Brick Brick (Knights Corruption MC - Next Generation, #4) - S. Nelson Page 0,64

it.

My horn was stuck on a constant blare, the asshole drivers in front of me testing my last ounce of patience, my nerves frazzled and threatening to splinter apart if they didn’t get the fuck out of the way.

I jerked the wheel hard to the right, almost missing the exit, the cab of the truck bouncing with the last-minute decision.

Pulling down the wrong road, I backtracked a few blocks until I found the right one, seeing Ryder’s bike parked near a light tan building with a letter C on the outside. He must’ve already gone inside, my heart finally calming to the point I didn’t think it’d arrest, relief flooding through me when I spotted Braylen’s SUV.

But then Ryder rushed out of the building, his eyes wild as he ran toward their vehicle. I jumped out of my truck and rushed toward him, flanking him on the passenger side.

“What’s the matter?” Touching his shoulder made him flinch, the expression slicing across his face one of fear. “What happened?” If he didn’t start talking soon, I was gonna lose it for sure. I’d been put through the gamut of emotions in a short span, and I didn’t think I could handle any more.

“They’re not here.” Ryder riffled through the glove compartment, then slammed it shut. Then he tore through the console. What the hell was he looking for?

I whipped my head toward the building, then back to him. “What do you mean they’re not here? This is her vehicle, right?” I asked a question I knew the answer to, otherwise Ryder wouldn’t be searching through it.

“The receptionist said she didn’t check in yet.”

“Did you check the bathrooms? Maybe they’re in there.”

“Of course.” He snatched his phone from his pocket and hit a button, cursing when no one answered. “And she won’t pick up.” Ryder looked over at me. “And neither will Zoe.”

At the mention of her name, I placed my own call. After five rings, the call bounced to voice mail. I called back, four more times and still nothing.

Until the fifth.

Three rings, then someone answered. Only the voice on the other end wasn’t Zoe. It wasn’t even female.

“You’re persistent. I’ll give you that,” a man said. I pulled the screen away from my ear to check I’d dialed the right number. Of course, I knew I had because it was Zoe’s name I selected, but I couldn’t make heads or tails of why a man would answer her phone. Scratch that… I could understand why, I just refused to allow my brain to go there.

“Who is this?” I gritted, hitting the speaker button, and snapping my fingers at Ryder like I’d done back at the clubhouse. His head shot up and he moved closer. Too close.

“Who do you think this is?”

“Griller,” Ryder answered reluctantly. How had the president of the Savage Reapers managed to swipe both women in broad daylight less than ten minutes before we got here?

“Guess again.” The look Ryder and I shared scared me. “We’ve never met, but I’m betting you’ve heard of me.”

“I doubt it.” I exhaled after speaking, realizing I shouldn’t be goading him, especially since we had no idea who we were talking to.

“I’m sure your prez has told you all about me.”

“Who the fuck is this?” Ryder shouted next to me, gripping his hair between his fingers, and pacing in a small circle.

If this wasn’t Griller, I doubted it was one of their lackeys, which left only one other option.

“Dutch,” I responded, my tone heightening in fear with the realization.

“See. I knew you heard of me.”

“I swear to Christ, if you touch either one of—”

Ryder’s rant was cut short when Dutch interrupted. “I’ll be in touch.” Then the line went dead.

Remembering the ride back to the clubhouse wasn’t possible. The only thoughts I had revolved around Zoe, praying to God I’d never have to find out what a life without her looked like.

29

My head felt like a boulder on top of my shoulders, the throbbing in my temple indicative to a nasty headache. At first, I was shrouded in utter darkness, but as my eyelids flitted open, shards of light filtered in under a doorway.

I pricked my ears but couldn’t hear anything other than the sound of my own breathing, still lost to the haziness of it all. Racking my brain to try and remember details, any specifics, I was frustrated when I couldn’t recall much at all.

I remembered telling Brick “I’ll see you soon.” Then being trapped in the vehicle when two