Velvet Fire - Ashby Crime Family Romance

“Now,” I shot back.

“Virgil,” he snapped in that condescending way I hated down to my fucking bones. “We don’t even know where she is. When we know she’s safe you can go in and take care of things. You do want her back, don’t you? Or was that just talk?”

“It wasn’t,” I growled at him, angrier at myself than my brother because I knew he was right. I should have been more careful with Maisie, and I definitely shouldn’t have taken her out in public like she was my fucking woman. It was as good as putting a target on her back.

I raked a hand through my hair and sighed, wondering if Maisie would ever forgive me for getting her mixed up with The Crusaders. Not that it mattered. I didn’t forgive myself and she didn’t deserve this. Not any of it.

“Fuck!” I made a vow, then and there, that when Maisie was safe and The Crusaders were dealt with, I would walk away. I had to.

“I have some news.” Cal strolled in with his gaze fixed on the gadget he held in one hand while the other tapped and slid across the screen. “Oh hey, Terry. What are you doing here?”

“Brought your ma Savannah Rhymer.” His shit eating grin relieved some of the tension in the air.

Cal nodded and looked over at me. “Cool. Virg, did you know that Maisie is from a biker family? Like a fucking biker club family?”

I blinked at his words. She mentioned a brother and his wife and lots of aunts and uncles. I shook my head. “No.”

Was this some kind of double cross? Would our rescue turn into an ambush?

Everyone seemed oblivious to my inner turmoil, and I was damn grateful for it, especially my kid brother with a one-track mind.

“Her brother Gunnar used to be VP of Reckless Bastards, Mayhem Chapter. His mom died and he took custody of Maisie, leaving the MC and moving to a small town in Texas. Opey. Where he is now President of the Opey Chapter of the Reckless Bastards.”

Cal stopped to suck in a breath, eyes lit with excitement. “Maisie currently lives with one known Bastard. One suspected, Charlie. And one suspected prospect, Jameson.”

“Good Irish names,” Sadie said and took another sip of whiskey. “I know you’re worried, Virgil, but this means that Maisie was raised to handle herself. She’s tough despite being a college girl.”

Despite what Ma said, I could see the pride shining in her eyes. Maisie just went up a hundred points in her eyes.

“I’m not worried,” I said, nodding slowly.

“Sure you are, and that’s all right.” Her soft tone and gentle hand on my shoulder wasn’t what I needed right now. As if she understood, she turned back to Calvin.

“Get me the number of Cross Wiley. I believe he still runs the Mayhem Chapter. We used to know each other quite well back in the day.”

“Not gonna touch that,” Calvin grumbled as one hand flew over the screen. It always looked like magic or bullshit, but Calvin always came through. Always.

Thomas cleared his throat and all eyes turned to him. “Maisie just called. She’s found her way to Ronda’s Chicken Shack in the Green Zone.”

His nose crinkled at the mention of the worst part of Glitz, where anything short of martial law was a waste of time and resources.

“Perfect,” Calvin said with a little too much excitement and a fucking smile on his face.

“Cal,” I growled.

“Sorry,” he said but his smile didn’t go any fucking where. “But it narrows down where those motherfuckers are.” He did some more tapping on the screen and rattled off an address. “Owner is Dietrich Mueller.”

“Motherfucker!” Sadie got that look in her eyes that spelled more work for me and Jasper but that was later.

I nodded to Terry. “Let’s go.”

“Take the trucks. One through eight with you, double up the men.” Jasper gave his nod of approval. The last thing I saw before leaving was Ma and Jasper both making a beeline towards the bar.

Again.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Maisie

“This isn’t the way to my uncle’s house.”

I didn’t want to sound ungrateful, but I wanted to go home. Where Uncle Max and Charlie were. Where I was safe. Not wherever Oliver was taking me.

“Hey,” I shouted at him, louder than I meant to, but I was doing everything in my power not to freak the fuck out.

Oliver’s dark eyes revealed nothing when they met mine in the rear-view mirror. “Your uncle as well as a Mr. Cross Wiley have been apprised of the situation, Maisie.”

His gaze left mine to cast a glance into the side mirrors before they landed back on me. “They have agreed with Ms. Ashby that you should return to Ashby Manor, for now.”

Well fuck, that was the last thing I expected to hear. It was good news, I guessed. I just hoped Virgil wasn’t too pissed.