Page 96 of Playboy’s Purgatory

“I’m not hurt,” my voice is calm. The calm that comes right before the storm.

“Okay,” he sounds uncertain, but I can also hear the distraction in his voice. “Listen, I’m dealing with something right now. If it’s not an emergency, I need to get back to work.”

“I’m going to say something, but you can’t react to it if you’re not alone.”

Ryker grunts and I almost smile. Almost.

“Lola stole money from you.”

This grunt is different, more questioning.

“I know because I’m looking at some of it.”

A feral grunt comes from the back of his throat.

“I don’t know how she got in, the security was down again.” I shake my head, my voice turning glacial, “She always had more cards to play than I knew about, and she always created an exit plan. I’m sure this one has implicated me in some way.”

I hear something on the other end of the line and then a rushed voice I don’t recognize, “Lola left a note.”

“Is Playboy with you?”

“No,” Ryker’s voice is hard.

“I’m not going to ask you to not open it.” I take a deep breath, and hope Ryker is willing to let me find out if I can truly trust his brother. My voice is devoid of any emotion, “Bring the note and come to Bunz Out. Make sure he comes with you along with whoever else you need. Have someone deliver the note in the same way it just happened, but you’re here instead of there.”

For a moment, all I hear is the sound of him breathing on the other end of the line. It’s like he’s weighing his options and if doing things my way will prevent his club from finding the answers they’re looking for.

I hope it doesn’t, but I certainly can’t make any guarantees.

“I already know the note is going to put all the blame on me,” I tell him. “The money is the evidence of whatever tale she’s spinning.” My voice turns soft. “I just need to find out if he’ll trust her lies or if he’ll trust whatever ground we’ve made up.”

“Lara,” he whispers my name like he doesn’t want me to find the answer. Or maybe he’s warning me of what can happen when you play games.

My heart skips a beat in my chest, but a feeling of resolve rises up as well.

“I just need to know,” I murmur. “I need the reaction, not just the words.”

“I’m on my way.”

Ryker hangs up and I stare down at the cash on the table until I hear the sound of motorcycles roaring up the alley. I open the back door holding a box of gloves and lock eyes with chocolate brown ones that I hope won’t break my heart today.

Fuck, it’s too early for this shit.

CHAPTER 24

PLAYBOY

The moment Ryker came storming out of his office and growled for me to get on my bike and head to Bunz Out, I thought my soul left my fucking body. I was moving before I even realized it. My bike was loud in the quiet of the still dark morning, but I was a man on a mission.

I needed to get to Lara. Because Ryker wouldn’t tell me to get to the bakery if there wasn’t a problem.

Either something happened or she’s in danger. Both possibilities have my heart in my damn throat.

I’m incapable of even thinking about something happening to Vanessa. The idea of it is so out of the realm of possibility.

Nope.

Didn’t happen. Couldn’t have happened.