“And my house . . .”

“If there is no danger, you can live there as long as you want.”

“And Penny?”

His body flinches. “I don’t love Penny, but she’s goin’ to be a part of my life, always. In saying that, if you’re my old lady, then you’re always goin’ to come first.”

“Even if it hurts her?”

He strokes his thumb over my bottom lip, staring at it. “Even if it hurts.”

“And if I’m not your old lady?”

His eyes scan my face. “Then I gotta stop fuckin’ you, ‘cause baby, you’re consuming me.”

“I care about you, Krypt. I promise you. But...can we just . . . can we wait until Claire is safe before we do anything?”

He nods, leaning forward and brushing his lips across mine. “Yeah.”

“Do you think she’s going to be okay?”

He stares out the window. “I fuckin’ hope so.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SANTANA

Their clubhouse is very different to ours. Gone are the friendly smiles I received back home. Instead, I’m looked at as if I’m no more than a toy they can fuck and dispose without even knowing my name. There are women everywhere, more than I’ve seen in one place before. They’re openly giving sexual favors, not caring whose eyes are on them.

I swallow down the lump in my throat and follow the biker down the hall. He leads me to a room. It’s an old, shitty room with a bed that looks as though it hasn’t been cleaned for months. My skin prickles, and it takes everything inside me not to coil back and run. I think of Ash’s friend, and how scared she must be. This thought alone pushes me forward.

The biker, who introduced himself as Jayger—not Jagger, but Jayger—shuts the door. I consider his name, and then him. It really is a strange, somewhat hipster nickname for a biker. I wonder if he knows how pathetic it makes him look? I force a smile on my face, batting my eyelashes as I take the room in.

Window to the left, not barred.

I’ve been taking in details of the clubhouse the entire time I’ve been here. I made sure to note where the front and back doors were, as well as where the clubhouse was located, and how easy it would be to get away. Turns out, it is in a good position. The front of the house faces the road, where the guys can come in. The back faces thick forest, where I can escape with Claire.

If Claire is here.

“So,” Jayger purrs, coming up to me and placing his hands on my hips. “You ridin’ me, or am I ridin’ you?”

Seriously? Ugh.

“I need to pee.” I smile, biting my lip in an attempt to look sexy. “Then I’m riding you.”

His eyes flash and he grins. He nods to the hall. “Three doors down, to your left.”

I lick my lips, before turning and rushing out. I find the bathroom easy enough—it’s finding Claire that will be hard. I wash my hands, twice, and then lean my hip against the sink. How am I going to find her? The door swings open and two whores enter. They smile at me, as if I’m not new around here, which makes me wonder if they too haven’t been here long.

“Hey,” I say, slurring the word slightly.

“Hey,” a girl with ratty blonde hair and horrible skin smiles.

“Rockin’ party.” I smirk.

She nods, leaning against the wall and pulling out a smoke. “They’re usually better.”

Maybe not new, then.

“Yeah?” I ask.

“Yeah. When Howard is here, things get hot.”

Howard. The asshole behind all this. An asshole I’ve never seen. Her words relieve me slightly. He’s not here; this is a good thing. Then my chest clenches, because if he’s not here then maybe Claire isn’t either. I stare at the whores; I wonder if they’ll know? I risk a lot asking, but if I play it right they might not notice.

“Yeah,” I murmur. “Bet he’s busy with that stupid whore he brought in.”

“Right?” Blondie mutters. “Stupid bitch keeps screaming. I was sucking Lion’s cock, and all I could hear was her.”

“Me too,” I snort. “I’m about to fuck Jayger and the bitch better not start while I’m doing it.”

Blondie grins at me. “Jayger, nice choice. He’s got a huge cock. I’ve ridden him a few times. And don’t worry about the little bitch. Howard locked her in his room.”

His room. Where is his room? I can’t ask without looking too obvious.

“Well,” I say, flipping my hair over my shoulder. “Hopefully his room isn’t near where I am.”

Blondie nods. “I don’t think it is, Howard is right at the end of the hall. Most of the rooms are up this end.”

“Good,” I say, turning and heading out. “Later.”

“Later,” they both murmur.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I know where Claire is, but I need to let Maddox know. I pull out my phone, glancing down the hall quickly before punching out a text.

S – I know where Claire is. I don’t know if she’s cuffed, but she’s in the house. Howard isn’t here. I don’t know where he is. The front of the house faces the road. If you can make a distraction I can get Claire out the back. I’m going to check her out now, hang in for my text.

He replies a moment later.

M – Stay safe, darlin’. I’m waitin’ for your text.

I shove my phone into my pocket and glance around again, before walking down the hall. The party is in full swing at the front of the house, but the halls are mostly quiet. I reach the very last door, and pray it’s Howard’s. I try it, but it’s locked. I look around again before knocking softly.