Page 45 of Cold Hard Truth

“Whoever went after my girls has returned to town,” Kane says, gritting his teeth. “It’s why I needed to get Lyla back.”

My blood turns to ice because it doesn’t matter if I hate Lyla for leaving, I hate what they did to her more. “How do you know?”

“They sent the club a message.” Kane reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, flipping through it and then handing it to me.

On the screen is a picture of Tank, one of the new members. His skin is pale, and his eyes are sewn shut. And on his corpse is a message carved in his chest.

Your daughter is next.

“We took down Satan’s Reapers.” The club we assumed at the time was behind it.

When we searched Nick’s room and phone, we found all the damning evidence we could need. He’d been working with Satan’s Reapers behind Kane’s back and feeding them information. He was helping their leader with a plan to strip Kane of his patch and his club.

We took care of them before they got the chance.

It was over, or so I thought.

I stayed long enough to get revenge for my father. To take out my aggression on the fact that Lyla was gone. I bled dry anyone wearing a Satan’s Reaper cut before walking away from the Twisted Kings.

“I didn’t think there were any of them left.” I glance at the photo again. “What makes you think it’s the same guys?”

“Because of what’s in his hand.”

I look a little closer and spot a shriveled piece of flesh and cartilage—an ear.

I’m guessing it’s the one Ellie was missing when we buried her body.

“Fuck.” I shove his phone back at him, feeling like I’m going to be sick.

Lyla and Ellie were good girls who didn’t deserve the shit they got for being Kane’s daughters. And even if Lyla disappearing fucked me up in the head, that ear is a reminder of why she did it.

“She’s not safe out there on her own.” Kane tucks his phone back in his pocket. “At least, not until we know for sure who’s doing this.”

“Well, if it’s not Satan’s Reapers, then who?”

Kane shakes his head, but it’s Blaze who answers with a chuckle. “Long list.”

Being the president of the Twisted Kings Los Angeles chapter will put a pretty big target on your back. Especially when you’re a merciless bastard like Kane who enjoys pissing people off.

“So what do you want from me?”

Kane glances over at Blaze, and Blaze starts to chuckle as he dips his chin and shakes his head. He finds something about my question amusing, but Kane clearly doesn’t agree as he knocks Blaze on the shoulder and frowns.

“Hey, this isn’t on me.” Blaze shrugs, still trying to bury his smile.

“Go make yourself useful and have the guys meet me in church. I’ll be there in ten.”

“Whatever you say, Prez.”

Blaze grins at me when he walks past, which only seems to agitate Kane more.

“What’s his problem?” I ask.

Kane shakes his head. “Nothing.”

“Didn’t look like it.”

Kane’s gaze drifts off again to the stalls behind me, where his daughter is caged forty feet away. And when he finally looks back at me, his expression changes.

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