unharmed. I help Reno to his feet. By the time we stagger across the parking lot, my hearing is beginning to return, but sounds are distorted and muffled as if they’re coming through a long tunnel. I can hear the car alarms going off from the surrounding vehicles, most of which took heavy damage, some with their windows blown out. I can hear sirens in the distance, and I know we need to get the fuck out of here before we’re connected to this bullshit.
Reno taps me on the arm, and I turn to him. I can actually hear his words this time.
“What the fuck did this chick get you and the club into? This is the fucking mob we’re talking about, Rusty, whose hobbies are car bombs and dissolving people in acid in case I gotta remind you.”
“I know exactly who we’re dealing with, Reno, and I’m gonna rain hell down upon them.”
He looks back at the devastation. “Guess they terminated his employment. That’s a hell of a pink slip.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Ashlynn—
I’m sitting at the bar, Kara on the stool next to me, a mimosa in my hand. The clubhouse is relatively quiet, the mood somber. Everyone’s on edge. Maybe I’m overreacting, but every time someone glances at me, I feel like they’re blaming me. And they’d be right.
A woman I saw the first night I came here with Rusty walks over to us. She sticks her hand out. “Hey, I’m Vee. We haven’t been properly introduced.”
I shake her hand. “Ashlynn. Nice to meet you.”
She looks between Kara and I. “You ladies doing okay?”
“Holding down the fort. How about you?” Kara asks.
“Just wanted to be here to do my part.”
“And what would that be?” I ask.
She shrugs. “Oh, just whatever the boys need.” She looks to Kara. “Rumor around the club is you’re pregnant. Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Kara says hesitantly. “I didn’t know anyone knew.”
“You know how these boys are. They gossip worse than women.” She giggles, but it sounds forced. “You ladies bored?”
Kara looks around, pulls the stir stick from her Shirley Temple, and chews on it. “Not much to do, unless you’re into pool.”
Vee laughs. “Come on, I’ll show you a part of the warehouse you’ve never seen before.”
“Where’s that?” I frown.
She jerks her head. “This way. Come on.”
I look at Kara, and she shrugs. We both climb off our stools and follow Vee down a hall. It’s not the one that leads to Rusty’s bedroom, nor the one that leads to the kitchen. I’ve never been in this part of the warehouse. We move through a set of double doors. There’s a large cavernous space and even in broad daylight it’s dark and gloomy. She leads us through another set of doors and another hallway.
“Where are we going exactly?” I ask, all kinds of silent warnings going off in my head. When Vee doesn’t answer, I turn to look over and see her reach her hand to the small of her back, up under her shirt and come out with a gun. I gasp and take a step back. She points it at Kara’s belly.
“Don’t make a sound.”
I raise my hands, placating her. “Please, don’t hurt her. We’ll do whatever you want.”
“Good answer. Now move.” Kara turns, and Vee pokes her in the back. “Get going to the end of the hall.”
We walk silently. Panic surges through me, but I try to stay calm. A million thoughts fly through my head. Could I wrestle the gun from her hand? Could the two of us overpower her? Could we run? But I know I’ll do none of that, because even if I’m willing to risk my own life, there’s no way in hell I’ll risk Kara and her unborn baby. I’ll do whatever this bitch wants—give her anything, my car, money… and then it hits me. Does she know about the cash? Did Rusty tell Reno? Did she perhaps overhear?
“Stop,” she orders and motions to a door. “Here.”
I push it open. It leads to a set of loading docks. She moves to the doors, but they’re all chained shut.
“Goddamn it,” she snaps, holding the gun on us and moving to the overhead doors. The pulley system is chained as well, so she can’t roll them up. “Fuck!”
“What are you doing, Vee?” I ask.
“Shut up.” She glances around.
My eyes fall to the wavering gun in her hand. Dare I chance it? I look over at Kara and see the terror in her eyes. I reach out my hand and clutch hers,