Page 52 of Fractured Souls

“Want to tell me what you were thinking? Which by the way, you are not as stealthy as you think. Well, maybe for other people you are, but for those that know you? Yeah, it was easy to tell you were up to something. Cade and I waited in the truck for you to leave and then tracked your phone.”

“You made me run that whole way? You could've given me a ride!” Ryker whines.

I see Cade white-knuckle the steering wheel and sigh. “Ryker, that is not the point. You need to explain everything before we get back, because I have a feeling it's not just Noah waiting for us at the club.”

He goes on to explain everything in detail. I have to take a couple of deep breaths to keep myself from losing it on him. I know he is already done for back at the club. And even though it's messed up, I do understand where his mind was at. It's just the way Ry is. He basically did the same thing to me. Forcing his way in when he decides you are going to be in his life forever.

While we drive, we all sit in silence. I'm assuming thinking about the same thing: what Ry found. I can only imagine what kind of hell Harley has had to live through. I wish we could’ve done something sooner, but we didn’t know what was going on and then we had to trust Rage and the guys to know how to handle things.

Bile rises in my throat as I think over what has probably happened in the basement and I have to force myself to breathe through it as I tap my fingers on my thigh counting to calm myself.

As we get close to the compound, Cade speaks, “You need to keep yourself in check, Ryker. You fucked up tonight, and no one is going to be happy. Take whatever they throw at you. Don’t get us kicked out before we are even in.”

Ryker nods, knowing Cade talking means he is deadly serious. If Ry goes, we go. If they decide he can’t prospect or become a member, we all walk.

When we get back, we all head into the main clubhouse together. Rage, Noah, Sugar, Stone, Axe, and a few other members are waiting at one of the tables.

Ryker freezes, and I see the moment he truly realizes he fucked up. I nudge him to move forward, and he walks towards the table. No one says a word; they all just keep their eyes glued on Ry.

I nudge him again. “Spill it,” I whisper. He nods and sighs.

After he is done walking them through everything, including what he saw in the basement, everyone looks outraged. Noah wants retribution for her, and most everyone agrees.

That is, until Sugar reminds us, “She left. Whatever happened to her, she found a way to go. We can only hope that she got somewhere safe.” He looks at his brothers. “We have rules and can only help when asked, and y’all know that.”

Everyone nods, a few still looking angry and ready to storm over to the Wilson home and demand answers.

I scrunch my brows thinking about what Sugar just said. I am not sure what they are talking about. Club rules? Ry, Cade, and I don’t know everything that club does since we aren't members yet, but we know a lot. Although, apparently not this.

Rage stands up, directing his attention to Ry. “Blade knew you were going to do something reckless. I had more hope that you wouldn't. But either way, Blade gave your punishment to me. You are forcing my hand here, Ryker. You can't be trusted. So until I talk with Nerds later and have him come up with a way to keep you locked down besides for school, you'll be coming with me.”

Cade, Ry, and I all exchange looks, not sure what he is talking about. Noah still hasn't said anything. I glance at him and see all the disappointment he holds towards Ry right now.

Rage nods to Stone and Axe, and they get up and grab Ry by each arm. Rage leads the way, and the rest of us follow behind Ry, Stone, and Axe. Rage goes out back and towards one of the sheds we keep tools in, but he walks around to the back of it and lifts a huge door that goes down to some kind of underground bunker. I've never seen this before, but I am getting a feeling that this isn't going to be good.

When we get down to the bottom, there is a big open space, one made completely of concrete walls and floors. There is wall of tools, or should I say torture devices. And a metal chair in the middle of the room. On the back wall are six cells. Each big enough to stand in and stretch your arms out to your side. Oh fuck.

I see the moment Ry realizes where they are going. He starts struggling in Stone’s and Axe’s grips, but they yank him forward and shove him in.

“Noah! No. You can't let Rage do this!” Ry yells, his breathing turning rapid and his fists clenching as he glares at everyone.

I go to step forward, but a hand lands on my shoulder. I look back and see it's Cade, who shakes his head. Goddamn it. I can't just let him be in there. Ry hates being still too long.

“Sorry, Ryker, but you wouldn't listen to me. I don't know what else I was supposed to do, and this officially affects the club, so I left it to Rage. I hate this. A lot. But you fucked up. You put this entire club at risk,” Noah says without even glancing at Ryker. I can clearly tell this is hurting him.

“You know I would never lay a hand on you like my father used to do to punish people. Do we exchange hits? Yes. But they are always fair, and you cannot do it out of anger. I am angry right now, Ryker, and I do not trust you. Until I decide what happens next, you are staying down here. I am sorry it came to this, but you need to learn that we need to be able to trust you around here.”

“Alright, look, I get it, I fucked up. But this really isn't necessary.” Ryker’s eyes go wide as Stone locks the cell door.

I shake my head and step forward, shrugging off Cade when he tries to pull me back.

“Is this really what you're going to do, Rage? How is it going to help? This will just make him even more restless than he already is, and there is no saying what he will do when he gets out of it,” I say, trying to plead with Rage.

“Gray, leave it alone. Rage knows what he’s doing. Unless you want to end up in this punishment, too, then just leave it alone,” Noah says quietly to me.

Before I can respond, Rage glares at me. “You want to join him? You can. If not, shut the hell up.” He runs a hand through his hair and sighs, “Look, I love you boys as if you were my own, but one girl comes along and you all seem to have lost your heads. I have to protect my club. I need to know that Ryker isn't going to do something like this again, and right now I don't trust his word. So he stays until I figure out what happens next. It won't be for too long; I wouldn't do that to him. You and Cade can come down and bring him meals and stay to eat with him, otherwise he is left alone. Another word about this and you'll be joining him, got it?”

I go to open my mouth, but Ry speaks up, “Don’t, Gray. It's fine. I can deal. Just leave it be. I deserve it.”

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