Page 53 of Pike
My heart skipped. “Faith?”
Slowly she stepped into view. “Nice aim, sis. But next time try not to kill my man, okay?” her gaze flicked to the ground and worry instantly filled me.
“Oh God!” I dropped the bat and rushed to the giant on the floor. “T-Bone, are you okay?”
He grabbed my hands to still them and smiled. “Yeah,” he grunted. “Nice attempt. Too bad for you I have excellent reflexes.”
I froze. “You’re okay? I didn’t hurt you?” Before he could answer, I offered my hand to help him to his feet.
He got up, rubbing his arm. Though once he was standing in front of me, the hint of a smile that danced at the corners of his mouth vanished and his expression turned grave.
I don’t know where it went but all the blood left my body. “What is it?” I already knew what it was, and the question was just a delay tactic. My arms went around my body in a protective gesture. “He’s dead, isn’t he?” There was no other reason for them to be here. “Just tell me.”
Faith took a step closer and wrapped her arms around me. I was grateful for the act, but I refused to fall apart. I couldn’t, not now. Gemma would need me, and honestly, Iwasn’t sure I’d ever be whole again if I fell apart now. “No,” she finally answered my question. “At least not that we know of.”
I took a step back and then another, and another, until I could finally take a full breath without the familiar sting of loss. “What does that mean?”
T-Bone moved at a slower pace after he closed the door, locking it completely.
I was pacing the floor in agitation, I needed to move, to dosomething.
He sat down on the sofa and gave me his full attention. “After your call we decided to check. Slate looked into Pike’s cell phone data, while Faith and I checked to see if he’d had an accident.”
“What did you find?” I asked frantically.
“His bike,” Faith answered on a heavy sigh. “It was turned over on the highway. At first glance a trooper might chalk it up to an accident, but it was definitely an ambush.”
T-Bone nodded his agreement. “Highway patrol found his bike, but there was no sign of him.”
Ambush. “Ghost Riders.” It wasn’t a question. Right now they were the threat.Because of me.
Faith swallowed but she didn’t answer.
T-Bone had no such qualms. “Yeah, Slate couldn’t get the CCTV footage, but we’re sure it’s them.”
His words were calm and without emotion, they were just what I needed in that moment but after a full moment of silence, I felt the dam burst. It wasn’t just tears, it was the weight of griefand loss, it was all the things that could’ve been that would never get to be.
Because of me.
I let the tears fall but muffled the sounds of my sobs to avoid waking Gemma. I knew better than most that tomorrow wasn’t promised so I let myself cry for the uncertain future I’d just started letting myself dream about, for the smile I’d never get to see again. Pike hadn’t proclaimed his love for me and he hadn’t promised me forever. But he’d been kind and steady and patient. He didn’t deserve a brutal, violent end.
“He’s dead,” I said between sobs.
Faith put her hand on my shoulder. “We don’t think so.”
I looked up, confused. What other explanation could there be?
“If the Ghost Riders killed him, they’d have let us know. They’d want to gloat about it. We think they’ve taken him,” T-Bone said, his voice flat.
He made me believe in good again. He showed me that not every man I met would hurt me and I owed him for that. I owed his memory as much as I owed Ashley’s. But what if he wasn’t dead? If he was alive, then there was only one way to get him back.
“Chloe,” Faith said softly, as if she was afraid of what she saw on my face.
Good, she should be afraid. I was. “Take Gemma.” I stood, wiping away my tears as resolution settled deep in my gut. “Take her with you.” I said the words to Faith and then T-Bone.
“What? No!” Faith shouted. “You’re emotional right now.”
“Damn right I am,” I shot back. “Take Gemma back to Steel City and keep her safe.”
