Outside I dial Mute again. “Anything to report.”
“Nuh.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
I ride out to the Dairy Bar feeling sick to my stomach. Marcie doesn’t deserve this bullshit. She’s suffered enough. Losing her husband should be more than enough for anyone to go through. Now this. This is my fault. If I hadn’t gone after Choke none of this would be happening, but then I may not have Patience. I don’t blame her. I blame myself. If something happens to Marcie because of me I don’t know what I’ll do. I pull in and relieve Mute. He gives me a wave and rides off.
I park my bike feeling like the world is crashing down around me, but I need to get Gus and Patience to The Roadhouse for lockdown. I’m not putting them in danger.
“Jag.” Gus runs toward me as I’m getting off my bike.
“Hey, bud. Did you get your belly full?”
“Uh huh.”
“Good. Pack your stuff up and wait in the car.”
“Hey. Is everything okay?” Patience reaches her hand out, grabbing my fingers.
I wait till Gus gets in the car before I explain. “Just listen. Prez called a lockdown. That means women and children get to safety and no one leaves until the threat has been contained. The threat is Choke. I need you to get in your car, babe, and follow me to The Roadhouse. It’s our clubhouse.”
“Sounds serious.”
“He has—that fucking bastard has my sister, Patience.”
She drops my hand and shakes her head. “No. Why?”
“Because I pissed him off by claiming you.”
“Jag, what can I do?”
“Get you and Gus to safety.”
“It’s me isn’t it? I’m the one he wants. He’ll let her go if you give him me.”
“It’s not happening.”
“Do you know where he took her?”
“Not a clue but some of the guys are working every angle they can. Gus can’t know anything is wrong. He can’t know his mother his missing.”
“Of course.” She lets out a shaky breath.
I pull her into me and kiss the t
op of her head. “It’s gonna work out.”
“I hope so.”
Yeah me too.
Chapter 12
Patience
This is all my fault. I glance in the review mirror at the little boy buckled in my backseat. He has no clue that his mother is in danger. No idea that a few months after his father dying his mother might already be dead. It’s my fault. Jagger will never want to be with me again if something happens to his sister because of me.
If I had never gotten on the back of Choke’s motorcycle this wouldn’t be happening. Maybe all the guy wanted was a blowjob, but the eerie sensation creeping up my spine says otherwise. He wanted to hurt me. To humiliate me.