Page 71 of Property of the Hellfire Riders

“Safe House,” Vance says, lighting a cigarette, he takes a long drag. “No one knows about this place aside from Hawk, Tank and I.”

“And now you,” Tank says.

“Why the hell would you bring me here?”

They exchange a look I don’t like, and Vance nods. “I’ll check the front.” He meanders down the hall. I hear several locks click. Tank sits down beside me, running his hand through his hair.

“Why am I here?”

“You want us to take you back to see Hawk?” he asks. “Not right now. Not a good look, sweetheart. Especially when he’s this hot-headed. We need him to cool down.”

I blink slowly.

“The folder—it has evidence. I need to show it to him.”

“What the hell were you doing at the police department, Izzy?” Vance asks as he enters the bedroom. The smoke curls under his nose and rises, creating a ghostly veil around his face.

Without a word between them, Tank lifts the folder and Vance takes it. He skims through it, keeping his face still and silent.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “I had to get proof. Reynolds is behind all of this. He knows that I’ve been with you guys, he’s planning to move on the Riders.”

Tank’s eyes narrow, his jaw tightening. “You took a huge risk going there alone.”

“I didn’t have a choice,” I say, my voice rising slightly. “If I didn’t find something concrete, Hawk wouldn’t believe me.”

Tank curses under his breath, running a hand through his hair again.

“Even more reason for you not to run off! Jesus Christ!”

“I took all of it. It’s there, including photos of me with all you, which means…” my voice trails off. “I think Reynolds has a connection to the Puppeteer, but that can’t—I need to talk to Hawk.”

Vance holds up a finger. “No, Izzy. No. Not until we can sort through what’s in that file.”

“Hawk’s a trigger away from making some bad decisions,” Tanks says. “And by now he’ll know that we’ve all left.”

“I already told him we found her. He knows we’re staying here,” Vance says.

“You told him!” Tank shouts.

Vance holds up his hand.

“Yes. Better he knows while it’s happening than down the road.”

“I know you were trying to protect me, but I need to face this head on,” I say, my resolve hardening. “Reynolds was playingwith me this whole time, and now he’s after all of you. I won’t let that happen.”

“Oh, I don’t think you get a say in the matter,” Tank says.

My eyes level with his.

“The three of you don’t control me, alright? All of this is happening because of me. Let me go to Hawk and tell him.”

I jump off the bed, but Vance blocks my path to the door.

“Woah, I can’t let you do that,” he says, wagging his finger in front of my face.

“Like hell you can’t!”

I dart around him, only to be scooped up over Tank’s broad shoulder in a flash.

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