Chapter Twenty-Four
Riley
I can’t believe I’m sitting in a jail cell.
They didn’t even put me in the cage with the other women. Instead, they shoved me to the back, isolating me in a tiny, cold cell, the door slamming shut behind me with a finality that sent a chill down my spine.
Tank’s face as I was forced into the car flashes in my mind. I’ve never seen him so furious. But it was more than anger…it was a fire, a silent promise of death as he glared at Chuck.
Even I was scared.
A slow clap echoes through the hallway, dragging me out of my thoughts.
“Well, well, well. Looks like we’ve finally gotten some time to ourselves.”
Chuck’s voice slithers into the room like poison, making me jump.
I whip my head toward the bars, my stomach churning at the sight of him standing there, that smug, insufferable smirk plastered across his face.
“No need to be so jumpy, Riles. I just want to talk.”
My throat tightens, but I force out the only question that matters. “Where’s my son?” My voice is barely a whisper.
Chuck’s smirk widens. “ My son is at home with his new mommy.” His tone is light like he’s discussing the weather. Then his expression darkens, his next words slicing straight through me. “You’ll never see him again.”
I suck in a sharp breath, my body going rigid as he pulls a set of keys from his pocket and unlocks the door.
Panic claws at my chest. “You can’t come in here,” I say, my voice shaking as I instinctively press myself against the farthest wall, my hands bracing against the cold metal behind me.
Chuck steps inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click that feels deafening in the silence.
His grin turns cruel. “In case you’ve forgotten, I own the Palm Springs police department.” He chuckles, the sound dripping with arrogance. “I can do whatever the hell I want.”
And as he takes another step closer, the walls of my tiny prison feel like they’re closing in.
His voice drops lower, sending a chill down my spine. “And Riles? I plan to do a lot .”
I barely have time to process his words before his fist slams into my jaw. My head snaps to the side, pain exploding through my skull as I stumble, my legs giving out beneath me.
Before I can scramble away, his boot collides with my ribs. A sickening crack echoes through the tiny cell, but I can’t focus on it. I can’t focus on anything except forcing air into my lungs.
Another kick. Then another. My back. My side. My legs. My head.
I curl into myself, arms shielding my face as best I can, but it doesn’t matter. The blows keep coming, relentless and punishing.
“I think it’s time you learn a lesson in obedience,” Chuck sneers, his foot slamming into my stomach so hard I nearly throw up.
I try to fight back, to move, to do something. Anything. But there’s no chance, no opening, no mercy.
So, I close my eyes.
I force myself to picture my family. My baby boy, Asher. My love, Spike. All of my new friends.
Abby, Tank, Skip, Maverick, Knuckles, Crusher, Mike, Foster… and even Bones.
Although, if I’m being honest, he still scares me a little.
But right now?
I hope he’s the one who gets to Chuck first.
Eventually, the pain fades, even though the blows keep coming. My body feels weightless, floating upward, drifting further and further away.
I’ve finally died.
What a crappy way to go.
I was finally happy. I had someone who actually loved me, who wanted me. And now I’m being ripped away before we even had a chance to build the life we dreamed of.
I won’t get to see Asher grow up. Won’t hear his laugh, won’t hold him close when he’s scared, won’t get to wipe away his tears or cheer him on when he takes his first steps.
He’ll never know his mommy.
I can only hope and pray that Spike gets to him before Chuck poisons him. That my son grows up surrounded by love, with a real family, with good people.
Please, God, don’t let Asher turn into Chuck.
The faces of my family fade, swallowed by the darkness as I drift higher.
Everything is quiet now. Peaceful.
***Chuck***
“Take her to the old warehouse on the outskirts,” I say, rolling my shoulders as I shake out my fists. Damn, I haven’t had a workout like that in a while.
Three officers – my officers – exchange a quick glance before nodding. They know better than to question me.
“What about the cameras?” one of them asks, stepping forward. “We can’t have this getting out.”
I snort. “Already taken care of. Footage will be wiped before anyone can even think about looking for it.” I glance down at Riley’s limp form, my lip curling. “Now, get her the fuck out of here before anyone starts asking questions.”
One officer crouches, checking her pulse. “She’s still breathing.”
“For now,” I mutter.
She should be grateful, really. I could’ve ended her pathetic little life right here. But where’s the fun in that? No, I want her to suffer. I want her to know what it means to cross me. To take what’s mine.
One of the officers grabs her arms, the other her legs, and they haul her off the ground like a sack of garbage. Her head lolls to the side, blood trailing from a gash on her temple.
I watch them carry her out of the cell and toward the back exit, a slow smirk spreading across my face.
She thought she could escape me. That she could run off with that wannabe biker king and play house. Thought she could take away my son?
Fucking stupid .
I lost my son because of her.
How fucking dare she side with those bastard Shadows, knowing damn well how much I hate them? How hard I’ve fought to dismantle that fucking club.
By the time I’m done with her, she’ll wish she never betrayed me.
“Clean this mess up,” I tell the remaining officer. “Leave the cage unlocked when you’re done. They’ll think the last dumbass on shift forgot to lock it, and she escaped.”
“Got it, boss,” he nods.
I rub my hands together as I make my way to my cruiser. I hope the bitch is awake when I get there. I’ve got something new I want to try.