Page 116 of Monk

I moved quietly, pulling on my jeans and reaching for my shirt from the chair in the corner. My boots were by the door, my cut draped over the back of the chair. I grabbed my wallet and keys from the nightstand, shoving them into my pockets.

Lina had been busting her ass for the last week as she gathered information, made calls, and dug into Ruby’s accusations with the kind of relentless focus that made her one of the best defense attorneys in the state.

She had barely slept, barely eaten. All to clear my name.

Ruby was still missing. Shadow had been searching for her since she disappeared from her trailer on F Street, but there was no trace. No sightings. No leads. Nothing. It was like she’d vanished into thin air.

Which made everything worse. Because without Ruby, we couldn’t prove the rape charge was bullshit. And without proof, Roberts still had leverage.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. I couldn’t think about that right now. I had a job to do.

I reached for my cut, the leather heavy and familiar in my hands. The weight of it grounded me, reminding me who I was and what I owed to my brothers. I pulled it on, adjusting the collar, and turned toward the door. That was when I heard her voice.

“Going somewhere?”

I froze, my hand on the doorknob.

Fuck.I turned slowly.

Lina was sitting up in bed, the sheet pulled up over her chest, her hair messy and her eyes still heavy with sleep, but she was awake. And she was looking at me with that expression, the one that said she already knew the answer and wasn’t happy about it.

I forced a smile. “Just club business, babe,” I said, keeping my tone casual. “It shouldn’t take too long.”

Her eyes narrowed. “How long?” she asked, her voice quiet but sharp.

I hesitated. “Just a day or two.”

The silence that followed was deafening as Lina stared at me, her jaw tightening, her hands gripping the sheet so hard thather knuckles went white. “I see,” she said finally, her voice flat. “Were you even going to tell me you were leaving, or just let me figure it out like last time when I heard something horrible on the radio?”

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.

“Jesus Christ, Lina,” I huffed, my frustration bleeding through. “It’s just a club run into Texas. Two days, three tops.”

“That’s what you said last time,” she shot back, her voice rising. “And I lost you for seven years.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

“You know what?” she continued, her tone bitter. “Never mind. If you die again, don’t expect me to be here when you get home.” She turned away from me, pulling the sheet up higher and giving me her back.

Fuck.

I walked back over to the bed and leaned down, grabbing her face gently but firmly, forcing her to look at me. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner,” I said, my voice low and rough. “Give me some leeway here, Lina. This relationship stuff is all new to me. When the club calls, I go. I’ve never had anyone waiting at home for me before.”

Her eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought she might soften, but then she narrowed them again. “You had me,” she said quietly. “And you still died.”

I couldn’t help it. I smirked.

“I wasn’t dead last night when I fucked your pussy raw,” I said, my voice dropping into that low, dangerous tone that always made her shiver.

Lina huffed, shoving me away. “Go away, John,” she said, her tone exasperated. “Go do your club thing, whatever it is. Just make sure your ass is back for court on Wednesday, or there will be hell to pay.”

I chuckled, leaning down to kiss her lips quickly before slapping her ass hard enough to make her yelp. “Will do, babe,” I said, grinning. “Don’t know what’s worse—jail or a pissed-off you.”

She sat up quickly, glaring at me.

“Me!” she snarked. “I’m worse!”

I laughed as I closed the bedroom door and left the farmhouse.