Page 84 of The Lies We Tell
Spark is silent for a moment. “I don’t even know you.”
“Still the same guy. But I gotta go. Jump on your bike, but then go hang out at a bar near the hospital and wait until I call. Give yourself an alibi.”
His eyes take on a sheen of hurt. “I can’t watch you drive off with her. She’s my fucking world.”
“It’s half an hour now, or a lifetime if you end up incriminating yourself and going to prison. Text King in five minutes that you see police cars headed his way. Get the club out of there. The Iron Outlaws aren’t the bad guys. I’ll call King myself once I’m clear of the hospital.”
“I still don’t understand why.”
I huff. “What would you give to find all the men who hurt Iris?”
He jams his hands into his pockets. “Everything. I’d kill those fuckers in a heartbeat.”
I grip his biceps firmly. “Then let me go do what I do. Let me do this. I’ll even feed you what I know. If you get to them before me, you tell me. I want a piece of them as much as you do.”
“You’re an ATF agent. You can’t just kill ’em.”
“Was. Iwasan ATF agent. After tonight, who the fuck knows what I’ll be. Trust me, Spark. I gotta go. And while you may not feel the same way about me after tonight, the past two years have been the best of my fucking life. Redefined who I am as a man. I’m better for your friendship, man. I’ll drop Iris off at the hospital and report to my handler that I’m out,” I continue. “Trust me, it’s the only way Iris and Br—well, it’s the only way they get justice. And I’d rather get the real scum. The traffickers who prey on women.”
Spark looks at me, then the van. I can feel his indecision, but then he relents. “Take care of her.”
“With my life.”
“Don’t make me kill you.”
“That will be your choice. But I won’t give you reason beyond those I already stated. This gets you all out of there. Besides, ‘love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ John 15:12-13. It was good knowing you, Spark.”
I climb into the driver’s seat, my gun still steady. And Spark lets me go. In my rearview mirror, I see him peel out of the lot, following the van. About seven minutes from the ER, he peels away.
My faith in myself grows at his trust in me. Even though we are on different sides of the game, he knows I’ll take care of Iris.
And in doing so, I’ll find justice for Briar.
I dial Weicker. Screw not using your phone while driving. I’ve broken bigger rules and laws tonight. “Weicker. I’m out. I’ve been made.”
“What the fuck, Ryker. You good, you safe? What happened?”
“Can’t speak now, but I’m about to drop Iris O’Connor off at the hospital and give them your number.”
“Is it recoverable?”
“You were right. After rescuing that woman, I became preoccupied. That preoccupation blew my cover. I’d been investigating with the help of the club. Found a building connected to the group. Iris was taken, so I went there and found the Righteous Brotherhood in a legal wrangle with some unidentified Eastern Europeans. While they fought, I saved Iris.”
“You need to come in. To debrief.”
“No. For now, I need to get safe.” I blow past a light as it turns red. Time is all I’ve got right now. “Gotta drive now, but I’ll be in touch.”
Dropping Iris off is stressful. I need to leave her with no papers, no insurance details, no nothing. Once she’s on a stretcher, I give them Weicker’s number then run. In the van, I text Briar the word I hoped I’d never have to.
Judas. Home in 20. Pack what you can.
As I drive, I call Spark.
“Saint,” he says.
“Pretend you’re getting the call that Iris is hurt,” I instruct.
“What the hell happened to her?” he asks.
