Chapter Sixteen
Charlotte
I’m not surprised to find that Ryker’s long gone when I wake up the next morning. My chest aches and my stomach is still roiling so I don’t even bother trying to eat anything. My eyes are tight and puffy from crying myself to sleep, yet again. It feels like all I do is cry anymore.
I spend the day puttering around the house, doing laundry and sweeping floors. I take breakfast out to Tease and he gives me a small smile as he takes it. A smile!
When I’m ready to go, I step out of the house and am alarmed to see that Tease is gone and Reaper is standing there, arms folded across his chest, glaring at me.
“Um … hey.” I haven’t spent much time around Reaper, and he still scares the shit out of me. I can tell he doesn’t like me which doesn’t help my fear one bit. Offering him a small smile, I move towards his bike. He just snorts and shakes his head, clearly not happy with his chauffeur duties.
When we arrive at the nursing home, I hand Reaper his helmet and mutter a quick thanks before turning to hurry into the building. I don’t even make it a full step before his hand clamps down on my upper arm with a firm grip.
“Not so fast, Princess.” He whips me back around to face him, pulling me right into his space. He glares down at me. “You need to stop fuckin’ with my boys head.”
I’m confused. My heart hammers in my chest because he’s looking at me like he wants to rip my head off. Reaper is already scary as hell, but with that look on his face, he is terrifying. What is he talking about? “I – I – I’m not sure I know what you mean?” I try taking a step back to gain some distance from him, but he maintains an iron clad grip on my arm.
He sneers at me. “I – I – I,” he mocks. “I mean, you need to either fuck Ryker or leave him the fuck alone. Ever since you came along he’s been fucked in the head and I know it’s ‘cause of you.” He gives me a little shake and I yelp. “Stupid uppity bitch. You come along with your fuckin’ golden pussy, and think you can lead him around by his fuckin’ dick.”
I just gape at him, mind racing. I haven’t done anything to Ryker. He’s the one fucking with my head. “I don’t un –“
“Yeah. I’m gettin’ that. Look, Ryker’s our VP. He’s soon going to be the president. A lot of guys are counting on him for a lot of things. He doesn’t need a fuckin’ princess like you comin’ along, gettin’ herself – or worse – him, killed.”
I’m shocked. Their VP? Ryker’s the MC’s vice president? Why didn’t I know that? Anger burns through me. I didn’t know because Ryker didn’t want me to know. Fucking bastard. Not only is he fucking me and fucking Lucy, along with God only knows who else, but he’d also really never told me one damn thing about himself. How could I have been so stupid? I don’t know anything about him or his life and honestly, I’m not so sure I even want to anymore.
As for Reaper, fuck him. I’m so sick and tired of being scared all the damned time. I don’t have anything to lose. What’s he going to do? Hit me? Maybe, but even though I know Ryker doesn’t want me for himself, he would tear Reaper’s head off for laying a finger on me.
Ripping my arm from his grasp, I lean into his space. “You’re an asshole.”
Surprise flashes in his eyes before he hides it with a sneer. He chuckles. It’s a menacing sound and I almost back off, but I’m so sick of this shit. “You just figurin’ that out, Princess?”
I snort. “No. I knew.” My voice shakes with anger. “Everybody knows. What you don’t know is, I don’t give a fuck what you have to say. You’re a prick, and you know not one thing about me, or my golden pussy. I want nothing more than to be done with you, Ryker, and your stupid fucking club, but none of you will leave me the hell alone!”
I turn and storm into the building, leaving Reaper outside. I’m furious. I don’t want to do this anymore. I just want my life to go back to normal. I need to find a way to get the MC to leave me alone and let me live my life. I know Ryker won’t back off until he knows that Krueger’s gone for sure, but there’s been no news on him for several days. No news is good news. Right?
There’s no way I can work my shift tonight – I’m a wreck. I approach my supervisor, telling her that I’m not feeling well. Never one to take time off, she gives me a sympathetic look before telling me to go on home. I call a cab, requesting they pick me up at the back entrance. Reaper will never even see me leave; if he’s still out there.
I jump into the cab, and as it pulls out of the parking lot, I see Reaper sitting on his bike in a shaded area at the far end of the lot. He doesn’t see me. Dick.
Entering my apartment alone for the first time since my attack is a little scary. I swallow down my fear and try to relax. Every sound I hear makes me jump. I’m nervous as hell, but I just try to ignore it and go about my business. I clean the apartment, tidying up the mess in my bedroom, have a bite to eat and then curl up in the tub with my book.
I’m just getting out of the tub when my cell phone goes off, alerting me to an incoming text.
Ryker: Where the fuck are you Charlie? Dr. Dickhead told Reaper you left hours ago. Wtf?
I swallow, feeling a little bad. I’d left Reaper to sit outside standing vigil over me while I’d snuck out the back. Jeremy must have seen him waiting and wondered why he was still there after I’d gone home. Maybe I don’t feel bad. Reaper’s an asshole. I’m actually kind of proud of myself for slipping past him.
Me: I went home. I can’t stay with you anymore. Thanks for helping us, but I’m ok now. You don’t need to worry about me.
I send the text, biting my lip in worry. I know Ryker is going to be pissed, and he might even show up at my door. If he does, I will have to tell him, yet again, that I’m ok and they don’t need to watch over me anymore.
My phone alerts again.
Ryker: I’m coming over. DON’T LEAVE
My shoulders slump. Of course he is. I’m so tired of this; all of it. Being scared, Ryker’s rejection, scary biker assholes, and most of all, not being able to live my life.
There’s a pounding on the door. That was quick. I take a deep breath, readying myself for the battle ahead. I know Ryker won’t leave easily, but I’m more than ready to fight him for my freedom. I walk to the door, phone in hand, and swing it open.
The air rushes from my chest; it’s not Ryker. Krueger stands before me, an evil smile splitting his face. “Hey pretty lady. You and I have some unfinished business.”
His fist swings out, catching me in the temple. Pain crashes through my head as I crumple to the floor. Through tear filled eyes, I watch Krueger step inside just before the darkness takes ahold of me.
***
Ryker
Anger and worry for Charlie’s safety battle through me as I break every traffic law imaginable to get to her apartment. I’m pissed at her for giving Reaper the slip, and for trying to fuck me off with that text. Thanks for helping her out, but she’s ok now? Fuck that! The problem is, I still haven’t been able to get a lock on Krueger, and the Devils say he’s gone rogue. This means that fucker’s still out there somewhere. Charlie’s not safe.
I’m pissed at Reaper too. Fucker had called to say Charlie was gone and he’d sounded almost bored; like he didn’t give a shit that she could be in danger. I’d deal with that son of a bitch later.
Pulling up in front of Charlie’s building, I park in a handicap space and run up the stairs. The security door opens with a couple of good yanks and I hurry up the stairs. Pausing for a second, I see the door to her apartment standing ajar.
I pull my gun from it’s ankle holster, and quietly rush up to the door, opening it cautiously. Nothing. No sign of struggle, but also no Charlie. After a quick sweep of her apartment, I know she’s gone. Stepping back into the living room, I see her phone lying on the floor near the front entrance. The screen is cracked. I turn it on, and through the spider web glass it shows the last thing she’d looked at; the last text from me. Did she throw the phone and leave? I can’t see her doing that.
Looking around once more, I notice a dark spot, about the size of a quarter, on the hardwood floor. I crouch down for a closer look. Blood. Fear for Charlie causes the hair to stand up on the back of my neck and the blood to pound through my veins. I search the floor for more blood. Halfway down the hall, I see another spot. It’s just a few drops, but I find more farther down. Every drop I find causes the fear and anger to claw at my gut. I follow the trail of blood down the back stairs until it ends completely at the back door.
Whipping my phone out, I call Jase.
He answers after the first ring. “Talk to me.”
“Charlie’s gone.”
“Yeah. You told me. Right before you tore out of here like a bat outta hell.”
“No. I mean gone. From her apartment. There’s blood on the floor and her cell is broken right beside it.”
“Fuuuuck. Ya think he’s got her?”
“I know he does.” Panic bubbles its way up my throat. I need to take a deep breath and figure out what to do. Where would he take her? What does he plan to do with her? I look down at the blood on the floor and I know in my gut that it’s hers. He’s got my baby girl and I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again. What the fuck do I do?
“What do you need me to do, Ryker?” Jase’s voice brings me out of my panicked fog.
My mind scrambles for an answer. “Call the Devil’s Prez. Last I heard, Krueger’d gone rogue. They may have an idea where he’d be now. Let Gunner know what’s going on. If you have any other ideas, just go with it.”
“On it. You cool?”
I can hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. “He’s got her, Jase.”
“I know, brother.”
“She’s bleedin’.”
“We’ll find her Ryk. Take a breath. You’re not gonna be any help findin’ her if you’re freakin’ out, so you need to lock it down.”
I nod, swallowing down the bile in my throat. “I will. I’ll lock it down.”
“Alright. Text me that number.” He hangs up. I flip through my contacts and text him the one for Deed, the President of the Devils. Deed wants to find Krueger almost as bad as I do; I know he’ll help however he can.
I rack my brain, trying to figure out what to do next. Forcing down my emotions, I go back upstairs to lock Charlie’s apartment before hurrying to my bike. We need a plan; and fast. I need to find her. I need to find that fucker, Krueger; he’s gonna bleed tonight.