Page 123 of Ryder

I shake my head. “I had it under my seat. Had to think fast.”

“You know Ade sent the signal.” Rock cocks his head. “Damn little genius.”

“I’m so proud of him.” I’m getting choked up. “He’s the one who saved us. Jarrell, Jimmy’s brother, threw out my cell, and my GPS tracker.”

“We figured,” Rock huffs. “Damn near gave Cash a fuckin’ heart attack with your kid in the truck.”

“Tell me about it,” I mutter.

“Ryder?” I hear my wife cry. “Ryder!”

I turn to see Crystal running toward me, tears streaming down her face. I move, but she’s already on me, slamming into my body as I lift her and she wraps her legs around me. “Oh, my God,” she cries. “I thought… I thought… Fuck, I was out of my mind trying to get to you.” Her body shakes with sobs as I squeeze her tight.

“I shot him,” I say. “Jimmy’s twin brother.”

“What?”

“Yep. He was gonna shoot me, and Ade, to get back at you.”

She cries harder. “I didn’t even know he had a brother.”

“He was in jail at the time.” It also makes me wonder why Jimmy never said anything, but having an identical twin could have its advantages. Especially when Jarrell got out.

She pulls back and I kiss her hard, needing her.

“You saw Ade?” I ask in between kisses.

“Yes, he’s with Casey now. I’m so sorry,” she starts.

I shut her up with another kiss. “Don’t start spoutin’ that shit. You didn't know. And even if he did have a brother, or any other family, nobody could’ve known he’d pull a stunt like this.”

“I was so scared,” she whispers. “How did you disarm him?”

“I’ll fill you in later. The important thing is, we’re okay. I made Ade put his headphones on and asked him to playCrocodile.”

“I’m so proud of him.” She tears up.

“Our child saved both our lives, babe. He did what I asked and even told me his tummy hurt.”

I wipe away her tears, thankful to have her back in my arms. “I think we need a vacation after this.”

I press my forehead to hers. “I think that sounds like a perfect idea.”

The boys dealt with Jarrell’s body; no doubt making it disappear deep into the bayou, and I don’t have one inch in me to feel anything for him. The emotional damage and scarring he’s potentially done to my child are unforgivable. I took a risk reaching for that gun, but he had that crazy glint in his eyes. It was kill or be killed.

I never in a million years thought something like this could happen. It makes me want to carry that semi on me at all times. I don’t even like having a gun in the car, much less anywhere else, but my viewpoint has shifted.

“You good?” Cash slaps me on the back.

“No,” I tell him truthfully. “Motherfucker was on somethin’, waving a loaded gun around. I had to think fast.”

“And you did. It’s why you’re VP,” Cash says.

“I thought it was because of that pretty boy face?” Nevada pipes up. “Or so Crystal always says.”

I flip him the bird and he laughs.

“Didn’t need the club after all,” Riot yawns. “Had it all handled by himself.”

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