Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 42479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
His jaw was tight, eyes dark with concern. “Better?”
“Yeah. Breakfast didn’t sit well, and I’m starving.” I let out a shaky laugh. “And my trip to grab lunch didn’t go so well.”
Ryot cupped my face, his thumb stroking my cheek as he searched my eyes. “Talk to me, Riley. What happened?”
I hated dragging him into this even more, but I’d promised to trust him. So I told him everything, and his expression darkened with every word. By the time I finished, fury was rolling off him in waves.
He pulled me against his chest for a tight hug, then took my hand. “Come on. We’re going to the clubhouse. Right now.”
The thought of getting back into a car made my stomach roll again, but I nodded because I trusted him with my safety. “Okay.”
Holding my arm, he guided me outside and over to the passenger side of the Mustang. Proving how rattled I was, I didn’t even argue about him driving my baby.
After getting me settled, he circled the car, climbed into the driver’s seat, and pulled out his phone. “I’m gonna send a message to Jax so he can pull up security video of the assholes who dared to threaten you.”
He fired off a quick text and then looked down and saw the key still in the ignition. A muscle jumped in his jaw at the proof of how freaked out I’d been when I parked.
He reached out to squeeze my hand. “It’s gonna be okay, baby.”
Ryot didn’t let go the entire drive to the compound. The second we walked into the clubhouse, he led me straight to Jax’s office, where he was already at his bank of monitors.
Jax looked up as we entered, grimacing when he saw my face. “Got the video pulled up already. Matches what we’ve already dug up. These guys work for underground gambling financiers. They bankroll racers, fix races, loan money at insane rates, and collect debts when people can’t pay. Real nasty crowd.”
“Fucking hell,” Ryot growled.
Jax leaned back in his chair. “My guess? Shawn ran straight to them after your little visit. Told them where to find Riley instead of turning himself in like you demanded.”
Ryot went dangerously still beside me. “He sold her out.”
The rage in his voice made me shiver. I’d never seen him this angry.
Before I could process it, my stomach rolled violently again. I barely made it to the trash can in the corner before I was sick. Ryot was there instantly, holding my hair away from my face and rubbing my back.
When I finished, I wiped my mouth with a shaky hand. “You went to see Shawn?”
Ryot’s jaw flexed, but he didn’t deny it. I was hit by another bout of nausea, but at least nothing came up this time when I gagged over the trash can. Not having the chance to eat my delicious burrito bowl turned out to be a lucky thing.
Jax watched us both. “We need to move fast. These aren’t the kind of people who make empty threats.”
Ryot pulled me against his chest, holding me tight like he could shield me from the whole world. “They’re not getting anywhere near you again.”
But even with his arms around me, I couldn’t stop shaking. “I know.”
His brows drew together as he scanned my face. “You’re pale, baby.”
“Yeah, cause she just threw up,” Jax pointed out.
Ryot brushed his thumb across my cheek. “At The Pit too.”
Jax dipped his head toward the door. “Cage just stitched up Wrench’s thumb. One of his students somehow managed to slice it open while sparring. He’s probably still in there.”
“I don’t need a doctor,” I mumbled.
Ryot wouldn’t take no for an answer. Despite my weak protests that I was fine, he scooped me up and carried me straight to the on-site clinic. Cage was there, leaning against a counter flipping through a chart when we burst in.
“What happened?” Cage asked, straightening immediately.
“She’s been throwing up after a bad scare.” Ryot set me gently on the exam table but stayed right beside me, one hand on my back. “Twice in the past hour.”
Cage asked me a few quick questions about how long I’d been feeling off and if I had any other symptoms. Then he chuckled and walked over to a cabinet.
“Good thing we stay well stocked with these.”
He pulled out a pregnancy test and tossed it to Ryot with a grin.
I stared at the little box in his hand, completely stunned. “Wait, what?”
Ryot looked smug as hell as he handed the test to me. “Go on, baby. Take it.”
My hands were shaking as I went into the small bathroom and followed the instructions. When I stepped back out, Ryot pulled me into his arms while we waited. Cage leaned against the counter, arms crossed, looking amused.
Three minutes felt like forever. The timer on my phone finally went off.