Walk The Edge (Thunder Road #2)(108)

“If you’re sad because you’re in trouble,” Elsie says, “then don’t be. I get in trouble all the time, and sometimes after I cry, those are the times Mommy hugs me the hardest and you look like you need a hard hug.”

And she does it. Elsie hugs me hard, throwing her entire being, soul and all, into loving me. I hug her back and try to fight the lump hardening in my throat.

“It’s like you said when Daddy forgot to pick me up at ballet. Sometimes these bad things happen to prove you’re strong enough to be a Miller.”

My eyes shut with the wetness forming there. I did tell Elsie that. She was sad. I was sad for her and I made being forgotten in the pickup rotation a badge of honor, and it’s not until this moment that I realize how right she is. This family is messed up, but it’s still my family.

Just like the club is Razor’s family. Razor loves me so much that he’s willing to go to any length to protect me...even involving his family.

A sense of urgency rushes through me. I need to find Razor. I need to talk with him and tell him I understand his drive to inform the club, his family, but there has to be a way that we can stay together without anyone getting hurt.

“I love you, Elsie.” I kiss her temple, and when she eases back, I touch the end of her nose. “And I’m glad Mom and Dad didn’t stop at eight.”

She grins widely to show two adult teeth and a bunch of crooked baby teeth. “Me, too.”

“Let’s go get some cookies.” I offer my hand, she accepts, and the two of us walk in. Elsie continues to chatter as we pass the living room, and when she settles into the seat at the kitchen, eats her cookie and drinks her milk.

Razor loves me and he’s going to freak when he sees the post. When Elsie hops down from her seat and races off to play with Zac, I stare at Liam’s car keys on the island.

I’m already in trouble. Not sure I can go much deeper. Especially when my parents discover the post and how I ran off with Razor earlier today. One more outing won’t matter.

Before I lose my courage, I snatch Liam’s keys and text Razor: Meet me at the bridge. We need to talk.





RAZOR

WAITING.

It’s never been my strong suit and, until Breanna, neither had trusting.

Right now, I’m doing both.

Waiting and trusting.

I’d rather get shot and take a spill on my bike with no jacket and have my skin scraped off by the blacktop than wait for the board to decide how they’re going to handle Breanna. Unfortunately, my single option is to sit here in the beat-up chair near the pool tables.

Oz sinks the eight ball in the corner pocket, then tosses the stick onto the table. It rolls until it hits the other side of the green felt. He obviously isn’t into this waiting shit, either. “You should have come to me.”

I tip the chair until the back of my seat smacks the wall behind me so I can rap my head against it. I came clean over an hour ago and I’m already sick of hearing how everyone has faced a demon similar to mine. Truth is—what I hate is how they’re right.

Oz eyes me like he’s pissed. “I handed my cut to Eli thinking I couldn’t make it in this club.”

My seat falls forward with a crack. “You serious?”

“Dead.” He doesn’t once blink as he holds my gaze. My best friend isn’t lying.

Chevy barrels through the door to the clubhouse. “Try answering your damn phone!”

Great. Another guy to lay into me. “Board took my cell.” To look at the pictures I took of the detective’s files. To research how deep this detective is digging to threaten either us or the Riot. They’re also studying the info I gathered on the guys blackmailing Breanna. “They’re in Church now.”

Church is how the club refers to their private board meetings.

“We got problems.”

I stand, hands out in a stop sign. “I told the board and we’re working on it.”

Chevy yanks his phone out of his pocket, slides his finger across it and tosses it at me. “It’s Breanna. She’s dropped a mother of a bomb.”

On the screen is Breanna’s account, but confusion muddles my thoughts. It’s the picture of me and her. “Did the son of a bitch hack her account?”

“She posted it and she named Kyle. Whether she realized it or not, Breanna started a war. And here’s the thing, we were at practice when he found out. Kid looked crazy and he tore off.”

Ice water seeps into my veins. “Why didn’t you stop him?”

“I tried,” Chevy says. “But coach physically held me back. As soon as he left, so did I and came straight here. If I was Kyle and my world was falling apart, I’d go after the source of the pain, brother, and we need to get to Breanna before he does.”

I could race out of here now. Return to controlling this problem. It’s what I’ve done for years. What instinct screams at me to do, but I can’t continue to rely only on myself. This doing it on my own...it’s what makes me weaker. The club is what makes me stronger.

I turn to Oz as I dial Breanna’s number. “Interrupt Church. If Kyle’s on the warpath, I need a wall of cuts surrounding her.”

Chevy pulls out his keys as Oz runs up the stairs. He pats me on the back as we head for our bikes. “Never thought I’d say this, but let’s go win you the girl.”