Page 74 of Savage Loyalty

His lips twitched in what might have been amusement, but he didn’t respond. After a few moments, he stood back, scribbling something on his clipboard. “You’re healthy enough,” he said. “For now.”

“What does that mean?” I demanded, but he was already leaving, the door slamming shut once more.

I slumped back against the wall, my heart racing. They weren’t just toying with me; they were assessing how long I could last. How much time they had to use me. The realization sent a fresh wave of terror through me, but I swallowed it down, forcing myself to think.

I had to get out. And I had to do it soon.

I didn’t remember falling asleep, but I woke with a start, my heart pounding as muffled shouts reached my ears. I sat up as much as the chains would allow, straining to hear. The voices grew louder, angrier, and then—a gunshot. My breath hitched, fear freezing me in place.

A scream pierced the air, high-pitched and desperate. The metallic clatter of something heavy falling to the floor sent a jolt through me. Panic clawed at my chest as the sounds of chaos intensified: more gunfire, footsteps pounding against the concrete, and voices yelling orders I couldn’t make out.

I clutched my stomach protectively, my mind racing. Was this a rescue? Or had something even worse come for me? The baby kicked against my hand, a small, grounding reminder that I couldn’t let fear consume me.

The door to my cell rattled violently, the handle turning sharply before it burst open. I recoiled, pressing myself against the wall as the light from the hallway spilled into the room. For a terrifying moment, I expected one of the Serpents to appear, ready to drag me into whatever hell was unfolding outside.

Instead, Ryder stepped inside, his silhouette dominating the doorway. His eyes found mine instantly, blazing with a mix of fury and relief. His chest heaved as he took in the sight of me, chained and battered but alive.

“Delilah,” he said, his voice rough, like gravel scraping against metal. He crossed the room in three strides, kneeling beside the cot and reaching for the chains.

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. The flood of emotions was too much—relief, fear, anger, and something deeper that I didn’t have the strength to name.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his hands working quickly to undo the restraints. “You’re safe now.”

I have no idea how he did it but the chains fell away, and he helped me sit up fully. His touch was firm but careful, his eyes scanning me for injuries. “Can you stand?”

I nodded, though my legs felt like jelly as I swung them over the edge of the cot. Ryder wrapped an arm around my waist, steadying me as I wobbled to my feet. The room tilted slightly, but I held on, leaning into his strength.

“We need to move,” he said, his voice low but urgent. “They’re regrouping, and we don’t have much time.”

I didn’t argue. My body screamed in protest with every step, but I forced myself to keep going, one foot in front of the other. Ryder guided me through the dimly lit hallway, his movements deliberate and controlled, like a predator stalking its prey. Gunfire echoed from somewhere nearby, followed by a loud explosion that made the walls shake.

“Stay close,” he said, glancing over his shoulder to meet my eyes. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I believed him. In that moment, despite everything, I believed him completely.

CHAPTER TWENTY- SIX

RYDER

The air outside the Reapers’ clubhouse was electric, charged with the kind of tension that came right before hell broke loose. The parking lot was a sea of bikes, their engines quiet for now, but their riders were anything but. I stood near my bike, the weight of my cut heavy on my shoulders as I watched my brothers and the Vipers circle each other like wolves forced into an uneasy truce.

Cruz and I hadn’t said a word to each other since he and his men rolled in. The tension between the Reapers and the Vipers was palpable, but tonight, we weren’t enemies. We couldn’t afford to be. Not with Delilah’s life hanging in the balance.

“Church, now,” Grim barked, his voice cutting through the chatter. The two groups exchanged wary glances, but everyone fell in line, filing into the meeting room. The table was packed, Reapers on one side, Vipers on the other, and the air was thick with animosity.

Grim leaned forward, his eyes sharp as they swept over the room. “We all know why we’re here. The Serpents have Delilah. They’re using her as leverage to hurt both clubs. This is a calculated move, and we’re not going to let them win.”

“You better be right about this,” Cruz said, his tone low but laced with anger. “Because if this is some kind of trap, I’m not dragging my men down with you.”

“It’s not a trap,” I snapped, my fists clenching on the table. “The Serpents are desperate. Taking Delilah is their way of hitting us both where it hurts.”

“Enough,” Grim growled, cutting off the brewing argument. “We don’t have time for this shit. We’ve got intel on the Serpents’ compound. They’ve fortified it, but it’s not impenetrable.” He jabbed a finger at the map spread out on the table, the compound circled in red. “We’ll split into two teams. Reapers will hit the north side. Vipers take the south. We’ll converge in the middle and clear the place out.”

“And Delilah?” Cruz demanded, his eyes boring into Grim’s.

“We’ll find her,” Grim said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “But we stick to the plan. No rogue moves.”

Cruz’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “Fine. But if anything happens to her…”

---