Page 46 of The Riders’ Reign

She gets the message because she shoots a curious glance between me and Shelley but leaves, closing the door firmly behind her.

“God, Ace, I’m so scared.”

Shelley bursts out crying, shocking me to the core. Not a little bit of crying, no, this is full on ugly crying, with great wracking sobs.

Fuck me, what do I do? Awkwardly, I reach out and put my hand on her shoulder.

“It’s okay, Shelley, take a breath. Whatever it is, we can deal with it.”

“No, no, no, we can’t. I’m dead. I’m fucking dead, and if I’m not dead, my sister is.”

She sobs some more, and I wait it out, my heart racing.

She’s come to me, and she wants to talk, but if I push her, she might close up. This is obviously some messed up shit, and I can’t have her freaking out and deciding not to tell me. I might relish cutting digits off fuckers who deserve it, but Shelley is a woman, and a sweet one at that. I could no more hurt her than one of my kittens. This calls for persuasion, not violence.

“Shelley, it’s okay. Take your time. Just breathe, okay? In fact, hang on a minute.” I take out my cell and call through to the bar. Kelly answers on the second ring. “Can you bring us a large brandy, hon?” I ask.

Shelley might have said she didn’t want a drink, but she damn well needs one.

“Sure thing, Ace, give me a moment.”

It seems like only seconds before Kelly knocks on the door and brings in the brandy, glowing golden like an autumnal sky in the big tumbler, with ice added. She places it by me and leaves without saying a word, casting a worried but also speculative glance Shelley’s way.

The girls will be talking soon, and word will spread that something is going on with Shelley. If it’s what I’m thinking, that she’s somehow betrayed us, then things could get very bad, very fast.

“Here, take this,” I tell Shelley. “Have a big drink. Calm your nerves.”

Calm your nerves? I sound like my grandmother, goddamn it.

She does as I say, though, and knocks back half the glass. She grimaces before placing it on the desk, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth.

“So…” I gently push, hoping to get her to talk.

“I can’t,” she whispers.

I take hold of her hand and squeeze it between both of mine. “Shelley, you came to me. You obviously want to talk. I’ve kind of half guessed what this must be about. Someone betrayed us to the cartel. We’ve gathered everyone’s phones and have been going through them, except for the people who were at work. And you were doing a long shift, so we didn’t have yours. Although, I will need to take it. Now you’re here, and you’re scared and upset.” I smile at her softly, but she’s staring at the floor. “It doesn’t take a genius, sweetheart.”

She lifts her swollen, tearstained eyes to meet mine. “I got back a short while ago and Bear told me that… th-th-that… oh, God.” Her eyes spill over with tears again. “It’s my fault, Ace. Jack, Ghost, all of it.”

Fuck. I knew it, of course, but hearing her say it makes my stomach drop.

“Why?” I ask, my voice ragged because, fuck me, she might end up dead for this.

“They took my sister. My pretty, sweet little sister, who has already been through so much. They had pictures of her, all bruised up and shit. They said… th-th-they promised that if I gave them the details, they’d only waylay the ride out to get the information they needed on Ledger.”

I frown at her. “But you knew Ledger was dead, right?”

She sniffs and nods. “I know, but I didn’t dare tell them that. Oh, my God, my sister would be dead for sure then. I thought about telling you, I truly did, Ace, but they said if I told anyone, even my Bear, that they’d gut her like a fish. But they said they’d r-r-rape her first.” Her voice drops to a horrified whisper. “That they all would. Each of the men on Hector’s crew, all taking their t-t-turn.”

Her lips are trembling so bad, she keeps messing up her words.

“I was such a mess at work, which was terrible because I was assisting in a twelve-hour surgery all day, but they told me to act normal. Then I come home to find out what had happened during the ride out. Bear told me that I’d have to hand my phone in, but even before he said that, I’d already decided to come to speak with you because I can’t have that on my conscience. Not Jack being shot and Ghost being taken. Not when they’ve only ever been kind and nice to me.”

She wipes her eyes with her free hand, her other still nestled between mine.

“Promise me something, Ace. Don’t take this out on Bear, and don’t let any of the others, either. He knew nothing about this. And please do whatever you can to save my sister. I know my life is going to be over, I know.” She nods as if convincing herself that it’s okay. “But not my sister. She’s been through too much. She lost her daughter to cancer, Ace, a few years back. And then her damn husband left her. She’s just found happiness again. Remarried, got an adorable little step-baby. Her new husband was a widower. Can’t you see?” Her big eyes beseech me. “I can’t let him go through that again. Please, I can’t lose my baby sister. She’s my only real blood left in this world.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!