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“I’m going after her,” I announce to the room, ignoring the protests and warnings that follow.
“Slash, I have to insist—“ Bones starts, but I wave him off.
“I don’t give a fuck. I’m going.”
I grit my teeth and steady myself, ignoring the pain radiating throughout my body—my determination is stronger than the pain.
Outside, I pull myself onto my loaner bike. The simple act sends a sharp stab of agony through me, causing me to hiss through clenched teeth. But the thought of Sadie, alone and scared, pushes me past it.
With a deep breath, I tear out of the lot, leaving the Reapers behind. I hear my brothers calling for me to stop, but I’m not waiting. The wind whips past me as I push my bike to its limit, the roar of the engine a comforting constant beneath me.
It takes me an agonizing forty-five minutes in pelting rain to reach the Iron Serpents’ hideout, tucked away in a remote area where no one asks questions, just like our compound. I feel a pang of homesickness. I should have taken Sadie out of that fucking town the second I knew she was in danger. I never should have brought the club here—we could have dealt with the Serpents later. But I was too fucking stupid—too blinded by my need to punish them for what they did to my brother and Sadie.
I kill the engine a block away and coast the rest of the distance, using the cover of darkness to my advantage.
Slipping off my bike, I approach the building on foot, my senses on high alert. The building is a rundown warehouse, its once vibrant exterior now a ghost of its former self. But beneath the veneer of decay, I can see the telltale signs of activity.
Moving with the stealth honed from years in the MC, I make my way to the side of the building, avoiding the main entrance. I carefully navigate the perimeter, searching for a more discreet entrance.
After what feels like an eternity, I find a back door partially obscured by an old dumpster. I try the handle, and to my surprise, it turns. I crack the door open and slip inside, the darkness of the building swallowing me whole.
I move through the building, my heart racing as I search for Sadie. Each creak and groan of the old building sends adrenaline surging through me, but I force myself to stay calm. I can’t afford to make a mistake now. Sadie’s life depends on it.
Navigating the shadowy maze of the warehouse, my heart lurches at the sight that greets me in a hidden alcove at the back. Sadie stands over the lifeless form of a Serpent, her body trembling, the pipe in her hand dripping with blood.
“He’s the one. He killed your brother,” she whispers, her voice as hollow as her gaze. I hardly register her words as she starts to sway, her legs buckling under her.
“No!” I gasp, rushing forward to catch her before she hits the ground. I scoop her up in my arms, my heart hammering against my ribs. Her body is warm and alive against mine, and for the first time since she was taken, I can breathe.
Despite the blood and grime coating her, she’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. I cradle her against my chest, the relief of having her back washing over me like a tidal wave. I press my lips to her forehead, whispering words of comfort and assurance.
“You’re safe now, Sadie. I’ve got you,” I murmur, my voice choked with emotion.
But as much as I want to stay here, holding her, we don’t have time. The Serpents will be on us any minute. Pulling back, I look into her eyes, the love I feel for her burning brighter than ever.
“We need to move, Sadie,” I tell her, my voice firm. “Can you walk?”
She nods, a glimmer of her usual fire returning to her gaze. With my help, she gets to her feet, clutching my arm for support.
“You’re…” Her voice trails off, and she points to my shoulder. My shirt is soaked in blood. “I’m fine,” I say. “We have to go.”
Every fiber of my being screams at me to get her out of this hellhole. I feel an urgency I’ve never felt before. But as we make our way out of the room, her revelation about the dead Serpent rings in my mind, creating a dissonance I can’t address now.
I push the thought away, focusing on the task at hand. I’ll deal with the aftermath later. Right now, the only thing that matters is getting Sadie out of here.
We stumble through the labyrinthine halls of the hideout, our footsteps echoing ominously. We’re almost at the exit when we hear the sharp sound of a door slamming open. I glance back to see the Iron Serpents spilling into the hallway at the other end, weapons drawn and faces contorted with rage.
I feel Sadie’s grip tighten on my arm. “Slash,” she whispers, her voice shaky.
“We’re not stopping,” I tell her, gritting my teeth against the pain radiating from my wound. “Not until we’re out.”
We burst out of the building to the sound of pounding footsteps behind us. My heart pounds in my chest as I spot my bike where I left it, seeming like a beacon of hope in the moonlit night.
I help Sadie onto the bike, her body trembling against mine. The sound of the Serpents’ boots hitting the pavement echoes in my ears, but then a new sound drowns it out. The familiar roar of the Reapers, my brothers, rushing in to meet the Serpents.
The relief that washes over me is short-lived, replaced by a sharp pain that shoots through me, causing my vision to blur. I know I’m pushing my body beyond its limits, but I can’t afford to stop. Not yet.
