Page 104 of Rio's Release

“What else?”

“He can’t carry a gun, do drugs, or miss a check-in.”

“See, Prez, we’ve got options,” Zig teases, but I don’t find it funny. None of this is fucking funny.

The DA tilts his head. “That business with the shots fired on main street… You know anything about that?”

“You heard of a club called the Devil Kings?” I reply.

He shakes his head. “What’s that? A cartel, an MC, what?”

“They’re a club out of Cali. As far as we know, they’re not in New Mexico, but they’ve been spotted several times. That’s who shot up those businesses.”

“You sure about that?”

“Positive. You got any intel on them you want to share?”

He huffs a laugh. “Like I’d share info with you.”

“Let us take care of that problem. Or do you really want another club setting up shop in this state?” Zig asks.

He thinks for a minute, dragging his hand down his face. “Okay. Let me make a few calls. I’ll get back to you.”

With that, we walk out of his office and down to the curb where our bikes are parked. I stare at mine, taking in the rear seat. I’d had plans to take Shelby for a ride this week. Hell, I’ve wanted to put her on the back of my bike since the day I met her. Now, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach tells me that may never happen.

We had it all. Everything was working out, and I could see our future so clearly. If it weren’t for that son-of-a-bitch deputy, I’d already have her permanently in my life. Now it feels as if those grand plans have crashed and burned.

Zig climbs on his bike. “Where to, boss?”

“Shelby’s place.”

It’s a drive from the courthouse, and when we roll up to the gate and I put in the code, I have a sinking feeling. The gate opens, and we roar up to the house.

Shelby’s car is nowhere in sight.

Throwing the kickstand down, I vault from my bike, rip off my helmet, and stride to the door. I punch in the code, but it jams. I try to shoulder it open, but it won’t budge. Rearing back, I give it a good leg kick and my knee buckles, but the door splinters open.

“Son-of-a-bitch,” I groan, falling against the frame. “Shelby!”

There’s no answer, only dead silence greets us. I try to put some weight on my boot, but excruciating pain shoots up leg.

“You okay, Prez?” Zig asks and puts a shoulder under my arm. I lean against him, putting my weight on my good leg.

“Shelby,” I call again, but her name echoes through the house. “Take me to the back bedroom.”

We move through the rooms and down the hall. The drawers in the dresser are pulled out and half the hangers in the closet are empty.

Zig leaves me leaning against the wall and checks the other bedrooms, then returns.

“Looks like she left in a hurry. Most of the munchkin’s toys are gone from the other bedroom.”

“Fuck.” My legs feel weak at the thought of Shelby gone.Really gone. I slide to the floor. “Goddamn. I fucked up. I promised her she’d never have to worry again, and I failed her.”

“You didn’t fail her, Rio. The system failed her.”

“And I shouldn’t have trusted it. I should have taken care of that asshole from the start.”

“You said you promised her you wouldn’t kill him.”

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