Starting a Ryot (The Hounds of Zeus MC Book 3) Read online

Rhi ignored his offered arm and walked ahead of James to the truck. He rushed to open the door for her, and when he attempted to help her climb inside, she turned and frowned at him. Polite or not, she didn’t want him touching her any more than he already did. Sitting in Josiah’s living room, side-by-side on the sofa while the preacher and his wife watched over them was more than she could stomach. Whenever James reached for her hand, Rhi put both of them under her legs, knowing James wouldn’t dare touch her there. Not with their chaperones watching over them. Nadine never spoke during their “dates,” but her eyes spoke volumes. She didn’t approve of Rhi on a personal level. She had been vocal on more than one occasion regarding Rhi’s insolent behavior, but that was only when her husband wasn’t around.

  Rhi watched out the side window as James drove them off the property. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He stopped the truck and held out a black cloth. “You are to be blindfolded during the drive as a precaution.”

  Rhi shouldn’t have been surprised because she knew their little community was a secret from outsiders. She grabbed the proffered cloth and tied it around her head. It wasn’t like she wanted to find her way back, but then she realized what this was about. They didn’t want her able to find her way out. When music filled the cab of the truck, it startled Rhi. It had been so long since she’d heard secular music, and her soul mended just a fraction.

  “I hope this is okay,” James said. “I like making the supply runs because it gives me a little more freedom.” Rhi didn’t respond, but she did tap her fingers to the beat, using her thighs as drums. James made small talk, but Rhiannon ignored him so she could count the songs. When James announced they had arrived, Rhi smiled inwardly. Not counting the seconds in between when the deejay spoke, there were nineteen songs, which meant they had been gone approximately an hour. She wasn’t sure how far in miles that was, but it was farther than she could walk without James or Josiah catching up with her if they figured out she’d left. She didn’t think she could walk that far without giving out. Sure, she walked everywhere she went, but their community wasn’t that large. She doubted she got in half a mile per day. No, she’d have to figure something else out.

  “Go ahead and remove your blindfold,” James instructed. Rhi slid the fabric off and blinked against the brightness of the afternoon sun, taking a look around. After a few more turns, the town came into view. It was larger than she’d expected, and there were all kinds of new stores she’d never heard of. A lot could happen in ten years, and judging by the design of cars, the marquees on the storefronts, and the updated clothing people wore, she had missed all of it. She focused on the women walking around and the way they were dressed.

  Couples strolled together, holding hands, laughing about some secret only the two of them were privy to. Moms corralled their children, smiles mixed with flustered expressions. Teenagers joked with one another, being young and enjoying their lives with no rules keeping them from speaking to one another. People went about their lives freely. This. This was what she was missing. Rhiannon almost wished she’d not made the trip with James. Seeing how others were able to go about their days the way she did when she was young was a painful reminder of the way things had been before her mother died.

  “Here’s what’s going to happen,” James said, breaking Rhi out of her rumination. “We’re going into that restaurant and have dinner. Afterwards, we’ll go gather the supplies.”

  Rhi frowned, wondering if this was a test. Josiah hadn’t said anything about them eating while they were gone. She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.

  “Brother Josiah isn’t here. You and I can’t get to know one another if he and his wife are always there watching over us. Consider this our first real date. If you behave, I’ll bring you to town on all my runs. And you can stop with the silent treatment. I know you can talk. You just choose not to. If you’re going to be my wife, I’ll expect you to address me appropriately when I speak to you. I’m also looking forward to hearing you cry my name after we have sex. Because Anna? We are going to have sex. You’re as good as my wife already. Now get your ass out of the truck.”

  Rhi looked around, taking in all the different stores. If she played her cards right, she might be able to—

  “Now, Anna.” James came around to her side of the truck and opened the door. She unbuckled and slid to the ground. When James reached for her hand, Rhi cringed. James wasn’t overweight, but he was slightly balding and sweaty, even in the brisk autumn air. He practically dragged her into the sandwich shop. If this was his idea of a date, he was lacking in the romance department, but she already knew that about him. When they got to the counter, he ordered for them both. Plain sandwiches, no chips, and water to drink. The least he could have done was to get her a cookie, but sweets weren’t allowed. Goddess, what she wouldn’t give for one of the fresh-baked, double chocolate treats.

  For whatever reason, James always chose the small deli. He never ordered anything other than the plain sandwiches. She figured it was because money was tight. Or maybe James was cheap. Although it was suppertime, Rhi wasn’t hungry. She nibbled on the sandwich anyway, not wanting to give James a reason to rush through their meal. James had chosen a booth, sliding in opposite instead of sitting next to her. Her back was to the door, so all she had to look at was the hallway leading to the restrooms. And the back entrance. Yes. Rhi pointed to the hallway, indicating she needed to use the facilities.

  “Yeah, okay. But hurry it up. We’re going to be late as it is.”

  Rhi nodded in agreement. She rushed down the hallway, knowing he was watching. When she opened the door to the ladies’ room, she glanced back. Rhi could no longer see James, which meant he couldn’t see her. She ran to the back door, flung it open, and took off down the pavement behind the buildings, not caring that it was pouring rain. Rhi knew she didn’t have much time before James figured out she was gone.

  Chapter Two

  Ryker

  The wind pushing against Ryker’s face was chilly. It should have been exhilarating. Should have been enough to break him out of his shitty mood. It wasn’t. It had been two months since he found out his lover was using him, but he couldn’t shake his anger. He needed to find a way to get over it because it was affecting everyone around him. He had been a surly bastard for the last twenty years. Ryker had chilled somewhat when he found out his baby girl was alive, but seeing the scar marring her beautiful face reminded him how he failed both Mac and her mother. Juliette had been the love of his life, and he hadn’t been home when she’d been taken.

  Ryker couldn’t take away the scars. His daughter’s face wasn’t the only place damaged. Her heart had been ripped apart from having her baby sold to a strange couple. Her soul shattered when her boyfriend had been shipped off to another cult. Ryker couldn’t fix Mac’s face, but he’d find Elijah for her. Or die trying.

  Other than Mac, the only bright spot in his life was Maveryck’s twins. Major and Marshall had a rough first four years, but now Mav and Natalia were giving the boys their best life possible. The kids were so damned cute, and they never failed to make Ryker smile. The little dudes had taken to biker life naturally, and if they had their way, they’d never ride in a cage. They had their own sidecar, tricked out by their Uncle Hayden. The Hounds took a group ride a month back, and the boys had waved at every car they passed. When they stopped for gas, one couple had been so enamored they wanted photos of the twins. Maveryck, being the papa lion he was, had bristled. He was overprotective of his cubs, but Natalia had soothed the beast. Ryker wasn’t jealous. Okay, maybe a little. He was glad both Mav and War had found their perfect mates, but his heart ached at not having that connection. That bond with a female who had his back.

  He’d had that for a short while with Juliette, and damn if he didn’t long for it again. Living hundreds of years as a Gryphon, Ryker didn’t want to go the rest of his long life alone. But he had responsibilities to both the MC and his family. Responsibilities that included finding a new org
anization to work with, which led him to the trip he was currently making. Nexus, the underground organization of assassins he contracted with the last twenty years, had been corrupted from the inside by Ryker’s lover. Cassandra had fooled Ryker into believing he meant something. What he meant to her turned out to be a means to an end.

  Sutton, Ryker’s father, had turned over the MC to Ryker so Sutton could focus on helping people get out of the cults the Hounds disbanded. Not all cults were part of the Ministry, the worldwide group responsible for the near apocalypse that brought the world to a halt some thirty years ago. Some of the groups were harmless folks who wanted nothing other than to live off the grid, away from the “sins of society.” But others, which were part of the Ministry, were no better than the Nazis of old or the white supremacists whose goals were to rid the world of anyone who didn’t fit their idea of a perfect civilization.

  Josiah Talbert was one such person. He and his brother, Gideon, were the worst of the worst. Josiah had been the one to take Juliette, but it had been Gideon who kept her. Had taken her child – Ryker’s child – and given Mac to someone else to raise. Gideon was responsible for Elijah being taken away from Mac, all because one of Gideon’s guards wanted Mac for himself. Ryker had to find Josiah and get Elijah back, if the boy was still alive. Until Lucy – War’s daughter and family computer expert – located Josiah, Ryker had to focus on the other part of the family business, and that was their mercenary work.

  Sutton’s friend and former army buddy, Trenton Shepherd, started his own vigilante organization years ago, and now Ryker was headed to meet with the man. Feel him out to see if they were a good fit. When Sutton contacted Shepherd, the man invited Ryker to his office so Ryker could see for himself how things were run. That was Ryker’s first clue the organization was completely different than Nexus. Ryker had no idea where Nexus’s headquarters was located. He didn’t know the person in charge. Secrecy had been their first rule. Handlers had code names. If he hadn’t worked with Cassandra on a job, he’d never have known the former operative-turned-handler’s identity.

  It was almost three when Ryker arrived at the address given. He’d expected to meet Shepherd at a business location. Somewhere the building doubled as a front for something legitimate. Instead, the address was a large house sitting back off the road behind a tall, iron fence. Ryker rolled up to the gate and put his bike in neutral. There was no guard shack, but there were cameras watching his every move. Ryker removed his helmet, turning his face up so whoever was watching the security feed could see him clearly. A few seconds later, the gate swung open, and Ryker replaced his helmet before easing his bike down the long concrete drive. Before he could shut the bike off, the front door opened, and Shepherd stepped out onto the porch. The man was in his sixties, but he was as fit as anyone thirty years his junior. Gray hair was cropped close; steel-blue eyes smiled while still looking intense. He was dressed in dark jeans and an untucked, button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled back showing off corded forearms. The man hadn’t let himself go, and Ryker appreciated that.

  When Ryker removed his helmet and climbed off his bike, Shepherd grinned. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was looking at your father.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Ryker ran his hand over his head, doing his best to get rid of the helmet hair.

  “As you should.” Shepherd was one of the humans who was aware of Gryphons. The fact that Sutton trusted the male with their secret said a lot about what kind of man he was.

  Ryker held out his hand. “It’s good to meet you, Shepherd.”

  “Likewise. Come on in. I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Quinn to join us.”

  “Not at all.” Ryker didn’t mind. He wanted to meet the handler he’d be working with.

  As Shepherd led Ryker into his home, he said, “Your father is one of the best males I know, and I expect the apples didn’t fall far from the tree, if you’ll pardon the saying.”

  Ryker smiled, appreciating the sentiment. “We like to think so. The five of us, while all different in personalities, do our best to emulate our father. He is the best man we know, and we live to make him proud.” Ryker followed Shepherd, taking in the home. When they reached the office, a pretty woman looked up from where she was working at the desk. The female was early thirties, dressed in jeans and a fitted sweater. Her long, brown hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. She stood and held out her hand.

  “Ryker Lazlo, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Quinn. She’s in charge of our organization. I passed the mantle to her six years ago, much like Sutton turned over the MC to you.” Shepherd stood aside while the two of them shook hands. Her grip was firm, like her countenance.

  “It’s a pleasure.” Quinn gestured to the chairs across from her. “Please, have a seat.”

  Ryker took the one closest and set his ankle on the opposite knee.

  “Shepherd shared a little about what happened with Nexus, but I’d appreciate it if you told me everything,” Quinn said as she returned to the leather chair behind the desk. Ryker filled both father and daughter in on everything except the fact that he and Cassandra had been lovers.

  “This isn’t the first we’ve heard of Nexus being less than aboveboard. I’m glad you came to us. We can always use people with your particular skill sets. And the thing that sets us apart from them is I am the only handler. You won’t be dealing with an unknown using an alias. I personally vet every request that comes through. Of course, you’ll conduct your own due diligence once you accept the contract, and if you find something you believe I’ve missed, I not only welcome you discussing issues with me, I expect it. I’m not infallible or perfect. I would rather you share concerns if I miss something than for an innocent to be taken out. Having said that, it’s rare I make that costly a mistake.” Quinn pushed a piece of paper across the desk. “These are the terms of our contracts. I think you’ll find the payout is generous.” Ryker did a double take when he read the percentage. When he glanced at Shepherd, he was smirking.

  “With Quinn being the only handler, we don’t require as much on our end as an organization paying ten or more handlers. Our overhead is low, and we feel if we pay top dollar, we get top results in return.”

  “Do you have any questions?” Quinn leaned back in her chair, confidence clear on her face.

  “Yes, when can we start?” Ryker was excited about working for the father-daughter team. The fact that Shepherd and Sutton were still friends after all these years was a bonus.

  “Immediately.” Quinn opened her desk and pulled out a phone. She handed it over and said, “All contracts will be sent to you through this phone. The messages are encrypted, so you’ll need to give me a sequence you wish to use to unlock them. Only you, Shepherd, and I will have the code, plus anyone you wish to share it with, say your second-in-command. All communication will come through this device. Should you wish to speak with me at any time, just send me a message. Normally, we don’t invite operatives into our home, but our fathers go way back. You are the only associate who knows where we are. We’d like to keep it that way, so unless we invite you back, I’d prefer any future meetings be done elsewhere.”

  “That’s understandable and not a problem. Until the last few assignments went astray, we never met anyone from Nexus. I don’t foresee needing to meet back up.”

  “Excellent. If you’ll choose your code, I’ll make note of it in your file. Other than that, welcome aboard.” Quinn stood and held out her hand. Ryker shook it, and the weight of the last months lifted from his shoulders.

  With his new phone in his pocket, Ryker said goodbye and headed home. The ride back to New Troy was much more enjoyable until he ran into a storm. Ryker didn’t mind a little rain, but the sky let loose with a downpour. The roads were slickest when they first got wet. He was used to it, but he didn’t trust other drivers, so Ryker took the next exit. The town wasn’t large, but it had more than just a truck stop. The strip of road boasted a few convenience stores, s
everal hotels, and plenty of restaurants to choose from. Ryker was used to eating alone, and it had never bothered him. Until lately. Sure, he had his daughter to share meals with, and Mac was getting a little more comfortable going out the more she spent time with Lucy, Kerrigan, and Natalia. All three females were different, but they each gave Mac something Ryker couldn’t. Something she’d never had, and that was friendship.

  Having lived in a cult, McKenzie had endured a life Ryker would never understand. He did his best to make up for the lost years, but it was hard with all the time he spent away from home. Rory did her best to make Mac feel like she was part of the family, but his daughter was still leery of leaving the house, even if she was going to visit her grandmother. Ryker hoped by getting Elijah back – because he would find the boy – that Elijah would bring Mac out of her shell. Now that he had gotten the club back in the mercenary game with the Shepherds, Ryker could return his attention to searching for Josiah, and in turn, Elijah.

  Ryker pulled into a convenience store lot to get gas while letting the storm pass. He shut the bike off, crawled from the seat, and went about sliding his card and stuffing the nozzle into his tank. Ryker turned his gaze to the strip, searching the various signs for restaurants. Tires screeched and horns blared. Ryker waited for the crunch of metal, but it never came. What he did hear, however, was a man yelling.

  “Anna! Get your ass back here.” Ryker searched for an escaped pet, but what he found was a young woman running through the parking lot. Her eyes were wild, full of fear, and her hair and dress were plastered to her body. She ran past Ryker toward the back of the building. A few seconds later, a plain, white van barreled into the lot, and the driver jumped out once he was parked. He searched the area, and the way he fisted his hands told Ryker all he needed to know. If those hands caught up with the woman, they wouldn’t be tender. Ryker replaced the nozzle while keeping an eye on the man.