Page 98 of Laila Manning
“Her.” I whispered, remembering the vile vibes I got from her that day I walked with Zeke on the sidewalk of East Valley. She was slimy and predatory with every word that fell from her crimson lips. That day I had been too distracted with jealousy over thoughts of Zeke entertaining her, I missed them. “His wife. Oh god I’m going to be sick.”
“Hey.” Diesel reached across the seat and gripped my hand as he drove. “Take a deep breath.”
“She lured him into her home!” I cried in a panic, “He said she bought him new clothes and paid him—she wasgroominghim! And I fucking missed it!”
“You didn’t.” Diesel said, turning the truck toward the Valley, and my blood ran cold. “You didn’t have any reason to suspect that someone would do that to him. Not there, not in the Valley.”
“She’s married to the worst monster in the world!” I screamed, “Of course I should have automatically suspected that someone who took a street kid in with some flashy made-up job was doing it for their own sick desires! I should have fucking known that! But I missed it!”
“We’re going to get him.” Diesel sped down the road, but we were still so far away. With every mile between us and that house of horrors, I felt that same feeling, like my skin was going to rip from my bones.
“But what will it cost him first?” I asked, gutted by the reality. Diesel didn’t answer me, because the answer was too cruel to say aloud. I pulled my phone out and dialed Zeke, hoping he was back at the Estate. Again, he answered instantly. “She has him! That fucking vile snake of a woman has him! I missed it, Zeke!”
“Who?” His voice was calm and lethal as I broke.
“Lupold’s wife! Diesel picked me up and told me Kade was working for her. He’s missing!”
There was a commotion in the background, and then Jed’s voice filled in the gap as he spoke to someone while Zeke talked to me. “Where is she keeping him, Dove?”
“I don’t know.” I cried, “The house maybe? Diesel said they were digging into Lupold’s holdings but he wouldn’t keep a boy there. He has a very specific type,” my stomach rolled again as a cold sweat broke out over my skin. “I think she had him right down the fucking street the whole time.”
“We’re coming.” Zeke replied menacingly. “Jed’s assembling the crew that’s at the Estate. Where are you?”
“Pulling into the Valley.” I cried, holding onto the door handle as Diesel took the corner on two wheels. He didn’t stop at the gatehouse, smashing through the barrier with the hood of his truck as the loud roaring of bike engines followed us through the wreckage from the other side of the street.
The Reaper MC crew was following us in, and the Shadeport Crew would meet us there.
My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest as we turned down the street, racing to the house.
“Laila, don’t go inside.” Zeke roared through the phone as the house came into view. “Laila!” He yelled to get my attention, “Do not go inside that house, do you hear me? Please!”
“I have to.” I whispered, looking over at Diesel, who glanced out of the corner of his eye at me. “Kade needs me. I have to.”
“Fuck!” Zeke roared, knowing there was nothing he could do because he wasn’t close enough to stop me. “D, keep her safe!”
“On it.” Diesel replied, slamming the truck into park out front of the house as black Escalades skidded to a stop from the direction of Ryker’s estate. “Let’s go.”
“I love you.” I said into the phone, and then hung up as I jumped out of the truck. My muscles felt like they were being electrocuted as I ran with the armed men that came from both crews at the drop of a hat.
Armed guards ran from the home as we got close, but they were so outnumbered, they hesitated for just a moment before opening fire.
But it was long enough.
The Reapers and Shadeport Crew took them out, some using guns, some using their fists, and within moments I was running through a door behind Diesel into the home.
Please be here. Please. Please. Please.
I was sick to my stomach, hoping that Kade was inside of the home of a known predator, but not knowing where he was, left him more vulnerable because we all knew he was in trouble. There was no other way around it.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” A screeching, shrill voice screamed as the evil wife of the senator came around the corner, staring down the men in her home like she was any sort of threat. “Get out of my house!”
“Where’s Kade?” I snapped, stepping around Diesel’s massive body to stand in front of her, that electrocution feeling coursing through my body in a way I’d never felt before. In every other situation, I froze, I shrunk, I disassociated from what was happening around me until Icouldn’t even see or hear. But not now. Now, it felt like fire nipped at my feet, and if I didn’t act, I’d die. “Where is he?” I screamed.
But she just pressed her lips together with a smug look of superiority as she looked me up and down. “You.” She sneered, “I knew I recognized you that day I saw you walking with Zeke.” She scoffed as she put her hands on her hips. “You pathetic, disgusting whore! Look at you, out of the dirt and filth and living the life of luxury like you’re something worthy of this life!”
My blood ran cold as I realized what she meant.
She recognized me.
