Chapter Eighteen

Ryder

It was early, or late, depending on how you wanted to look at it. I groan, rolling onto my side and opening my eyes. I frown in confusion, and as I push to sit up, I fall from the bed, landing with an humph. Sassy peers over the edge, smirking, "Morning."

"What are you doing here?" I ask, pushing to my knees, relieved when I see she's fully clothed.

"You asked me to stay with you, can't you remember?" she asks.

I shake my head trying to search my memories from last night. The only clear one was the empty bottle of whiskey I'd consumed alone. "I dropped by last night to check on you, I've been worried."

"Why were you worried?" I ask, standing. I haven't told her anything about Neve or Harlee.

"I saw Bear's old lady in town, she mentioned you've been having a rough time. Plus you haven't been to see Alfie and you've dodged my calls."

"I told you I've been busy."

"You texted me one time," she says, "So I was worried. And it looks like I was right to be, you were in such a state when I got here."

"Did I ask you to stay in my bed?" I query, because my mind is so full of Neve, I find it impossible to believe.

"You got a little upset when I put you to bed."

"I got upset?" I repeat, confused. "That doesn't sound like me."

"Don't be embarrassed, we all crack at some time or another. Besides, it's just me, we don't have to hide stuff from each other."

I grunt and head off for a shower, hoping she takes the hint and leaves. But when I return she's still sprawled out on the bed looking through her mobile. "You're still here?"

"I was thinking that we could go and collect Alfie, and then spend the day together?"

"I have shit to do Sass, maybe another time. I'd love to see Alfie though, how would you feel about me collecting him at a set time each weekend and having him for a couple of hours?" It was an idea I was going to put to her before everything went south with Neve. But now seems like as good a time as any.

She narrows her eyes. "He doesn't know you, Ryder. We should take it slow and visit together as a family unit. He needs to trust you and so do I."

"But we aren't a family unit, Sass. He needs to see us getting along, I agree, but not together or he'll get confused."

"I've got a better idea. Why don't I collect him and bring him back here later this afternoon? You can spend some time with him, and I'll just be around?"

I think over her offer, it's the best I'm likely to get so I reluctantly nod and she grins, throwing the sheets back and standing. "Great, I'll just grab a shower and then I'll be on my way."

When she returns a few minutes later wrapped in a towel, I stand. I feel uncomfortable and I know how bad this would look should anyone come barging in. The last thing I need is the gossip wheels turning. Neve would never understand.

I take my keys and phone from the side. "I'll leave you to it," I say.

She laughs, unwrapping her towel from her naked body and using it to rub her hair. "Don't tell me you're shy, Ryder. God, you used to order me to walk around you naked, and now you can't even look at me. I'm the mother of your child for goodness sake."

I glue my eyes to the floor. She's right, there was a time when I would make her walk around the room naked just so I could have access to her any time I wanted. I risk a quick glance up, taking in her new body. It had changed over the years, her breasts were fuller and her thighs thicker, it gave her a sexy edge. Squeezing my keys hard in my palm I race for the door. The sound of Sassy giggling as I leave rings out. It would be easier to go back there, secure my place in Alfie's life and live like a family, but I love Neve too much to fuck it all up. She's my future. Her, Harlee and Alfie.

"Pres, where the hell have you been. I've been calling you." Griff looks pissed as he marches towards me.

"Sorry, slept in, bad hangover."

"Tell me about it. You were wasted last night."

"Am I not allowed to drink in my own damn club?" I growl and Griff holds his hands up in surrender.

"Sorry. Benedetto's been in touch. He couldn't get hold of Finn last night and then he saw some photo's on the Chief of Police's social media account, he sent them to me," says Griff pulling out his mobile. I raise a surprised brow and Griff laughs, "I know, tell me about it, the Chief having a social media account. Apparently, it's to ensure good relations with the public."

He pushes his mobile under my nose, showing a photograph of Finn with the Chief, the caption reads, ‘Working together with local business owners.'

"So," I say, shrugging. Griff grins and zooms in on the picture. It shows a reflection in the glass window, I can just make out the image of Neve and my whole world stops spinning for a second. Relief floods me and Griff pats me on the back. "He has her still, and she's alive. That's the confirmation you needed."

"But they're out together. With the chief. Is she there by choice?" Suddenly doubts flood my mind. What if she's gone back to Finn of her own free will and the whole abduction thing is a disguise so that Ryder doesn't follow her?

"Brother, you're over thinking. They wouldn't go to all that trouble. He's holding her somewhere and this was a stage for him to cover his arse. So, while you were sleeping off your hangover, I called the chief, told him that I'd been having an affair with the girl in that picture and so I needed to know who she was to Finn. Finn told him that they were making a go of their marriage, but the Chief said she was quiet and withdrawn. She had faded bruises and she looked unwell, like she hadn't eaten in days. He asked if that shit was my fault or Finn's, cheeky fucker."

"Fuck, I just need her back, Griff. I can't function without her. Should we tell the chief she's been taken?"

Griff shakes his head, "We all know he's a bent mother fucker, we'll be in his debt and who knows what shit he'll have us doing. Let's leave him as a last resort. My guy got in touch, he's at another warehouse tonight but this time he's inside. He's one hundred percent sure that they are auctioning women off."

"Let's hope he doesn't decide to auction off Neve!"

"And risk the chief asking questions, it wouldn't happen."

Adelina, the new woman in the cellar, is also not from England. But she speaks some English which makes communication so much better between us all. We sit crossed legged on the bed listening to how she left her home in Syria some weeks ago to come here and clean houses for rich people. She was sold a dream that would see her and her parents much better off financially. But when she got here, she realised she'd entered a nightmare.

"A man met me, he took me to hotel. Two men there waiting, it felt not right," she says, her English broken in places. "I scared. I try to run but I get caught and beaten and . . . and hurt, then I bring here!" I sit patiently whilst they speak in their own language.

I feel sick knowing this is all down to Finn. I gave him a child and now I'm tied to him forever. I knew deep down when I met him I should have been more cautious, should have asked more questions but everything was so rushed and I didn't have time to think too deeply about where all his money came from or why he was always buying nice gifts whenever I questioned him.

"We escape, Malia have plan," smiles Adelina.

I shake my head, "We can't, there are too many guards out there with big dogs and guns. They'll kill us." Adelina recounts that to Malia and they both look crestfallen.

"We think of other plan?" Adelina suggests.

I nod in agreement, not sure what we could possibly come up with but not wanting to crush them any further.

The door opens and we break apart, waiting to see who descends the stairs. The times it's a large man with a protruding stomach hanging over his tight belt. His cheeks are ruddy and red, and he seemed short of breath by the time he reaches the bottom step. Two men follow, holding guns by their sides and wearing an earpiece. For a second, I think they're here to help and I get to my feet. It's soon diminished as the man sneers, "Just three, is Finnegan trying to make me look stupid?"

A man on the steps puts his mobile to his ear while the fat man circles me, eyeing my body in the ripped dress. He seems unconcerned by the dried blood on my face or across my legs. He then reaches for Malia, tugging her to stand and circling her. I focus back to the man on the phone, realising he's talking to Finn, which means I didn't manage to kill the fucker. "Get here now!" he orders, before disconnecting.

I turn to the sound of Malia sobbing, watching as the man runs a finger along her collar bone. "Is he coming?"

"On his way, Sir."

"This one is too skinny," he grumbles, turning away from Malia and reaching for Adelina. "But this one, umm, I like this one. Name?"

"Adelina," she whispers.

"I like that name, pity you won't get to keep it." He grips her shirt between his pudgy hands and tugs hard until it rips and the buttons fly off. Adelina flinches, folding her arms to cover herself.

"Hey," I yell angrily, "Don't do that, leave her alone." I push myself between them.

"You're English," he smirks. "Interesting."

"Fuck you," I spit and he slaps me across the face so hard, I fall to the ground.

"Maybe this one would be more entertaining," he says, and the two other men laugh.

Finn runs down the steps, looking harassed. His eyes darted between me and the man. "Mr Sharp, I wasn't expecting you until this evening."

"Clearly, three girls, Finnegan, three?" The man moves towards Finn, "How can I put on a show with just three women?"

"Erm, actually two. She's not a part of this," says Finn, nodding his head towards me.

"Oh, she is, unless you can get me at least three more then she is very much a part of this. You have…" the man looks at his large gold watch and smiles, "Three hours."

Ryder

I look down at the little boy squashed into my side as he watches television, and smile. I should feel much happier but this memory is overshadowed by the fact I'm missing Neve and all I can think about is ways to get to her.

Alfie snuggles closer. "I think he's getting sleepy," says Sassy.

"Oh right, do you need a ride home?" I ask.

"Actually, why don't I…"

She's interrupted when Griff storms into the room. "Pres, we need to talk now." I extract my arm from around my son and follow him to the office. "We don't have time to call church. My guy just rang, he's been given the location in advance. That never happens but apparently somethings spooked Finn and he's acting all crazy. Word got around that his wife stabbed him. He's been in hospital."

"Shit. I hope he didn't hurt her," I mutter. "I feel so fucking useless just waiting around like this. We need to make a move, it's taking too long."

"You said you wanted to make sure you got them out together," Griff reminds me.

"I know I did but if there's a chance that Neve could be there tonight, then we need to go to wherever that location is."

"The docks, he's been asked to be at Purfleet Docks at Ten O' Clock."

I check my watch. It's almost nine now and I needed time to gather some men. "Already on it," grins Griff, reading my mind. "You go and kiss that kid of yours and meet me out front."

I find Sassy sitting where I'd vacated, and Alfie nowhere to be seen. She smiles, "I put him to bed. It was way past his bedtime. Can we talk?" She stands and I glance at the door where I know Griff is waiting.

"Actually, Sass I need to go. We've got a lead and Griff's waiting."

"A lead about Neve?" she asks, and I nod. "Well then I really need to say this before you go. I miss you Ryder. I didn't realise how much until you came back. When I saw you with Alfie, I knew we had to give us another go, for his sake. Before all that business with Alice we were great," she says, rushing her words out quickly.

I swallow hard, she's caught me off guard. I'd have given anything to hear those words all those years ago when I'd received my prison sentence. I used to lie awake at night racked with guilt about how I'd ripped my own family apart. "Say something, Ethan," she whispers, placing a hand on my chest. "We could have the perfect life, just the three of us. Don't we deserve that happiness?" My mind races, and I picture Sassy and Neve. They don't compare, Neve is my future. Before I can answer, she reaches up on her tip-toes and kisses me. Her sweet-smelling perfume fills my senses, her soft lips parting just enough to swipe her tongue against my mouth, forcing entry and taking full advantage of my stunned silence. Her arms trail around my neck and she presses herself against me, moaning softly into my mouth.

"What the fuck, Ryder!" Griff's voice startles me and I immediately step back, breaking all contact with her. "You're like the black fucking widow, Sassy, waiting to pounce. You made your choice when you banned me seeing my own damn nephew. You told me you were too good for this MC and you'd rather die than be back here and yet here you are trying to lure my brother back to you."

"I was upset, I caught my sister with my man. That's in the past. I want a family for Alfie." She turns to me, "I love you, Ryder, I always have."

I rub the back of my neck, my heart twisting painfully at the thought of Neve. This all feels wrong and I turn away, "I have to go," I mutter, heading for the exit.