Page 52 of Ridin’ Dirty

“Let go of me,” she griped, trying to wrench her way out of his grasp.

I couldn’t tell whether or not she was truly committed to freeing herself, but Spurs didn’t lose his hold as he looked back at Cobra.

“What now?”

Cobra, whose attention was already aimed down at his phone, was quick to reply, “Now I call Nighthawk.”

The VP and the president were on the phone for less than thirty seconds. I only heard one side of the conversation, but it was enough. I knew as well as anyone else in the room that missing King wasn’t going to make it home for a nice easy trade, which meant a whole lot of trouble.

Trouble that included Pistol in King territory.

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

By the time Cobra disconnected the call, I understood things were about to get messy.

Or, I guess, messier.

“She stays here,” said Cobra, signaling at the woman with his chin. “Buff, Crow, stay put. Watch her. Spurs, you’re with me. Prez’ll meet us there. I’ll get Nomad there, too. Let’s roll.”

“We’re coming, too,” I declared, realizing for the first time Reaper hadn’t left my side.

Cobra glanced at me and then shrugged. “Won’t stop you.”

“You can’t keep me here,” argued the woman as Spurs handed her off to Buff. “I got a corner to work, and we all know you boy scouts aren’t buyin’ from me. Unless, of course, you want somethin’ else. Charge by the hour. Might cost you extra, you plan on ridin’ me with that kutte on.”

“Don’t know how they do it in King territory, but around here, we can wet our dicks for free. And our bitches are a whole lot prettier.”

I didn’t miss the smirk on Spurs’ face as he turned for the door. Cobra ignored the whole exchange, his phone to his ear as he trailed after Spurs. While Reaper and I followed, I heard him relay a message with only the relevant details.

“It’s begun. They got Ri. We’re rollin’ on their turf now.”

He said nothing more before he hung up, but I had no doubt the message was received with the same urgency we all felt.

Reaper and I were in my Mustang and ready to go when both Cobra and Spurs mounted their hogs. I idled while I waited for them to tear out of the parking lot, then followed close behind. It wasn’t that I needed directions to the Copper Kings’ clubhouse. It had been a while, but I knew exactly where it was. However, given the circumstances, I figured it would be better to follow rather than lead.

It took us fifteen minutes to travel across town, and my stomach was in knots as we pulled onto the compound. The rivalry between the clubs was a well-known fact for anyone who cared—but other than a few pointed stares across the diner, or a silent stand off when two men in opposing kuttes found themselves in neutral territory, I’d never actually seen the full effect of a confrontation.

Aside from the beat down that was the entire reason I found myself parking my ride on forbidden ground, of course.

It wasn’t until I killed my engine that I truly took a moment to process what I was doing. I hadn’t been inside the Kings’ clubhouse in years. If Carmy was in there and he saw me, I was screwed. But more than that, I risked him finding out what I’d done. I knew I had to tell him eventually, but I was still dealing with it myself. Adding him to the mix made it all the more complicated, and I wasn’t sure how much more of that I could take.

Reaper let out a muffled bark, reminding me why I was there in the first place.

Pistol.

While I didn’t exactly feel any type of loyalty to him, it was hard to deny his pup. I didn’t know the whole of it, but I was sure Pistol didn’t surrender himself willingly. For Reaper to find her way back home in search of help, it was remarkable and brave, and an act filled with a loyalty bred from love. It was downright heroic, and I couldn’t ignore her worry.

I wasn’t heartless.

But I wasn’t stupid, either.

“You stay here, okay? If he’s in there, we’ll get him out—but he’d kill me if anything happened to you.”

As I scratched behind her ears, I knew what I said wasn’t an exaggeration. I also knew she didn’t really know what I was saying, but that she’d likely lose her mind when I left her behind. Knowing it was for the best, I left my keys and my purse, moving as quickly as I could so she couldn’t follow me.

Just as I thought, Reaper was barking her head off as I made my way toward the group of Stallions. She really knew how to tug at a girl’s heartstrings, but I told myself I made a smart move.

Cobra, Spurs, and Nighthawk were all off their hogs, speaking in hushed voices as I approached. I noticed there were a couple Copper Kings watching us from where they stood up by the clubhouse—one of them leaning against the railing while the other stood with his arms folded across his chest. Neither of them was Carmy, but that didn’t ease the anxious feeling I had in my belly.