Page 59 of Devil's Due: Sarge

“Greer.”Holy shit.Patrick’s voice. Patrick? How the hell did he get this number? “We need to talk. I’ve been in town, getting a feel for the place. I could never live here, but it might actually work for our operation. But that’s not why we need to talk. I’ve got news on those women who were taken from the safehouse that day. Call me back. We’ll set up a meet.”

Patrick has news on the girls? Oh crap, this is such a bad idea. Of course, that doesn’t stop me from pressing ‘call back.’

It rings twice before I hear his cool, smooth voice. “Greer.”

“Patrick.”

“We need to talk.”

“So talk.”

“Not over the phone.”

“Just tell me now.”

“Greer, Greer, Greer… you screwed us over by leaving with that low-class cretin. We’ve been doing damage control ever since you walked out on your fiancé with another man.”

“He was never—” I start to shout then quickly lower my voice. “He was never my fiancé. I never agreed to marry him.”

“We had an agreement. You’re in breach of contract. Now, if you want the information, you’ll meet me.”

“How do I know you have anything?”

“The men we sent in to retrieve you went in with another group. They worked for a man named Veselý. I know who he works for and where at least some of the women were headed.”

“I come, I come with Sarge.”

“You come, you come alone, little sister. You’ve caused a problem. Now you need to fix it.”

“How will I help my friends if I’m forced into whatever you’ve got in mind for me?”

“We know about those Brimstone Lords. We know they helped you leave Texas and have feelers out all over searching for those women. You come willingly, quietly, and the Lords get all the information I have. You have my word. It will be me fulfilling my end of a verbal contract.”

This cannot be happening. I’m not stupid. I know what leaving alone will mean for me. Sarge will freak. Nic will freak. Vlad will freak. We bought a kit house. It’s gorgeous. Two-story. The foundation has already been dug out and filled. Sarge wasted no time. None. He wants us in our house before winter.Iwant us in our house before winter.

But what am I supposed to do? My friends were taken. Are they being beaten? What kind of vile things are they forced to do?

Think, Greer… Think…“I’ll meet you.”

“Good girl,” he replies in a totally condescending manner. “I’m staying at a place called English Ivy Bed & Breakfast outside town. Breakfast is at eight. You’ll meet me here.”

“Okay. I’ll be there at eight.”

He hangs up and I’m freaking out. I open the door to the bathroom to see Sarge still sleeping. Patrick is crazy if he thinks I’m going at this alone. I press my thumb between my eyebrows, I feel a headache coming on.

Right. I decide to let him sleep a little longer while I shower. I’m not about to rush out of here all panicked, that leads to bad decisions, and the hot water cascading down on my neck and back, the steam rising up, it all helps to relieve the headache. After I blow out my hair, and with the towel wrapped around under my arms to keep me covered, I walk into the bedroom…andsee an empty bed.

I run to the door to our room, cracking it open, but I’m in a towel. I can’t go out into the hallway like this. “Sarge?” I call out quasi-softly. Bikers keep late nights and waking them up with my hollering won’t make me any friends.

With no answer coming from the man, I pull the door shut and race to get dressed. While sitting on the bed to tug on my panties, that’s when I notice a note from Sarge.

Baby,

Went to the lumber store with the brothers. You in the shower—if I went in there, I wouldn’t be getting supplies from the lumber store with the brothers.Be back soon.

-Sarge

Of all the days for him to decide not to join me in the shower. With a bit of rushing I finish dressing, then I call him.

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