Sadie
AS SOON AS Reese pulled the car into the parking lot, I jumped out. He swore and turned off the car, climbing out as well. “Sadie, calm down.”
“Stick it, Reese. Oh!” Shocked a little by my outburst, I walked to the back of the car and tried to soften my attitude. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have been so rude.”
He chuckled.
I forced a smile. “You’ve delivered me to my aunt... you can go now.”
Reese shook his head. “Walking you to your door. You know the drill, babe.”
“Guess what, Reese? I’m a little over ‘the drill.’”
“Yeah?” he retorted, opening the trunk. “Too bad I don’t give a rat’s ass, huh?”
“I’ll carry my own bag, thank you very much,” I snapped, grabbing it from the trunk and heading to the abbey door.
I knocked, and as soon as the door opened, I was pulled into the warm embrace of Michael. “Hey, Sadie. You okay?”
I shook my head and wrapped my arms around him. I heard Reese in the background mutter a few choice words, but I didn’t care. I took comfort in my friend’s arms... I didn’t question why Michael was in the abbey that late at night (he shouldn’t have been, no men past eight o’clock), or why he opened the door instead of my aunt, I just let him hug me.
“I’ve got it from here,” Michael said, holding me close.
“No, man, I don’t think you do,” Reese argued.
I turned and faced Reese still standing on the doorstep. “He’s got it from here, Reese. Thanks for the ride.” I closed the door and dropped my bag to the floor just as my aunt shuffled into the foyer.
“How are you, sweetheart?” she asked, pulling me in for a hug.
“I’m good now.” I smiled. “Where’s Molly?”
“In bed.”
“How about you fill us in?” Michael suggested.
I filled him in on what I knew, leaving out the parts about my fight with Ryder.
“Wow,” he breathed out.
I nodded. “I just need a few days to figure a few things out.”
“I’d like to help.”
“I don’t know how you can,” I said. “But really, it’s fine.”
Before he could say anything else, someone pounded at the door. Michael pulled it open and Ryder shoved his way in.
“What are you doing here, Ryder?” I asked.
I was shocked when Michael grabbed hold of Ryder’s shoulders. “If Sadie doesn’t want you here, you’re gone.”
“Man. You need to get your hands off me,” Ryder said, his voice low and lethal.
“Ryder, I told you I need space,” I reminded him.
“We’ve got bigger issues than us right now.”
I frowned.
“You seriously need to get your hands off me,” Ryder said to Michael again.
“Michael, it’s okay,” I said, reaching for his arm.
“Some priest,” Ryder said, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
He glared at my hand touching Michael, but I squared my shoulders and asked, “What’s going on? Why are you here, Ryder?”
“Let’s take this into my office,” my aunt suggested.
“I’m sorry, Sister. I’d hoped this wouldn’t reach you,” Ryder said.
“Well, let’s see what we’re up against before we worry about all of that,” Auntie said.
It wasn’t lost on me that Michael kept himself between me and Ryder as we walked down the hall to Auntie’s office, but Ryder somehow maneuvered himself to be standing behind me when I sat in one the chairs facing my aunt’s desk.
Auntie sat at her desk and smiled. “So let me know what’s going on.”
“Without going into too many details, the girls we liberated from Savannah were the “property” of a local motorcycle club and they want them back,” Ryder said.
I shrugged away from his hand on my shoulder. My aunt raised an eyebrow but didn’t press for details.
“I’ve contacted a buddy in the FBI and a couple of acquaintances in the Dogs of Fire MC,” Ryder continued.
“Another motorcycle club?” I ground out. After his experiences with the Spiders I was a little surprised he’d trust another club.
“They’re cool, baby,” Ryder assured. “We’re trying to keep the local cops out of it... the club has a few in their pocket.”
“So that’s why...” I let my sentence trail off. I recognized that I might not know everything that was going on right now and I trusted him enough to wait until we were alone to ask questions. Now, if I could just calm myself enough not to puke on Ryder’s shoes, I’d feel a lot better.
“Where are the girls now?” Michael asked.
“They’re safe for the moment, but that won’t last for long.” Ryder slid his hand to my neck. This time, I didn’t shrug him off. “We’re going to need to move them.”
“What about their families?” Auntie asked.
“They don’t have families,” Ryder said. “That’s what the club counts on when trafficking them.”
“Scottie has you,” Auntie pointed out.
“That was payback for her running.”
“What about Hayley?” I asked.
Ryder squeezed my neck. “She’s safe, honey.”
“Just what is this ‘club’?” Auntie asked.
“The Rockwood Spiders, out of Gresham,” Ryder said. “They have a couple other chapters around the country, including Savannah, which is why the girls were there.”
I shuddered and Ryder stroked the back of my neck. Much to my irritation, I couldn’t stop myself from leaning into his touch. I was still mad at him and I didn’t like it that he was anticipating my needs right now. Why couldn’t he just be a jerk? It’d be easier to take.
“And why is Sadie sitting in my office, pale as a sheet?” Auntie demanded.
“Ryder’s father broke into my apartment and threatened me.”
“What?” Auntie cried.
Ryder’s hand stilled and I heard Michael curse. I was so shocked by his use of language, my mouth dropped open as I stared at him.
“Sorry,” Michael said to me, then added to Ryder, “I think you should leave.”
I lost Ryder’s hand on my neck.
“I’m okay,” I rushed to say. “It was scary, but I’m okay.”
“How long until they track her here?” Michael asked, his voice low and lethal.
“They won’t,” Ryder said.
“And how do you know that?”
“Because I do.”
“Holy mother of—I mean... ah, sorry Auntie,” I grumbled, and glared up at Ryder. “Will one of you please fill me in on whatever it is you aren’t saying?”
Before anyone could answer, Sister Maria walked in. “Sorry to interrupt, Reverend Mother, but there is an FBI agent here to see you. A Cameron Shane.”
“Send him in, Sister.”
“You called Cameron in now?” I asked, my stomach roiling. This must be way worse than I thought.
“I told you I called in the FBI.”
The second Cameron walked in (with Reese, I might add), I stood. Partly in an attempt to put space between myself and Ryder, and partly because I felt less vulnerable standing.
“You said you called him for information... if Cameron’s here, then...” I was going to be sick. “Is Hayley in trouble now? Real trouble?”
“No.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Sadie,” Ryder whispered, reaching for me.
I raised my hands to ward off his touch. “Don’t.”
He frowned, but did as I asked. I leaned against the desk and waited for everyone to be introduced. As I watched Michael and Cameron shake hands, something about their introduction bothered me. I couldn’t put my finger on it, so I chalked it up to being frazzled.
“Do you have the girls?” Ryder asked.
Cameron nodded. “They’re secure, but we can’t keep them there indefinitely.”
“Why not?” I snapped.
“Because we can’t guarantee their safety, even in the well-guarded safe house Cam has them in.”
“What will guarantee their safety?” Auntie asked.
Ryder shook his head. “Honestly, I have no idea.”
“Here would be safe,” Michael said.
“How so?” I challenged. “Ryder’s dad knows I’m an ex-nun—”
“He doesn’t, actually,” Cameron said.
“I don’t understand.”
“Electronically speaking, your time as a nun isn’t recorded in any database,” Ryder said.
“Because her name change and other information is filed here in paper form, rather than on any computers?” Auntie asked.
Ryder nodded. “Exactly. When I started dating Sadie, I knew there could be issues with her connection to me, so Cameron flooded the Internet with false information and job histories that wouldn’t flag the school or the Spiders when they ran background checks on her.”
“Without asking me?” I snapped. Even though he had the decency to look somewhat contrite, I was livid. “Get out!”
“Baby—”
“Don’t you dare call me baby!” I threw my arm out and pointed toward the door. “Get out!”
“Not goin’ anywhere just yet, Sadie, so you need to wrap you head around it.”
“Then I’ll leave,” I said.
“Babe—”
“Lose my number, Ryder.” I rushed out of the office and toward the private nun quarters. I didn’t even know where I was sleeping for the next two days, so I just kept walking until I hit the communal living area.
“Sadie?” Michael called.
I peeked into the hallway and saw him standing at the threshold. He wasn’t allowed any further. The nun’s area was off-limits to men, so I walked toward him.
“Hey.”
He smiled, pulling me in for a hug. “I’m worried about you.”
“I’m okay, Michael, I just need a minute.”
“What can I do?”
“Honestly? Nothing.” My stomach grumbled.
“How about we grab something to eat?”
I smiled. “I’m not really in the mood to go out. Rain check?”
“You’ve got to eat.”
“I’ll make something here. I’m good, Michael.”
“I’m right next door if you need me.”
“I know,” I said.
“Anything, Sadie, okay?”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
He studied me for a few seconds and then turned and walked away.
How the heck had my life come to this? Less than a year ago, I was living a sheltered but happy existence, and now I was in some weird romantic suspense novel I couldn’t get out of. Admittedly, I didn’t really want to, because I’d never felt so alive, but there was no way I’d ever voice that out loud.
Right now I just needed a break.
My stomach rumbled again.
And food... I needed food.
As I headed into the kitchen, my phone rang and I glanced at the screen. Since I was apparently a glutton for punishment, I answered it. “I thought I told you to lose my number.”
“Babe, I know you’re pissed—”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious, but I don’t think we need to rehash all of that.”
“There are things you don’t fully understand.”
“You were part of a gang, Ryder.”
“I wasn’t part of it, Sadie, this is what I’m trying to tell you. I got out.”
“Saying that kind of indicates you were in something that you had to get out of!” I snapped, frustrated with the back and forth.
“Look, recruits are chosen around eighteen. I was out before then. Most of us were. Bennie and Ollie were the only two who didn’t get out early.”
“I don’t know what any of that means. And honestly, I don’t really think I want to. This is all way too bad-movie plotline for me.”
“Whatever, Sadie.” I heard him take a deep breath. “I’m gonna say this once, and then you can have your space. You don’t leave the abbey for the next three days.”
“You don’t really have any—”
“I swear to Christ—”
“Don’t use the Lord’s name in vain,” I scolded.
I heard him bellow an expletive (away from the phone, luckily), and I couldn’t help a devious little smile. Hopefully, I was making his life just a little more difficult... give him a small taste of his own medicine.
“Sadie,” he started again, after another deep breath. “If you’re not willing to stay with me, I need you to stay put until I can sort things out with the club. Do you hear me?”
“Oh, I hear you, Ryder. I’d imagine anyone within a three-mile radius can hear you.”
“Woman, are you purposely trying to piss me off?” he snapped. “’Cause I will not be happy if I have to put a man on you. I will if you push me, but I’d like to keep all my resources working to figure all this shit out.”
“Well, you do you, Ryder. I’m going to take the next few days to figure out what I want. Does that sound agreeable to you, sir bossy pants?” I walked through the kitchen and pushed open the double doors out onto the patio at the back of the property. The sun was low but hadn’t yet set, and the day had been a mild one, so I drew in a deep breath and tried to relax.
“Stop being cute.”
“I’m not trying to be cute, Ryder, but I won’t be bullied into doing something I don’t want to do. Do you hear me?” I mimicked.
“Right,” he said with a sigh. “So I need to put a man on you.”
“And draw a big red arrow pointing to the abbey for your father to find? Gosh, Ryder, that doesn’t sound very smart at all,” I droned. What Ryder didn’t know was that there were tunnels under the church and outbuildings, which meant I could lose his “man” if I was so inclined. They were also a good hiding place should anyone find me here. “You need to focus on making sure those girls are safe. Including Hayley. They’re what’s important here. Not me.”
“All of you are important, Sadie.” I heard footsteps on the gravel and turned to find him walking towards me.
I frowned. “You shouldn’t be here.”
He dropped his phone into his pocket and crossed his arms. “Babe, you and I are gonna talk.”
“I don’t want to talk.” I slid my phone into my pocket as well and forced myself not to wrap my arms around him. I loved the big fat jerk, but I didn’t want him to know that.
“Pickin’ up on that, but I’m not leavin’ you here this weekend until we hash out a few things.”
“Whatever.” I slipped my hands into my jeans’ pockets and shrugged. “Say what you need to say.”
He smiled as he stared at me before uncrossing his arms and closing the distance between us. Before I could get my hands out of my pockets, I was pulled against his body and the top of my head was kissed. “I love you, Sadie.” I tried to wiggle away from him, but he just held me tighter. “Settle, baby.”
“You’re the most annoying man on the planet,” I snapped.
He chuckled. “I know, but you love me.”
“I can’t believe you changed my official record without talking to me,” I accused.
“Honey, we didn’t change your official record. We just put a fake record in there in case the club went searching.”
“Oh, ’cause that’s different?” I glared up at him.
“It is different,” he said. “I will do anything to keep you safe, you have to know that.”
“I don’t understand why you don’t just talk to me about this stuff.”
Ryder shrugged. “Honestly, I didn’t think it would come up. I’m trying to shield you from some of this crap.”
“Um, Ryder? Your dad broke into my home!” I cried. “You failed.”
His expression darkened. “You don’t think I don’t know that?”
“Well, then why don’t you admit that what you’ve been doing isn’t working?”
“Why do you think I’m standing here right now?” he ground out.
“Don’t you take that tone with me right now,” I snapped, pushing away from him. “So far today, you’ve kept me in the dark, beat your chest like some ape-man while grunting half orders, and told me you flooded the Internet with false records about me without my permission. Not one time did you admit you did anything wrong or apologize for it. Not to mention, you’re still giving me half-answers and evading some of my questions entirely.”
He settled his hands on his head and dropped his head back, spouting expletives to the sky.
“You’re a freakin’ juvenile,” I accused. “Not to mention a bully.”
He shook his head, took a deep breath (he’d done that a lot today), and then said, “Sadie, I’m trying to protect all of you here. I get that you’re used to sacrificing yourself, and I’m happy that there’s a little part of you that’s standing up for yourself here, but understand that I want you safe too.”
“Maybe if you didn’t keep me in the dark, I could help,” I ground out.
“Baby, there are things I can’t share with anyone and that includes some bigger picture issues that you have, unfortunately, been dragged into. I’ll share what I can, but Cameron and I, along with his team, are trying to keep twelve girls from being found and sold to bad men who want to use their bodies for some pretty damn disgusting reasons. This problem started before I met you, and I’d really hoped to keep you out of it, but the sperm donor made that impossible, so now I have to figure out how to keep twelve girls from being found and make sure the only woman I’ve ever loved stays safe!” His voice rose in volume steadily until he practically shouted “safe.” “So adding to all of these issues with trying to save little girls from animals, is whatever has crawled up my beloved’s ass so that now she won’t listen to reason.”
“You’re the one who’s crawled up my...” I pressed my lips into a thin line. I wouldn’t say it. I wouldn’t. I threw my arms up in the air. “Gah! You make me crazy!”
“Sadie, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything that was going on. I love you. I’m gonna screw things up on occasion, but I need to know you’re safe. Tell me what you need to hear so that I can go meet Cam and take care of this.”
“Go, Ryder. I’m not stopping you.”
He pulled me to him again, cupping my face. “Honey, you are stopping me. I can’t be distracted. I need you to understand that.”
“I’m really scared, Ryder,” I whispered.
“I know, baby.” He kissed me gently then wrapped his arms around me. I hugged his waist and settled my cheek on his chest. “I don’t know how to make you feel safe until my father’s dealt with, but I promise if you stay here you will be... at least I hope so. I’d feel better if you were with me, though.”
“I have to go to work on Tuesday.”
“Then come and stay with me and I can take you.”
I shook my head.
“Will you at least come stay Monday night?” he asked.
“Will you promise not to make me crazy?”
“No.”
I smiled against his chest. “You’re a butt.”
He gave me a gentle squeeze. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“Yes. Enough to make me crazy.”
“Well, you’re not wrong.”
I leaned back to meet his eyes. “Why do you need me to stay with you?”
“Because it’s going to be really crowded here.”
“Um, why?”
“Because we’re using the abbey as a hiding place.”
“For?” I still wasn’t getting what he was saying.
“The girls.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “I doubt anyone will think to look here, and if they do, they can hide them quickly...”
“In the tunnels,” I finished.
He nodded. “She filled me in on the secrets of the abbey.”
“My aunt’s getting way too into this cloak and dagger stuff.” Suddenly cold, I rubbed my arms, fear setting in again.
“Hey,” he said quietly, pulling me to him again. “I’m here, baby. I’ve got you.”
I burrowed into his chest. “He said he’d do horrible things to me. Things worse than death.”
“He won’t.”
“I’m not afraid to die, Ryder, but I am afraid of what Brick wanted to do to me. And the thought of him getting anywhere near those girls frightens me even more.”
He stiffened as he held me tighter. “No one will touch you or the girls,” he vowed.
“Promise?” I whispered.
“I promise, baby.”
“Okay.” I closed my eyes and relaxed against him. “I’ll come stay with you.”
Ryder slid his hand to the back of my neck. “Tonight?”
I rolled my eyes. “Ryder.”
“Please, baby.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” He lifted my face and kissed every inch. I scrunched up my nose and tried to lean away but he just held me closer. “Settle.”
When he puckered up for more, I laid my hand over his mouth and giggled. “You’re insane.”
He grew serious and smiled gently. “I thought I’d never hear that again.”
“What?”
He stroked my cheek. “Your laugh.”
“It’s been a really bad day.”
“In the definition of bad days, yeah, baby, it has been.” He leaned down and kissed me gently. “I’m sorry I dragged you into all this shit.”
“Technically, your father did, honey. I don’t blame you.” I waved my hand. “That doesn’t get you off the hook for the other stuff, but this one isn’t on you.”
I was rewarded with a slight smile. “Let’s get home. I’m gonna cook for you and then I have to meet with Cam.”
I frowned. “I’m going to come to your place only to have you leave?”
He shook his head. “I’m gonna meet with him at my place.”
“Oh.”
“I told you I’m not gonna leave you, Sadie. I mean it.”
“What if you have to deal with the girls?”
“I’m currently in the category of plausible deniability, so I’m staying away from the girls for the moment so no one sees my connection to them. Cam’s handling everything from this point forward so that I can maintain it.”
“Will you fill me in on your ‘crew’?” I asked.
“Yeah, if you want me to.”
“Yeah, I want you to,” I droned sarcastically.
He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close, kissing my temple. “Whatever you want, baby.”
I relaxed against him, kissed him at the back doors, and then went inside to retrieve my bag.