Page 43 of Valley

Vain shifted uncomfortably, then spoke up, trying to keep his voice steady. “Why do you think it was one of us?” He swallowed hard at the look Patch shot him and quickly added, “I’m just trying to figure it out.”

Patch’s glare was enough to make anyone reconsider speaking up. “Because it had to be someone inside to get that much goddamned personal footage and cast it to the TV,” Player growled, his eyes darting around the room.

“Yeah, someone’s been watching us, recording us for years. It’s an inside job,” Leather said, slamming his fist down on the table. “And if one of you assholes cost me Aislynn and my kid, you’ll be begging for me to let you die.”

“Get in line,” Patch muttered, his voice cold as ice. “The traitorous rat that did this will hide in his hole, so it’s up toeach brother here to dangle the cheese to lure him out. Every rat leaves a trail of shit.”

“What if it wasn’t one of us?” Lucky cut in, glancing around the room, his face unreadable. “Who else would wanna hurt the ol’ ladies and stir up shit?”

Patch’s glare could melt steel. “What the hell are you getting at, old man?”

“The sweet butts,” Lucky replied, a smug grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Those hags have itched with jealousy ever since the ol’ ladies started adding up.”

“He’s got a point,” Hillbilly agreed, leaning forward, his voice low and dangerous. “I say we start there.”

“There’s also Johnny,” Scotch spoke up. “He’s got plenty of reasons, especially since we’re threatening to take his rocker.”

“Midnight, get Johnny,” Patch ordered, leaning back in his chair, his gaze narrowing as the men muttered amongst themselves. When Midnight returned empty-handed, a chill settled over the room.

“He’s gone. Took all his stuff with him.”

Patch’s eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “Did anyone see him today?”

“He was supposed to be at the bar,” Teach said, frowning. “But now that I think about it, I haven’t seen him.”

“Scotch, go through the camera footage. Valley, you and Midnight scour the town for any sign of Johnny. Teach, question the sweet butts. The rest of you start digging. I want the motherfucker who did this, and I want him or her yesterday.” Patch stood, his voice like a growl from deep within his chest. “I’ve got to make things right with my ol’ lady. Harker, you come along and call off Bethany.”

As the men started to file out, I turned to Midnight. “You and Hadleigh gonna be okay?”

“Fuck, I hope so,” Midnight sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Knowing I wasn’t a saint before her is one thing, but seeing it... that’s a whole different level of pain.”

“I feel for you,” Vain said, clapping Midnight on the back. “I’m just glad I never got caught up in that shit and fucked around.”

“You were still there,” Jonesy chimed in, his voice grim. “Sarah’s pissed at me just for being in the room. My bet is Lana won’t let you off easy either, and you were married at the time. Doesn’t matter if you didn’t take part. It was happening, and you stayed.”

“Fuck,” Vain muttered, dragging a hand down his face. “You’re right. I better go deal with this. I only just got her back. Losing her again is not a fucking option.”

“Let me talk to Haddie really quick before we ride out,” Midnight said, heading for the door. “I’ll meet you out front in thirty.”

“You got it, brother,” I replied, turning back toward the common room, hoping Madeline was still there. My eyes scanned the room, and I walked outside looking around and seeing Sean helping clean up, but not Madeline. Dammit, she must have left with someone, probably Casimir.

With a disappointed sigh, I headed to my room before I had to meet Midnight out front.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Chapter Twenty-Five

I WANDERED THROUGHthe parking lot, my eyesscanning the shadows for Sean. He was nowhere to be found, but his bike was still there.

Where could he have gone?

A heavy sigh escaped me. I needed to leave—I’d had more than my fill of drama for one day. Disappointment ran through me, to the point of feeling sick. What I’d witnessed inside the clubhouse had shaken me, left me questioning everything. The stories I’d overheard, the whispers about what still goes on in ‘the other room’... it was all too much. I wasn’t okay with any of it—not if I was supposed to be in a relationship with one of these men.

Randi had said the things in that video were from before any of the wives or girlfriends had come along.

But were they still angry about it?

Absolutely.

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