Page 87 of Property of Spike

“Just outside of Palm Springs,” he answers. “At some old meat packing farm.”

“Knuckles, you stay with Abby,” I say. “Everyone else…Let’s go get your first lady back.”

The room erupts in determined cheers. I only hope that Chuck is there waiting for me. I’ve tortured my fair number of men in the past – mostly traitors – but this one is gonna be my favorite, by far.

“Spike,” Bones says, stopping me before straddling my bike. “I hate to go there, but you need to call Patch and have him waiting for us. And it might be best to take your car. Just in case.”

Just in case?

But I already know. Just in case Riley isn’t in one piece when we find her.

I swallow hard, my grip tightening around my handlebars. I don’t want to think like that. Ican’tthink like that. If I let myself, I won’t be able to function. And right now, I need a clear head.

Bones isn’t wrong, though. I reach into my pocket, pull out my phone, and dial the man who keeps my guys in one piece.

“Be ready,” I say as soon as he picks up. “We’re bringing Riley home, but she might need you.”

Silence. Then a clipped, “Understood.”

Patch is a brother that I would trust with my life. And I have several times in the past. But he keeps to himself and doesn’t like to be involved in club politics. So, we call him in when he’s needed. We always invite him on runs and to club functions, but he hardly ever accepts the invite.

I hang up and shove the phone back into my pocket, swinging my leg off the bike. My gut twists as I move toward my car, every instinct screaming at me to get there faster, torun. But Bones is right. If she’s hurt, we’ll need the space to get her out safely.

As I slide behind the wheel, Foster jumps into the passenger seat, his complete focus on his phone. “Got eyes on him,” he mutters. “Chuck’s been parked there for at least thirty minutes. He’s not moving.”

Good. That means he’s settled in. Comfortable.

That means we can catch him off guard.

The roar of bikes fills the night as my brothers pull out in front of me, and I hit the gas, following close behind.

Hold on, Riley.

I’m coming.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Max

I didn’t betray Spike and the Iron Shadows. Not in the way they think, anyway. But I don’t expect them to understand my reasons.

Not that it matters. In the end, betrayal is betrayal.

The last drug run went to hell. We were supposed to deliver the merch to our buyer and walk away. Los Fantasmas was meant to stay hidden until we were gone. Then, they could take out the buyer and claim the packages. Simple. Clean.

But they got cocky. Greedy. They wanted to see if we had more than one buyer lined up that night. I told them a thousand times –one damn run, one damn buyer. All they had to do was wait and play their part. If they had, my debt would have been wiped clean.

But no. They had to push their luck, and now not only do I have the Iron Shadows out for my blood, but the damn Mexican Cartel, too.

Which brings me to my current situation.

I don’t expect to earn my way back into the club. Maybe I don’t deserve to. But I can do this one thing for them. Because no matter what they think of me, those men are still my family.

I just happened to be across from the police station last night when I saw two uniformed fuckers drag an unconscious Rileyinto a car and drive off. I tailed them the entire way here, and they never noticed.

They’re either stupid or too damn arrogant. Which works for me.

One of the men at my feet groans, and I take intense pleasure in kicking his head hard enough to shut him up. Maybe I knocked him out. Maybe I killed him. Either way, all three of these bastards are dead before the night is over.

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