“Prez? You there?” I look at my phone, after silence, and see that he’s still on the line.
“Yeah, I’m here,” he replies.
Hearing footsteps behind me, I turn finding Sophia there, dressed in lingerie with a sexy look on her face. But when she sees the expression on mine, she closes her silk robe and walks closer, placing her hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
Grabbing her hand, I lead her to me, forcing her to sit on my lap. I inhale her scent, and it calms me instantly.
“It’s Tash. She was here.”
I drop my head back and look up at the stars, not believing the night I’m having. Sophia looks down at me, confusion written in her eyes.
“What does she want?” I growl through the phone.
“Wanted to see if you had time to calm down. She said your son needs help, and she can’t wait much longer. He needs the operation like yesterday.”
“That’s if heismy son,” I spit into the phone.
This can’t be happening.
What a fucking night.
Sophia rests her head on my chest, and I want to just carry her to bed and sink into her sweetness, forgetting everything that’s happening around me and just focus on her. But my brother’s life is at risk, and I have no idea what to do about the boy who Tash claims is my son. If he is my son, I need to help him as soon as possible.
“I’m just relaying the message, brother. What you do is up to you. Ain’t anyone gonna judge you.”
“Yeah, I know. Thanks, Prez. I’ve got Sophia here, so I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, brother, let me know if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
I hang up and grasp Sophia’s face in my hands and kiss her deeply. Needing her like the next breath I take.
Pulling back, she looks deep into my eyes. “Ryan, what’s going on?”
I let out a breath and rest my head back on the chair. “I’ll tell you in bed, right now, I need to lie with you in my arms.”
TRACKER
Present
Parking Trigger’s car in the compound, I notice that the parking lot is filled with bikes, making me aware that the Sinners have joined us for church. Looking up, I find Prez, Hawke, and Rhyder out front waiting for me. Rhyder looks like he’s about to murder someone, and Prez appears concerned. Hawke, well, he’s just Hawke. Actually, he looks like he’s about to catch a wave.
With Sophia beside me, we walk hand in hand to the front door. I explained everything to her last night, and as much as I didn’t want to scare her, I told her what happened to Tate and added in the situation with Tash and the kid. Sophia knows everything about what happened to Lexi, but she was shocked to hear that Tate is being held hostage.
She held me in her arms all night, and for the first time, I felt content with that without needing more.
On the drive back to the clubhouse, I pictured all these scenarios in my mind.
How can we get Tate back without having to risk Lexi.
Lexi, fuck, she would be a mess right now.
“Hey, brother,” Prez says when I reach them, tapping me on the back. I do the same with Hawke, but when I reach Rhyder, all he says is, “We gotta call church.”
I nod, agreeing, and Prez steps in after kissing Sophia on her cheek.
“The boys have been waiting for you. Let’s get this over and done with.”