A grizzled biker stood before me. Older. He smiled, looking almost friendly. But the look in his eyes was pure venom. I felt pressure in the wound and screamed again. I looked down and saw that he’d stabbed me. He was smiling as he held a knife that was still buried in my side.
“Hello, pretty little piggy.”
He yanked out the knife sharply and stared at it. Then he stuck out his tongue and licked my blood off the blade. That’s when I peed my pants.
I closed my eyes, unable to look at him. I knew without a doubt that this was the killer Shane had warned me about. He hadn’t covered his face. That meant only one thing.
I wasn’t leaving this room in one piece.
Chapter Thirty-One
Shane
I was heading to Smith’s place when my phone started blowing up. I was making my nightly round of checking on all of Dante’s old crew. They had splintered after his death. Only a handful still hung out together. The others, like Smith, were lone wolves.
I growled in annoyance after the fifth time it vibrated against my side. I pulled over and yanked it out, ready to raise holy hell.
I frowned. It was Mason. Five missed calls and a text.
He’s got her. He’s got Parker.
I stared at my phone uncomprehending for a moment. He couldn’t have her. He couldn’t. Fury and terror took hold of my heart. I roared as another text popped up.
Cain is tracking her phone. The fucker waited to get rid of it. Meet us at the corner of Green and Broome.
I didn’t even write back. I pushed the gas down all the way. I nearly skidded out as I took the first turn. I would be there before all of them. I would be there to save Parker. I would be the one to make the kill.
Cain stood in an empty lot, staring at something on the ground. Connor was getting something from his car. I watched in horror as he used pincers to lift something up and put it in a plastic bag.
Parker’s purse. The one the girls had helped her pick out at the mall. A black faux leather bag with a shiny gold toned heart charm dangling off the strap. I almost fell to my knees when I saw that.
He was bagging it. It was evidence. I nearly threw up in my mouth.
“Where is she?”
Conn shook his head.
“Not here.”
“But maybe close,” Cain added. “My men are already sweeping the area.”
“He wouldn’t be so stupid as to toss her stuff that close.”
“He’s arrogant. He wants you to find her.”
The unspoken word hung heavily in the air. After. He wanted me to find her after.
My heart was beating out of my chest. Find her. Not rescue her. Not save her.
Find.
I spun in a circle, trying to see something. Anything.
“Drones got something.”
Cain held up his hand when I turned to stare.
“This shape. It’s a shadow. But it could be a motorcycle.”
“Where?” I hissed.
He rattled off the coordinates and pointed.
“Approximately seven and half miles. In that direction.”
I was on my bike and riding before he even told me what building. I stopped a hundred yards short, not wanting the killer to hear my engine. I had made a mistake. I should have killed him weeks ago. I had wanted to be sure.
And now there was a chance my beautiful girl would be gone.
Please be alive. Please be alive. Please be alive.
Alive. That was all I could wish for. There was no way that he hadn’t hurt her. He wouldn’t have waited. I couldn’t think about what he might have done to her already. I just prayed she wasn’t too scared. I prayed she could hold on just a little bit longer.
I would die without her. I knew that now. I loved her heart and soul. I’d always known it. Almost from the moment I saw her big blue eyes. Of course, I’d thought I loved her a different way back then, but it was still love.
And I hadn’t even had the courage to tell her.
I crouched low and ran, checking corners and windows. Listening. I didn’t hear or see anything. It was so fucking deserted, you could have heard a pin drop.
And then I did hear something.
I heard someone say, “Don’t die on me yet, little piggy.”
I broke into a run, not even realizing that Cain and Connor were almost on my heels. I wasn’t being quiet now. I didn’t give a shit about catching him in the act. I didn’t even give a shit about torturing him anymore.
I just wanted my woman to be okay. I wanted her home safe and sound. In my home. For good.
There was no way in hell I was ever going to let her out of my sight again.
I stopped inside an empty warehouse, not sure which way to go. I heard a muffled cry of pain from above. I ran.