Page 19 of Reacher's Ride or Die

“Thanks, man,” Reacher breathed. “I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Hurricane insisted, “Yonker’s is going to meet us back at Hurricane’s House with your girl and then, we’re going to sit down and talk about what to do next.”

“What do you mean?” Reacher asked. “Isn’t this all over?”

“Not by a long shot,” Tom spat, “the Vipers won’t stop until they find you, Reacher and they’ll do more than just take your woman next time. I told you—you pissed them off and they won’t be so kind next time.”

“Unfortunately, he’s right,” Hurricane said, “but we can go over everything when we get to the bar. Ryder is meeting us there too.” Reacher knew that if Ryder had flown up from Huntsville, then things would have been worse than he thought they were.

“Ryder is here?” Reacher asked.

“Yes,” Hurricane said, “once the Vipers figure out that Yonkers is part of the Royal Bastards and that we have Brandi back, an all-out war will start. Ryder will get you both someplace safe.” Reacher knew that Hurricane had things all worked out to keep him and Brandi safe, but the idea of leaving his new home in Yonkers, NY wasn’t one that he wanted to entertain. He was pretty sure that Brandi would feel the same way about leaving Gloria, but he’d do anything to keep her safe—even give up the only place that had ever felt like home to him.

Reacher walked into the bar and Brandi practically flew across the room and into his arms. “Thank God you’re okay, honey,” he breathed into her hair.

“They kept me in a cage,” she sobbed, “and sold me off like I was livestock.”

“I know, baby,” he said, holding her tightly against his body. If he had his way, he’d never let Brandi go again.

“I’m so sorry that I went with them. I thought that they were Royal Bastards. They said that something had happened to you down at the warehouses and that I was supposed to go with them. They said that they were sent to bring me to you,” she sobbed. He looked across the room at Hurricane, noticing that his Prez looked about ready to burn the entire Viper’s Den to the ground. Honestly, Reacher felt the same way.

“You guys got here fast,” Ryder said, walking into the bar from Hurricane’s office. “I talked to Savage, and he’s got everything set for Reacher and Brandi.”

“What is set for us?” Brandi asked Reacher.

“We’re going to have to leave town for a bit. My boss was in on all this, and he reminded me that the Vipers won’t forgive my getting involved in their human trafficking business or the Bastards taking you back,” Reacher said.

She shivered in his arms, and he wished that he could take away every horrible thing that those assholes had put her through over the past week. “Yonkers bought me,” she whispered. “They put me on a stage wearing this.” He looked down at her body to see that they had put her in cut-off jean shorts and a tank top that did nothing to hide the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra. “They showed me off as though I was an animal that they were selling to the highest bidder. It was humiliating.”

“I know that it was, honey, but you’re safe now, and we’re going to head down south to make sure that you stay safe,” Reacher insisted.

“We’ll be up here working to bring down the Vipers, but for now, you both will be safe down at our Huntsville Chapter. Their Prez has found you a safe house and will make sure that you have everything that you need. Plus, Yonkers or I will check in weekly to give you updates.” Hurricane offered.

“We’d appreciate that,” Reacher said.

“Don’t think that this gets you out of what I asked from you,” Hurricane said, winking at Reacher. He wasn’t sure how the hell he was supposed to be Hurricane’s Vice Prez while he was in Huntsville, but he was sure that Hurricane had a plan. He always did.

“What did he ask of you?” Brandi asked.

“We can talk about it later,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Right now, we need to get you some clothes and get on Ryder’s plane,” Reacher said.

“What about our things?” she asked. “And who will care for Gloria? I can’t just leave here.”

“You’re going to have to,” Yonkers insisted. “If something happened to either of you, it would kill my mother. She’ll understand, and Wren has agreed to take care of her until we can find her a nurse that she likes.”

“And as for your stuff,” Hurricane said, “Savage has taken care of it. You’ll have everything that you need. You two going back to Reacher’s house is just too dangerous. The Vipers are probably already looking for you, Brandi.” She nodded her agreement, but he could tell that she didn’t agree with anything that Yonkers or Hurricane was saying to her. He had to admit that a part of him wanted to go back to his place and visit Gloria before heading down to Huntsville, but the guys were right. It just wasn’t safe.

“What about my cat?” she sobbed.

Yonkers stepped behind the bar and came back out holding up a pet carrier with Mr. Cuddles Worth in it. “I figured that you wouldn’t want to leave him behind. I have a bag with his stuff and even a clean litter box for the road. He wasn’t easy to catch, and getting him into this cage was a bitch. Are you sure that he’s a cat and not a wolverine?” he joked.

Brandi ran over to Yonkers, hugging him around the neck before she took her cat from him. “Thank you so much. I’m sorry that he gave you trouble. I hope that you weren’t seriously hurt,” she said. He shook his head and Brandi let out her breath. “Good,” she said, “can you tell your mom that I’m going to miss her?” she asked.

“Of course,” Yonkers agreed.

Reacher cleared his throat, “We can Facetime Gloria once we get settled in Alabama,” he promised.

“He’s right,” Yonkers said, “my mother will understand. I’ll fill her in on what’s happening.”

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