Page 48 of Shadow Strike
“That’s part of it.The other part is because he isn’t you or Granddad.He doesn’t see the heart of the Outlaws.He sees power and money.”
“And you’re telling me he’s been setting me up?In case he gets caught?”He stopped, his breath coming harder.“While I sat here useless.”
He hated to confirm it, but it was necessary.“Yes.”
“And you expect me to believe this?”
CB felt the frustration rising in his chest, but he kept his voice level.“I’m not asking you to take my word for it.You just heard him admit it.His own voice, his own plan.He’s been using you, Dad.The same way he uses everyone.”
Wade turned his head toward the window again.His profile was sharp against the light, the strong bones of his face unchanged even as the rest of him had weakened.CB remembered looking up at that face as a child, thinking his father was invincible.
He didn’t think that anymore.
“You left.”Wade’s voice had gone quiet, but there was venom underneath.“You walked away from this family, from everything I built.You joined the military, played soldier, pretended you were better than us.”
“That’s not?—”
“You weren’t here when your mother died.”Wade turned back to face him, and his eyes were wet with something that might have been grief or rage or both.“You couldn’t even be bothered to show up for her funeral.”
CB absorbed the blow.He’d heard this before, from Wade, from others.The whispers that followed him through town.The son who abandoned his family.The heir who wasn’t there when it mattered.
“We’ve been over this.”And he was so damned tired of repeating himself.“I was deployed undercover in another country.They couldn’t get word to me.I didn’t even know until?—”
“You should have been here!For her.”
Behind those words, CB knew what he really meant.You should have been here for me.“Maybe.”CB didn’t look away.“But that’s not what we’re talking about right now.We’re talking about Ryder, and what he’s done—and what’s going to happen to you if we don’t find a way to separate your name from his illegal operations.”
“Ryder is a good man.”Wade’s voice rose, his good hand slapping the chair arm.“He kept this family together when you ran off.Even after Ray was thrown in prison.He held the organization steady when I couldn’t lead anymore.Whatever mistakes he’s made?—”
“Mistakes?”CB stared at his father.“He’s threatening to frame you for crimes he committed.He’s setting you up to die in prison so he can walk away.That’s not amistake.That’s betrayal.”
Wade’s face contorted.For a moment, CB thought he was going to argue, to keep defending Ryder despite everything.But then the fire in his eyes dimmed.His shoulders sagged.The fight drained out of him like water from a cracked vessel.
“I don’t...”Wade trailed off, his gaze drifting.“I can’t...”
“Dad.”
No response.Wade stared out the window, but CB could tell he wasn’t seeing anything.His mind had closed down—whether from the stroke, the stress, or simple denial, CB wasn’t sure.But the conversation was over.
He sat with his father for a long moment, watching the shallow rise and fall of his chest.This was what Ryder had done.He’d taken a proud man—a hard and complicated man, but still CB’s father—and turned him into a pawn.A shield.A name to throw under the bus when the consequences finally caught up.
CB’s phone rang with a security alert from the bar, followed by a text from Lynx.Trouble, it said.And lots of it.
He opened the camera feed and felt his blood go cold.
Motorcycles.A dozen of them, maybe more, pulling into the lot and lining up in formation.Outlaws.And more arriving every second.
CB stood.His father didn’t react, still staring at nothing, lost somewhere CB couldn’t follow.“I have to go.”
He held up his phone, showing Wade the screen even though he knew his father probably couldn’t process it.The line of bikes.The men climbing off, studying the bar’s entrance.
“This is what Ryder’s doing right now.While you’re sitting here defending him, he’s sending his people after the woman I’m protecting.”CB’s voice was steady, but anger burned beneath it.“I won’t let him hurt her.And I won’t let him destroy you, either.Whether you want my help or not.”
Wade didn’t respond.Didn’t even blink.
CB pocketed his phone and strode out of the study.Maria looked up as he passed through the kitchen, her face creasing with concern.“Is everything all right?”
“Keep an eye on him.I’ll call later.”
