Page 58 of Ryder

“I know that. I meant backup to make sureyoudon’t kill him.”

“Oh, I’m gonna enjoy drawin’ out the torture in this life and the next,” I reply. “He can run, but he can’t hide.”

Bronco jogs to keep up with me. I’m on a mission. “Can’t believe Crystal got involved with a Devils Ink member. What is she thinkin’?”

“She’s naive,” I say. “He was part of an MC back in Phoenix, then moved clubs. Crystal claims she didn’t know, and she looked horrified when I explained the one percent situation?—”

“She didn’t know about it?”

“Says she didn’t, but we all know how headstrong she can be, stubborn too, when she puts her mind to something.”

“Not like Crystal to be blind, though?—”

I turn to him sharply. “He’s been hurtin’ her.” The words feel like acid leaving my tongue. “That son of a bitch put his hands on my sweet girl, and he’s gonna fuckin’ pay the price.”

“I’m with you on that, but we gotta do this the club’s way.”

I tug on the lapels of my cut. “I know that. Not stupid. I heard what he said.”

“Didn’t say you were, but I know you. You’re not the only one who’s headstrong and stubborn.”

I shove him in the shoulder as we reach our sleds. “Shut the fuck up and follow me.”

I stare at the mess in Crystal’s apartment, stunned for a second. There’s stuff scattered everywhere. Her suitcase is open on the floor; her things strewn across it. A lamp on the side table in the lounge is shattered across the hardwood.

“Crystal?” I yell. I race into the bedroom. It’s the same story there. Her bag is on the floor, the contents still inside. I reach down and pick up her cell phone.

“Holy shit,” Bronco mutters. He turns away, dialing someone as I zone out.

“She’s gone,” I whisper. “She can’t be…”

I close my fingers around her phone, like somehow that will make her magically appear.She said he wasn’t going to be home until tonight. I let her go. I let her walk into the lion’s den without thinking.

Panic rises through me as I continue to search, knowing in my heart she isn’t here.

“Bronco!” I yell.

He ends his conversation and jogs into the bathroom. “Fuck, she’s not here. She’s not here! That fuckin’ bastard took her!”

“We’ll find her,” he says. “We’ll go back to the clubhouse, round up the boys.”

“No! We have to go now, to their clubhouse. I’ll kill them all.”

“Think.” Bronco grips my bicep, but I shrug out of his hold. “You know what Cash said.”

“That was before she was kidnapped!” I growl.

“Ryder.” He tugs more firmly. “For fuck’s sake, don’t do this. Jett can check security?—”

“It’s him. This hasassholewritten all over it.”

“So we’ll deal. There is strength in numbers.”

I grab the nearest thing I can find and hurl it into the shower. The glass smashes everywhere. “He’ll fuckin’ kill her!”

“Not if we get to him first. I called Cash, he’s gonna send Hawk over to watch the apartment, as well as Chains. Nobody’s gonna get past those guys if he comes back, or if anyone else shows up, they’ll be here.”

“He must’ve come home early and found her packin’. Holy fuck.” I’m in a state of panic as I gather up her things and stuff them back into the hold-all. “She’s gonna need her things when I get her back. It’s gettin’ cold out, I should pack a sweater.”

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