Page 23 of Ryder's War

“It’s already been four days.”

“It’s a special, extreme child care center that includes boarding. You can leave them overnight for three days. After that, they call the state for abandonment.”

Tiffany’s hand tightened on the woman’s arm.

Ryder bit out harshly, “You should have thought about that before you took this job sniping.”

“Please. If you want me to beg, I will,” she pleaded, sounding on the verge of doing exactly that.

“I don’t get off on your misery, you dumb bitch. I’m pissed that you tried to shoot my club president, and I want justice. You ain’t goin’ nowhere.” Turning his back, Ryder headed for the cell door.

“If you won’t do it for me, do it for Darkness.”

Practically freezing mid-step, Ryder slowly turned around, and if looks could kill, the woman would be dead. Tiffany was glad she wasn’t on the receiving end of his anger.

Ryder took a couple of steps back in her direction before he spoke. “If Darkness had a kid, I’d know about it.”

Hanging her head, the now defeated woman sighed. “He doesn’t know. I didn’t want my baby around club shit.”

“The way I heard it from Devil, there was a choice to be made, and you picked him over Darkness. Sure it ain’thiskid?”

Tiffany had never seen an emptier look in someone’s eyes before, and she wasn’t sure if itwas there because of her feelings for this guy called Devil…or Darkness.

“Devil doesn’t give a shit about me. He’s got an old lady. The big thrill for Devil was depriving Darkness of me.”

“Seems like a lot of trouble solely to wreck cupid’s arrow, doll,” Ryder said with a heavy dose of irritation in his tone.

Shrugging, the woman winced from the pain in her damaged shoulder. “His club uses me to mule drugs and guns back and forth over the state line. I’m fast, smart, and can usually talk my way out of a vehicle search if I get pulled over.”

Tiffany’s eyebrows rose. The things she was hearing and seeing today…

She watched the woman's face as she spoke, recognizing the look of someone caught between worlds. Like her own past with Sawyer, some choices left permanent marks. The question was whether those scars were badges of survival or warnings of danger to come.

Closing the distance between them, Ryder stooped down to look her in the face. “And best of all, you’re expendable.”

Letting out a stuttering breath, the woman nodded. “Please just pick up my baby and bring her to me. We can sort it all out when Darkness gets out of the hospital. We can’t take a chance on Devil and his men going through my belongings. They might discover childcare receipts or other documentation to lead them to my child.”

Leaning forward until he was nearly touching noses with the clearly terrified woman, Ryder spoke in a calm, but deadly voice. “If you arelying to me, I’ll gun you down where you stand without a second thought. If you try to run, I’ll kill you. If you try to harm any of us, I’ll nail your dumb ass quicker than you can blink. If you even think of double crossing me, I promise to hunt you down and make sure it’s the last stupid decision you ever make. In fact, you’re going to have to work pretty damn hard to stay alive under my watch.”

Bowing her head, she nodded quickly. “I understand. Whatever you say, I’ll do. God knows I’m used to following orders.”

Turning to Tiffany, Ryder studied her briefly before speaking. “Patch her up and clean her up. I’ll be in the bar.”

Tiffany nodded, relieved this deadly little heart-to-heart was finally over. “Okay. You’re making the right choice here, babe.”

Reaching over, he cupped the back of her neck and dragged her forward for a brief kiss. Pulling back, he murmured, “Don’t ever trust this bitch. She’s nothing but trouble. Also, I didn’t ask for or need your approval on club business. Remember that, princess.”

Stunned by his bland, but perfectly reasonable take on the situation, Tiffany nodded. His words carried layers of meaning—a reminder that club business had its own rules, that some boundaries couldn't blur no matter how much she wanted to help. Protection came with prices.

Before Ryder could stand, she smoothed the last bandage into place, grabbed the woman’s hand, and pulled her toward the door.

Ryder’s voice floated on the air behind them. “Don’t be long, babe. I’m itching to get started on this one.”

Throwing her hand up over her shoulder, Tiffany gave him a little wave. “Come on, before he changes his mind.” Climbing the steps and leading the way to the private rooms upstairs, she opened the door to a private bath. “You can clean up here. I’ll get you something to wear.”

“Thanks.”

“What’s your name?” Tiffany asked.

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