Page 77 of The Devil's Redemption

“I haven’t heard from Royce yet. If I don’t hear anything within the hour, I’ll call him. If I find out they were unsuccessful, I’ll implement a full, immediate lockdown.”

Once my initial anger passes, I look back toward Maggie’s room to see Sasha standing just outside of it. The terrified look on her face fuels my anger again. I made a promise to her that she would never again feel the fear that she does right now.

I swore there would be no broken promises, and I’m going to see to it that I keep my word.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I’m nearingthe one-week mark of my first ever lockdown.

Something I never expected I’d be forced into, but I’ll just add that to the list of fuckery that I’ve experienced over the last two months. It might be a little more bearable if I wasn’t forced into such close proximity to some of the people I hate most in this world.

Namely Stone and Lizzy.

Other than that, there’s not a huge difference in the way Blade and I were living prior to this. We stuck around the clubhouse most of the time, not having anywhere else we needed to be. Again, I’m keeping Blade out of work, but he assures me that his brothers have it covered. They pushed back all of their appointments this week anyway.

We finally got word from the Bastards around four in the morning the night that Jasper got away. They confirmed that they never saw him enter the Gettysburg area. They had men posted on several different roads Jasper could have gotten into town on. Royce agreed that it was safer to keep Maggie here rather than force her to come home until all of this is over and done with.

I’m really hoping he changes his mind by then.

I don’t want her to leave.

“Draw four,” Mariah giggles as she lays her Uno card down on the table.

Drama forces a look of mock hurt to his face as he picks up four cards from the deck in the middle of the table we’re playing at. Drama, Mariah, me, Blade, Maggie, Hawk, and Cap—seven of us—crowded around a four-person card table isn’t very comfortable, but I can’t deny that I’m actually enjoying myself right now.

For the first time all week.

Stone’s been keeping mostly to his office, only coming out at mealtimes. Blade hasn’t even acknowledged Lizzy’s existence all week, much to my delight. She’s spent most of the time on Pretty Boy’s dick. If I’m forced to be around them, I’m at least happy they’re not in my face.

I’ve mostly been hanging out with Blade in his room, or with Maggie in hers.

I finally dug my phone out of Blade’s nightstand when we went into lockdown. I’m taking Jasper’s note to heart. He knows where I work, he may even know about Steve. I can’t be certain, but I do know that I am worried for the safety of them both. I’ve been in constant contact with them since the moment Stone implemented the lockdown.

Blade installed some kind of tracker app for me so we can view one another’s location at all times. It doesn’t make me feel much safer, but the idea that we can possibly locate each other in the event that something happens is definitely a plus.

Speaking of Steve, the face of my phone lights up when another message from him comes through.

“Doesn’t that Boy Scout know you’re safe here? He doesn’t need to text you every five minutes,” Blade gripes.

“I thought you guys were cool now or whatever?” I ask.

“I’d say we’recivil, but I don’t think I’ll be saving a spot for him on my dance card or anything like that.”

I roll my eyes but also smile.

“You’re such a smart-ass,” I declare as I lay my green three on top of the pile. “It’s your turn, nowgo.”

Picking up my phone, I check my latest message. Steve was understanding when I first texted him a few days ago. I had about eighty missed texts and calls from him, but I told him that I was too overwhelmed to deal with all of that.

I firmly believe I would have felt that way had I had possession of my phone before the start of this lockdown, so it really wasn’t a lie.

Steve: Checking in again. Sorry… I’m sure you’re getting tired of all of my messages. I just can’t help myself. How are things?

Me: They’re all right. I’m glad you’re safe. I’m worried about both you and Ellie. Ellie especially because he knows where I work. I’m afraid he might go to the diner and do something terrible.

Steve: I’ve been hanging around there often. Kind of a self-appointed security guard. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get anywhere close to the diner.

Easy for him to say. He doesn’t know the full extent of Jasper’s psychosis. There’s nothing that will stop him from getting what he wants. I am well and fully clear about that.

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