Page 83 of Surrender (Angels Halo MC Next Gen)

Her cheeks filled with a pretty shade of pink. “No comment.”

Laughing, I reversed from my parking spot. Everyone except for Jos had already left for the day. Before I shifted into drive, my gaze lingered on where Elias’s truck should have been.

Asshole.

Trying not to think about him, I focused on my friend. “I love how much you and Jack have grown since I first met you, Nishia. I’ve known Jack my entire life. He’s always been so distant. Honestly, I didn’t even think his facial muscles worked correctly until you came around because I can’t remember him truly smiling until he found you.”

Her face softened, heart emojis practically blazing out of her eyes as she thought about her man. With her dark hair and blue eyes behind her cute-as-fuck glasses, she could have been my pocket-sized little sister, only she was a hundred times more beautiful. Nova was the closest I’d ever come to a sister before, but when I looked at Nishia, I could pretend. My brother sure as hell didn’t look anything like me. He was basically a clone of our dad.

And I actually liked Nishia, as opposed to Ryan’s surly ass.

Traffic was nonexistent on this side of town on Fridays, so I was able to pull out of the parking lot right away. As I did, I squeezed my fantasy sister’s arm lovingly. “I’m thankful you make him happy. It’s not hard to see how much you love each other. But I have to warn you. My sister-in-law will kick my ass if I don’t tell you that no one will ever find your body if you hurt him.”

“I would never—”

My eyes were on the road as she spoke, and I was already adjusting when a piece-of-shit truck suddenly pulled out in front of me, causing her to scream. But it happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to stop the car from colliding with the American-built rust bucket.

Metal crunching like an accordion barely registered as the airbag was deployed. Pain exploded through my face even as my head was slammed back into the seat. Stars flashed, and then a dark void swallowed me like a savage monster attempting to steal what was left of my soul.

“Elias,” I whimpered, trying to fight to stay conscious, but it was a battle I couldn’t win.

CHAPTERFORTY-THREE

elias

My knuckles werewhite as I clenched them around the steering wheel while I kept my foot glued to the gas pedal. Like snapshots, the day replayed in my mind on repeat.

Finding the camera feeds Samara installed to watch out for Abi—and, in turn, the prick professor. I’d known it was coming, but I hadn’t prepared myself for the red haze of jealousy that descended over my vision when it became a reality. She could protect her friend all she wanted; I wouldn’t stop her. But fuck no, she wasn’t going to stalk another man. I was the only guy she was allowed to stalk. Ever.

Getting the call from Reid that he had an issue on his current site. Still so pissed, I’d taken off without letting Samara know. It was childish and I’d regretted it as soon as I’d left, but when I got to the site, we were so busy I didn’t have time to call her.

Finding her crashed car and losing my mind. I lost a part of my soul when I saw the blood on the airbags, no sign of my baby girl. Her phone was still in her tote in the back seat. My only way to track her had been left behind.

Jack arriving and making a call to his IT genie. But she’d gotten nowhere because Nishia’s phone was on the floor of the car right beside her broken glasses.

He’d called Nova immediately after, but I’d barely heard what he told her other than for her to hurry. The next thing I knew, my phone was ringing and Anya was screaming at me. All I could do was take the abuse she spewed at me because I deserved it.

It was my fault. Samara could be anywhere. Hurt. Alone. Scared.

“I know I fucked up!” I’d shouted into the phone, cutting her off. “Just help me find her. Please. I’ll do anything.”

That shut her up. For about two seconds, at least. “I have her location from the tracker in her arm. Get her, and keep her safe until I arrive.” And then she was giving me an address to a private cabin that was listed under some hedge fund, but it was easily linked back to Clint Morgan, Nishia’s father.

My hands shook as I punched it into my GPS, and Jack struggled to fasten his seat belt in my passenger seat.

Burning rubber, I took off, leaving Ben and all my MC brothers behind. Jack must have texted them, or maybe Nova called one of them. I wasn’t sure and didn’t care, but at some point, I saw a few motorcycles in my rearview and caught the sound of Ben’s siren.

Sweat dripped down my forehead as I floored it, my heartbeat pulsing in my ears as I sent up one prayer after another.

Please, let her be okay. Don’t take her from me. Just let me get to her, kiss her one more time, tell her I love her, and then you can take me in her place. Just take me. I’ll give my last breath for her. Please, please, please.

I tore up grass as I came to a screaming stop outside an old, single-story cabin. The paint was peeling, weeds up to my waist. Screams reached me before I could open my door. I didn’t even bother to turn off the engine as I jumped out of the truck and took off running.

Finding the front door locked, I stepped back and kicked it in. More screams filled my ears as I took in everything at once. A guy I didn’t recognize was lying in a pool of blood, his hands clutching at his throat where something was sticking out, a look of terror on his face. His eyes were still open.

Across the room, another man was on the floor. He was missing his face, the back of his head nothing but mush because his brains had been blown out. I didn’t need two guesses to know whose handiwork both dead men were.

At least Clint Morgan wouldn’t ever bother Nishia again.

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