Ice (Regulators MC 1)

Tires squeal.

Sandoval laughs.

The feed in my ear piece crackles.

“I’m down,” Hammer’s voice croaks through the line.

Morgan

Brooke and I spend the day around the house. I called in to work and used my last personal day. Not working sucks, but honestly, with Madyson missing, there is no way I can do my job well anyway.

Later in the day, my phone rings, the screen displaying Blocked Caller. Hmm … maybe it is for Madyson?

“Hello,” I answer timidly.

“Morgan Powell?”

“Yes.”

“This is Screech. Ice wants you to meet him at Coal’s house. I’ll be sending you the address.”

“How do I know this is really from him?” My chest tightens as my anxiety rises. How do I know these instructions are really from Ice? What if this is some kind of lure from whatever mess my sister is in? Ice is the only person I would trust with this kind of order, and he’s not the one on the other end of the line.

“There is no time to explain, just be at the address I’m sending you as fast as you can,” the man replies in a rushed, brusque tone.

When the call disconnects, rather than wonder who he is and whether this is real, I dial Ice.

“No time for fuckin’ explanations. Get your ass to Coal’s place.”

Call ended. No hello, no goodbye. The asshole is securely back in place. What is going on?

My emotions are all over the place as I quickly get ready to leave. As the text comes through with the address, I’m in the living room ready to go, and Brooke comes around the corner from the kitchen.

“Where are you going? Are you coming back here?”

“I have to go to Coal’s house,” I answer as I speed walk towards the front door.

“Wait!” she calls out. “I know Coal. He’s my dad’s Vice Prez. Can I come with you?”

“Sweetie, I don’t know if it’s safe or what this is about. I promise to call you, okay?” If I knew what had Ice so on edge, I would know better whether it is safe for Brooke to come. However, having so much up in the air and unknown, I don’t want to put her at risk in any way.

I leave the house quickly, not giving Brooke the chance to argue. Jumping in my car, I race to the unknown address, praying this is good news instead of more bad. I don’t think I can handle any more bad news.

I grip the steering wheel tightly in my hands, my knuckles turning white as my mind goes in circles. My nerves are frayed, and I am barely hanging on. If it were not for Ice helping me these past few days, I think I would have completely lost my mind by now.

Pulling up to the address, I am unprepared to find Ice pacing out front of a nondescript gray home with black shutters in a quiet, middle-class neighborhood. There is almost a dreary aura to the house that sends a chill of foreboding up my spine.

Before I can think further of how the house borders on depressing, he is at my car door, yanking it open before I can get myself unbuckled. Seeing the look on his face, I start to prepare for the worst. As soon as I am out of the car, I am in his arms, shaking, scared out of my mind.

“My sister,” I whisper as my fear escalates.

“She’s inside. She’s alive, but they drugged her. Doc is waiting on you to examine her. I gotta go. Coal and the boys will keep you safe; they’re on a rotation. I have to get to the hospital. I’ll see you around.” He pulls away.

“Hospital?” I question as my mind tries to absorb everything happening around me.

“Hammer was hit by a car. I gotta check on him. Then I have work to do. Go inside and be there for your sister. She’s gonna need you. Brooke can come see her after she’s detoxed. Coal will be in and out, but let him be. If you need anything, ask one of the other guys. They’ll get it for you.”

Before I get another word out, he kisses me briefly then takes off to his motorcycle. Once again, I am left wondering… what the hell happened?

Chapter

17

Morgan

Entering the house, I ignore everything about my surroundings as I race to the first bedroom where I can hear screams coming from. I stop dead in my tracks when I reach the doorway, shocked still at the sight. My heart feels like it drops to my feet and my stomach rolls. Nothing could have prepared me to find my baby sister thrashing around in a bed so wildly that she has to be restrained by the woman at her side. My gaze is frozen on my, obviously suffering, little sister as something inside of me breaks.