CHAPTER 10
RYDER
“It’s been way too long,” I said to Riot as I paced outside the hotel lobby.
“Only been a few hours,” Riot replied, patting me on the arm. “I know it’s hard, man, just be patient. If anything was wrong, they’d have called us. No news is good news, remember?”
I grunted and walked away, my eyes darting up and down the road for any sign of the Mustang. It was pouring rain, dark and cold, but I didn’t care, because I didn’t notice any of it.
I couldn’t think of anything until I knew Grace was safe. Hell, I wouldn’t be satisfied till I had her safe and sound back in my arms. The waiting was excruciating. I couldn’t think of a worse hell.
When the Mustang appeared down the road headed towards the hotel, I almost shouted in fucking glee like a teenaged girl.
“There they are!” I cried out to Riot, running back to him and waiting by the front door. The Mustang approached slowly, the dark tinted windows obscuring my view. I ran up to the passenger’s side door and flung it open.
“How’d it —?” I froze, looking in at a frazzled Nate in the driver’s seat and an empty seat beside him. “Where the fuck is Grace?”
He shook his head and shot me a hesitating glance. He turned off the car and opened his door.
“Dude, where the fuck is she?” I said, as he limped around the car towards me. His hair and clothes were soaked, and blood was pouring down the back of his leg. He looked at me with eyes that told me something was terribly wrong. My blood ran cold as rage filled my veins. I’d entrusted my entire life to this man and he’d come back bloody and empty-handed.
I rushed him, throwing him on the hood of the car, my hands around his throat.
“Where is she, goddammit?” I shouted.
Riot pulled me off him and he wrestled back to his feet.
“Ryder, I’m sorry. So much shit went wrong. I think Grace is okay, though, I really do.”
“You think?” I roared, pushing him back on the hood again and wrapping my fingers around his throat. I squeezed, my eyes bulging with anger.
“Goddammit, let him fucking talk, Ryder!” Riot yelled, his words barely penetrating the wall of anger surrounding me. My ears buzzed and I struggled to spread my fingers, releasing my grip and taking a step back.
“Talk!”
Slade, Wreck, Bones, Eli and Fury had been waiting inside and they ran out, spotting the commotion from inside.
“What the fuck is going on?” Slade yelled.
“Talk!” I barked.
“Alright, alright,” Nate said, throwing up his hands. “Like I said, I think she’s okay. I was coming out of the restroom when I saw someone I know. He would have recognized me and blown our cover, so I walked out a back door. I got locked out. I couldn’t get back in.”
“That’s all? You didn’t think to walk back in the fucking door?”
“I tried, but the fucking dogs attacked me. I couldn’t get back to Grace. I swear I tried.”
“How long ago did this happen? Why didn’t you fucking call me?”
“Um, well, I - um, shit, well, the fucking dogs ate my phone.”
“Dude, what?” Wrecked asked, his mouth falling open.
“I was climbing the fence, trying to get away and they ripped my jeans, took a chunk out of my ass, and the phone fell. See?” He said, turning around and showing us the mangled mess of his bloody, bare ass and ripped jeans.
“Where the fuck is Grace? You just left her there?” I growled.
“Well, no, I didn’t just leave her there!” He protested. “I mean, I did, but not until I tried to get back in and I waited, for fucking ever actually, but she never came out.”
“How long did you wait?”
“Two hours, at least.”
“She’s been inside there for two hours by herself?” Slade asked, his eyes wide with concern, as he shook his head slowly. “Dude…”
“Well, a little more now, I suppose,” Nate muttered, hanging his head.
I didn’t see red. I didn’t see black. But I was blinded by a murderous rage that rattled my very soul.
I rushed him again, fists flying. We landed on the ground, and he squirmed beneath me, trying to get away from my pummeling blows. I made contact, three, maybe four times, before the guys pulled me off him for the third time.
“Fuck, Ryder!” Slade shouted, his words muffled. “Jesus Christ, dude, you’re gonna get us all arrested! Chill the fuck out. Let’s go into your hotel room and try to figure out what our next steps are. You can kick his ass later. After we get Grace out.”
“I’m going now,” I said. “There’s nothing to fucking figure out.”
I turned away and began jogging down the sidewalk towards the parking lot where we’d left our bikes. The guys followed behind me.
“You can’t get in, either, man,” Nate called. “Those fucking dogs…”
“Watch me, asshole!” I shouted, just as a taxi pulled up beside me. I barely glanced at it, but it slowed right next to me and the door opened.
When Grace jumped out, I almost fell to my knees in relief.
“Hey, babe,” she said, looking around at us in confusion. “What are y’all doing? Sorry that took so long.”
I pulled her into my arms faster than I’d ever done before, pulling her tightly against my chest.
“You’re okay?” I murmured.
“I’m fine. Pissed. But fine. Nate disappeared on me.”
“Grace, I’m so sorry, I —,” he began behind me.
“Shut up!” I barked over my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, babe,” I said. “I never should have let you go in there.”
“What are you talking about?” She pulled away, looking up into my eyes. “It took a little longer than I expected, but the deal is done! I’m in! We’re all good!”
I pulled her into my arms again, my heart racing, my breathing slowly returning to normal.
The Gods were crowded around us and I looked over at Nate.
“You’re one lucky bastard.”