Page 65 of Joyride
“What was that for?”
“Because I love you. Also, I’m getting dressed and heading out. I’ll be gone for a few hours,” I tell her.
“I love you, too.” She gives me a quick kiss. “Whatever y’all are doing today, promise me you’ll both be safe.”
“I promise we’ll be safe.”
She flashes me a megawatt smile before turning for the bathroom. I smack her ass as she walks away, earning a squeal and a playful glare, making me laugh. She blows me a kiss before closing the door. I send Shade a text before I start getting ready.
To Shade:Meet you in the main room in thirty.
I move to my closet, grabbing a random t-shirt. Then walk to my dresser to get clean boxer briefs and jeans. Getting dressed with one hand has been pretty difficult, but I’m getting the hang of it. By the time my shoulder is healed, I’ll be a pro at it. The main thing I’ve needed help with is putting my hair in a bun. Today, I’ll brush it out and leave it. My phone pings, letting me know I have a new message.
From Shade:Be there in twenty.
“Asshole,” I mutter, shaking my head. By the time I finish getting dressed, Wren is already out of the shower.
“Do you need help with anything?” She walks toward me, wearing nothing but a towel.
I bite my lip as my eyes roam over her body. My mouth waters at the memory of tasting her sweet cunt. I shake my head, clearing the thoughts away. “I’m good, Little Bird. Thank you, though.” I slide my cut on and put my sling back on. “Don’t you and Sienna get into too much trouble today.”
“Damn it, that’s exactly what we had planned,” she teases.
I kiss her forehead and head to the main room.
“Sketch! Where’s your better half,” Sienna asks.
“Can’t argue with that. She’s in our room getting dressed,” I tell her.
“Thanks.” She walks past me, heading to get Wren. Had she been anyone else, I would have stopped them in their tracks. Being that she’s Wren’s best friend and they lived together for so long, I can’t stop her from going in there.
“Your woman is a force to be reckoned with.” I laugh.
“Ain’t that the fuckin’ truth.” He shakes his head, smiling. “Let’s go.”
“Is anyone up there already,” I ask as we walk to Shade’s car.
“Yeah, Ratchet is waiting for us.”
The drive to the barn is short but long enough for my anger to surface as I remember the things Wren told me. As soon as we pull up, I climb out of the car and head inside with Shade right behind me. Ratchet is sitting in a folding chair next to the closet that holds the hidden door to the basement. He stands when he sees us walking toward him.
“Ready to have some fun?” Ratchet smirks.
“Let’s do this,” I say. We follow him into the closet and through the hidden door, walking down the stairs. Other than the light from the stairs, it’s completely dark down here. Ratchet flips a switch at the bottom of the stairs, turning a light on. Groans of discomfort come from both occupied cells.
“Rise and shine, assholes. Your time is up,” I shout. In the first cell on the right is TJ. I glance at him, laying on the ground. His face is unrecognizable, and he’s barely even breathing. “How is this piece of shit still breathing?”
“He won’t be after today,” Shade says. “We’ve let him live long enough.”
I move on to Zack’s cell. His hands are chained, hanging on a hook from the ceiling. He lifts his head, his eyes meeting mine.
“You won’t get away with this. My father will fucking destroy your stupid, little gang,” Zack spits out.
I laugh. “Yourfatherhelped us find you. He doesn’t give two shits about you.”
Shock crosses his face but disappears just as fast.
“He knows you were planning to attempt to take him down. For what? Soyoucould take over the Italian Mafia?”
