Chapter 51 The real reason
Ryder's POV
I found her in her bedroom at her father's house.
She was sitting on the floor with her back against the bed and her knees pulled to her chest. The lights were off but I could see her outline in the partially dark room.
I closed the door behind me and locked it.
"Go away," she said without looking up.
"Not happening."
"Ryder, please. Just leave me alone."
"Tell me what Diego said to you." I crossed the room and crouched down in front of her. "Tell me what he threatened."
Her head snapped up. Even in the dim light I could see the tear tracks on her face.
"How did you know he threatened me?"
"Because I know you. You don't give up on people you love without a damn good reason." I reached for her hand but she pulled away. "What did he say?"
Sage shook her head. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
"He'll kill you." The words burst out of her like they'd been choking her. "If I refuse to marry him, Diego said he'll kill you himself. Slowly and painfully. And he'll make me watch every second of it."
My blood turned to ice.
"That's not all," Sage continued. Her voice broke. "After he kills you, the Blood Sisters will burn the clubhouse to the ground with everyone inside. Jaxon, Tommy, every one. All of them dead because I chose you over an alliance."
I sat back on my heels and tried to process what she was telling me. Diego had cornered her with an impossible choice. Me or everyone else. Love or survival.
"We'll find another way," I said.
"There is no other way. You heard Diesel and the others. The Blood Sisters outnumber us three to one. They have connections across the Southwest and allies in Mexico. If they declare war, the Steel Wolves won't last a week."
"Then we run. Just like I said before. We disappear and let them fight their war without you."
"And everyone dies because I was selfish." Sage wiped her face with shaking hands. "Diego was very clear. The only way to keep all of you alive is for me to honor the contract."
"He's bluffing."
"No he's not. You didn't see his eyes when he said it. He meant every word." She looked at me and I saw terror in her expression.
My hands clenched into fists. "I can take care of myself," I said.
"Not against an entire MC and their allies. You're one man, Ryder. Even you can't fight those odds."
She was right and we both knew it. If Diego wanted me dead, he'd find a way to make it happen.
But that didn't mean I was letting Sage marry him.
"What time did he give you to decide?" I asked.
"Tomorrow night."
"Then we have until tomorrow night to figure out a plan."
"There is no plan Ryder." Sage pulled her knees tighter to her chest. "He even said he'd let me keep seeing you after the marriage. That he didn't expect love or passion, just partnership and respect. Like that makes it better."
Rage burned hot in my chest. Diego was offering to let Sage keep me as a side piece while she played his wife. The arrogance of it made me want to put my fist through the wall.
"You're not marrying him," I said.
"I don't have a choice."
"There's always a choice."
"Not this time." Her voice was hollow. "Either I marry Diego and you all live, or I refuse and watch everyone I love getting hurt. That's not a choice. That's torture."
I moved closer and pulled her into my arms despite her resistance. She fought me for a second before collapsing against my chest with sobs that shook her whole body.
"I'm sorry," she gasped between tears. "I'm so sorry. I don't want to do this but I can't let him hurt you. I can't watch you die because of me."
"Shh. It's okay."
"It's not okay. Nothing about this is okay."
I held her while she cried, my mind racing through possibilities and plans. There had to be a way out of this. Some angle Diego hadn't considered or weakness we could exploit.
"The real reason my dad organized the marriage…" she started and pulled back to look at my face. "Elena found out he was a federal informant and decided to play him. She threatened him."
"What did she say that was so fearful that Vincent chose to sell you instead?"
"She asked for the immunity he got from the feds to be extended to her and her family too or she would let every MC and shady business dealer in the state know that dad was a whistle blower and a snitch." She shook her head.
"That would have put a bulls eye target on Vincent and probably you and Jaxon too." I completed.
"The deal my dad made with the feds…he asked for protection of he and his family in return for constant information. Elena then asked that since the protection by the feds covers I and Jaxon, dad should extend it to her family through marriage. Diego wants to marry me because it will make him and Elena protected by the feds too."
"That's why he doesn't care if you commit or not. He only cares that the marriage holds." I finally figured it out.
"So if I refuse to go on to marry him, they release the information about dad being a snitch and everyone will think we are snitches too and attack us." She started crying again. I cupped her face in my hands. "You're worth fighting for, Sage. Even if the odds are against us."
"And if we lose? If everyone dies because I wouldn't sacrifice myself?"
"Then at least we'll die fighting instead of rolling over and accepting their threats."
Sage closed her eyes. Tears leaked out from under her lids.
“It's not that simple. It's just not that simple.” She cried harder now against my chest.
Diego, Elena and Vincent had trapped Sage in a corner with no exits. The only question was whether I could build one before time ran out.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I ignored it but it kept buzzing. Someone was calling repeatedly.
I pulled it out and saw Jaxon's name flashing on the screen.
"What?" I answered.
"I know you're with her. You need to come back to the clubhouse right now." Jaxon's voice was tight. "Elena just called. She wants to move up the wedding timeline."