Page 59 of Ryder

“Dude,” Bronco says. “It’s gonna be okay.”

I know I’m rambling, but I can’t help it. Crystal’s missing, and the asshole she was leaving has her.

I walk out of the bathroom and that’s when I see it. Bloodstains. There’s fucking bloodstains on the bottom of the comforter. “Fuck no,fuck!”

Bronco mutters a spring of profanities behind me as I clutch the end of the comforter in my palm. “He made her bleed.”

“Bud, let’s get outta here, head back to church. Meetin’s been called,” Bronco says.

I don’t remember leaving the apartment, or passing Hawk and Chains in the hallway. Nor do I know how I drove to the clubhouse without diverting over into Devils Ink territory. All I can think about is Crystal.

Where is she?

What did that asshole do to her?

And then all the things I’m going to do to him when I get my hands on him.

When we get inside, Cash and the rest of the members — Jett, Harlem, Priest, Tag and Riot — all look up.

Cash ushers me to sit down, and I do out of respect. My knee bounces as he begins talking. “Looks like we’ve gota problem on our hands,” he starts. “Hawk called me from Crystal’s apartment. We know she’s been probably been hurt and kidnapped?—”

“Probably?” I bark. “There’s noprobablyabout it!”

Bronco kicks my shin under the table.

“I know tensions are high.” Cash stares me down. “But if you wanna keep sittin’ in that chair, son, you better learn to zip it.”

I feel the rage building deep inside me, but somehow I manage to put a lid on it.

“This asshole got a death wish?” Harlem asks from down the table.

“Probably thinks she means nothin’ to him, therefore the club won’t retaliate,” Priest cuts in.

“Makes sense,” Riot agrees. “Though, he might be rethinkin’ that decision when we show up.”

Harlem focuses his attention on me. “So, she does mean somethin’ to you?”

“She’s important to both of us,” Bronco says when I clench my fists. “We grew up with her. She’s innocent. I don’t know exactly how she got caught up in all of this, but we’ve gotta help get her back.”

“Never said we weren’t gonna do that.” Harlem holds his hands up. “Nevada and JJ went to drive by the Devils’ clubhouse in the truck, get a scope on what’s goin’ down.”

Nevada is one of the newer prospects, and toting for the next position around the table. JJ is one of the guys patched in, but doesn’t hold a place around the committee table.

Cash appointed Harlem as his VP, but Harlem’s only taking the position temporarily. Said he likes being the club’s Enforcer and wants to keep it that way. So far, nobody has stepped up to the plate, but my guess is Hawk may be the next VP.

“As far as I can tell, he’s got a room at the club, but no other hideouts,” Jett informs us. “Security footage showed him…”

I glance in his direction when he trails off. “Showed him what?”

He swallows hard, his gaze moving to Cash. “Carryin’ Crystal in his arms to his truck.”

I feel faint. Is it possible to still be aware of your surroundings, but completely black out at the same time? “Was sh-she…isshe a-alive?”

“I’m gonna be honest, brother,” Jett says. “I couldn’t tell from the footage. The thing is, he would’ve fled the scene and left the body if he’d killed her.”

He doesn’t know that. Nobody could know that! I nod. I have to believe that she is, because if he’s killed her, I’ll never forgive myself.

Why the fuck did I let her go home by herself?I was too enraged to see straight, and now she’s gone.

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