Page 43 of Vargan

"We ride for Shadow Ridge," I say, starting my engine again. "And then I turn myself in."

Dawn is breaking over the eastern hills as we approach the town. Shadow Ridge looks peaceful from a distance—small houses nestled among green fields, the diner's neon sign still glowing faintly against the lightening sky.

We pull up to the farmhouse first, killing our engines in the yard. The place looks abandoned, the front door standing partly open, curtains stirring in the early morning breeze.

"I don't like this," Ash murmurs beside me. "Feels wrong."

Before I can respond, the door creaks wider, and Willie appears, Helen close behind him. The boy's face lights up when he sees me, then falls as he takes in the leather-clad orcs surrounding me.

"Vargan!" he calls, rushing down the steps. "You came back!"

I meet him halfway, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Where's Savvy?"

Willie's expression clouds. "She never came home. She's still at Victor's."

Cold dread washes over me. "All night?"

He nods, fear evident in his eyes. "And there are cops in town. Not just the sheriff—men in suits. They've been asking questions about you."

"New York," Ash says quietly beside me. "Right on schedule."

Helen approaches, her weathered face grim. "That girl traded everything for you," she says, accusation clear in her voice. "And you came back. Why?"

"Because she shouldn't have had to make that trade," I answer simply.

Something in Helen's expression softens. "Well, you're a damn fool. But a good one."

Ash steps forward. "What exactly happened? Did she tell you anything before she left?"

Willie shakes his head. "Just that she was selling everything to Victor, and we had to leave town. But I knew something was wrong. She never would have given up without a fight. Not Savvy."

"Victor's place," I say, turning to Willie. "Where is it?"

"North side of town," Helen answers instead. "Big mansion on the hill. Can't miss it."

"You can't just ride up there," Willie protests. "The cops—"

"The kid's right," Ash interjects. "We need to think this through."

But thinking is beyond me now. All I can see is Savvy, alone with Victor and Royce all night. All I can feel is the beast, clawing at my insides, demanding blood.

"Diesel, stay here with the boy and the woman," Ash orders, taking charge when he sees I'm beyond reason. "Keep them safe. Crow, call H.Q. and update Hammer." He turns to me. "We're going to Victor's, but no berserker shit, you hear me? That's what got you in this mess to begin with."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. The beast is too close to the surface.

Ash clasps my shoulder, his grip firm. "We'll get her back, brother. But you need to keep your head."

We mount our bikes, the engines roaring to life. As we pull away, I catch one last glimpse of Willie, standing in the yard withDiesel and Helen, watching us go with a mixture of hope and fear.

Hold on, Savvy. I'm coming.

Victor's mansion is everything I expected—ostentatious, sprawling, a monument to wealth built on the backs of the people he's crushed. As we approach, I see what I feared most: police cruisers in the circular drive, men in suits standing on the manicured lawn.

"Shit," Crow mutters beside me. "Place is crawling with law."

I ignore him, accelerating up the driveway. Behind me, I hear Ash and Crow curse, then follow. The detectives turn at the sound of our approach, hands moving to weapons when they see three orcs on motorcycles bearing down on them.

"Stop right there!" one shouts as we skid to a halt, dust billowing around us.

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