“Oops.” His grin doesn’t falter. “Forgot to mention—we picked him up. Sweet guy. Real loyal. But that kind of loyalty doesn’t mean much unlessyouplay ball.”
I feel the blood drain from my face.Tommy,Willow’s Dad, the only parent I have ever truly known.
“Where is he?” I snap, chest tightening.
Landon shifts beside me, but Marcus lifts a hand, palm out like I’m a child throwing a tantrum. “Don’t. Let’s not turn this into some big rescue mission. Tommy’s not hurt… yet. But if you don’t hold up your end? Well, I’d hate for you to attend another funeral this year.”
My mouth goes dry. The buzzing in my ears gets louder.
First month of college and I’ve already got one foot in a criminal enterprise, a situationship with the most dangerous man I’ve ever met, another with the sweetest girl I don’t deserve—and now I’ve managed to get my semi-adoptive dad kidnapped by a biker gang.
Awesome. Just fucking stellar.
“You just want me to get close to Brooke?” I ask, voice flat, grinding the words out between clenched teeth.
Marcus leans back in his chair and nods, all fake charm and oily calm. “Real close. Close enough that she invites you to the du Pont Ball at the start of winter.”
I blink. “The Ball? That’s?—”
“A political summit in sequins,” he cuts in. “Old money, new money, cartel reps, mafia whispers, and every landowner with power south of Kansas. Her daddy throws it. You get in, we get eyes.”
“And then what?” I ask slowly.
Marcus just grins, tapping his temple. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about that. You leave the real mess to the professionals, darling.”
Around the table, the guys start laughing—hooting like this is a comedy set and not a criminal setup. Landon’s jaw is tight as he stares at Marcus with pure murder in his eyes.
And I tuck my chin in my chest.Fuck, I’m going to be sick.
About thirty minutes later,Marcus waves us off with a grin and a half-eaten rib, like he didn’t just blackmail me with the one person I love most in this world. I keep my head down, hold my breath, and walk in silence until we reach the edge of the Raiders’ property.
The second we’re past the bikes and off the porch, I turn on Landon like a dragon ready to burn him to a crisp.
“Did you know?” I hiss, shoving him hard in the chest. He barely stumbles, but his hands shoot up, defensive.
“Peach—”
“Did you fucking know?”
“Bloody hell?—”
“Don’t you dare deflect. Did you know they were going towhore me outfor a goddamn land deal? Did you know they hadTommy?”
“No, I didn’t fucking know!” Landon barks back, voice rougher than I’ve ever heard it. “You think I would’ve walked you into that mess if I knew?”
“You brought me here!” I scream. “You brought me into their house. Sat me at their goddamn table like a piece of bait!”
“I brought you here to keep you safe!”
My breath hitches. “Safe?They’re using me.”
“I know,” he growls, stepping toward me, eyes blazing. “I didn’t know it was gonna bethis.I thought Marcus just wanted to scare you. Prove a point. But I never—I would never have let them threaten Tommy, Jasmine.”
He scrubs a hand through his hair, pacing a few feet away like he can’t bear to be still.
“I’m on your side,” he mutters, quieter now. “Even when it’s fucked. Even when I don’t know how to fix it.”
My arms are shaking, adrenaline twisting through every limb. I want to punch something. Scream until my throat rips open.
