Page 32 of Lucky's Trouble

She laughs humorlessly. “There’s no quitting. Once he has his hooks in you, you’re his. He doesn’t let go.”

A pit forms in my stomach, connecting all this information to Tinleigh and Myla. If this is true, which I have no doubt it is, how did Myla get out? And does Tinleigh know this? Is this why she looked so fearful each time Neal was mentioned?

“So, how are you here now?”

“We’re protecting her,” Loki says. “She escaped and is hiding here until we can get her someplace safe.”

“It’s not a handout,” Karina defends. “I’m bartending to pay my way.”

“We didn’t ask that of her,” Khan clarifies. “She wouldn’t let us help any other way.”

I nod, realizing it’s a bone of contention between the bikers and the woman. I respect the hell out of her for it. “All the girls are in the same situation? None of them are excluded from these terms?”

She shakes her head. “It was the same for all of us. He preys on girls like me who are naive and in a tough spot. We’re low-hanging fruit for him.”

“Has he ever let a girl go?”

“Plenty of girls have tried to leave, but he always finds them. Always. Then he brings them back and makes us all watch as she’s. . . taught a lesson. After that, she’s picked up by a buyer.” A tear trails down her cheek for a second before she angrily wipes it away.

My blood boils. Not just because Tinleigh is the sister of my friend but because the woman somehow became something more to me in just one look. Being a stripper doesn’t mean shit to me—I’d proudly have her at my side—but knowing she’s in danger? I have to get her the hell out of there.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out, shocked as shit when I see a text from Tinleigh. I wait to read it until after I say my goodbyes.

“I gotta run.” I stand. “Thank you, Karina, for sharing your story.”

“You won’t tell him where I am, right?”

“Fuck no.” I turn to Loki and Khan, giving them each a pointed look. “If you need any help getting her out of town, let me know.”

“Thanks, but we can handle our own business,” Loki says. “But you might need us if you go after Neal. He’s tied to people you don’t want to piss off. That’s the only reason we haven’t touched him.”

Just another example of how the man has softened. He’s got something to lose now, and it’s making him vulnerable.

“Good to see you, man.” Khan holds out a hand before bringing me in for a man-hug. “Heard good things about your place out in Storey. Glad everything is calming down for you guys. Hope it stays that way.”

Under any other circumstances, we’d be at war with the Bastards after they blew up the warehouse where we housed our spice lab. But back then, we had no idea our Prez was a fucking traitor, and when we found out, it was the Bastards who helped us bring retribution to the asshole, which left us on good terms.

“Thanks, man. Come by for a tour sometime.”

“Will do.”

As I walk out of the club and into the crisp fall air, I mentally prepare myself for the war ahead. I hardly know the woman, but I know she won’t accept help easily.

Straddling my bike, I pull out my phone to read her text. In just three words, I realize how wrong I was.

I need help.

I press her contact, feeling my heart thump as the first ring sounds over the speaker, since I know she didn’t text me to come change a lightbulb or give her a ride to the store.

“Hello?” she all but whispers.

I try to decipher her tone, but the one word doesn’t give me enough information. Does she sound weak or tired? Annoyed or injured?

“What’s going on?” I ask.

She blows out a shaky breath that makes my gut clench. “If I didn’t want to be here anymore, would you come get me?”

“Yes.” One word. No hesitation.

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