Chapter 54 Close call
Ryder's POV
I barely made it from the tree to the ground before Jaxon's bedroom light came on.
My heart was still hammering from the close call earlier. When I heard his footsteps in the hall and when he knocked on Sage's door, every muscle in my body had tensed for a fight.
Hiding in her closet while her brother stood five feet away felt like the most cowardly thing I'd ever done. But getting caught would've made everything worse.
Now I crouched in the shadows beneath Sage's window and watched Jaxon's silhouette move across his bedroom. He paced back and forth for a minute. Then he stopped at his window, opened it and looked out.
I pressed myself flatter against the house. If he looked down, if he saw me in the yard, there'd be no explaining it away.
But Jaxon just stood there staring at what I wasn't sure of. Even from this distance I could see the tension in his shoulders, the weight he carried.
After what felt like forever, he moved away from the window and his light went out.
I waited another five minutes to make sure he wasn't coming back. Then I crept across the yard toward the fence where I left my bike.
The night air was cold against my skin. I pulled on my jacket and straddled the bike but didn't start the engine yet. Starting it now would wake the whole house.
Instead I pushed it down the street until I was far enough away. While I was moving, Sage sent me a text which contained an image of me jumping out of her window just a few minutes ago. She said she got the text from an unknown number. I kicked my bike to life and rode toward the clubhouse.
My hands shook on the handlebars, but not from fear, but from rage.
Someone was watching Sage. Someone had photographed us together through her bedroom window. The continued attack on her made my blood boil.
Was it Diego? Elena? Some Blood Sister scout keeping tabs on their future bride?
Or was it something worse? Someone in our own club feeding information to enemies?
The clubhouse was dark when I arrived. Most brothers were either gone to sleep in several spots and rooms or had gone home for the night. I parked my bike and headed inside.
Tommy sat at the bar nursing a beer. He looked up when I walked in.
"You're out late."
"Couldn't sleep."
"Yeah. Me neither." He gestured to the bottle. "Want one?"
I shook my head and grabbed water from the fridge instead. My mind was still racing with the photo and what it meant.
"You okay?" Tommy asked. "You look like you want to kill someone."
"I'm fine."
"Liar." He took a long drink. "This is about Sage isn't it?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't answer without revealing more than I should.
Tommy put down his beer and looked at me directly. "I know you're still seeing her."
My whole body went tense. "What?"
"Come on, Ryder. I'm not stupid. You disappear for hours at a time. She gets this look on her face when someone mentions your name. She said she chose to marry Diego but everyone can tell it's bullshit."
"Who's everyone?"
"Me. Maybe Snake. Diesel suspects but he hasn't said anything yet." Tommy ran his hand through his hair. "Does Jaxon know?"
"Well, he knew I was with her earlier when she left the club. But he definitely doesn't know about tonight. And he can't find out."
"Why not? He already kicked you out for being together. What's the worst he can do?"
I gripped the water bottle tighter. "Right now we have stolen moments. If Jaxon finds out, we won't even have that."
Tommy was quiet for a long time. Then he sighed.
"This is going to blow up in your face."
"I know."
"And when it does, Jaxon's going to lose his shit."
"I know that too."
"But you're doing it anyway."
"Yeah. I am."
Because losing Sage completely wasn't an option. Even if it meant sneaking around. Even if it meant lying to Jaxon. Even if it meant risking my life.
Tommy shook his head but there was sadness in his eyes. "Just be careful. If Jaxon catches you—"
"He won't."
But even as I said it, I wondered if that was true. We'd gotten lucky tonight. Barely. How long before our luck ran out?
My phone buzzed. A text from Sage.
"What are we going to do about the text?"
I had forgotten about the picture already. I showed Tommy the message. His face went pale.
"Shit. You think it's the Blood Sisters?"
"I don't know. Could be them. Could be someone else." I typed back quickly. "Are you okay?"
Her response came immediately. "Scared. What do we do?"
What could we do? Someone knew we were still together, and the person had evidence. And if that evidence got back to Jaxon or Diego, everything could fall apart.
"We need to find out who took that photo," Tommy said. "Before they use it against you."
"How?"
"I don't know. But we've got limited time. If someone's planning to sabotage the wedding, they'll make their move soon."
He was right. Whoever took that photo had a reason. The question was what they planned to do with it.
My phone buzzed again. Another text from Sage.
"Ryder, I'm really scared. What if they show Jaxon? What if they tell Diego?"
I started typing a response but stopped. What could I say that would make this better? What reassurance could I give when I didn't have answers?
Before I could finish, another text came through. This one from an unknown number.
"Stop seeing her or the next photo goes to everyone.”