Page 130 of Boulder's Weight

His face is pale, eyes unfocused, but they sharpen when I enter.

"Boulder," he croaks, attempting to sit up. "They took her. I tried to stop them?—"

"Easy," I say, gently pushing him back onto the cot. "Save your strength. Tell me what happened. Everything you remember."

Sam swallows, his hand shaking as he reaches for the water glass beside him. "It was a set-up from the start. Astra called Kelsey, said there was an emergency at the café. She sounded terrified."

"So you went with her?"

He nods, wincing at the movement. "I couldn't let her go alone, even with Rooster and Lashes. Something felt off." His eyes find mine, filled with guilt. "I should have stopped her. Should have made her wait for you, or Amara, or someone."

"You couldn't have known," I say, though part of me wants to scream at him for letting her walk into danger.

But that isn't fair—Sam loves his sister. He'd already taken a beating for her from Benji.

"When we got there, everything seemed normal at first. But it was too quiet." Sam's voice falters. "Then Astra appeared, a man with a gun to her back. She said they had Python."

I can imagine the scene—Kelsey facing her friend in danger, the confusion, the fear.

My stomach knots painfully at the thought of her frightened, facing down men with guns, knowing what was coming.

"How many men?"

"Five that I saw. Maybe more out of sight." Sam's hands clench into fists on the thin blanket. "I tried to fight, to give her a chance to run, but one of them blindsided me. I saw Rooster go down, blood everywhere. Lashes took a hit to the shoulder."

He's quiet for a moment, reliving it.

"Last thing I remember is Kelsey screaming my name, then something hit me. When I came to, locals were trying to help. Astra was there, crying, saying they'd let her go after... after they took Kelsey and Lashes."

"Did you recognize any of them?" I ask, fighting to keep my voice level.

Sam shakes his head. "They weren't Benji's usual guys. More professional. Military-type movements." He hesitates. "But they knew who Kelsey was. Called her by her birth name—Cady. I think the other guy you said something about has something to do with it."

Benji is working with Andrés's men, we already know that… but Sally is the one with the big bucks.

She’s the one who could pay for hired help of that level.

The next thing I know, Amara and Razor are standing in the doorway. "Jesus Christ," Razor grumbles. "They fuckers are splitting our focus, trying to get us to pick and choose who we save."

I meet Amara's eyes across the room, seeing the same cold fury I feel.

This isn't just about Kelsey anymore—this is an attack on the club as a whole.

"We need to prioritize," Amara says, her voice steadier than mine would be if I were in her position. "We’ll get Zorro to take a team to the warehouse where we think Python is being held. Boulder, you focus on finding Kelsey. I’ll get Axel to coordinate with Brick to try and locate Lashes."

I nod, grateful she understands without me having to say it—I can't focus on saving the club if Kelsey’s in danger.

"Python's tough," Razor says, clapping me on the shoulder. "He can hold out longer than most."

Python will be able to handle himself longer than Kelsey might at Benji's hands.

I can't bear to think about what that sadistic fuck might be doing to her.

The image of her tied up, scared, being hurt—it makes me want to tear through walls with my bare hands.

Before I can respond, my phone rings.

Unknown number.

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