Page 51 of Tico

Ember shudders again. “He’s talked about like a myth. Almost a legend. He’s kidnapped more people for Oasis than anyone else from what I’ve heard. Scooter calls him ‘The Shadow’. I’m not sure what his real name is, but for the last few years, he’s been at the clubhouse every time someone from Oasis visits.”

“So, you can describe them?” I ask and Ember nods.

“I can do you one better.” She pulls her phone out of her pocket and opens her email. “Between Frannie and I, a cut slut that helped me ever since Mom died, we managed to get a few pictures of them.”

Ember pulls up an email thread and turns it toward me. Both Xochitl and Poison get up and look over my shoulder at the picture. I take the phone, scrolling through the pictures attached to the email. My gut clenches at the looks the Collector was giving Ember and the other women. Then I get to the pictures of The Shadow, and I pause. Something about him feels…familiar.

“Every time The Shadow came around, things were always more tense in the clubhouse. But it was also…safer…in a way.”

I glance over at Xochitl, both of us frowning in confusion.

“Safer how?” she asks.

Ember frowns in return. “It was weird. The rumors say he’s one of the most dangerous men in Oasis, yet whenever he came to the clubhouse, all of us women were treated better. We actually got full meals; no one was beaten, well, in a public manner at least; and there were no public displays of sex. Even when both the Shadow and the Collector were there together, the Collector almost seemed afraid of the Shadow. They also seemed to defer to the Shadow for any decisions.”

I look down at the pictures again, hating where my mind is going, but before I mention anything, I need proof.

Taking a deep breath, I turn to Xochitl. “You said you had something both Ember and I needed to hear?”

Xochitl nods. “I do. In my territory, there’s a group that consider themselves a ‘gang’. Normally, they don’t interfere with any of our businesses or missions, but I got word from one of my contacts that Oasis has hired them to do some of their dirty work. People have been going missing around Kiel—and not all of them are women or girls. I have eyes on them, hoping they’ll lead us to where they are hiding their victims. But that’s not all.”

She pauses and takes a deep breath and gives Ember an almost sympathetic look before turning to me.

“Last night, Angel was manning our bar when she overheard a conversation. That conversation confirmed my contacts information. Drone and Scooter also hired those thugs to come here and create distractions for your club. And if the opportunity arises, to capture Ember and Pyper.”

Ember’s body freezes, just like it did before when Rochelle gave me the note that said Ember and Pyper were in danger.

“They aren’t getting their hands on Pyper. Or Rochelle,” she says darkly.

“Or you,” I reply.

If those fuckers think they can come into my territory and steal my new family from me, they’ve got another thing coming.

Ember nods, almost nonchalantly, then her lips thin. “Something about last night still doesn’t sit right with me.” She turns, her emerald-green eyes boring into me. “You said Wire was following my dad and the others back to the hotel via cameras and that Psycho, Kane, Clutch, and two Prospects were following them. If they had eyes on them, then how did Ryan and the others break off on the way home or sneak out of the hotel to come here?”

My muscles tense because that same question has been burning in the back of my mind as well. I’ve already suspected that we have a rat because of discrepancies we’ve been having with our shipments and a few times, our locations have been compromised. Each time we noticed in time, thank fuck, but it could have been very deadly if we hadn’t.

I stand, my jaw clenched so hard I can feel the muscles ticking. I don’t want to believe that one ofmis hermanos(my brothers) might have betrayed me, but there is also a first time for anything. I pull out my phone, texting Wire, and am surprised when he replies that he’s in his room. Then I glance at the time and realize we’ve been up here longer than I thought.

“Wire is in his room, let’s find out what actually happened.”

Xochitl and Poison head out into the hallway, but I snag Ember’s wrist before she can follow.

“Vicious, there was a question posed in Church that I need to talk to you about. Nothing’s wrong,” I quickly reassure her when I see her panic, “they just had a question I need to ask.”

Her face softens and she gives me a small smile. “I’m gonna take a stab and guess that they asked if I’m willing to be bait to draw them out.”

I huff slightly but can’t stop my lips from twitching in amusement. “I don’t know if I’m lucky in the fact that you know MC life so well or if I you’re going to keep me on my toes.”

Ember steps closer and reaches up, cupping my cheek. “I know exactly what those women are being subjected to in Oasis and the Chrome Viper’s grasp. I will fight for their freedom, and I am willing to be bait to draw out my dad and the others.” Her eyes harden and the muscles in her jaw ticks. “But Pyper is not to be used at all in this. Or Rochelle. She’s already been subjected to enough pain.”

I shake my head before she’s even done talking. “No,” I reply immediately. “We weren’t going to ask either of them to be bait. Though, I still plan to talk to Rochelle to see if she can give us any other information that might help us.”

Relief fills her face and she goes up on her toes and kisses my cheek. “Thank you, Diego.” She pulls back and her face hardens again. “Now, let’s go see what Wire can dig up for us.”

Chapter 26

Tico