Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
She dug deeper and pulled out a sketchpad. “She was in school for fashion design, and she was always drawing clothing on her loved ones, but after, she started drawing this.”
She flipped through quickly. There were a ton of sketches of clothing. Smiling faces of an older woman that looked a whole lot like Piper.
Undoubtedly her mother.
I stumbled back a step when she finally flipped to the page she wanted. “This is him. This is who you should be looking for.”
It looked like…Toga.
What the fuck?
My head spun, lightheadedness hitting me like a tsunami.
“That’s…” I choked.
“That’s the bastard. You need to be able to recognize him if he’s out there. If he has her.”
Dismay whipped through her features. Her own grief so distinct. “I tried to get her to go to the authorities, but she was terrified of the threats Justin made. She tried to settle with Finn’s father, but…”
She trailed off, unsure if I knew.
Sickness burned as my mind played through the admissions Piper had made. “She told me he was killed.”
Nelly gave a jerky nod. “After that, she was trapped by her fear. Merely surviving. Until she met you.”
Reaching out, I flipped the page, hoping there was some mistake. That my eyes were playing tricks on me.
But when I flipped it to the next, there was no question.
Those eyes.
I knew those vicious eyes.
But it was the drawing of the woman on the opposite page that sent my soul dropping to the floor.
The paranoid horror on the face I would never forget.
Scarlett.
Dumbfounded, stricken, gutted—I stared at it.
“She’s the one who warned Piper. Probably the only reason we’re still alive,” Nelly whispered.
No.
It was her.
It was her.
Weeks had gone by after I’d begged her to come back. Weeks of seeing her riding on the back of Toga’s bike.
I wanted to be jealous during that time, but the only thing that I felt was protective. Wanting her to thrive and live. For our kid to have a good life. Wishing I was better, all while I pleaded with her to find reason. Promising I’d do whatever she wanted.
She told me it wasn’t enough, and she didn’t ever want to talk to me again. That was until the morning when I received a frantic voice message from her.
“Theo, I need your help. I’m in bad trouble. Toga, he’s gonna kill me. I know it. I’m on my way to your house.”
Except she never made it.
I found her mangled body on the backlot at Iron Owls’ club later that night.
Guilt striking me through like the blades that had impaled her. My hands had shaken with violence, desperate for revenge.
Toga had disappeared.
For years.
Until now.
Until right now when Piper was here.
“Oh, fuck.” Frantic, I dragged my fingers through my hair, trying to process it.
He was here.
For her.
“I have to go. Do not open the door for anyone until I get back,” I commanded.
“There was a reason we were drawn here. She needs you, Theo. End this for her.”
“I will,” I promised.
I went running from the room, dialing Silas as I pounded down the stairs.
“Theo?” he answered.
“Tell me that Volvo has a tracker on it.”
“It does.” I could already hear him moving, instinct telling him to get ready to dive into action.
“Text me the location, then get on your bike and meet me there. He has my girl.”
There was no question Toga wanted what was in that bag. It was the one thing that made me certain she was still alive. He wouldn’t end her before he had his hands on what he was looking for.
“Fuck, man,” Silas wheezed. Metal groaned and clanked in the background as one of his massive garage doors rolled up, his breaths going haggard. “It’s up on the south end of town…Dusty Springs Motel.”
“Meet me and my crew there.”
“I’m on my way, brother.”
I hit the bottom landing and went directly for Finn who was swaying in front of the Christmas tree. His big blue eyes were wild with uncertainty, clearly not immune to the distress that raged.
Kneeling, I took his face in my hands and brushed both my thumbs over his chubby cheeks. “I’ll be back, little man. I just have to get your mommy.”
And I wasn’t coming back without her.
Then I was running out the door and jumping onto my bike that I left out front, dialing Cash as I did. “Piper’s car is at Dusty Springs Motel. You and Otto get there. Silas is bringing backup.”
“Motherfucker,” he spat as he revved the throttle of his bike.
“It’s time,” I told him.
Except it was no longer about retribution.
It was only about saving Piper.
FIFTY-TWO
PIPER
“How the fuck did you end up here with him?” A knife was pressed to the pulse point on the side of my neck. Pushed up far under my jaw. I could feel the heavy, panicked throb of my blood expand against the sharp tip with each desperate beat of my heart.