"What the f.u.c.k's wrong with Sophie?" Picnic asked. "Ruger says she wasn't talking right."

"She bit her tongue," Em said. "Don't worry, she's fine. But you need to get us out of here."

"We know, baby," he said, his voice softening. "We're working on it."

Very touching.

This guy was definitely gonna kill me. I know I would, in his place. Maybe I should've screwed her after all, I thought wryly. If I was going to die over a woman, would be nice to actually collect ... I studied Em, whose eyes were suspiciously moist.

Well, f.u.c.k.

"That's enough, girls," I said, pulling away the phone. I turned and walked out of the room, putting it to my ear.

"Hayes," I said. "We need to talk."

"We're talking," he said, although I heard restrained fury in his voice.

"Em says you don't know where this Toke a.s.shole has gone," I said. "Says he's on his own. That true? You can't control your own men, now?"

"It's complicated," he replied. "But that's the essence of it."

"I don't buy it. I know Em thinks that's the case, but sounds like Reaper games to me. You using your own daughter to play me?"

Picnic sighed.

"I wish to h.e.l.l I had that much control over the situation. We voted to pull Toke's patch before he grabbed your boy. He's out bad."

s.h.i.t ... Every instinct I had said he was telling the truth.

"I want to save this truce," I said slowly. "I think you do, too. But that can't happen until we have our guy back. And it needs to happen today."

"I want those girls back. Safe. They got f.u.c.k-all to do with this."

"We got ourselves a h.e.l.l of a problem here," I muttered. "I want to meet, talk it out in person. You convince me you're telling the truth, give me something to take to my club. Maybe there's still a way out of this. The girls'll stay with my brother-they're my safe pa.s.sage."

"Where do you want to meet?"

"Spirit Lake," I told him. "Two this afternoon. And Hayes? You touch me, Sophie and Em are dead. In fact, you better hope I drive careful, because unless Skid sees me in one piece at the end of this, he'll take it out on them. He's a mean b.a.s.t.a.r.d, doesn't give a s.h.i.t that they're women."

Silence stretched between us.

"I hear you," he muttered. "We'll be there and you'll walk away safe. For now. Someday you're gonna pay for this."

"I'm aware," I said, and I felt a grin tug at my mouth. "Although I have to admit, you don't scare me half as much as your daughter does. She's a tough little b.i.t.c.h, isn't she?"

More silence.

"Tryin' to decide how to take that."

"Take it to mean she's not afraid to defend herself," I said, wondering if I'd lost my mind. Burke always said never give out more information than you need to, and he was right. Yet here I was, either bragging on Em or b.i.t.c.hing about her. Wasn't sure which. "You did a good job with her. She made me, right before I grabbed her. Took off running, tough to catch. She's a fighter."

"f.u.c.k you," Picnic said. "I'm gonna kill you."

"Maybe, but it won't be today. Not if you want her back. I'll see you at two. Bring whoever you want, but don't think you can follow me afterward. If I'm not home on time, Skid will pull the trigger. I'll leave the target up to him. Until then, make sure you've done everything you can to find Toke. There's more at stake here than you realize. We aren't careful, we'll start a war that could destroy both our clubs. The cartel loves s.h.i.t like this."

"f.u.c.k you," he repeated.

I smiled and hung up the phone.

Em's dad was a tough b.a.s.t.a.r.d. As much as I hated to admit it, I kind of liked him.

EM.

s.h.i.t.

All other issues aside, being held captive was boring.

I lay in the bed next to Sophie, one hand fastened to the headboard. Thank G.o.d for that-no matter what else happened, at least we were together. I felt pretty good about what we'd accomplished during the whole phone call incident. I'd managed to lift Hunter's Leatherman tool from his pocket while Sophie distracted him by spitting blood. Impressive thinking on her part, because it'd been truly disgusting. Then I'd grabbed his wallet when she called Ruger.

Now I had both items hidden under the mattress, ready and waiting for our escape attempt. I wasn't sure what use the wallet would be, but the Leatherman was worth its weight in gold. I was almost positive I could use it to pick the locks on our handcuffs.

Lock picking. Another fun hobby Dad had shared with us girls ... I also knew how to hot-wire a car, although I only seemed to get it right about half the time.

Naturally, Kit always nailed it on the first try.

Thinking about her almost made me cry. I wanted to see her again so bad ...

"When do you want to try our escape?" Sophie asked, her voice a whisper. I started to answer, but before anything came out, the door opened. Hunter walked into the room. He came over and stood next to the bed, studying me. To say the silence was uncomfortable was one h.e.l.l of an understatement.

"I'm gonna go see your dad in a bit," he said, holding my eyes. There was something intimate and scary about his gaze ... I blushed, and wondered if it all screamed "Guilty!" to poor Sophie. I sure as s.h.i.t felt guilty-it wasn't enough that my stupidity had brought this down on us. No, I'd all but had s.e.x with the enemy, and I have to be honest. I'd have gone all the way if he'd asked me to.

Might as well hand him the keys to the Reapers' clubhouse while I was at it, because that's how loyal I'm not.

f.u.c.k it. No more.

"Em?" he asked, and I blinked, realizing I'd missed something.

"What?"

"Roll your hand over so I can get to the lock," he repeated, his voice quiet and firm. "I want to talk to you before I leave."

I did what he said, shooting Sophie a glance. She bit her lip, obviously scared for me. She really, really didn't deserve this situation.

"C'mon," Hunter said, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. He grasped my upper arm, leading me out the door and across the hallway to his bedroom.

"Have a seat," he said quietly. The only place to sit was the bed, which held such fond memories.

"I'll stand."

"Sit on the f.u.c.kin' bed, Em," he growled, and I realized he might be quiet right now, but he was anything but peaceful. I sat. Hunter came and crouched down in front of me, hands resting on my knees, face-to-face. I didn't want him touching me, and it took everything I had not to kick him in the face. I'd already learned, though. No point in attacking unless I had somewhere to go with it.

"I want some information from you," he said. "I've got a meet with your dad in an hour. I need him to tell me the truth about Toke, and I need to make him listen about the truce between the clubs. What can you tell me to make that happen?"

"Are you f.u.c.king kidding me?" I asked, raising my brows. "You already used me to screw my club. Fool me once, a.s.shole. I have nothing to say. Nada."

"Babe, I know you believe Toke is out of control," he said, his eyes earnest, boring into mine. I squirmed, uncomfortable with his intensity. "And I think there's a pretty good chance your dad is telling the truth when he says that's the story. But here's the thing ... Right now, only a few guys in my club know what's happening. We can keep a lid on it for one more day at most. Once the rest find out, we're looking at a war and nothing can prevent it."

"f.u.c.k. You."

He smirked.

"Later, sweetheart. Now try to keep your mind on business for me like a good girl."

"Jesus, you're a perv!"

"Yeah, you're right about that," he replied, grinning. Then his smile faded. "I'm gonna fill you in a little on some s.h.i.t we don't talk about, okay? That's how f.u.c.kin' serious this is. There's two groups in my club. One side-which includes me, Skid, and our brothers in Portland-wants peace with the Reapers. We aren't too happy with the way things have been these past few years. I hate to admit it, but a lot of the Devil's Jacks have lost their way. More interested in money and territory than living free and brotherhood. Our national president is weak, babe. The Jacks have been running loose, and it's time for someone new to take over, clean house. Up until last night, we just about had things lined up to control the next election. Toke f.u.c.ked that up for us."

I listened, stunned. What was this, some kind of trick?

"I'm telling you this because it's our last chance, babe," he said quietly, obviously reading my thoughts. "This gets out, Burke-that's our guy-loses his shot at the presidency. We bet everything on the truce with the Reapers, on a complete change of direction for the club. There are others who want war, and Toke will give it to them. Mason, our old president, held on as long as he could, trying to give us the time we needed to pull it off. He can't hold on any longer-cancer. Hasn't been able to ride for nearly a month. We don't put this problem to rest-today-it's all over. That means war between the clubs, babe. The cartel will move up from California and we won't be able to stop them. They'll destroy the Jacks and then they'll come after the Reapers."

Wow. This was way bigger than I'd ever imagined, and I wished to h.e.l.l I knew what to do with it.

"Call my dad and tell him," I whispered, searching his face. "Maybe he can work with you. I don't have anything for you, Hunter. And if I did, I still wouldn't talk. It's not my call to make."

"Not gonna happen," he replied, shaking his head. "Not unless you tell me what side he's on. Is he for peace with the Jacks? What's his agenda?"

"I have no idea," I replied, thankful for once that it was the truth. I couldn't betray my club if I didn't know anything. "Dad doesn't share club business with me."

My words hung heavy between us-Hunter had just shared far too much club business with me. He'd trusted me. Why? Because dead girls can't tell stories?

"Are you going to kill me?" I asked quietly, subdued.

He reached up and cradled my face with his big hand, wiping a thumb across my cheek. s.h.i.t, was I crying? G.o.ddammit.

"No, sweetheart," he replied, his expression impossible to read. "By the time you're loose, it'll be over. Worth the risk, if you can give me any information to make this go smoother. I want a way out, babe."

He sounded so sincere. s.h.i.t. Why did I keep falling for this? Remember how he used you and took pictures of you naked? This man is evil!

"Why did you start talking to me?" I asked, unable to resist. h.e.l.l, why not pick at the scab? See if I couldn't make myself hurt just a little more, because I'm m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic that way ... "Why the whole fake romance thing? I understand keeping tabs, but I don't see the advantage in getting tangled up with me."

He smiled, but it wasn't a happy smile.

"We wanted peace," he said. "Seriously, that's still what we want. We can handle the cartel on our southern border if we're not fighting with the Reapers up north. If my faction pulls it off, we'll have the votes we need to take the national presidency. That means we can turn the club back in the direction it needs to go."

"But what does that have to do with me?"

"We wanted you to seal the truce," he said, sighing. "Nothing horrible. If you fell for me and I was your old man, that'd be motivation for your dad to push peace between the clubs. He might not be a national officer, but he's a major power broker."

I studied his face, confused.

"Your big plan was I'd become your old lady?" I asked. "How was this supposed to play out long term? What was the exit strategy, or were you just planning to dump me once the cartel was beat back?"

He frowned.

"No," he said. "I planned on you being my old lady."

I shook my head, starting to get p.i.s.sed off again.

"You said there was nothing real between us," I snapped. "You made it pretty d.a.m.ned clear, actually. You were just playing me the whole time."

"No, I said I wanted to f.u.c.k you," he replied. "I hate to c.r.a.p on all your fairy-tale fantasies, but you don't have to love a woman to make her your property. h.e.l.l, I already told you I don't believe in love. But you know what club life is like, you've got good connections. We'd have done okay-more than most couples have going for them. I was lookin' forward to it, to be honest. The fact that you're smart and I like talkin' to you didn't exactly hurt, either."

"And were you ever planning to fill me in on this? Or just romance me and use me?"

He didn't answer.

"I need a minute," I said, overwhelmed. I didn't know what to think. Clearly, Hunter was an even bigger a.s.shole than I'd imagined, which was impressive, considering his track record. I felt him stand up, and then the bed sank next to me and his arm came around my shoulder. I threw it off as water filled my eyes. s.h.i.t. I hate crying and the last thing I needed was to show him how much power he had to hurt me.

Unfortunately, my nose betrayed me and I sniffed.

"f.u.c.k," he muttered, and then he grabbed me, pulling me up and onto his lap as he leaned back against the headboard. His arms came around me and he pressed my head to his chest. I burst into tears. It felt good. Cathartic. Everything had fallen to s.h.i.t and yet, for reasons I couldn't quite fathom, having him hold me felt good.

Eventually the crying storm died down, and I forced myself to pull it together. So I had a moment of weakness. It happens. Didn't mean I was going to give him any information about my dad or my club. No matter how nice it felt to have his hand rubbing my back softly.

Finally I spoke.

"So you're seriously telling me you were prepared to be my old man indefinitely, all to get my dad behind this truce?"

"No."

I sat up and turned toward him.

"Could you be more confusing?"

"I was prepared to take you as my old lady so I could f.u.c.k you whenever I wanted, keep you around, maybe make something together. I also needed to get your dad behind this truce. Multipurpose plan."

"Are you crazy?"

He shrugged, eyes impossible to read.