Page 107 of Beautiful Ruins
She could have been lying in a ditch somewhere, calling my name, reaching for me, wondering where the hell I was. I never imagined this type of pain could ever exist.
A shuttering sob ripped through me like I was being stabbed repeatedly, and I buried my face in my hands, letting out a hoarse cry that bordered on feral.
“I can’t fucking lose her, man.” Choked breaths strangled my words. Pain knotted in my gut, panic layering itself tight around my chest. Each inhale felt like breathing in glass. “If something happens. If she gets hurt or kill—” I couldn’t finish that sentence. There weren’t words for my worst fears.
“Not going to,” Bear said, his words vibrating around my skull. “We’re going to get her back.”
I shook my head, pressing the heels of my palms to my eyes. “You can’t promise that.” My voice came out pathetic, broken,like roadkill that had been baking in the sun. “This is all because of me. The night I kissed her here, I told her she’d be safe. That I’d protect her. Now look at me, sobbing into my hands like a fucking coward.” The confession burned in my throat.
Bear leaned forward in the chair, pressing his elbows to his knees. He fixed me with a steady look, one that came from the depths of his loyalty. “I know you love her, man. But she needs you right now. Get your head in the right place. That’s how you get her back.”
Bear was right. I swiped at the traitorous tears that had tracked down my face. Sadie needed me strong, not falling apart. Squaring my shoulders, I forced myself to breathe, forced my head to clear. This was no time to lose it. Not with her life on the line.
Bear lifted an eyebrow, concern evident on his face. “You good?”
I nodded. “I’m good.”
The door to the office crashed open and Scout skidded in, panting like he’d just raced across the entire town.
He held up a piece of paper, waving it around in his hand. “Found her. Iron received a text from Nicky about five minutes ago. He’s with Snake. I’ve got an address.”
“That’s a boy,” Bear said, shoving up from the chair and slapping Scout hard on the back. “Knew you’d be good for something one day.”
“We’ll get her back, VP,” Scout said, handing me the address with a confidence that was more than I could muster. “You’ve got to let me shoot Snake first, though.”
Bear slapped the back of his head. “I’ll shootyouif you don’t shut your trap.”
Scout cleared his throat. “Sorry, VP.”
The words blurred before me as I stared at the piece ofpaper. She wasn’t far, only an hour’s drive at most. Snake’s work, no doubt. He wanted me. Wanted to be found.
My fingers curled tight around the paper before I shoved the chair back and stood. “Right,” I said. “We need to be ready. We don’t know what we’re walking into, but Snake’s got Nicky involved. He could have more.”
Bear and Scout both nodded, already expecting what needed to be done.
“Got it,” Bear said, hovering in the doorway. “I’ll pack the van with what we’ve got.”
The rush of activity left me swaying on my feet. We had a lead, and I had to believe in it. To trust that Sadie was strong enough to hold on until we got to her.
Bear and Scout darted out of the room, leaving me alone, but not in silence. The ticking clock in my chest was still too loud. I rolled my head over my shoulders, the crack of bone loosening up my tense muscles.
This was it. I was going to cut the head off that fucking snake, and then I was going to love Sadie with everything I had left.
With that, I left the office behind me in search of weapons.
On my way out of the clubhouse, a full duffel bag in hand, I found Iron sitting at the bar, a bottle of whiskey in his hands, now three-quarters full, and going fast. I was done with whatever games he wanted to play, and I couldn’t care any less if he wanted my patch.
Sadie was all that mattered, and I’d give it up willingly.
“Rowan.” Iron patted the stool beside him. “Sit with me for a moment.”
I scoffed. “You’re kidding right? I don’t have time?—”
“It’ll only take a minute.” His tone left no room for argument, yet there was no animosity in his stare, just pure tiredness. I knew that look all too well. It was a look that heldno expectations. Iron had no more fight left in him. “You owe me that much.”
I clenched my jaw so hard pain shot through my skull. I didn’t owe him shit, but I was willing to entertain him one last time.
“Make it quick.” With a grunt, I dumped the duffel bag at my feet with a thud and dropped onto the stool beside him.
