Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 73

CHAPTER 44

CHAPTER 44

THIRD PERSON POV

The warehouse had never felt so quiet. Not because it was empty but because nobody wanted to

be the first person to speak.

Five motorcycles stood outside beneath the gray morning sky and every one of them carried fresh scratches from the previous night’s disaster. Inside, the men who had returned from Lawson Customs looked worse than their machines. One sat with his arm secured in a sling and another leaned heavily on a crutch after surgery to remove the bullet from his leg while two more wore bruises that painted half their faces purple.

Victor Kane stood at the far end of the warehouse beside a scarred wooden table, his hands resting flat against the surface while he studied every man in front of him.

Nobody met his eyes and that alone irritated him. Failure happened but cowardice afterward was harder to tolerate. He finally broke the silence.

“Tell me.” Victor said.

The man with the injured arm swallowed before speaking.

“It didn’t go the way we planned.” The man said and Victor’s expression never changed.

“I noticed.” Victor said.

“We got inside the workshop.” He said.

“And?” Victor asked.

“We never reached her.” He said as Victor slowly folded his arms.

“You had six experienced men.” Victor said.

“Yes.” He said.

“You entered by surprise.” Victor said.

“Yes.” He said.

“You knew she was alone. And somehow you still failed.” Victor said and there was another

hesitant nod so Victor let the silence stretch until it became uncomfortable.

Nobody answered and the warehouse doors opened behind them before anyone found the courage. Heavy boots echoed across the concrete and Damien walked inside with the relaxed

confidence of someone who already knew the outcome. He looked at the injured men, then at

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CHAPTER 44

Victor.

“So. I hear a mechanic embarrassed half my crew.” Damien said as he smiled without humor.

Nobody replied and Damien walked slowly around the group like a teacher inspecting students

after a failed examination.

He stopped beside the man with the broken arm.

“You lost that fight? I’ve heard of people getting beaten with a wrench.” Damian asked and the man

looked away so Damien laughed quietly and he glanced toward Victor.

“I’ve just never expected it to happen to us.” Damian continued and several nearby members lowered their heads. The laughter disappeared as quickly as it had appeared and Damien’s face

hardened.

“You had one job. One woman. Instead, you left one of your own behind, lost your nerve, and ran

because she refused to cooperate.” Damien yelled as he looked directly at the man with the injured

leg and the man’s jaw tightened.

“She wasn’t what we expected.” The man said.

“No. Clearly she wasn’t.” Damien said and Victor finally stepped forward.

“Enough.” Victor said.

The room fell silent immediately and he looked from one injured man to the next.

“I don’t care whether she surprised you. I care that none of you adapted.” Damien said and he pointed toward the workshop doors.

“You walked into someone else’s ground. You underestimated her and you paid for it.” Victor said and his gaze settled on the youngest member of the failed team.

“What was the first mistake?” Damien asked and the young biker answered quietly.

“We assumed she needed rescuing.” The man said and Victor nodded once.

“Correct.” Victor said.

“The second?” Damien asked.

“We attacked separately.” The man said and Victor nodded again.

“And the third?” Victor asked as the man hesitated.

“We stopped thinking.” The man said while Victor allowed himself the smallest smile.

“Finally.” Victory said as he walked back toward the table.

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“Those mistakes won’t happen again.” The man said and Damien watched him carefully.

“You’ve changed your opinion.” Damien said.

“I have.” Victor said as he picked up one of the photographs recovered during surveillance.

Claim

It showed Paige standing outside Lawson Customs with grease across one cheek while laughing with one of her customers. He studied it for several moments. –

“I believed she was leverage. I was wrong.” Victor said as he turned the photograph over and

Damien folded his arms.

“So what is she?” Damien asked.

“An asset. She’s disciplined. She keeps her head. She doesn’t panic.” Victor said and the answer surprised several people and he placed the photograph back on the table.

“Very few people stay calm during a violent encounter.” Victor added and Damien gave a slow nod!

“That’s true.” Damien said as Victor continued.

“Someone spent years teaching her.” Victor said.

He remembered the reports, the precise movements, the efficient use of space and the decision

to disable instead of kill whenever possible.

Nothing about the fight sounded improvised and everything sounded practiced.

“She wasn’t lucky. She was prepared.” Victor added as his voice remained thoughtful and Damien

leaned against the table.

“That makes her dangerous.” Damien said as Victor nodded.

“It also makes her interesting.” Victor said.

The warehouse grew quiet again. No one expected that answer and Victor looked toward the

injured men once more.

“There will be consequences.” Victor added and nobody argued.

Failure always carried consequences inside the Black Reapers. Not because Victor enjoyed

punishment but because discipline mattered.

“You’ll spend the next month doing support work. No collections. No enforcement. No field operations.” Victor said as confused expressions appeared immediately and one man frowned.

“You’re taking us off active duty?” The man asked.

“I’m removing you from situations where poor judgment costs lives. Earn your way back.” Victor

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CHAPTER 44

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