Page 48 of Freeing Souls

But now, we have Oakley on the line too. We have an opportunity, and I think the more hands involved, the better. We need to find them before they are gone forever, and this is our chance.

“I trust them. I know you guys don’t, but I am asking, begging, that you trust my instincts on this,” I tell him, making sure to hold eye contact even though my heart is pounding aggressively in my chest, sweat building on the back of my neck.

Sugar scoffs. “Trust you? You went behind our backs. You went behind Rage’s back. Maybe there was some good intentions, but you didn’t discuss it with us.” He shakes his head. “I have to call church and discuss this with them. Did anyone else know‘bout this? Ryker? Cayden? Nerds?”

“No. I kept it from everyone.” I swallow.

Sugar calls an emergency church, and the members head downstairs.

“What’s going on?” Ryker finds me as I walk into the kitchen and chug some water.

I shake my head. “Nothing to worry about right now.”

“Grayson–”

“I got it under control. I’ll tell you and Cade later,” I snap at him.

After pacing for what feels like hours, Parker finds me and lets me know they want to see me in Church. Taking a deep breath, I head downstairs and knock on the door. Nerds lets me in with a sneaky glare no one else sees.

“Grayson, being a prospect, we would have stripped you of your cut and sent you on your way. What you did is seen as betrayal. But seeing as the circumstances are unique,” Axe explains, “we aren’t going to do that right now. You will be monitored by Nerds on everything you do, and we are giving Nerds permission to reach out to Vance and see what he has to say. Everything else, we will circle back to when things are more settled around here.”

No one else speaks, not even Noah. They all just let me know with their eyes that they aren’t happy. If I didn’t think them helping us now was the best option, I never would’ve saidanything, but I know they can help us in some way, which is why I just did it and didn’t let myself think too hard about telling Sugar.

When they call the end of the meeting, I follow Nerds upstairs into the tech room. He slams the door and spins to face me. “What the fuck were you thinking, telling them that?”

“I was thinking we now have three people we care about missing, and we need the help. They can give it, and I trust them, but Sugar and the others will never trust them. I didn’t say anything about you, as you are aware, so it’s fine.”

“God, Grayson, it’s not fine. You just want me to what? Sit back and watch them potentially boot you from the club when I am the one who said to do it to begin with?”

“Yes. Don’t say a word. They aren’t going to do anything right now, and when that day comes, I will deal with it. I won’t let this ruin your life or anyone else’s. Can we do this now?” I ask, gesturing towards his desk.

After we contacted Vance and his team, Ryker decided he was done waiting and dragged me off to Rage’s house, where Cade was already waiting. I filled them in, and Cade is silent while Ryker is pacing, also not speaking.

“Ry–” I begin, but he cuts me off.

“Why wouldn’t you tell him we were all involved? Do you really think we would’ve been mad and made you deal with this alone?”

I shake my head. “No, but I wanted to handle it alone. I didn’t know how they would react, so I wanted to make sure no one else would get dragged into it, since it is my mess.”

“It’s over and done with, Ryker. We wait now. What happened when Nerds reached out to them?” Cade asks.

“It was weird.” I furrow my brows. “Vance said he and his closest men, the ones who run the Kings of Hearts, would be here today.”

“Even though we don’t have anything yet?” Ryker asks.

“Yeah. They should be here anytime now. It just felt weird, like they were thrown off when we said Rage and Harley had been taken.” My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out. “Speaking of. That’s the front gate camera. They are here.”

When we get back to the club, Vance and his guys are just pulling up. Sugar reluctantly greets them and lets them in. It looks like everyone has cleared out from the main areas of the club. It’s just club members in here right now.

“Only the four of you?” Axe questions, raising a brow at Vance.

He nods. “Yes. This is a matter for us, not the entire Brooks Family. When we plan an attack, I will involve them.”

Glancing from Vance to Sebastian, I ask, “What’s the matter we need to discuss that made you guys come here so quickly?”

Sebastian winces as Vance tells us, “There are a few things we need to explain to you all.”

Sugar gestures for everyone to sit at the tables, so we do and wait for Vance to begin.

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