Page 62 of Where We Ended

“Take a second and explain to me what the fuck is going on. You came out of the Stone Riders property a week ago, pissed as hell. You ordered me to stick around the property and watch over Natty…and you’ve been putting yourself at risk every day since. Just tell me what happened.”

He was right, and deep down I knew I had to allow other people in so that I wasn’t carrying all this shit by myself…I just wasn’t sure how to do that without everything falling around me.

Digging into the pocket of my jacket, I pulled out the scrap of paper that had sent me hunting and handed him the note Fable had pinned to Natty’s window, letting him fill in the blanks.

“How the actual fuck did Fable get through all the security the Riders have set up? That place is secured better than most prisons.”

I was still trying to piece that one together as well.

“A mole is the only thing I can think of, but it’s not my club and the president is currently out looking for his fucking mother, so I can’t bring it up.”

Lance sharpened his focus; I knew he was trying to work something out.

“So you moved in your own security without Killian’s consent?” His dark brow flicked up in silent question.

I nodded.

“Was Natty on board?” Lance tucked his phone into his jacket pocket.

A shaky breath left me as I shook my head. “She’s pissed at me. Didn’t want me to leave.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have. You forgetting the last time you left her and she got traded without your approval or consent?”

My back molars pinched together as I worked to keep my sanity in check.

“You know better than to bring that up to me, don’t be fucking cruel. He got into her room somehow, Lance. I have to find him.”

He shook his head, returning the note to me.

“He likely knew this is how you’d react. You are the only person who knows what sort of bullshit he’d use on Natty. If he knows where she’s sleeping, then she needs to be moved and quickly. You can’t leave her here, even with a team of Raiders to protect her.”

My stomach clenched.

“Doesn’t seem to matter now anyway, she left and all the protection I promised her wasn’t even able to stick with her.”

My best friend winced, and I felt slightly shitty about that. It wasn’t his fault or the team’s…they were right. Two years, Natty had the same routine. The fact that none of us knew she’d even purchased a bike was humbling, even to me.

Lance finally let out a sigh and leveled me with a glare… “You can’t leave her, Silas. If something happens to her, you will cease to exist, my friend, and I can’t stand by and allow that.”

“I can’t hunt him and drag her with me. He’ll be watching me.”

Besides, I couldn’t take her from this place. She had friends here. A job she loved, and people who cared about her. She’d already left though…on her own.

“I need to go find her,” I muttered quietly, still trying to piece together why she went to Richland. The Chaos Kings were an ally of Killian’s, so I knew she’d be safe, but what did this have to do with Fable…or anything else for that matter? I couldn’t work it out, but I needed to get to her.

Lance nodded, watching me keenly.

“My advice…you need to give Natty a bit more credit. She’s more capable than anyone else I can even think of regarding Fable, and Alec. Stop worrying so much and just accept that she might be able to help you.”

“Good thing I didn’t ask for your advice.”

Lance chuckled, and with a quick buckle of his helmet, he let out a sigh. “You forget that I was the one watching as you two exchanged those vows that night. I was the one who knew no matter what you said would ever compare to the strange connection you formed as kids. She slept on your floor, right under your nose for most of your life, like that was a normal thing or something. You both were so fucking careless, regardless that the rest of us knew how dangerous it was to fall that hard, so young. Still, I watched in awe as she kept loving you. I remember her lighting up like the sun when you’d arrive. Nothing but a dark thunder cloud, and she never gave a single shit.”

He laughed, which had me letting out a small chuckle as well, along with an unbidden tear. My memories were the worst form of torture.

Lance sobered and met my gaze. “You’ve punished yourself for letting her down…you’ve suffered, Silas. Keep her, love her. Start fresh with her.”

Without another word, he dipped his head and shot off on his bike toward Pyle.

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