Page 23 of Risk
“We couldn’t,” Rev emphasizes, glancing at the closed door to the room we haven’t yet surveyed or explored. “If we don’t have all the data laid out before us we can only make informed decisions based on what little information wedohave.”
“We’re losing time, go check shit out,” Kodiak orders.
I watch as Midas, Rev, and Regulator head that way. When one of them releases a whistle, I jump from my reclined position and stomp down the hallway. “What the fuck?” As I study my surroundings, my heart sinks down into my chest. There’s video equipment, lights that studios use for production, and an opened laptop. But what has my teeth grinding is all of the toys spread out on a towel, drying from being recently cleaned. “I’m gonna kill somebody.”
“I’ll be your alibi,” Conan laments. “This is bullshit.”
“What are y’all doing?” a voice yells from behind us. “Please get out of there. Please. Oh, God. No.” When I turn around, I see McKenna’s hands cupping her face as her shoulders shake. “I didn’t want y’all to know.”
“We already had an idea that something wasn’t right,” I reply. “Caught three suspicious looking men casing your apartment earlier. Took them back to the clubhouse and questioned them.”
“It’s why we came as fast as we did,” Regulator supplies. “We knew it was bad, but we weren’t prepared for this.”
“I know what you mean,” the young girl attached to McKenna’s hip states. “Today was my introduction into this world, and I don’t think I’ll ever recover from what I thought my life was going to be.”
“You’re safe now, you both are,” I maintain. “No holding back, McKenna. I need to know every detail about what you’ve been through and who’s the cause of it.”
“Okay.” She relents, yielding to my commandment. “But you’re going to hate me once you hear everything. I can’t tell you, not here, anyway. This isn’t a safe place for me to tell you everything that’s happened since I was a teenager. This is my hell.”
“A teenager?” I ask, frowning. “You never said anything when we were together, Kenna.”
“I couldn’t,” she adamantly claims. “I was living a fantasy where nothing could hurt me as long as I was with you. Obviously, I lied to myself.” She snorts, opening her arms showcasing the room while shaking her head and biting her bottom lip. “I was ready to end everything to escape.” When she says that, I scan her fromhead to toe and notice that while she was in her room, her wrist got bandaged and is now wrapped in gauze.
“Got everything you want packed?” Kodiak asks her.
“I thought I did, but I’m assuming Auto will want to go through my laptop so you may as well grab that too,” she answers.
“Damn right he will,” I acknowledge. “Hope you packed light because all we have are my saddle bags.”
“I don’t have much,” she confirms. “Everything I needed or wanted is packed in a backpack.”
“You always did travel lightly,” I criticize. “It’s why we always had to go shopping whenever we landed in a new town.” Thinking of her escapades through the stores has me shuddering. It was not what I’d call a fun time.
“Don’t need much,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. “Can we go now? Reality is setting in and I’m beginning to freak.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” her little friend says, exhaling a relieved breath.
“Then let’s hit the road,” Kodiak suggests. “The sooner we’re home, the better I’ll feel. Luna is going to skin me alive for being gone as long as I have.”
“Who’s Luna?” McKenna asks.
“I’ll explain it to you while we ride,” I tell her, reaching out and grabbing her hand. “Someone scoop up her bags for me.” The only thing on my mind is getting her the hell out of this building and behind me on my bike. Only then will I begin to relax and not feel so murderous.
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
McKenna
A lotof information about the club and its new additions was thrown at me along the ride back to their clubhouse. Some of it I tuned in for but some of it seemed inconsequential so I dismissed it. My mind kept swiveling between his words and Phoenix. Everything in me wanted to tell Risk all about him, but then I remember that Marshall and his empire are still out there and my lips stayed sealed—like a fastened vault. I have to let it keep holding my deepest, darkest secrets.
My mind and heart are at war with one another. I’m already going to be spilling some truths that I’d prefer stayed buried. My life hasn’t been some big ole fairytale fit for entertainment, it’s cold, brutal, and full of terror. Once I sit down with the guys and spill my guts, they’ll know how dirty I am and be thankful that they sent me away and kept me and my demons far from them. Especially since they’ve built themselves a good life.
When we ride between a set of iron gates, my heart begins to pound in my chest. When the building comes into view, bile risesin my throat. I don’t know if I can do this. Leaving with them might have put everything I’ve protected in jeopardy.
“I can’t,” I wheeze out. “Risk. I can’t do this. Take me back. Take me back. Take me back!” Each time I say it, my volume rises until it’s an ear-piercing shriek.
“Kenna, calm down. Vixen, listen to me, you need to settle before we both go toppling over.”
