Page 105 of Claimed By the Biker Brothers

Knox is driving, furious as hell. Jagger and I keep looking back.

Ellie’s left on the edge of the road, shaking her head, gun at her side.

“What the fuck was that?” Jagger gasps. “Is she in on it? Is she one of them?”

“I’m not sure it matters at this point. It could’ve been a ruse,” I say. “Ellie could be the dirty DEA agent Patches mentioned. Calvin and Marlo could’ve sent her in to supposedly arrest us.”

“She could’ve killed us right then and there if she wanted,” Jagger says.

Knox sighs deeply. “Maybe she wanted to do it somewhere else off camera. The CCTV was still working in there. Diesel’s right. We can’t take any chances. Besides, you heard her. Ellie was supposed to meet Robyn. How much do you want to bet that’s how they got Robyn?”

“This is getting increasingly more complicated,” Jagger snaps. “Who the fuck do we trust?”

“What did I say back there?” I remind him through gritted teeth.

“We only have each other,” he mutters.

“That’s right,” I say. “We go get Robyn ourselves. It’s us versus them. There’s no room for error, no trust left for anybody else, especially for someone who’s been surveilling us for so fucking long.”

“One thing’s for sure,” Knox adds, “Ellie saw us back there, weapons and all. If she’s in cahoots with Marlo and the gang, then they’ll know we’re coming for them.”

“We’re going to have to tweak our approach a little,” I tell Knox. “But nothing’s changed. They want us there. We have to be there.”

“I agree, brother,” he says. “I think I know how we’re going to swing it.”

35

Robyn

Kyra’s in the other room. I can hear her sometimes talking to someone, sometimes crying. She’s asking for me, but I can’t do a goddamn thing from here. I’m locked in this room, pacing like a desperate animal.

“Dammit,” I mutter as I try to pry the window open for the umpteenth time.

It won’t budge. It’s nailed shut.

Besides, there are too many Hughes goons downstairs in the driveway. We’re in a shady side of town, Rogue River, by the looks of it. It’s dark out, and footsteps echo in and around this house that looks abandoned. There’s dust and grime everywhere. The fabrics on the bed smell rotten and old. I’m afraid to even sit in the armchair. God knows what tiny creatures live inside it.

“Hey! Let me out of here!” I shout and pound on the bedroom door. “Let me out!”

Finally, a key turns in the lock. Marlo saunters in, and I move back toward the window.

“You’re particularly loud, you know that?” she says and sighs as she approaches me, her heels clicking across the old, creaky hardwood floor. “Relax, Robyn. Kyra’s fine. I’m sure you can hear her.”

“Yeah, I can hear her. It doesn’t mean she’s okay,” I snap.

“I have no intention of harming the child,” she says, raising an eyebrow at me. “I got her a Happy Meal, a nanny, and a few toys—brand-new toys, might I add. She’s quite entertained.”

“What is all this? Why are you doing this?” I ask, crossing my arms.

She smiles softly, and I take a second to look her over from head to toe: hair in perfect shape, lusciously combed into an elegant bun, tight jeans and black stilettos, blue cashmere sweater, and sapphire earrings sparkling just below her jawline. Meanwhile, I’m disheveled, pale, and sweating in my tracksuit and work boots, wondering if I’ll ever get to enjoy a hot shower again.

“I’m sure you understand why you’re here,” Marlo calmly says. “You’re a part of the plan, Robyn. For me, it’s nothing personal.”

“And for Calvin?”

“Oh, he’s just looking for payback, but I got him to agree that Kyra needs a family. You won’t be able to provide that for her.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I gasp, not sure whether to gouge her eyes out or just laugh in her face. Her audacity is colossal, to say the least. “Marlo, you have no children of your own. Kyra’s my baby. I gave birth to her. You’re not going to take her away from me.”

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