Chapter Fifteen

Sassi

I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall, but my mind is miles away. The clubhouse is quieter than usual, a heavy tension hanging in the air since Donna's murder. I can't shake the image of her lifeless body, the blood, the horror of it all. And the worst part—the part that twists my stomach into knots—is knowing that it was my father who pulled the trigger.

I never imagined he'd go that far, that he'd be capable of such a thing. But here I am, reeling from the reality that the man who raised me, who taught me everything I know about survival, is a murderer. And not just any murderer—he killed one of our own, someone who trusted him.

I rub my hands over my face, trying to push the thoughts away, but they stick like glue. How could he do this? How could he betray us like this? My heart aches, not just for Donna and what she lost, but for everything that's been shattered in the aftermath.

Happy's been trying to comfort me, to keep me grounded, but there's only so much he can do. He's dealing with his own demons, and I don't want to burden him with mine. Still, I can't help but feel a rift growing between us, like there's something broken that we can't quite fix.

And then there's Bri. Sweet, innocent Bri, who has no idea about the darkness that's creeping closer, threatening to swallow us whole. I'm terrified of what this will do to her if she finds out. I promised her I'd always protect her, but how can I do that when the world is crumbling around us?

Going to the foot of the stairs I call up, "Bri, the prospect is here to take you to school."

Bri

"Bri, the prospect is here to take you to school."

I look out the window and see the van with the one they call Half Sack in the driver's seat. Sassi used to take me to school, but ever since Happy moved in, she stopped. He's okay, I guess, but it feels like everything's changed, and she doesn't treat me the same anymore.

As I step outside, heading toward the van, unease knots in my stomach. Instead of going straight to the van, I veer off to the side. Before I know it, my legs are moving on their own, carrying me away from the clubhouse.

I don't know why I'm running, but my heart is pounding, and my thoughts are racing. I dart across the parking lot and slip through the gates, my backpack bouncing against my back.

Having a man around feels so weird. Any man my mom had around was usually a scumbag, the type who didn't care about us. They were always in and out, never sticking around. I learned early on not to trust them, not to get attached.

But I got attached to Sassi. She's been here even before what happened to my mom. She said she'd never leave me. Ever since she got with Happy, she's happier... but what if she gets so wrapped up in him that she forgets about me? What if I'm just a burden now, something she just has to take care of until I turn eighteen? She could have a whole new life with Happy, and what if I don't fit into it?

I slow to a walk and find myself in a quiet neighborhood not far from the clubhouse. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. The houses here are familiar, the streets quiet and empty. It's a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in my mind.

I don't have a plan or a destination. I just keep walking, hoping that the fresh air and solitude will help me make sense of everything. But as I wander through the neighborhood, I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched.

I glance over my shoulder and see two men standing near a diner, their eyes locked on me. A shiver runs down my spine as I realize they're following me. Panic sets in, and I start to run again, but it's too late. They close the distance quickly, and before I can react, one of them grabs me.

"Let me go!" I scream, struggling against their grip. But they're too strong. They drag me toward a waiting van parked at the edge of the lot, their hands rough and unyielding.

My screams echo through the parking lot, but there's no one around to hear them. The roar of the van's engine drowns out my cries as they shove me inside and slam the door shut. As the van speeds away, I realize with a sinking feeling that I'm trapped.

Inside the van, I continue to struggle, my heart pounding with fear. But the men hold me tight, their faces twisted with something dark and scary. I don't know what they want or where they're taking me, but I know I have to find a way to escape.

As the van speeds through the streets, I realize how far I've gone from safety. I should have never left school! The reality of my situation hits me like a ton of bricks.

The men exchange grim looks, and I catch bits and pieces of their conversation.

"Roger, you sure this is gonna work?" one of the men asks, glancing nervously at me.

Roger, the one who seems to be in charge, gives him a cold look. "It'll work. Sassi will do whatever it takes to get the kid back. Especially if she knows what's at stake."

"But what if she doesn't know about the money?" the other man presses, his voice low but tense.

"She knows," Roger snaps. "I found the bank book. Her mother put all her inheritance in a savings account for this brat. Sassi has access to that money, and she'll cough it up if she wants the kid back alive."

My mind spins as I process their words. Inheritance? Bank book? I don't know anything about money or a savings account, but they think I'm the key to getting it.

"And what if she doesn't? What if she doesn't care?" the other man mutters, his voice wavering.

Roger's eyes darken, and he leans closer to the other man, his voice cold and menacing. "She'll care. And if she doesn't, we make her care. You just stick to the plan, and we'll be rolling in cash before you know it."

The van speeds through the streets, the city a blur outside the windows. Panic wells up inside me, and I try to fight back tears. I have no idea where they're taking me or how I'm going to get out of this. All I know is that I need to stay calm, stay quiet, and look for a chance to escape.

Sassi

"How's Bri handling the changes going on?" Gemma asks as we do the paperwork for the cars that got fixed this week.

I shrug. "She's okay for the most part. Once she sees that Happy isn't going to leave us, she'll be okay."

"It's always a hard transition." She says knowingly. "I know it was for Jax when Clay moved in after his dad died."

Nodding a lean back in my chair and sigh. "Yeah... Bri has been through a lot, but she's a good kid. I know I can trust her to make the right choices."

It's then that my phone rings. I wipe my hands on a rag and glance at the caller ID. It's the school. My stomach tightens as I answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Trager, this is Principal Evans. I'm calling to inform you that Bri never made it to her first class today. Is everything alright?"

A wave of panic washes over me. "What do you mean she didn't make it to class? She was dropped off this morning."

"Yes, she was seen being dropped off, but she didn't enter the building. We've checked the grounds and asked around, but no one has seen her since."

My heart races and my mind starts to spin. The fucking irony! "Okay, thank you for letting me know. I'll find her."

I hang up and immediately dial Happy's number, even though I know he's on a job in Texas. He picks up on the second ring.

"What is it, Reese?" His voice is calm and steady.

"Happy, it's Bri. She didn't make it to school this morning. The principal just called me."

There's a pause on the other end of the line, then a low, scary voice. "You have got to be fucking kidding me. Are you at the garage?"

"Yeah, I just got the call from the principal," I reply, trying to keep my voice from breaking.

"Go get Jax and give him the phone."

I rush out of the garage and into the clubhouse, fear clawing at my insides. I find Jax with Gemma and the others and hand him the phone without a word.

"Hap?" Jax asks into the phone and the look on his face goes from confused to worried to angry. "Jesus Christ, okay, we'll find her, don't worry."

Chibs walks over to me, his expression serious but reassuring. "We're gonna find her," he says firmly before shrugging his kutte on. "Come on boys we have a kid to find."

As the men head out to look for Bri, I can't shake the feeling of dread that's settled in my chest. My mind flashes back to the past few days and how distant and uneasy Bri has been since Happy moved in. The guilt gnaws at me—did I miss something? Was there a sign I didn't see? How could I not see it?

Hours pass with no sign of her. The sun starts to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows that only heighten my anxiety. My phone buzzes again—this time, it's Tig.

"Did you find her?" I ask without missing a beat.

"We don't have a lead anywhere. I don't think she ran away, Sass. We have to start thinking about someone snatching her."

Fear fills me for the millionth time today. "No, Dad, stop."

"I know, baby, but we have to be realistic. No one has seen her since school, so she can't be on foot. And it ain't club-related or we'd have heard something by now."

Suddenly, my phone buzzes, and I answer it quickly.

"Hello?" I ask, my voice trembling.

"Sassi, how nice to finally talk to you," a rough voice says on the other end.

"Who is this?" I demand, my heart pounding.

"The name's Roger. You might not know me, but I know you. And I know you want to see Bri again."

My blood runs cold. "What have you done with her?"

"She's safe... for now. But that depends on you, Sassi."

"What do you want?" I ask, my voice shaking.

"The inheritance. All that money left for Bri. I want it, and I want it now."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lie, trying to buy time.

"Don't play dumb with me you stupid bitch," Roger snaps. "I saw the bank book. I know all about the inheritance. You have 24 hours to get me the money, or Bri pays the price."

"Please, don't hurt her," I plead, tears streaming down my face.

"That depends on you. Get me the money, and she comes back to you safe and sound. Fail, and you'll never see her again."

The line goes dead, and I collapse to the floor, sobbing. I will not give up her college fund for anythinng. Now that I know who has her the Son's will find her and make them pay. I just pray that they haven't hurt her. I'll kill them myself if they did.