Page 91 of Cold Hard Truth

“Where is she?”

“The clubhouse, I think.” Reed shrugs. “One of the guys came and picked her up. She said to let you know she’d be back in a bit. Sorry, I guess I forgot to tell you.”

Reed frowns, and even if I’d normally think she’s trying to push my buttons, right now I believe she means it.

“Everything okay?” Worry paints her face, and I feel bad because I don’t want to lay this on her.

“Yeah,” I lie. “Thanks for the message.”

Reed doesn’t know why Lyla is really back or that she’s in danger, and there’s no use adding to the people who are sitting around worried about it.

“Of course.” Reed turns to the girls’ changing room, once more disappearing to talk with Fel and Maren.

“You lied to your sister.”

“Yep.” I pass Jude and walk into the locker room, digging my phone out of my gym bag.

I have three missed calls from Kane and a text message. I switch to the text instead of listening to the messages.

Kane

Never mind. Bear will pick her up. Meet us at the club when you’re done.

Fuck, why couldn’t they wait two hours? Nothing is urgent enough that he needs her at his beck and call. Especially when he told me he thinks the threat is internal. How does he know he can trust Bear? He’s been a member for a while, but I don’t know him that well.

I don’t like that Kane asked me to take care of his daughter, but then he undermines me every chance he gets.

She was safe at the apartment. Mason was with her. They both knew the number to call to get in touch with Paul so he could come to get me if needed. Everything was under control. And like always, Kane took it upon himself to put his needs above everyone else’s.

This is why Lyla never trusted bikers—or that she could have a relationship with one. Club first, everything else second.

“You okay, man?” Jude asks, coming up beside me.

Switching over to the tracking app, I ping Lyla at the Twisted Kings clubhouse, and my grip on my phone tightens. She shouldn’t be there without me. Sheshouldn’t be anywhere without me. But at least I know she made it.

“Yeah, I’ll be good.” I turn off my screen and shove my phone in my bag. “But I’m not going to be able to hang around for your fight.”

“All good.” Jude nods. “Remember, you need anything, you let me know.”

“I will.” Because if it comes down to it, I’ll take the people who will be in my corner no matter what.

Even if I don’t want it to become necessary that he gets involved.

Kane’s recklessness got Lyla into the situation she was in eight years ago. Tonight is proof he hasn’t learned his lesson. If he isn’t going to put Lyla’s safety first, then I will. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.

29

Sage

It’s cool out tonight,and the breeze feels good on my face as my fingers grip the handlebars. I slow my bike as I pull up to the clubhouse and music vibrates the ground.

Kane is such a fucking asshole, calling Lyla here in the middle of the night instead of waiting until tomorrow. The last thing she needs is to be surrounded by drunk and rowdy bikers. She was nervous enough when we were here, and it was empty. But in this scene, she’s going to be thrown headfirst into everything she tried to escape.

For the first time in years, I have another reason to be thankful I never patched in.

Ever since Lyla returned, it’s been like scaling a wall, but if I was a member of the club, I don’t think she could have looked past it. And I’m not sure I could handle that. Or how I’ll handle it if she decides to leave again once she’s safe.

Lyla’s like the butterflies she’s always obsessing over. Always fluttering and just out of reach.

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