Page 40 of Ride Forever
“Did they now?” the old man asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Well, they would’ve been hard pressed to find anything. We know how to clean up after ourselves, Sloane.”
“How’s that going?” Chaser butted in. “Any word on the renegades?”
“They’ve blown away like a fart on the wind. We had a tail on them for a while, but they just disappeared. I don’t like it, Chaser. Something’s coming. Something big. Men like those don’t just disappear.”
Where could they have gone? I frowned, not liking the lack of progress. We hadn’t made any, either, so who was I to judge?
“We ain’t got a mole in Fortitude, so I think one of the renegades called in a tip-off,” he went on, mirroring the conclusion I’d come to in the interview room. “I raked the boys across the coals, and none of them squawked.”
“Good,” Chaser said. “That means they have zero evidence.”
“I don’t think that matters,” I declared. “If they want to charge me, they’re going to fabricate whatever they need.”
“Huh?” Gasket glanced at me, clearly confused.
“The whole thing was a setup,” I said before Chaser could butt in. “The Hollow Men have fingers in pies all over the country, including my arrest.”
“Sloane,” Chaser warned.
I didn’t want to hear it. “Chaser’s going to—”
“Sloane,” Chaser barked. “The less Gasket knows, the better.”
Gasket glanced between us, his brow creasing. Stroking his beard, he looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, “I agree. I know you kids are in some tough shit right now, but the less of a trail you can leave behind, the better. We’re being attacked on two fronts. Fortitude is strapped as it is keeping the renegades off you. The fact that we’ve lost their scent when they stink like ripe shit…that ain’t good.”
The more they talked, the more I felt like throwing something out the window. The men were making plans, and the little girl had to pipe down.Screw this.
“Do whatever the fuck you want,” I snarled. “I’m sick and tired of this shit.”
“Sloane…”
“He wants to offer himself up as a sacrifice,” I said, pointing at Chaser. “His life for mine. That’s not what I signed up for!”But you thought about it, a voice said in the back of my mind. “This whole thing, this whole fight against King, is about both of us, and he wants to hand himself over for me.”
Gasket glanced at Chaser. “That’s love if I’ve ever seen it.”
“I won’t love a dead man!” I shouted.
Chaser flinched slightly. The movement was so fleeting, I almost missed it, but I’d hit him right where it hurt.
Gasket sighed, clearly out of his depth. This was something Chaser and I had to deal with.
“Whatever happens, I’ve got your back, kid,” he murmured. “Okay?”
I knew he would, but right now, his words were empty.
To Chaser, he said, “If that’s what you want to do, you better think long and hard before you let anyone pull the trigger.” He nodded toward the door. “Give me a minute alone with her, okay?”
Chaser scowled but honored Gasket’s request. He strode across the room and wrenched the door open. A moment later, it slammed behind him.
“He loves you,” Gasket said. “He might not know how to show it, but he’s trying to do whatever he can to keep you safe…and free.”
“But I can’t do it without him,” I argued. “This whole thing… It was aboutourforever, not mine. I’m fighting this fight for him, Gasket.”
“I know, but he’s fighting it for you, too, not just himself.”
“I can’t let him die,” I whispered. “Not for me.”
Gasket’s brow furrowed, and he grasped my shoulders. “Listen to me, kid. I know you’ve had a rough life. I know your daddy treated you like a thing. I know his actions got your mom murdered. I know you had to leave before you wound up the same way. But you’re a grown woman now. You have to forget those things. The past ain’t where your heart is at, girl. You’re worth it, Sloane, you hear me? To me, to Fortitude, and especially to that cranky son of a bitch standing out there. I know you want the happily ever after, but sometimes sacrifice means—”
“I know,” I interrupted. “I know.”
“This fight is bigger than all of us,” he murmured. “It might’ve started with you, but it’s so much more. We’re fighting for all our futures.”
“It’s just…” A tear spilled down my cheek, and I brushed it away with the back of my hand.
“You’re in love with him,” Gasket said, wiping away another tear. “I get it.”
I nodded. “Hopelessly.”
The old biker smiled and shook his head. “Yeah. I know all about that.”
