Page 39 of Deuce

In a short time, Sophia had become my whole world.I needed to feel her warm body against me to convince myself she was okay.She’d escaped their clutches.Again.

We needed to find out who “they” were, and we needed to do it fast.My heart couldn’t take many more messages like that one.

The current threat had been eliminated, but he was just a hired gun.Until we found out who the head honcho behind the trafficking ring was, Sophia wouldn’t be safe.No woman in the area would.

“It was deliberate.”Sophia looked up at me, swiping at the tears on her face with one hand.

“Yeah.It was.”I held her a little tighter.

“He tried to run Thor off the road.”

I glanced at Thor.“Looks like he missed.”

She nodded.“Thor outsmarted him.”

“Good to know.”I made a mental note to talk to Ace about patching Thor in.We could use a few more good brothers.

“I saw his face.When he was behind me.He was mad.”

“Doesn’t matter now.”I brushed my lips across her forehead.“He won’t bother you again.”

She didn’t say anything, but I felt her relax just a little bit.

When Thor had messaged me that they were in trouble, my heart dropped.I should have been there.I should have protected her.If anything had happened to her, I would never have been able to live with myself.

I’d underestimated the enemy.I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Thor cleared his throat.“We need to get out of here.”

“Yeah.”Chances were the faceless enemy would know they’d failed and might send out a backup team.

I loosened my grip on Sophia.“You want to ride on my bike, or should we take your car?”

“Bike.”She shivered.“I want to hold onto you.”

Good choice.The bike was more maneuverable than her car.I looked over Sophia’s head to Thor.“You’re coming with us.Lock the car up.We can send someone back for it.”

He nodded and strode over to the vehicle.

Sophia grabbed her helmet from its perch on the back seat of my bike and strapped it on.I buckled mine as well, and we mounted up.I started the bike and let it idle, waiting for Thor to finish with the car before setting out.

* * *

The invisible assholes were escalating, and that meant it would be safer for Sophia at the clubhouse.It had been built with defense in mind and had the advantage of sheer numbers.Most of the brothers were there at one time or another.Hard to have a discussion on a bike at highway speeds.I’d explain it to Sophia when we got there.I was done taking chances with her safety.

We pulled into the driveway, and the prospects on gate duty waved us through.I stopped next to a row of bikes and killed the engine.I took my helmet off and hung it on the handlebars.

Sophia slid off the bike and unbuckled her helmet.She looked like the ride had helped her settle down.Placing the helmet on the seat, she ran her fingers through her hair and gazed up at the renovated mansion.Her eyebrows rose in disbelief.“This is what a biker clubhouse looks like?”

I smiled.“Not sure about other clubs, but this is what Riptide’s looks like.”

“I’m speechless.Somehow, I expected a rickety shack, with maybe a satellite dish and a broken down sofa in the front yard.”

I shook my head.“Nah.We’re too spoiled for that.Ace likes his comfort, and he’s rubbed off on the rest of us.”I reached for her hand and led her up to the front door.I was starting to like this handholding thing.

“Your dad should be around here somewhere.”

“He knows we were coming?”

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