give you a ride, just to get rid of you.”
We head out the back door, so we don’t have to walk through the bar area and risk getting asked questions about where we’re going. I know that lying to Roxy is wrong, but I don’t feel guilty because she’s lied to me about more important things than catching a ride.