Page 92 of Property of the Hellfire Riders

Laina’s weak, but familiar voice pierces the darkness, sending chills down my spine. My knees almost buckle with relief. I take a deep breath and step inside, not even caring if it’s a trap. In the center of the small room, Laina’s frail form is huddled in the corner, her eyes widening with disbelief as she sees me.

“Izzy?” she whispers, as if she can’t quite believe I’m real.

Tears blur my vision as I rush to her side. “It’s me,” I say, tears welling up. “We’re here. You’re safe now.”

Hawk and Tank work quickly to untie her.

As the ropes fall away, Laina slumps forward, and I catch her, holding her close.

“We’ve got you,” I murmur, stroking her hair. “You’re going to be okay.”

She nods weakly, her grip tightening on my arm. “I knew you’d come,” she says

Hawk steps forward and gently lifts Laina into his arms, cradling her as if she weighs nothing. Her brows pull together and her mouth hangs open in confusion.

“Hellfire Riders?” she squeaks out.

I nod as tears continue to fall down my cheek, my trembling voice breaks out into laughter.

“We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

“Yeah, we do,” she mumbles, looking up at Hawk in disbelief.

He carries her out of the hellhole with Tank and I following close behind. The morning air hits us, and the drizzle has turned to a light mist. Tank grabs a blanket off the back of his bike and wraps it around Laina’s shoulders.

“I’ve called the police and ambulances. They’re on their way, but it’s going to take a while,” Vance says, leaning in the doorway.

Hawk nods, his jaw set with determination. “Vance, take Laina to meet the ambulances halfway. We’ll stay here to meet with the police. Make sure Reynold’s gets locked up for good.”

Vance carefully positions Laina on his bike, ensuring she’s secure.

“I’ll see you as soon as I can,” I tell her.

She gives me a half smile.

“Don’t let that fucker get away, Izzy.”

“I won’t.”

Vance wraps his arms around her. “I’ll take care of her, I promise,” he assures me, reading my mind. They pull away from us, and the bike's engine hums to life, the tires kicking up gravel as they speed off.

The three of us stand in the empty warehouse Reynolds lays on the earth, tied up choking and coughing as he fights to come back to consciousness. I walk over to him, hovering over him.

“Reynolds,” I start, my voice steady but filled with a cold fury. “You thought you could play God, pulling strings and controlling lives like we’re all just puppets in your sick little game. You thought you could manipulate, deceive, and destroy without facing any consequences.”

He glares up at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and defiance. I crouch down, getting closer so he can see the determination in my eyes.

“You used me, you used Laina, and you tried to destroy the Hellfire Riders to cover your tracks. But you underestimated us. You underestimated me. You thought I was just another piece on your board, but you were wrong.”

I lean in closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You see, we’re not just victims in your twisted story. We’re stronger than you ever imagined. And now, you’re going to face the consequences of your actions. You’re going to pay for every life you’ve destroyed, every lie you’ve told, and every bit of suffering you’ve caused.”

Reynolds starts to sputter,but I cut him off, my voice rising with conviction. “This is the end of your reign of terror. You’re done hurting people. You’re done manipulating and controlling. You’re going to spend the rest of your miserable life paying for what you’ve done.” I stand up, looking down at him with a final, resolute gaze. “And I hope you rot in fucking hell.”

I step back, feeling the weight of my words settle in the air.

We all stand in silence, listening to the rambles of the bound Reynolds from behind us. All I can do is watch the man I used to respect be the absolute worm he is.

“You two alright?” Hawk asks, looking at Tank and I.

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