CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Marcus, I'm about to do something really stupid, but right now, I don't care. I'm sharing my location with you—just in case things go south and I need backup.” I ended the call and threw the phone onto the passenger seat of the rental car I hadn't returned yet.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel, my foot pressing harder on the gas pedal as I picked up speed. I didn't have a plan, just a burning determination not to let the Windsors push me around.

At this point, I didn't care about who I was confronting or their status. All I knew was that I was getting answers tonight—or all hell was going to break loose.

The sun had set, darkness creeping in, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. Not when I had a pretty good idea who was behind the root cause of my problems.

I made a sharp turn, the shimmering lake coming into view as the road straightened ahead. My jaw clenched at the sight of the Windsor mansion. It no longer felt intimidating—just infuriating.

Pulling up to the front, I slammed the car door shut and stalked toward the entrance, my voice already rising before I reached it.

“Klaus! Man up and show your fucking face instead of sending your lackeys to do your dirty work!” I banged my fists against the iron door, the metallic clang echoing in the night. “Klaus!”

“Oh, dear, who might that be?” came Miss Cherry's nervous voice from somewhere inside.

“Open the door, Cherry!” I snapped, pacing as anger bubbled over.

I heard a gasp, then silence. My fist was raised for another knock when the door creaked open, revealing Reid.

I let out a bitter laugh, crossing my arms. “So, Klaus is such a coward he had to send you instead?”

Reid stepped outside and shut the door behind him, giving me a worried look. “What the hell are you talking about, Eugene?”

“Where's your goddamn father?” I demanded, attempting to push past him. He held firm, blocking my path.

“He's not here. But if you got a problem with him, tell me. I'll help—”

I burst out laughing, cutting him off. “God, I'm such an idiot.” I pressed a hand to my forehead, still shaking with laughter.

“Eugene, I don't understand—”

“Of course you don't,” I sneered. “Playing dumb is your specialty. How could I forget?”

“Eug—”

“Don't even start!” I snapped, raising a hand to silence him. “You think I wouldn't find out?”

“Find out what?” His brows furrowed, his confusion almost convincing.

“That you were there!” I jabbed a finger at his chest. “I thought you'd been taken to safety, but right before I blacked out, I remember you kneeling in front of me. You weren't scared,—you were worried. In the middle of a freaking gunfight!”

Reid's mouth opened, but no words came out.

“I don't know what kind of game you and your father are playing, but I promise you, you've picked the wrong person to mess with. One of you knows my past,” I said, my voice dropping into a low growl, “and when I find out who it is….I wouldn't want to be them.”

Reid raised his hands in a placating gesture, his expression unusually serious. “Eugene, I know you're mad right now, and I'm probably the last person you want to trust, but listen—we have to leave. Now.”

Something about his calm tone and the tension in his expression sent a cold chill running up my spine. But I wasn’t about to fall for some elaborate trick to scare me off. “Nice try,” I started, but a low, throaty rumble cut me off.

The heavy growl of engines echoed in the distance. I turned toward the road, squinting down Wapato Point Parkway, but the thick pine trees lining the edges obscured my view. Turning back to Reid, I narrowed my eyes.

“What the hell was that?”

Reid’s gaze darted to the road, his jaw tightening. Without another word, he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward my car.

“Keys,” he demanded.

“What? No!”

“Eugene, seriously!” He yanked the keys from my hand, his movements sharp and urgent. “I told Miss Cherry to call for security earlier—when I didn’t know it was you yelling outside. They’re probably already here, and they're not going to  ask questions.”

“Oh my God—” I started, but the roar of motorcycles silenced me. I glanced in the rearview mirror as I climbed into the passenger seat, my stomach plummeting at the sight of a line of bikes speeding toward us.

“Yeah,” Reid muttered grimly, starting the engine. “Two things you should know about my dad: one, you can't find him unless he wants to be found, and two, he doesn't take threats against family lightly. Maybe a heads-up next time before you come stomping into my house yelling threats?” 

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died as the car lurched forward, Reid flooring the gas.

“Relax, okay? If I can get us out of here, everything will be fine.”

“If?” I snapped, gripping the armrest as we sped down the narrow road. “Can’t you just tell them it was a false alarm or something?”

He ignored me, his knuckles white as he tightened his grip on the wheel.

“I hope you have insurance,” He said, shooting me a quick, dry smile, “because I can't promise this car’s going to make it out intact.”

“Reid, they’re gaining on us!” I yelled, my heart racing as the motorcycles appeared closer in the side mirrors.

“Did I mention I love racing?” he said, veering off the main road and onto a sloping grass field that edged his neighborhood of sprawling vacation estates.

“No! And this is not a race!” I shouted over the whine of the engines.

“To me, it is.” He smiled, weaving between the trees with alarming precision.

 

“Reid, This is insane—what are you doing?” My eyes stayed glued to the rearview mirror as the bikers struggled to keep up on the uneven terrain.

“It'll be easier to lose them on the highway," he explained, his voice calm as we neared the elevated stretch of Highway 97A. “Buckle up and brace yourself.”

My stomach dropped as I realized his plan. “Reid, no. The highway is too high—you’ll never make it up that hill. We’ll crash!”

“Good thing I'm one hell of a driver,” he replied, his tone maddeningly casual. 

I barely had time to protest before he picked up speed, the incline looming closer.

“Reid! Don't you dare—”

“Close your eyes.

I shook my head furiously. “No—”

He reached over, his free hand grasping mine. “Trust me,”

The sincerity in his voice froze me. After a beat, I squeezed his hands and closed my eyes.

“It's going to be okay.” he said softly "I won't let anything happen to you.”

The car tilted sharply as we hit the slope, my stomach flipping. Horns blared above, cars rushing past on the highway. I gripped his hand tighter, stifling a scream.

“Almost there,” he muttered.

The car jolted violently upon hitting the asphalt, tires screeching as Reid fought to regain control. My seatbelt dug into my chest as we careened onto the opposite street, narrowly avoiding a collision.

“You can open your eyes now,” Reid said

I pried them open, my breath catching at the sight of our surroundings. We’d made it. The car sputtered, smoke curling from the dented bumper, but we were still in one piece.

A nervous laugh bubbled out of me “You did it!”

I gave him a quick hug, but his grim expression didn’t falter.

“Remember how you said I could stop this by telling them it was a mistake?”

“Yeah,” I said cautiously.

“Well,” he sighed, meeting my gaze. “Once my dad gives the order, they won't stop. Not until the threat is… dealt with.”

I swallowed hard, “By ‘dealt with,’ you mean—” 

“Killed.”