“I would like to talk about terms,” I state. I’m really trying hard to be not only strong but also confident.
Paul chuckles, his eyes searching mine. “I can’t believe you came with me so easily,” he states. “If you want to discuss terms, we’ll talk to Lorenzo. We’re going to his place right now.”
Okay then, I guess that’s that. Now is the time for me to demand my terms, or at least request them. If I want to continue running my bakery and even have a chance at a relationship with Axton and Millie, this is my time. We can have it all in writing.
If they say no, all I can do is hope for their protection and safety.
There it is again.
Hope.
VIKING
I watch as the black car drives away with Lainey inside. I’m not sure what the fuck to do. I don’t think I’ve ever in my life been this fucking lost. My entire body is frozen solid.
I froze.
I fucking froze.
I don’t think I’ve ever done that before in my entire life. I’ve never been one to shy away from danger of any kind; the opposite actually. I’m usually the first one to jump to whatever needs to be done to handle the situation.
But I’m frozen.
And Lainey is gone.
Once the car is gone to the point where I couldn’t follow it even if I tried, I take my phone out of my pocket and make a call to Bullet. It doesn’t take him long to answer; two rings, and I hear his voice grumble through the phone.
“Those fuckers just ambushed me. It was three to one, and they got Lainey.”
There is a moment of silence. Admitting that they took Lainey from right in front of me, when I was close enough to tug her back and throw her behind me, fucking kills me. And I refuse to tell him that she went willingly.
At least not yet.
I’m sure he’ll find out, but I don’t want to be the one to say it. I could go to my fucking grave without anyone knowing what happened.
I feel like a pussy.
“What the fuck do you mean they got Lainey?” he asks.
“Exactly what I said.”
Silence. Then he clears his throat. “Lorenzo’s crew, I can assume.”
“Lorenzo’s crew,” I grind out. “Two gunmen. I don’t like this, not in the fucking slightest.”
“No goddamn shit,” Bullet barks.
In the long and tense silence that follows, I wait for what to do next. I’m still standing outside like an asshole with no idea of what the fuck to do. I can’t go to Piggy. If I tell him I couldn’tprotect his sister, he’s going to end me. I should have just fucked her at this point.
“Come to the clubhouse. I’m calling an emergency church.”
He ends the call without allowing me to respond. Not that I have much to say. I don’t. I fucked up. Lifting my hand to my chest, I ball my fingers up and rub the center of my chest as I wait for my heart to beat. It feels like it’s stalled.
Fuck.
Piggy is going to know exactly what the fuck happened. And then he’s going to try and fucking kill me over it.
Jesus goddamn Christ.