Page 38 of What Lies Within

The fucker’s only just ridden in, a permanent scowl etched between his eyes as he downs a bottle of fresh water to rehydrate. Two and a half hours of riding around town, stopping by our known allies on the street, and he's no wiser to Maddie's movements than we were last night.

Nobody’s seen Fox, and nobody’s seen her. It’s as though they’ve vanished into thin air.

Minion glances down as I press the hastily scribbled piece of paper into his palm. "What is this?"

“Properties Connor thinks are most likely to be used for holding someone.” I glance across at the small group of members in house and bury the weight of their curious stares for later. “I want you to take him with you as well.”

"Connor?" Minion asks, face screwed into picture-perfect confusion. "What for?"

“Don’t trust he won’t head off somewhere else while you do this,” I confess. “Don’t trust this isn’t a diversion.”

His lip snarls, eyes hard as he growls, “ItwasTerry behind this, then?”

I shake my head, noting my brother as he exits the office. There’s an unwelcome weight in my chest, seeing the evidence of how I got the fucking list. A strange grief at taking a man so broken and hurting him further for no other reason than saving time.

Time that ticks by anyway.

Possibly toward my daughter’s death.

If I’d left Connor to his devices, he would have withheld the locations until he’d had his fill of Rae, and even then, I couldn't guarantee he wouldn't give out the information bit by bit to ensure he had reason to keep coming back here to see her. I couldn't do that to Rae, and I couldn't do that to Maddie.

I need both my girls safe, and I need it fucking done yesterday.

“Not Terry directly.” I lick my bottom lip and roll my teeth over the flesh. “He’s usin’ Fox.”

My enforcer doesn’t say a word—his eyes do it for him as he glances to where his daughter converses with Harvey near the newly lit fire. “And what are you goin’ to do?” He settles his attention back on me. “While Kane and I ride town looking for her?”

“Make sure we got support when Terry catches wind of what we’re doin’.” Can’t imagine the fucker’s going to take too kindly to us trespassing when the news gets back to him.

Which it will. Town this small, it’s only a matter of time.

He's undoubtedly heard we've been crawling the streets, which gives him more of an advantage than I'd like.

“I’m taking Rigs with me for backup. Hammer and Turnip are meeting as we speak and starting on their list. They’ve gotthe rural run. I gave you boys the shit around town—businesses, residences, and all that.”

The places Kane knows well.

With a single nod, his jaw tight, Minion strides toward my oldest son, collecting Kane for the job he was born to do.

I hate that my kids follow in my footsteps. Hate that I get the inkling the boy will do it better. But I know that Kane gets answers—especially from men more his age—and what I need now is a fucking explanation of where my goddamn daughter is.

And why.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Digger balls the wipe in his fist and folds his arms across his chest.

“That I’m losing my fuckin’ touch, brother.”

His upper lip curls in disdain—attention on Kane and Minion as they head for the office to collect our guest. "Think we all feel as useless as one another right about now."

"I should have her here," I growl, my finger pointing at the floor before me. "Maddie should be home by now, Dig."

"And she will be." He nods tightly. "I got a good feelin' about it this time."

“Why?” I scoff. “Because we brought Connor to fuckin’ tears? Kid’s in there right now ruing the day he was fuckin’ born.”

Digger shrugs, face passive and unaffected by the emotional beating he served the heartbroken fucking kid. “He needed reminding who’s in charge.”

"Yeah." I laugh, short and bitter. "It ain't us." I look him over from head to toe. He commands the room through mystery and cool, calm poise. My brother's the kind of motherfucker you just can't read, and it's that unpredictability that puts his adversaries at odds with him.

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