Page 49 of Byte

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I don’t think I ever told anyone how scared I was that day. I was a patched member, but I was still what I would consider new to the club. I’d been through a few situations with the club, but that one was different for me because Keegan and I were friends. I’m just glad it turned out the way it did.”

“Yeah, me, too,” she agreed.

“Um, could one of y’all give me the cliff notes version of this story?” Flint asked.

“My biological father was a wealthy senator in Kentucky. He and his business partner were pretending to sell horses when they were actually selling women. One woman escaped. Since she’d already been paid for, they needed to repay the money or replace the woman. They tried to arrange a marriage for Keegan to get access to her trust fund. When that didn’t work, they kidnapped her. What they didn’t know was that the buyer was an undercover FBI agent. Keegan was taken to a safe house, and they were arrested shortly after,” Gabby explained.

Flint’s jaw was practically on the floor by the time she finished. “Gabby, I had no idea. Where were you when all of this happened?”

“I was at boarding school. I wasn’t there long before Gigi showed up,” Gabby said and smiled wistfully. “She told me she was my long-lost fairy grandmother and was taking me to see my sister.”

“Where’s your father now?”

“He received a life sentence. So, if he’s not dead, he’s still in prison. I’m not sure which because I don’t keep up with him.”

“If you ever want to know, I can answer that question for you without any additional details,” I offered.

“Thanks, but I truly don’t care. Once I was with Keegan and Jacob, I never looked back.”

“I hope I didn’t upset you. I didn’t know what I was asking,” Flint said sincerely.

“Oh, no, you didn’t,” Gabby assured him. “It’s really more Keegan’s story than mine. I wasn’t there for most of it, and I don’t have many memories of what life was like before I moved in with Keegan and Jacob.”

“Let me add one more shocking detail, and then I want to tell Gabby what we found on Wiener,” I said to Flint.

“I’m not sure I want to know,” he said hesitantly.

“You’ll want to know why I didn’t tell you if you find out later.”

“That’s true. Let’s hear it.”

“You’ve heard the story of how Ember and your dad found each other, right?” At his nod, I continued. “The man who was going to buy her was Gabby’s father.”

Flint jumped to his feet and started pacing. “Well,” he huffed. “I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t that.”

“I didn’t know that either,” Gabby said with a look of utter shock on her face.

I reached for her hand. “I’m sorry, Gab. I assumed you knew.”

She shook her head as if she was trying to clear the thoughts from her mind. “No, it’s okay. The connection is surprising; his actions are not.” She released my hand and got to her feet. “I think I need a drink. Flint, you want a drink?”

“Uh,” he hesitated and looked at me.

I waved my hand dismissively. “I don’t care if you drink. I mean, you’re staying here if you do, but have a drink if you want one.”

“You’re not old enough to drink?” Gabby asked.

“I’m twenty,” Flint told her.

“What the hell? Might as well add contributing to the delinquency of a minor to the list of laws I’m breaking today. Where’s your liquor, Byte?”

I pointed across the room. “In that fancy-ass thing your sister said I needed.”

Gabby bent at the waist and started laughing. “Has Jacob seen that?”

“I don’t think so. Why?”

“Because he’s wanted one for years, and she’s always said no. But she bought one for your house,” she cackled.

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