Three Alpha Bikers Wants An Open Marriage

Chapter 172: Chapter 172

Riley’s POV

"How—how do you know?" I asked, my voice shaking a little, but she didn’t even let me finish.

"Riley, listen to me," Anna rushed out, her voice coming out fast and uneven like she was trying not to panic. "I’m in this place called Obsidian Veil. I don’t even know how I got here. One minute I was driving, and the next... I was just here. I swear I didn’t even see when the road changed."

I froze.

"What do you mean you’re just there?" I snapped, already feeling my head start to pound.

"I was looking for you," she continued like she didn’t even hear my tone. "Someone gave me an address. Said that was where I’d find you. I kept driving for hours, Riley. Hours. And then suddenly, I wasn’t on the same road anymore. Everything looks... off. The people here are—" she paused, lowering her voice, "they’re dressed weird. Like something out of a movie or something. And they keep staring at me. Not normal staring. It’s creepy. I don’t like it. I’m scared."

"Oh shit," I cursed out loud, dragging a hand down my face. "Why the hell would you come looking for me without calling me first? Anna, are you actually serious right now? Who told you to leave the company and start chasing after me?"

"I—"

"No, don’t even start," I cut in, my voice rising. "Do you know where you are? Do you even understand what kind of place this is? You don’t just walk into Obsidian Veil like it’s some random street!"

"I was worried!" she shot back, her voice cracking now. "Ethan spread the news you were missing again and might not come back. I knew he was lying, okay? I knew it. But it’s been so long since you left, Riley. I thought something happened to you. I just wanted to see you and then go back. That’s all."

Her voice got quieter at the end, and that was what made it worse.

I clenched my jaw.

I couldn’t even stay fully angry at her because I knew her. She wasn’t stupid. She just cared too much, and that always got her into trouble.

"Just stay where you are," I said finally, forcing my voice to calm down even though I was still pissed. "Don’t talk to anyone. Don’t follow anyone. I’m coming to get you." freёweɓnovel.com

"Okay..." she whispered.

I ended the call and tightened my grip on the phone for a second before letting it drop onto the bed. I grabbed the bag I had packed earlier, but then I stopped.

Cane was still in that room.

Dying.

And now this.

I let out a frustrated breath and picked up the bag again, ready to leave anyway because Anna being out there alone was not something I could ignore.

But just as I turned, someone stepped into the doorway.

I froze.

Gunnar.

He didn’t rush in. He just walked in slowly like he had all the time in the world, like he already knew I wasn’t going anywhere.

I swallowed.

The moment I saw him, everything came rushing back—anger, frustration, everything. This whole mess was because of him and his brothers, and now I had to deal with this too.

"Are you going somewhere?" he asked calmly, his eyes scanning me and the bag in my hand.

"That should be none of your fucking business," I shot back immediately.

His jaw tightened a little, but he didn’t react the way I expected.

Instead, he stepped closer.

"Riley—"

"Don’t," I snapped, taking a step back, but he followed, closing the distance anyway.

He stopped right in front of me.

Too close.

I could feel my breath hitch, and that annoyed me even more because I hated that my body reacted like that around him.

"I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier," he said, his voice low but steady.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What now? You came to threaten me again?"

He paused for a second, like he was choosing his words carefully.

"You were right," he said.

That made me blink.

"I was wrong," he continued, his face completely serious. "And I need to apologize."

I stared at him.

That was not what I expected.

Not from him. Not from someone like him.

But before I could even respond, he added,

"I’m not going to apologize to you."

My expression changed immediately. "What?"

Instead of backing down, he held my gaze.

"I don’t owe you that," he said coldly. "Not the way you think. But I am willing to make a deal."

I let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "A deal? Are you serious right now?"

"If you help heal my brother," he said, ignoring my tone completely, "I’ll dissolve whatever agreement binds you here. You’ll be free to leave."

I stared at him for a second, then laughed again, this time louder.

"You think that matters to me?" I said, shaking my head. "That deal is already irrelevant to me."

That was the wrong thing to say.

Because something in him snapped.

"Don’t you say that," he barked suddenly, his voice rising sharply as he stepped even closer. "Don’t you dare stand there and act like this is some kind of joke. My brother is dying in there, and you’re talking like none of this matters!"

"And what about me?" I fired back immediately, my own voice rising just as much. "What about my life? My choices? Or do those not count because I’m human?"

His expression changed for a second.

"You and your brothers dragged me into this," I continued, my chest rising and falling as I spoke. "You made decisions for me without even asking. You don’t get to stand here and yell at me like I owe you anything!"

"I never said you owe me—"

"You didn’t have to say it!" I cut him off. "You act like it. You talk like it. Everything about you screams that you think you’re entitled to control everything, including me!"

He went quiet.

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.

Then he ran a hand over his face, clearly frustrated.

"This is not about controlling you," he said finally, his voice lower now but still tense. "This is about saving my brother."

"And this is about my life," I shot back.

He turned away from me like he needed a second to calm down.

For a moment, I thought he was just going to walk out.

But then he stopped.

He stood there, silent, before turning back to face me again.

This time, his expression was different.

Less angry.

More serious.

"What do you want?" he asked.

I blinked. "What?"

"If you help him," he said, his eyes locked on mine, "what do you want in return?"

The anger I was holding onto started to fade a little.

Because despite everything, I could see it clearly now.

He wasn’t asking for himself.

He was asking for his brother.

And that... that kind of loyalty wasn’t something you saw every day.

I took a breath.

"I’ll help heal Cane," I said slowly. "But my favor won’t be decided now."

His brows furrowed slightly.

"I want to keep it," I continued, "for later. And when I ask for it, you don’t get to question it nor your brothers. You don’t get to refuse it either. You do it. No matter what."

He didn’t answer immediately. He just stared at me, like he was trying to figure out what I was thinking.

Then, after a few seconds, he nodded.

"Okay."

He turned to leave.

But I stopped him.

"Wait."

He paused and looked back at me.

I hesitated for a second, suddenly unsure how to say it.

"My... friend," I started, hating how unsure I sounded. "She came looking for me. She’s here."

His expression changed slightly.

"She’s in Obsidian Veil," I added quickly. "I need to find her."

For the first time since he walked in, he looked genuinely shocked.

"Your friend is here?" he repeated.

"Yes."

"In Obsidian Veil?"

"Yes!"

"And she’s still alive?"