Page 82 of Property of Spike

Blevins shifts uncomfortably as if he knows exactly where my mind is going, but the facts are the facts. “It’s procedure, Mr. Turner. I understand your frustration, but this is how it has to be.”

Frustration? That’s not it. I want to fucking break something. Chuck has Riley in his grip, with all the time in the world to manipulate her, scare her, and make her life a living hell.

“Fuck that,” I growl, taking a step toward Blevins. “I don’t give a shit about procedure.”

Another officer steps forward, his expression warning. “Mr. Turner, you need to calm down.”

“Or what?” I snap. “You’ll throw me in a cell next to her?”

That’s not a bad fucking idea. At least I could keep an eye on her.

The officer looks ready to say something, but Blevins raises a hand. “Mr. Turner, I need you to leave. If you don’t, you’re going to land yourself in the men’s jail on theother side of the building.”

The words hang in the air, a clear warning. He must have sensed my plan. But I’m so fucking angry, I can barely see straight.

“Let’s go home, Spike,” Bones says quietly from behind me. His voice cuts through the fog of my rage. “You don’t need to make things worse. We’ll get her out of there tomorrow.”

His words hit me like a splash of cold water, and the weight of the situation sinks in. Riley’s not getting out tonight. I can’t do anything about it.

Reluctantly, I turn, clutching Asher tighter to my chest. Every step feels like a fucking betrayal.

But the rage? That doesn’t go anywhere. Not until I’ve got Riley back.

***

“I don’t know how you did it, Foster, but I owe you my fucking life. You name it, it’s yours.”

Foster leans back in his seat, a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth. “It was as easy as pie, Spike,” he says, his voice light. “Although, I’ve made a decision. I’m joining your club. And if you could do me a favor and skip the damn prospect stage, I’d appreciate it.”

“Done,” I say, not hesitating for a second to lock this man in as a brother. “Once we get my woman back home tomorrow, I’ll patch you in officially. I want her to be here to witness it.”

“So, you really are legally married,” Foster laughs. “As well as Asher’s legal guardian and adopted father. But I’m pretty sure Riley’s going to want a ceremony.”

“And she’ll have it,” I say. “I wasn’t gonna ask her anyway. Asking gives her the option to say no. I knew from the moment I met her that I was gonna tie her to me.”

We pull through the gates of the compound, the sight of my brothers’ homes and the clubhouse almost bringing a sense of relief. But it doesn’t feel like home right now, not without Riley.

The truck stops, and Tank is there. Standing by the gate, stiff as a board, his eyes locked on me with guilt written all over his face. As soon as I step out of the car, he’s on me, his hands trembling as they reach out like he’s about to crumble under the weight of whatever burden he’s carrying.

“Spike…” Tank’s voice cracks as he stumbles forward, his knees hitting the ground before I can even process what he’s doing. “I…I’m sorry, man. I should’ve done something. I should’ve fought harder. I never should’ve opened the gates. I…”

Before he can finish, I drop to my knees beside him and place a sleeping Asher in his arms.

“Tank,” I say, my voice surprisingly soft. “You did what you had to do. There was no other choice. If you hadn’t opened those gates, it wouldn’t have just been Riley and Asher they took. It would’ve been you, too. Or worse… they would have opened fire, and you’d be dead.”

Tank’s eyes are wide, filled with agony. “But I failed you, brother. I failed her. I failed my nephew. I let them take them. I didn’t stop them.”

“You didn’t fail me, Tank. You kept them safe. You did the only thing that could’ve kept you alive, that could’ve kept usfrom losing even more. You protected them by not letting it turn into something worse. If you’d fought back, it could’ve cost you everything. But you kept them safe, and that’s what matters.”

Tank’s breath hitches, and I can see the war inside him. The guilt still weighing him down, but also the realization that he made the hard call. The right one, even if it feels like failure.

He looks down at Asher and I watch as a single tear falls from Tank’s face down onto Asher’s cheek. I have never seen this man shed a tear for another living soul. Not even after his mama died.

“I should’ve protected you,” he tells my son. “I should have hidden you and your mama away. I’m so sorry, little one, that your mama won’t be with you tonight.”

Bones must have called him and updated him. He decided to wait for Maverick to arrive so Mav could ride my bike back home. They should both be here soon.

“Tank…” I start, my voice low, but sure. “You couldn’t have done anything else. You were caught between a rock and a hard place. And you did the only thing that saved your life and theirs. I’ll never forget that.”

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