Page 50 of Ruthless Son

“Fuck. Fuck.”

I snatched my keys off the side table and sprinted toward my bike, shoving Easton out of my way. He was supposed to be on duty with her and instead he brought her back too soon. She wasn’t supposed to fucking see. I could have passed it off as an accident, a split condom, anything, instead she knew the truth of my deception.

Sly called out to me, and I turned toward him. “I have to go, Brother?—”

“Is it true?” He glared. “What they’re saying… that you poked holes in the fuckin’ rubbers?”

“I don’t have time for this, Sly, I need to find Mia?—”

“So it is true.” My best friend’s face fell. “I didn’t think you’d be such a bastard, man.”

The keys dug into the meaty flesh of my hand as I watched the disappointment fill his gaze, it wasn’t supposed to hurt this much. I just wanted… hell, I just wanted Mia. “Brother”

Ooof. Pain arced through my gut as his fist landed a blow that forced the wind out of me. I hunched over, wheezing. “Fuck, Sly.” I gasped, dragging air into my lungs and forcing the pain aside.

“You’re lucky it wasn’t your face, but I didn’t want to mess up that pretty mug…” he said grimly. “I’ll let Mia do that when you find her.” He stormed off, slamming the door behind him. I rubbed at the aching muscle, hating that I’d not only angered Mia but also my brother. We’d never been at odds before, and he was mad… so fucking mad at me.

I needed to make it right with princess, prove to her that I would be good to her. I’d fucked up, but I was a man who was used to action, not waiting around for things to happen. I don’t for a second regret putting a baby in my woman if it kept her here, but I could accept that the way I went about it was probably not the best route. Especially if that choice was the reason she got hurt.

Climbing on my bike, I turned the throttle, speeding in the direction that Mia took and hoping like hell I could make her change her mind, because that woman’s eyes had burned with the fire of a thousand suns, her promise to never forgive me ate away at my conscience. I couldn’t be sure she’d even let me near her without killing me.

The road out of Maynard County was long and clear, but the longer I took to catch up with her, the hotter my worry blazed.

Smoke on the horizon had unease coiling like a snake ready to strike, the urge to let loose and roar toward the scene sliced through me. The wind battered my face as I pulled up to a scene from my nightmares. The club’s truck sat idle, the rear bumper crushed against a dark sedan, the smoke swirled from the vehicle's bonnet, hissing and sparking its warning, but I couldn’t see Mia anywhere.

“Mia!” Cupping my hand around my mouth, I called out for her, while surveying my surroundings, desperate to see her pale blonde hair. I’d take her rage and pain over this oblivion any day.

The truck was empty of everything, the door thrown wide and left open to the elements. The truck’s engine was still hot, so she couldn’t have been gone long.

“Fucking Miles, I’ll kill him,” I whispered the promise to the empty road and pulled my phone out.

The call connected after the first ring. “Prez, they took Mia.” My heart thundered in my ears, my hands shaking as I pictured the neat bullet holes in Margot and Nag’s heads, imagining the worst. The intrusive vision imprinting in my mind’s eye, refusing to get the fuck out.

I did this. I caused this.

If anything happens to Mia because of me, I’d never forgive myself. Our last words were spoken in anger, never realizing that she’d be taken from me. I was arrogant and prideful. She trusted me, and I fucked it all up. “Cal…”

“Where are you?”

I listed off my location, keeping my eyes locked on the truck, trying to keep my mind from veering off in a direction that would drive me insane. “We’re on our way.”

The call cut off and I resisted the urge to throw my phone, only a brief flash of logic had me shoving it in my pocket. I wanted to rage at the audacity of the fucking lawyer for touching what was mine, if he’d hurt her… I would douse the bastard in formaldehyde and watch him drown in his own blood.

I paced the scene, circling the crash and coming up with nothing that could tell me where Mia had been taken. The trunk of the strange car popped open when I released it, giving me nothing with its emptiness. A growl of frustration tore from my throat and I slammed the trunk closed.

Cold pressure hit my temple, the blurred shape of a man appeared in the glass, a gun pressed to my head. I’d been so distracted by thoughts of Mia, I never thought about if they could still be here.

I raised my hands slowly, keeping them far apart, hoping these fuckers weren’t trigger happy. Immediately, I scanned my surroundings, seeing two other men materialize from around dark trunks of trees. The canopy of leaves hid their presence as they hid in the shadows, watching me. Smirks lit their faces, as they raised their weapons.

“Where’s my woman?” I spat between clenched teeth. The barrel jabbed against my head.

“Sssh.” The men were silent, circling me, ignoring my shouts for information. They stood sentry, waiting for something… or someone.

I don’t know how many minutes I stood there under their watchful eyes, my hands in the air. Just waiting, the anticipation of the fight had my blood boiling, waiting to spill over into chaos.

And the longer I stood there, the more time Cal had to get to me. I knew my brothers would be gearing up and on their way already, I just needed to bide my time.

“Are we planning on standing here forever or are we having a fucking party. Wanna suck my dick while we’re at it.”

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