Page 38 of Nines's Time

My arms burn and I try to grab the chains themselves to attempt to pull myself up to help with the pain, but it’s too much, and I know without a doubt this isn’t the worst of it. No, the worst is yet to come.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

NINES

My phone vibrates in my pocket for the third time since church started. I’ve tried to ignore it, but each time it’s gone off, it’s been back-to-back. I lean slightly to the side and stretch my leg enough to pull the damn thing out. I glance at the screen and see it’s Gavril. I’d programmed in his number.

“I’ve got to take this,” I mutter, interrupting church.

We’d come in here a bit ago and have been discussing what to do about the Crimson Blood Clan and what our next move should be. We still have more to discuss about them and get to the issue about Sniper’s cousin, Johnathan, and the fact Calyx is Meadow’s biological father.

“Who is it?” Blow demands, furrowing his brow.

“Gavril.” I swipe my finger across the screen answering it. “This better be important. We’re in the middle of something.”

“I suggest you stop whatever the hell is so important and get your ass to Meadow,” Gavril snarls through the line.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” My brow creases, and I glare down at the phone, already getting to my feet. “Meadow’s here at the clubhouse.”

“She’s not there. I can promise you that,” he snarks.

“And how do you know this?”

I look at my brothers while waiting for Gavril to answer.

“Because Meadow sent me a text message not long ago using the words, I’d told her to use when there’s trouble,” he answers. “I’ve tracked her phone and it’s still at the clubhouse, but I guarantee you she’s not.”

My heart lurches, and my gut churns as I rush out of the room and head down the hallway to my room. I throw the door open and find it empty. On the bed sits Meadow’s phone and a slip of paper.

I pick the paper up and read the simple words. She’s sorry. That it’s the only thing she could do, she didn’t have a choice.

“What the fuck?” I snarl clenching the paper in my hands.

“Brother.” Blow taps my shoulder and hands my phone back. I didn’t realize I’d tossed until now.

“She’s gone.” The words vibrate against the walls as I yell the words harshly and take the damn phone.

“Told you this already,” Gavril snaps through the speaker. “And I’ll tell you, it had to have been a good reason.”

“What did she tell you?” I demand.

“She used the code words I told her to use if she’s ever in danger and the only reason for her to be in danger is if Johnathan has found her. And he has.”

Motherfucker. I pinch the bridge of my nose and glance at my brothers standing in my room and in the doorway and hall. “We’ll get her back.”

“You will, and when you do, make that bastard pay,” Gavril says venomously. “I will send you the coordinates of her location, and you go get her.”

“You know where the fuck she is?” I demand, stiffing at the news.

“I do, but I’m not close enough to get to her, though I’m on the way,” Gavril informs me.

“As much as I want to know how the fuck you have her coordinates and shit, just give them to me. I need to get to my woman before anything happens to her.” My back teeth ache from clenching them in frustration.

I swear to fucking God, after I find her and make sure she’s okay, I’ll find out what the hell was running through her mind to think it was okay to run off the way she did.

“Sending now,” Gavril says and disconnects.

“Better call Calyx,” Sniper mutters, pulling his phone out as mine chimes.

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