Page 31 of Property of Spike

I smirk, a plan already forming.

“Tell him the Vipers found out we were planning to move in on their turf,” I say. “And they’re fucking pissed.”

Mike’s eyes widen. “You want to make him think a war’s already started?”

I grin. “Exactly.”

Knuckles chuckles. “Shit, this is gonna be fun.”

Mike exhales, nodding. “Alright. I’ll set it up.”

“Good.” I glance around the room. “Everyone, stay sharp. When Chuck takes the bait, we’re breaking into his house and getting my fucking woman back.”

The brothers nod, the energy in the room shifting.

“Hey, Iron Shadow,” a voice, Knox, I’m assuming, comes through Skip’s speaker. The phone sits on the table while Skip focuses on his laptop.

“Obsidian,” Skip greets. “Got a job for you.”

“Aww, did widdle Skippy forget how to turn on his waptop?”

Skip sighs, trying to hide his smirk. “Fucker. I need you to get eyes on Police Commissioner Charles Landry here in Palm Springs and the mother of his child, Riley Hayes.”

“Ooo, a Police Commissioner,” Knox sings. “That one’s gonna cost you.”

“We don’t care,” Skip says, his tone flat. “He’s been abusing her for years. Hit her in the stomach at eight months pregnant and caused her to go into preterm labor. She came to us for help but went back to him out of fear for us. The bastard is out to ruin our club.”

A different voice cuts in from Knox’s side. “Why the fuck would you let her go back?”

“Stop listening in on my conversations, Papa. I mean, husband. I mean, dammit, go away,” Knox snaps. A shuffle of movement follows, then a huff. “Anyway, sorry about that. So, she’s with him now?”

“Yeah,” Skip says, shaking his head. “Tell Taylor I said hey and that he still owes me that beer.”

“Will do. Now, what about the baby?”

Skip looks up, a silent question in his eyes.

“I’m assuming he’s with Riley,” I answer. “But I can’t say for certain.”

“Oh, hey stranger,” Knox’s voice breaks in. “Okay, I have a Riley Hayes living in Palm Springs with her partner, Charles Landry. Uhm, no mention of a baby. Are you sure she had one?”

“I’ve got a milk-stained shirt to prove it,” I reply, an uneasy feeling beginning to gnaw at me.

“She said Asher was born two days before she came here,” Maverick reminds everyone. “She was here for three days, and now she’s been gone for two.”

“So, he was born a week ago,” Skip observes.

“Give me a second,” Knox says. “You said his name is Asher? What about his last name. Hayes or Landry?”

“We don’t know,” I admit, the frustration rising in my chest. I’m fucking pissed that I don’t know.

Silence stretches through the phone line, broken only by the rapid tapping of Knox’s keyboard.

“Interesting,” Knox murmurs. “In the past two weeks, sixteen babies have been born, but not one to a Riley Hayes.” A few more clicks follow. “Let me try Riley Landry... Nope.”

“What the fuck is going on?” Tank’s voice breaks through the tension.

“I’m looking at her medical records as we speak,” Knox responds, his light tone gone, replaced by something more serious. “Here’s what I’m gonna do. Give me a few hours to dig deeper, and I’ll call you back. I already have Charles on my screen. He’s at his office right now. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

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