Page 38 of Dane's War

Looking at the screen, I inwardly groan at the sight of the name. Rebecca. A friend who I thought was a friend but wasn’t really. She only wanted to be able to grow close to me in order to get to Brady. I know this because I walked in on them a couple days before leaving Brady while he’d been thrusting into her mouth. It’s not like it was something that I hadn’t seenbefore, but never Rebecca, she was supposed to be my friend.

A friend I’d been able to keep. She didn’t know what he did to me. I didn’t talk about it with her, but in the end, it didn’t matter. She just wanted to be able to fuck Brady like every other woman who came near him. They all thought he was amazing rather than the monster he really is.

Ironic that they would freak out, scream, and run the other way if they ever saw, let alone knew that shifters and vampires were real. They see them as monsters where I know the truth, and the real monsters are men and women like Brady and his friends.

For some unknown reason, I decided to answer the phone. “What do you want, Rebecca?”

“I see you’ll answer the phone for your little slut of a friend, but you won’t for your man.” Brady chortles, sounding mockingly. “You realize the headache you’ve caused for me, sweetheart?”

“Go to hell, Brady,” I snap and pull the phone away from my ear, ready to hang up on him.

“You hang up on me, I’ll kill your mother,” he says loud enough for me to hear.

At the threat, I stop and bring the phone to my ear, but I don’t say anything.

“I’m guessing I’ve got your attention now,” he remarks, seemingly amused that I didn’t hang up. “Since you’re listening, I’ll tell you, I’ve got one of my best men on your mother. She doesn’t know he’s there. She’s going about her business at the grocery store, I might add, but if you don’t do what I tell you, I’ll order him to put a bullet in her head. Even with her sharp shifter senses, she won’t see it coming.”

A gasp leaves my lips before I can stop it, and I know he hears it, considering the fact he starts laughing.

“Didn’t think I knew the truth, sweetheart? I’ve known since before I started it with you. I knew you’d be my way in.”

“In for what? I’m not a shifter.”

“Oh, I know you’re not, but your entire family is. Your brother is the VP of the Iron Howlers MC, he’ll do anything for you. Including providing muscle, if need be, to keep you safe.”

“Bandit and his club don’t do anything like that. That’s not what they’re about,” I inform him, getting to my feet and going in search of Corbin or one of Dane’s brothers. I have to save my mom, and I can’t do that without their help. “My brother’s club would never provide muscle for you.”

“Maybe so, but with the right incentive,I find people, including shifters, will do exactly what I tell them to do,” Brady states just as I spot Corbin standing inside the clubhouse, looking like he’s about to leave. Coby and Zavier were with him.

Corbin’s gaze comes directly to me. I’m guessing sensing my presence and mood with the way his brows draw together.

“What incentive would that be?” I ask, unsure I want the answer. I move closer to him and his brothers. Without Dane being here, he’s it. He’ll help. Cyrus is his brother, he wouldn’t want to see anything happen to Cyrus. At least, I hope not.

I take the phone from my ear and put it on speaker in time for Corbin to also hear Brady.

“Let’s just say, I know your brother’s got himself a sweet little piece that would be great to add to my collection. Her and you together, yeah, that would be a good incentive, but that wouldn’t be enough. ‘Cause, see, I know you’re hiding out with the Spiked Raiders MC. Those men, well, they know how to run protection and do it right. They’ll do what’s needed if they want to make sure their women don’t end up being taken from them.”

My eyes widen at the threat Brady’s making.

“Now, if you be a good girl and come out of the clubhouse now, get in the car I’ll have come around foryou, then I’ll leave them out of it. Won’t even go after them for what happened to Randy and Travis.”

Corbin takes my phone from me and lifts it out of my reach. “You think to come near my mate or anyone in this clubhouse, fucker, you’ve got another thing coming. You don’t know who the fuck you’re messing with.” Finished, he ends the call and hands it back to me.

“He has someone on my mom.”

Nodding, Corbin pulls out his cell and makes a call to, I’m sure, Cyrus while also putting a hand on my upper back and ushering me to one of the tables. “Sit here. I’ll get Karsyn to come sit with you. Want something to drink?”

“No,” I whisper. I didn’t want anything but to know my mom was okay.

“Right,” Corbin grunts and goes back to speaking to whoever he is talking to.

I try to pay attention, but I find it hard, considering all I want more than anything right now is to see my mom, to know she’s okay. To be in Dane’s arms and know everything’s going to be okay.

What seems like hours but is only minutes, Karsyn and Lake, join me at the table Corbin sat me at. My mind is still reeling with questions and wondering if my mom is okay. Is Sloane? Brady is crazy if he thinks my brother’s club or Dane’s would ever be muscle for him. They’re not the type to cower. I know this, and still, it scares me because it’s my fault they are all in danger now.

“It’s gonna be okay. Everything is happening as it’s supposed to,” Karsyn whispers, reaching out to take my hand with her free one. Her other arm was curled under baby Asher who was sleeping snugly against her chest.

“It’s all my fault,” I tell her, wishing I could make it all not be happening.

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