Ryker

Chapter Forty

By the time Vivian, Maggie, Jeremy, Nolan and I pull into the reserved parking space in front of the club, a line is already forming down the block.

I’ve heard that many people coming tonight are VIPs: A-list celebrities and social media influencers. Even a few media stations are sending their reporters to talk about tonight. I’ve always hated crowds, and tonight, I feel it will be worse than usual.

As we step out of the car and begin heading towards the front of the line, the paparazzi bombard us; the flashing lights are blinding. I grip Maggie’s arm tighter as we squeeze past the crowd.

“Bianca! Where have you been these past ten years?” “Are you still engaged to Manzo?”

“Are you dating Ryker?”

They become inaudible as they flood me with questions, yelling over one another, and making the situation worse. It doesn’t matter; I don’t plan on answering any of their questions. Even if I wanted to, I can’t.

Once inside, Jeremy leads us up the stairs towards a private VIP section. I notice another roped-off section near the dance floor. Curious, I begin walking in that direction when the first group of people are let in. The music instantly comes to life, startling me. As I turn, I catch sight of the bartender working on the first floor.

I narrow my eyes, clench my fist, and grind my teeth until they’re dull when my eyes lock on to none other than Peyton .

I storm over to her, walking behind the bar with no care in the world. I grab her upper arm and yank her into the employee break room.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask, barely containing my anger.

“Working.” She crosses her arms over her chest.

“Are you stalking me? You have no reason to. I’ve done nothing.” “I’m not here for you.” She lowers her voice to a whisper as she

leans in close.

“Then why are you here?”

She bites her lower lip before answering, “I need the money.” “You expect me to believe that?” I laugh, no humor hiding

within.

“It’s the truth! My grandmother is in a nursing home, and I can’t afford the payments.”

I narrow my eyes skeptically but relent when I see the honesty behind her words reflected in her eyes. “Don’t get caught.” I hiss through my teeth, trying my best to warn her away. “If he finds out you’re a cop…”

“I know.” She whispers back. “I’m being careful.”

I huff out a breath and stand to my full height. I give her one more once over before I leave her and follow the rest of the crew up to the second floor.

Once I round the corner, I find Ryker, Lincoln, Jeremy, and Hawkins huddled in the corner, whispering to each other. Somebody’s tight grip on my arm startles me when I start in their direction.

I swing around, ready to punch whoever it is, but instantly relax when I see Conner .

“You scared me.” I chuckle half-heartedly.

“Sorry,” He chuckles back, letting go of my arm. “I was told not to let anyone disturb them.”

I nod, looking over my shoulder at the men. “Is everything okay?”

Conner nods, shoving his hands into his pockets, “Nothing you should concern yourself with, just some business.”

I narrow my eyes, opening my mouth to argue, but Maggie’s voice cuts me off.

“Bianca!” Maggie squeals, bumping into me. “Isn’t this so cool! I’ve never been in a place like this. The lights, the music, the dancing!” She sighs, a dreamy look in her eyes.

I can’t help but smile. Most of Maggie's life has been held in captivity. Since she was taken at sixteen, she hasn’t had a chance to experience the real world. With the threat of Manzo hanging over our heads, the past three months have been spent watching movies, playing board games, and walking in the garden when it was warm enough. Now, she has a real opportunity to live.

“Let's dance!” Vivian says, running over to Maggie, grabbing her hand, and dragging us both down the stairs towards the dance floor,

Maggie’s tight hold on my hand is almost painful as we push through the crowd. Vivian leads us to the bar, flagging Peyton down to order us drinks.

I do my best to avoid looking at Peyton. I hate lying to Ryker and Lincoln about who she really is, but if I tell them, I know what her fate will be. They would kill her or send her to one of their whore houses for spying. If she’s lucky, she would become a mole for them, possibly earning prison time if and when she gets caught. She is diving deep into this life, so the latter might be the only option .

“Six shots of tequila with lime.” Vivian beams at Peyton.

Vivian counts down from three, and on one, we all take our first shot. Within less than a minute, all three of us have two shots. Maggie practically spits the alcohol back up before shaking her arms out.

“Whoo!” She winces, placing the glass back onto the bar. “I don’t know how you do it.” Vivian laughs.

“Practice.” I laugh. “Maybe you guys should get a chaser?”

“We aren’t wimps.” Maggie rolls her eyes, a soft smile on her lips.

I don’t think in all the years I’ve known her she has ever been this happy. It’s a nice sight to see. Normally her eyes are stricken with fear, always laced with tears. We’ve spent hours trying to heal together, talking about what happened to us, and I know that if Manzo ever gets his hands on her again, she won’t last an hour.

Without thinking, I take the second shot, watching the women finish theirs before we are dragged onto the dance floor.

Everyone around us jumps to the beat of the music, bumping into one another, not caring that they are spilling their drinks on each other. The lack of care almost floors me. Everyone looks free and happy and is utterly void of any life problems. That's how I want to feel. For one night, this is all I need.

Maggie and Vivian grab each of my hands, pulling me further into the crowd. I can’t help the high-pitched squeal that comes out of me when someone’s drink spills on the back of my dress. I laugh, stumbling on my feet.

“DANCE!” Maggie yells over the music, swaying her hips and her hands running up her body. Unsure of what to do, I copy her, getting lost in the hypnotic atmosphere .

Couples grinding against each other and groups of women laughing and dancing together make this whole night seem surreal. Who would’ve thought that Bianca Marcello would find peace in the middle of a dance floor?

“I need water!” I call out to the girls after at least four songs have played. They both nod, leaning in so we can hear each other better.

“Grab us some! We are going to the bathroom!”

I nod, turning. The sticky floor suctions my feet, nearly making me face plant. Once I’ve steadied myself, I search the bar for an empty seat. Finding one, I practically run for it before someone else takes it. There have to be over two hundred people here. I’m surprised Ryker let this many people come. Business is business, I guess.

I wait my turn, watching man after man strike out with Peyton before they move on to a few drunk college girls standing on the other side of the bar.

Someone places a hand on the small of my back, and I jerk away, narrowing my eyes on the man sitting beside me. “What do you think you are doing?”

He chuckles, “Your back is wet.” He runs a finger up my spine, and goosebumps rise on my skin, the urge to throw up or punch him increases rapidly. “I can’t help but picture what my come would look like splattered all over that perfect body.”

I grab the knife Ryker gave me for my birthday, pressing it into the man's throat. “I’m definitely not the bigger person; I suggest you leave me the fuck alone.”

“What’s going on here? ”

I turn my head, noticing the two forms standing inches away from us. Lincoln and Ryker look menacing as they take in the scene. I pull my knife away from the stranger's throat, the blade nicking him slightly. He instantly stands, blood forming at the cut, and slaps a few bills on the counter.

“You’re all fucking crazy,” He mutters under his breath.

When he tries to step past Ryker and Lincoln, Lincoln sidesteps him, blocking his path. “I think he asked you a question.” Lincoln’s slow smile sends a chill down my spine.

I have yet to see Lincoln work. I’ve heard the stories from Jeremy, but seeing the gleam in his eyes chills me to the bone.

“She had something on her back. I tried to help her, and she freaked.”

Ryker raises an eyebrow, looking at me as I place the knife back in the strap around my thigh. I shake my head, telling him the man is lying. Ryker grabs the man's upper arm, whispering something in his ear. His face pales as he tries to escape Ryker’s grasp, only to stumble into Lincoln.

“Where is Vivian?” Lincoln asks, looking over the dance floor. “Bathroom.”

“Stay with her. We have business to attend to.”

I look between my two men and the creep, debating on whether to step in or let Lincoln and Ryker have their fun. This man is obviously a perv, but does he deserve to die?

Before I can answer my own question, screams echo throughout the club. Both Lincoln and Ryker turn their attention away from the man. He takes his opportunity and runs away as fast as he can .

Another scream fills the club, and the fire alarm blares seconds later. The DJ stops the music, and everyone looks around, confused. Within a matter of seconds, the entire building starts to fill with smoke.

Everyone is rushing towards the exit, but my mind is on Vivian and Maggie. I can’t believe I left them alone. What the hell was I thinking?

I try to shove my way through the crowd, but it’s nearly impossible. I get about halfway onto the dance floor before the whole building begins to vibrate. I look up, following the swinging lights with my eyes. I slowly turn around, feeling like someone is watching me.

I search the crowd as I get tossed around like a beach ball. Not finding anyone lurking in the shadows, I turn, calling out for Vivian and Maggie. I tense when I make it to the hallway with a line of people waiting for that bathroom only minutes ago. The trail of blood leading down the hallway makes my heart stop. I follow the trail to the bathroom’s door, and when I hear faint crying coming from inside, the burning in my eyes intensifies.

I can’t do this. Not again. Please, please, please don’t let it be one of my girls.

I push open the door, finding Vivian holding Maggie's head in her lap and stroking her hair. I gasp, run over to them, and fall to my knees. “What happened?” I ask, rushed and panicked.

“I-I don’t know. She said she wasn’t feeling good. I left to try to find you, but I couldn’t, so I came back, and I found her like this.” Tears stream down her face. “I was gone for two minutes! This is all my fault. If I was here…”

“If you were here, you both would be dead right now.” I try to reason with her, but I know that if I begin to think about what is happening, I will break into a million pieces. That's why he’s done this in the first place. He wants to take the life I have built for myself and tear it apart, brick by brick.

I scan Maggie's body, trying to locate where all the blood is coming from. It isn’t until Vivian lifts her hand to stroke Maggie's head that I see her hands are covered in blood. I grip her wrist lightly, stopping her as I turn Maggie's head.

Her skull has been cracked open. Blood pours out of the back of her head, and when I stroke her hair and feel something soft, I nearly gag. Whoever did this beat her so severely that her brain slowly started to seep out of the wound.

I look around the room, trying to figure out what they used. I know it had to be something hard and possibly metal. Not seeing anything, I remember the blood trail that led me here. Whoever did this, took it with them. They were so soaked in blood that they were dripping with it as they made a quick escape.

Anger sparks within me. Anger because Maggie's life was cut short after a life of hell. Anger that all these men have put my life, Vivian’s life, and countless civilians in danger. And all for what?

I stand, extending my hand. “We need to go.”

“We can’t leave her!” Vivian cries, her voice getting lodged in her throat. She squeezes her eyes shut, softly stroking Maggie's head. “She was alive when I found her.” She looks up at me, her makeup that we spent hours on running against her tan skin. “She told me who did it.”

“Vivian!” I yell, trying to snap her out of her panic. “This place is filled with smoke, and soon we will be surrounded by flames. Either we leave now, or we die too. Once we get outside, we can talk, but we don’t have time for this right now. ”

She gets to her feet, gently laying Maggie's head against the tile. “I’m sorry.” She whispers, wiping the tear away and smearing blood on her cheek. “I’ll get justice for you. I promise.”

I open the bathroom door, peering into the hallway. People rush past us, panic-stricken. “We need to go. Now.” I repeat, looking over my shoulder at Maggie one last time. Her beaten face is almost unrecognizable. I can’t remember her this way. I won’t. All I will allow myself to see is the carefree girl who was dancing and twirling on the dance floor less than an hour ago.

Vivian sniffles and limps over to me. Just as we step into the hallway leading back towards the dance floor, a large bang gives me pause. A few seconds pass where I hear nothing, but a shock wave shoots me backward, making me hit my head on the wall as I fall to the ground.

The ringing in my ears intensifies as I sit up, my blurred vision doing nothing to help me. “Vivian.” I croak out, blinking rapidly as I try to look around me. All I see is rubble and dust through my spinning haze. I squint, fanning the air around me, trying to see through the thick air. As I try to stand, I cry out, the pain in my leg searing. “Vivian!” I yell louder this time, searching the rubble at my feet for any sign of her.

I know she was right behind me. I should have held onto her. I should have kept her close.

I shake off the thoughts as I brace myself against the wall and stumble over to a pile of bricks and ceiling tiles that fell when the blast hit. “Oh, God!” I scream when I see one of her heels buried beneath.

I manage to get a few of the tiles off her, but I can barely think any clear thoughts between the pain in my leg and the all- consuming dizziness. Panic is starting to eat at me. I know who did this. I know who is behind this. There is no doubt in my mind that Manzo set this up. What I don’t understand is why the blast wasn’t fatal. He could have easily taken out this entire club, all two hundred people here tonight. Instead, he let the club clear out, minimizing his body count.

I finally get the last piece of debris off of Vivian and fall to my knees, having to hold myself up with one hand while the other checks her pulse. It’s faint, but it’s there.

“Vivian, wake up. Please. Wake up.” I shake her lightly, tapping her cheek, trying everything to get her to come to. More screaming pulls me out of my panic. I look between Vivian and where I heard the screams, the indecisiveness bubbling. Snap out of it! Get out of here!

I can’t let myself get lost in the fact that Manzo is here to take me. He killed Maggie, he’s trying to kill Vivian, and every person in this club was in danger because of me .

I climb to my feet, grab Vivians's arm, and pull her so she’s sitting up. I groan as I shift her torso onto my shoulder, trying to stabilize myself against the extra weight on my injured leg. I manage to make it to the end of the hallway before I gasp for breath. I lean against the wall, tempted to put Vivian down.

At this point, I don’t know if it is smoke or dust, but whatever it is, it’s making the air thick, and toxic. The burning in my throat makes it feel like I’ve been smoking six packs of Marlboros a day.

I look out into the club, the lights flickering, illuminating the bodies of people who were trampled or were blown to pieces because of the bomb. As I begin walking towards the nearest emergency exit, I have to step over a severed arm and the body of a young girl who looks to be around my age.

I swallow as I force myself forward. Between the smoke that has built up, the dust and the pieces of debris scattered around the bodies, it’s hard to navigate. I start to step over the next body when the person grabs my foot. I cry out in shock, stumbling backward, nearly losing my balance.

“Help me,” the man croaks. When I look down, I see a college boy, no more than twenty, barely breathing.

“I’ll be back, okay? I’ll be back.” I step over him, finally entering a clearing.

I begin sprinting as fast as I can towards the exit, letting the adrenaline numb the pain in my legs and head. I burst through the doors, coughing, desperate for fresh air. I run over to the mob of people, searching for Ryker and Lincoln. The only person I can find is Conner. When he sees me, he practically runs for me.

“Thank God you’re okay. I tried to find you…” “Where’s Ryker and Lincoln?”

“They went inside, looking for you. I tried to stop them.” I gently set Vivian down in the grass and look back towards the open door.

Where is all this smoke coming from? There isn’t a fire?

“ I’m going back inside,” I say breathlessly, wiping the sweat from my brow.

“They will kill me if I let you do that.”

“They won’t. Vivian needs a doctor. Now.” When he doesn't move, I shout, “GO!”

Without looking back, I sprint back inside.

The smoke intensified tenfold in the few minutes I was outside. I cover my mouth in the crook of my elbow, trying to find the man I left behind .

I trip over something hard and nearly face-plant onto the dance floor. I brace myself up on my elbows, looking around for any sign of movement.

“Bianca!” Ryker’s voice calls out from somewhere in the crowd.

“Over here!” I call out, coughing out the words.

The silhouette of a man practically dives for me. I instinctively flinch away, but when I see it’s Ryker, I let out a breath of relief. He helps me to my feet, steadying me as I sway.

“Where’s Vivian?”

“With Conner. She’s hurt.” I grip his shirt, pressing my body into his so I stay upright. His hands tighten around my waist, and I feel him instantly stiffen. “Where’s Lincoln?”

He shakes his head. “I haven’t seen him. When the blast hit, we got separated.”

“We need to get out of here.” His voice lowers an octave, letting me know there is no room to argue, but I try anyway.

“But…”

“No buts, we need to go.” He flings me over his shoulder the same way I carried Vivian out.

“He will die!”

“We will, too, if we don’t get out of here.”

I groan in frustration as we make it outside. The second my feet hit the pavement a third bomb takes out the remaining windows, sending shards of glass flying my way. Ryker tackles me onto the sidewalk, protecting my head from hitting the ground as he covers my body from the blast .

When he looks down at me, I see the unspoken words. The worry and panic behind his eyes tether me to him like an anchor. I grip the collar of his shirt, pull him towards me, and kiss him with everything I have.

We explore each other, trying not to get lost in our world. When he pulls back, the pure love etched into his features nearly makes me want to crumble. That one look would break any woman.

I clear my throat, sitting up and forcing him on his knees. “We should get you home.”

I glance around the crowd, trying to find any sign of Vivian or Conner. “Have you talked with Conner yet?”

Ryker shakes his head, running his hands through his hair. “No, but I’m sure everything is okay. Let’s focus on getting you safe and away from anywhere Manzo might be hiding.”

I nod, taking his hand as he helps me stand.

Once we get to the car, it’s only a few minutes' drive back to his house. Between the fire trucks and police cars passing by us, it’s easy for us to slip between the cars that are pulling over, so we avoid the traffic.

When we are behind the gate, and have come to a stop, Ryker gets out and opens the door for me before helping me out of the car.

“I have to go back to the club. I need you to stay here and use the phone Vivian got you if you need anything.” He looks around, finding one of his men already posted at the door. “Morris will keep an eye on you, and I will be back as soon as possible.”

I nod slowly, biting my lower lip. I wouldn’t say I like the idea of being alone, not right now, but I can’t ask him to stay. Who knows what the police will find when they search the building for the cause of the explosion.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” With a soft kiss on my forehead, he rounds the car and slips inside. He waits until I’m safely inside before he peels out of the driveway.