anywhere until I talk to Torch.”
Glover balled his fists. “Dammit. Why the hell do you have to be so difficult?”
Shannon left the room. I heard her rummaging through her bedroom, opening and slamming drawers shut. Shit. She was packing.
“Take Shannon,” I said. “I don’t need to run away to Florida. If it comes down to it, I’ll call my father.” It was a lie, but I really wasn’t leaving until I talked to Torch.
“Sydney, come on,” he said. “Please, don’t make this hard on me. The club is depending on me to get this done.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Exactly what were your orders?”
He chewed his bottom lip but didn’t answer.
“Son of a bitch,” I said. “He told you to pretty much drag me out of here if I didn’t go willingly. Is that it?”
“Sydney …”
I took a step back.
“No. No way.”
“You’re leaving,” he said. “That’s happening.”
“Tell me the truth,” I said. “What’s Torch planning to do?”
“Just pack your shit,” he said. “I’ll tell you what I can on the way.”
He wasn’t going to budge. Neither was I.
Shannon came out of the bedroom. “Sydney, please,” she said. “Come with me. We’ll go to Florida together. I wouldn’t mind having the company. Let’s just think of it like a vacation.”
“Take Shannon,” I said to Glover. “But I’m not going. Not like this.”
I grabbed Shannon by the shoulders. “Go. You need to get out of here. It’s more than just you you have to think of.” I said the last part low so Glover couldn’t hear.
“Sydney,” Glover said.
I squared off with him, calling his bluff. “The only way I’m getting in that van is if you knock me out and drag me to it. Since I know you aren’t going to do that, we’re done here.”
He kept his fists balled at his sides, but he knew I was right.
“Goddammit,” he said.
“Don’t worry about Torch,” I said. “I’ll handle it. I’ll talk to Amy as soon as you leave.”
Shannon waited by the door with a packed suitcase.
“Come on,” Glover finally said. “Goddammit.”
I watched them go out the front door together and climb in the van. Shannon strapped herself into the passenger seat. She gave me a wave as Glover put the vehicle in reverse and backed out of Shannon’s driveway. Then his tires squealed as he tore down the street.
I pressed my forehead to the little window in the door. I pulled out my phone and dialed Torch’s number. This time, it didn’t even go to voicemail. I got a message that the number had been disconnected.
Dammit. He’d tried to cut me off for good. There was only one thing left for me to do.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Torch
“Glover will handle it,” Amy said. I held the phone out. She was on speaker. I sat on my Harley in the road outside the Den. The place was still on lockdown. Yellow police tape covered the entrance. My house. My family. And they were trying to tear it down.
“Let me know when you know anything,” I told her. The next part was going to be harder for her. As soon as the plane got back after taking Shannon and Sydney, the pilot was coming for Amy. Nicole, Mallory, the kids, Tara, they’d all left yesterday morning. Even I didn’t know yet where they were headed. Amy had all that intel. It was safer that way, in case …
I didn’t even want to finish the thought.
“I don’t know what Colt would do without you,” she said, her voice breaking.
“Don’t,” I said. “Amy, I can’t have you falling apart on me.”
I paused. I hated myself for asking the next question. But I had to know.
“How did she take it,” I said. “Did Glover say?”
I heard Amy exhale. “I haven’t heard from him directly yet. He just texted to tell me everything was in motion. So, I trust that it is.”
I couldn’t talk for a moment. This was happening. It was real.
“I love you, Torch,” Amy finally broke the silence.
“I know,” I told her. “It’s just ... you know I may not be able to contact you for a while.”
“I know,” she said. “But, Torch, as soon as I get the kids settled, I’m coming back.”
“That’s not the plan,” I said, raising my voice.
I swear I could hear Amy smile through the phone.
“I’ll call you when I hear from Glover,” she told me. “Shannon and Sydney are supposed to be wheels up in an hour. I’ll reach out after that.”
“Good,” I said. Then, there was nothing left to say.