Page 94 of Shattering Nash

“He’s going to come get me and…”

“Charley!” she snapped. “Get out of the house right now. Leave. Do you have an out of town friend you could stay with?”

What?

“But Nash is coming.”

“Shit,” Penny snapped. “I can’t get in touch with Inez, which makes me think she knows something. This puts you in a shitty and dangerous position. You need to get out of there. Killcreek and the Underground know you have an affiliation with an informant. They probably think you’re linked. They’re coming for you to silence you, Charley.”

Nothing Penny was saying made any sense. Inez? The Underground? It was impossible to follow this conversation.

“But Nash…”

Penny scoffed. “Nash is in the high ranks of the Underground, and he’s not going to turn his back on the organization for anyone. You stay at my house, you’re a sitting duck. Get the fuck out of there. If you need cash, I’ll send it, but get outnow.”

“I don’t even know what the Underground is, Penny. I don’t understand…”

“Everything illegal that happens in this state from drugs, guns, to murder for hire is courtesy of the Underground. And Nash is part of that. If they think you have any connection to an informant working with the authorities, they’re going to make it so you can’t be found, Charley.”

Every muscle in her body locked, and her heart pumped in her chest. Nash was involved in illegal activity? Guns, drugs, and murder? A wave of coolness washed over her. It was anything but comforting. If what Penny was saying was true, did she even really know Nash?

“Charley!”

She jumped and pressed the phone to her ear.

“Get the fuck out of the house!”

Her mind hadn’t quite caught up to her body, but Charley rushed out of the bedroom and down the stairs. She shoved her phone in her pocket and ripped open the door. She had zero plan on where she’d go and hide out, but it didn’t stop her from running. She made it just past the sidewalk when she felt a set of arms wrap over her stomach and yank her into the brush near Penny’s house. When she attempted to scream, a hand covered her mouth. A familiar man stood in front of her, smiling.

“Hey, darlin’.”

Gent.

*

“It’s always the quiet ones.” Inez shook her head, pulling a cigarette out of the box and bringing it to her lips, lighting it.

The last thirty minutes were a blurred, panicked mess. As if she hadn’t gone through enough tonight, she was now adding kidnapping to the long list of unfortunate events. Charley was beyond fear. She was well past crying. She’d gone numb on the ride over in the van. Most people might’ve tried to run, but she was no match for five bikers.

Charley had been taken back to the complex and escorted up to Inez’s apartment. It was oddly calm considering everything. The bikers hadn’t been too rough with her, and it seemed as long as she cooperated, they wouldn’t be.

“You had quite the night, fancypants.” Inez took a drag from her cigarette.

That was an understatement.

“I got Penny blowing up my phone trying to save your ass. Little did she know my boys were trying to find you. Zeke had a lot to say.” Inez’s gaze darkened, and a chill ran over Charley’s flesh. “I got questions, and your ass better answer me.”

“O-okay.” Her voice trembled, and she had to fight against her whole body shaking.

“Penny tell you not to let my boys in?” Inez watched her.

Penny did, but she wouldn’t throw her under the bus especially since she tried to help Charley.

“No, she didn’t. I saw them outside and got scared. That’s why.”

Inez smirked with a slow nod. She didn’t seem convinced. “Penny tell you to run when the coast was clear?”

Again, she did. But…

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