Page 86 of Declan

“Taken? By who? When? What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Because of you!” Wesley shouts, voice cracking. “You drove her away. And now she’s gone. She’s in danger, and it’s your goddamn fault. We don’t need you. You’re not her family! I am. Stay the fuck out of this!”

I don’t even acknowledge him. I turn to Jeanne, the only person in this room I trust to tell the truth. “Tell me. Please.”

Her voice shakes. “She left before sunrise. I thought maybe she was coming to see you. She didn’t take her phone. I waited, but she never came back. I got worried and drove around. I found her car. It was just sitting there. Driver’s door open. And Lena, she was gone.”

A sound escapes me, half gasp, half sob, as I sink into a chair. My chest feels like it’s caving in. My girl. My Lena. Gone. And Wesley is right, it’s because of me.

“We’ve got leads,” Hux says, leaning in. “We’re not giving up.”

“What leads?” I ask, barely able to speak.

“You care now?” Wesley screams. “You didn’t give a shit last night when she was taken!”

That’s it. Something in me snaps. I fly out of my chair, grabbing Wesley by the collar and slamming him against the wall. The room erupts in shouts, but I block it all out.

“You say that one more fucking time, and I’ll end you. You hear me?” I growl through clenched teeth, my face inches from his. “I took your shit last night, but not today. Not when Lena’s missing. I love her. And I’ll burn the world down to bring her home.”

I shove him harder against the wall, the rage and fear boiling over.

“When we find her, and we will, I’m never letting her go. You can either stand with us, or you stand alone. Because I’m not giving up on her. And I’m not wasting another second fighting with youwhile she’s out there afraid, alone, maybe hurt. We don’t have time for your goddamn pride.”

Wesley glares back, but something flickers in his eyes. Pain. Guilt. Maybe even fear.

I step back, releasing him. “We both love her. So make a choice. Are we fighting each other or fighting for her?”

Hux flicks the ash from his cigarette and leans forward, his face tight. “We got word from one of our guys on the force. He heard something from dispatch. Lena was pulled over early this morning by a cop.”

That cold, sinking feeling in my gut intensifies. “Who?”

Hux hesitates. “Derek Woods.”

Time stops. Air leaves my lungs.

“No,” I whisper, heart cracking in my chest. “Fuck, no.”

“Jason’s father,” Kaden adds sharply.

I don’t look at any of them. I can’t. Shame coats my skin like oil.

The room goes silent.

“We knew there’d be a risk of that asshole after we took his son, but—” Elias starts but doesn’t finish.

“Yeah,” I nod, jaw clenched. “That’s not all of it, though.” I glance up at Wesley briefly before keeping my focus on the table. “Lena came to me because she owed Jason money. He was pressuring her because we, I, decided to give him time. That son of a bitch put his hands on Lena. Grabbed her, scared her. So, when she came to me, I had her set up a meeting place, and shetold him she had his money. Only, she didn’t go; I did. That’s the day I brought him here.”

“Jeanne, thank you for everything, but you need to leave now. Wesley will update you as soon as we know anything,” Hux says, staring at me as he says it. She leaves, and he slams his hands on the table. “I know you’re hurting, but don’t ever bring up club business in front of an outsider again. You fucking got me?”

“Forgot she was here,” I admit, shaking my head.

“She doesn’t understand it, but why didn’t you tell us? You didn’t think to say something?” Kaden asks.

“I was protecting her,” I snap. “She didn’t want anyone to know. She was scared and worried about Wesley’s reaction to her gambling. I was trying to shield her from more pain. And now she’s paying for it.”

Wesley slams his fist on the table. “So now Daddy Dearest wants revenge.”

Hux nods, grim. “We know he’s as dirty as they come, but we also know where he lives.”