Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 247

CHAPTER 142

Ethan pressed play, and the clubhouse Yell completely silent.

The recording began with several seconds of muffled noise, followed by the scrape of a chair and the sound of a door closing somewhere in the background.

Then Victor’s voice came through the speakers.

“You are asking too many questions.” Victor said and Charlotte’s recorded voice answered him.

“I am asking questions because you keep changing the plan.” Charlotte’ said and t looked toward Charlotte, and she lowered her eyes.

Nobody in the room needed an explanation anymore, because the recording had already answered the first question we had been asking.

Charlotte had been working with Victor and Ethan paused the recording.

“Before we continue, I want to make a clean copy.” Ethan said.

He connected another device to the phone, and his fingers moved quickly across the keyboard while everyone waited.

Jace remained standing behind him, and I stayed beside Jace because I needed to hear the truth for myself.

A progress bar appeared on Ethan’s screen.

“How long?” I asked.

“Less than a minute.” He said and Charlotte shifted uncomfortably in her chair as Derek watched her closely.

“You should have told us from the beginning.” Derek said.

“I was afraid.” Charlotte said.

“You were afraid after working with Victor?” Derek asked and Charlotte looked at him.

“I thought I could handle him.” She said and Derek’s expression hardened.

“That was your first mistake.” He said and Ethan’s screen flashed.

“Copy complete.” Ethan said.

He immediately saved another backup before returning to the recording.

“I have the original, two copies, and a separate encrypted file.” Ethan said as Jace nodded.

“Good, now play it again.” Jace said.

Ethan restarted the audio and Victor’s voice filled the clubhouse.

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CHAPTER 1

“The garage is becoming a problem.” Victor said as Charlotte answered quietly.

Paige?” Charlotte asked.

“Lawson Customs. Victor said and there was a pause.

“You said you would leave her alone.” Charlotte said.

“I said I would decide when she had become inconvenient.” Victor said and my stomach tightened.

Jace’s hand found mine, and his fingers closed around them as the recording continued.

“The fire was supposed to frighten them, not destroy the whole operation.” Victor said and Charlotte sounded uneasy.

“You never told me about the fire.” Charlotte said.

“You did not need to know.” Victor said.

“You said nobody would get hurt.” She said and Victor laughed.

“You really believed that?” He asked as Charlotte became silent.

I looked at her, and she could not meet my eyes.

The recording jumped slightly, and Ethan frowned.

“Some of the audio is missing.” Ethan said.

“How much?” Jace asked.

“Several minutes, although I can’t tell whether the file was damaged or whether Charlotte stopped recording.” Ethan said and Charlotte swallowed.

“I stopped it.” She said as Derek stared at her.

“Why?” Derek asked.

“Because Victor came into the room.” she said and Ethan continued playing as Victor’s voice returned.

“Paige is protected because of Jace, but that does not make her untouchable.” Victor said and Charlotte spoke more softly.

“You said you wanted the business damaged.” She said.

“I want them weakened.” He said.

“You said you were going after the club.” She said.

“I am going after everything they care about.” He said.

The room seemed to grow colder and I stared at the speakers while my mind replayed every attack against Lawson Customs, every suspicious vehicle, every damaged machine, and every moment when we had wondered whether someone was watching us.

Victor had been planning it long before Charlotte arrived at our doorstep terrified and Jace’s jaw

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CHAPTER 14-

tightened.

“Keep going.” Jace said and Ethan nodded.

Victor continued.

“The garage was only the beginning.” Victor said.

“What comes next?” Charlotte asked.

“The people.” He said and Charlotte’s voice became sharper.

“Victor, you promised me nobody would be killed.” Charlotte said.

“I promised you nothing.” He said and the recording ended abruptly.

Nobody spoke and I looked at Charlotte.

“So you knew.” I said and her face crumpled slightly.

“I knew some of it.” She said.

“Some?” I asked.

“I knew about the garage.” She said.

“And you still worked with him.” I said and Charlotte nodded.

“I thought I could control him.” She said and Derek pushed his chair back.

“You thought you could control Victor Kane?” Derek snapped.

“I thought I could influence him.” She said.

“That is not better.” Derek said.

“I know.” She said.

Cham

I studied her carefully, because part of me wanted to believe that she finally understood what she had done, but another part of me remembered how easily she had lied before.

“Why did you help him?” I asked and Charlotte looked at me.

“Because I thought he could give me everything I wanted.” She said.

“What did you want?” I asked.

“Power.” She said as the answer came quietly.

“I wanted people to respect me, and I wanted Charles to stop treating me like I was worthless.” She added and I felt something twist inside me.

“So you chose Victor.” I said.

“I thought he needed me.” She said as Derek shook his head.

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CHAPTERLAT

“He used you.” Derek said:

I know that now.” She said and Jace stepped forward.

“You didn’t come to Paige beeause you suddenly realized what you had done was wrong.” Jace said as Charlotte looked at him.

“I came because I was scared.” She said

“Exactly.” He said.

His voice remained calm, but there was no sympathy in his expression.

“You were scared because Victor turned on you.” Jace said and Charlotte looked down.

“I know.” She said and I finally spoke.

“Do you regret helping him?” I asked and she hesitated.

That hesitation told me everything.

“I regret what happened.” She finally said.

“But do you regret what you did?” I asked and Charlotte struggled to answer.

“I regret trusting him.” She said and Derek gave a bitter laugh.

“That is not the same thing.” Derek said.

“I know.” She said.

I looked away because I could not listen to another excuse.

The recording had confirmed what we suspected, and it had also given us something worse.

Victor had been planning attacks against Lawson Customs before Charlotte ever became frightened.

She had not started the war. She had simply helped him make it possible and Ethan suddenly leaned closer to his laptop.

“Wait.” Ethan said and everyone turned toward him.

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