Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 212

CHAPTER 123-2

I looked around the garage and Ben was working on a motorcycle while Mia was speaking to a customer.

Derek was checking the security system. Everyone was doing their jobs. Everyone was carrying on. But I could see the sadness underneath it.

“Does it ever stop?” I asked as Jace shook his head.

“Violence doesn’t stop just because you’re tired of it.” He said so I looked at him.

“That’s depressing.” I said and he smiled faintly.

“That’s why we make sure there are good days too.” He said and I smiled.

“Like the family ride.” I said.

“Exactly.” He said.

“And the barbecue.” I said.

“Especially the barbecue.” He said and I laughed quietly.

The conversation helped more than I expected. We didn’t solve anything, but for a few minutes, I wasn’t thinking about Travis.

I was thinking about everyone who was still here.

That mattered.

The afternoon passed without another incident, and when we finally closed the garage, I was exhausted.

Jace drove me back to the clubhouse, and the usual noise was missing when we walked inside.

Everyone seemed quieter.

Dinner was simple, and nobody complained about it. We sat around the large table while the children ate, and conversations drifted between ordinary things and the uncomfortable subject everyone was trying not to discuss. And Mason finally spoke.

“I hate hearing about another funeral.” Mason said and Derek nodded.

“Nobody gets used to it.” Derek said.

Emma reached across the table and touched Mason’s hand.

“That’s because nobody should.” She said and I looked down at my plate.

The words stayed with me. Nobody should.

After dinner, the children disappeared into the living room and the adults remained at the table with coffee as Jace leaned back in his chair.

“We’re going to get through this.” Jace said.

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CHAPTER 123-

Nobody argued and nobody asked how. Maybe none of us knew.

We simply believed that getting through it was the only option.

Later, I went upstairs and changed into comfortable clothes.

Cham

I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and tied my hair back before climbing into bed and Diesel followed me upstairs, and he immediately jumped onto the rug beside the bed.

“Come here.” I said.

He walked over, and I sat on the edge of the mattress while I scratched behind his ears and he leaned against my legs.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and for a moment, everything was quiet.

No engines. No arguments. No phones ringing. No police updates. Just Diesel breathing beside me while the rain tapped softly against the window.

“I wish we could stay like this.” I said and Diesel lifted his head.

“I know. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” I said as I hugged him again and he licked my hand so I laughed softly.

“You don’t even know what I’m talking about.” I laughed.

He settled against my legs again and I looked around the bedroom. The room felt safe. The clubhouse felt safe and Jace was downstairs.

The people I loved were close.

After everything that had happened, I realized peace wasn’t something I could assume anymore. It was something I appreciated.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand and I reached for it.

The screen showed a name I hadn’t expected.

Charlotte.

I stared at it.

The phone stopped ringing.

Why was Charlotte calling me?

I hadn’t spoken to her since everything with Victoria had become complicated.

My phone buzzed again.

Charlotte.

I let it ring and it stopped. Then it started again and I stared at the screen.

Three calls. Then four. Then five.

24

< CHAPTER 124.

Something was wrong.

Cir

Charlotte wasn’t someone who called repeatedly unless she wanted something badly so I picked up the phone and walked toward the bedroom door.

Before I could answer, another call came through.

Charlotte again.

I looked down at Diesel and he had lifted his head, and his ears were pointed toward me.

I hesitated before accepting the call.

“Charlotte?” I asked but there was silence.

“Charlotte, what do you want?” I asked.

Still nothing. Then I heard her breathing. It sounded shaky.

“Paige…” She said as I straightened.

“What happened?” I asked as her voice dropped.

“I need to talk to you.” She said.

“About what?” I asked.

“I can’t explain over the phone.” She said and my stomach tightened.

“Then explain enough for me to understand why you’ve called me six times.” I said and she took a shaky breath.

“Because I think I’m in trouble.” She said as I stared at the bedroom door.

“Why?” I asked.

“I know who the man is.” She said and my heart started pounding.

“What man?” I asked.

“The man I’ve been dealing with.” She said and I stopped breathing for a second.

“What are you talking about?” I asked as Charlotte’s voice trembled.

“Paige, I think you need to know who is really behind all of this.” She said.

The line suddenly went silent and I looked at my phone.

“Charlotte?” I said.

Nothing.

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