Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 42128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 211(@200wpm)___ 169(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
I had just escaped one nightmare and somehow landed in the arms of a Redline King who looked at me like I was already his. I didn’t know what I’d gotten myself into…but something told me there was no going back now.
6
REV
Itook my time heading into Kane’s office, trying to shake off the protective frustration burning beneath my skin. I hadn’t wanted to leave Delaney alone—every damn cell in my body was straining to get back to her so I could keep her safe and close. But the text Kane sent left no room for delay.
When I walked into his office, I found the prez behind his massive walnut desk, leaning back in his chair, his green eyes watching my approach. Jax leaned against the far wall with a tablet in hand, a thoughtful scowl already deepening his expression, while his black-rimmed glasses reflected the brightness of the screen. Nitro stood near the window, and Edge occupied his usual chair, casually flipping a knife between his fingers, the sharp blade flashing rhythmically under the overhead light.
My eyes flicked briefly to Apex, our newly appointed treasurer, and I nodded, a dry smirk tugging at my mouth as I dropped into the empty chair beside Edge.
“Well, shit,” I drawled, eyeing Apex. “Looks like someone’s moving up in the world.”
He grinned at me, leaning back comfortably as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Bullshit. Was just waiting for you assholes to realize I was always the better choice.”
Nitro snorted softly, and Edge chuckled, shaking his head with dry amusement.
Despite his short time as a Redline King, Apex fit into the room easier than most new patches because he’d already been part of the machinery behind the Redline Holdings and the Kings for years. Before officially patching in, he’d worked as a forensic accountant and race finance strategist, specializing in the kind of quiet financial intelligence work that made dirty money panic when he started digging.
He’d worked with professional racing teams, wealthy investors, and underground circuits long before Kane brought him fully into the fold. The truth was, Tire had already trusted him unofficially for years—using him to audit sponsorship structures, trace missing funds, identify leaks, and clean up vulnerabilities before they became problems.
Apex followed financial trails the same way I followed physical ones, both of us hunting patterns most people never even realized existed. By the time Tyre started to prep for the move to California, there’d only been one man he trusted enough to hand the Florida chapter’s finances over to. The prospect period had mostly been a formality. Apex already knew sensitive club operations, had protected the Kings financially more than once, and had proven his loyalty repeatedly before he ever wore the cut. Honestly, he’d already been a brother long before the patch made it official.
Kane sat forward slightly, his expression in its perpetual scowl as he folded his hands on his desk, focusing the room’s attention. “Let’s get to it.”
I leaned forward, the easy humor fading quickly from my face as I dove straight into business. “Know Jax and Nitro already started digging into what we have so far. Apex, I’m assuming Kane brought you up to speed?”
Apex nodded, his gaze serious now, locked onto mine. “Yeah. I’m caught up.”
“Good.” I got right to the heart of it. “Talked to Delaney this morning. You won’t believe the shit we’re up against.”
I laid it all out for them—her abduction, the basement in the old church, waking up dressed in historical garments, the restrained wrists, and the terrifying sight of another dead woman arranged nearby. I detailed everything carefully, leaving nothing out. I described the setup, the deliberate arrangement of their bodies, the historical references Delaney had noted. All of it painted an unsettling picture.
When I finished, Edge’s knife had stilled between his fingers. Nitro’s jaw was set tight, and his arms were folded like he was holding back something violent beneath his carefully contained demeanor. Kane’s expression had hardened into something lethal and unyielding, but he didn’t speak yet, just nodded as he absorbed every detail.
“Planning to head back to the crash site when we’re done.” Tension bunched my shoulders. “Start piecing together her escape and see what I can find that will help me profile Magnus.”
Jax inclined his head, his eyes glinting with lethal intent. “I’ll start digging deeper into him and the university connection. Digital trails, communication records, background. Anything useful.”
Apex leaned forward, his expression thoughtful, already turning over angles. “Gonna follow the financial paths tied to the preservation department, grants, shell companies, and whatever else that’s related. If there’s a money trail, I’ll find it.”
“Send me everything you get as soon as you have it,” I told them, knowing they’d both do exactly that.
This was how we operated. We each had our own area of expertise, honed to perfection over the years. Jax would handle data patterns, digging into digital histories and uncovering every scrap of intel buried deep. Like Tyre used to do, Apex would trace anything suspicious hidden in the finances. Cage handled the medical and physical evidence from Delaney. Several other brothers would be tasked to help hunt this psycho in their areas of expertise as well.