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Nothing mattered. Nothing but her.
“Just give us a few hours, let us figure out what happened. Killian will keep you updated as much as possible.” Simon gripped my shoulder as I hurried with them to the porch. Killian gave me a sympathetic look then followed suit. Hamish, Brooks, Raif, they all followed their leader, leaving me back with the women.
Red stood with her arms crossed, her face stern, and then she ducked back into the storage room. I stood there clenching my fists so tight I was worried I’d break a knuckle or pop a vessel. I needed to go with them, but I knew if I tried to follow, Simon would have someone knock me out or some shit. Their engines blared as the group of them took off from the property.
Moments later, Red returned, holding a black leather vest over her arm.
“Simon had this made a year ago. He’d kill me if he knew I showed it to you, but I know what you’re feeling. I felt it ten years ago when Brooks went missing for three days. I wanted to scream, to tear the very skin from my bones, when no one could tell me anything. It was a really dark time for me, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I know what you need, honey”—she placed the vest in my hands—“question is, do you?”
Peering down at the leather, I skimmed my thumb over the patches sewn into the cut. My name was on the right side of the vest, the Stone Riders patch was under it, along with the acronym, SRMC, then Virginia. My throat was tight as I realized what this was.
My head snapped up. “It doesn’t say prospect.”
Red smiled with tears in her eyes. “Honey, you must have wildly misunderstood where you stand with that man. He loves you like his own flesh and blood. You’d never be anything but royalty in this club. Besides, you forget how many chores you did with Killian around here when we didn’t have any prospects. Remember when Lucky started and you felt bad for him, so you joined in and helped him out?”
Back then I just wanted to be a part of what they were doing. Anything that allowed me to stay, I’d do.
Holding the vest up, I noticed on the back of the vest there was a tiny fox patch, which was the nickname the club had given to Callie. Suddenly all I could think of was getting her a vest that saidProperty of Wes. The idea sent a rush of heat to my cock, which was the wrong fucking timing, but still the image played out. Then several more of Callie wearing that cut and nothing else, while she straddled me.
Another with her wearing it while at a picnic with the club, holding a baby on her hip while tossing me a smile over her shoulder. That was the future I wanted. Suddenly I wanted it so bad that I could taste it. I wanted this club, and I wanted her by my side.
I wanted a future.
One where I could show her that the roots she hated so much were strong and beautiful. Where I could help her heal enough to love this life, to live it with me.
“You put that on, honey, and it’ll mean something. It’s not something you can easily take off. You become a Stone Rider, you stay one for life.”
Anticipation fluttered under my veins, paired with fear over where Callie was. I knew I was choosing something right then, but in my heart, it was Callie. I’d choose her over and over again, and in that moment, it was with her in my heart that I slid the vest on. Red made some sound, then squeezed my hand before walking back to the kitchen.
Storming outside, I walked over to the garage, where we’d been restoring an old bike for me, one I had practiced riding with Killian when Callie wasn’t around. I pulled the tarp off the top and dug out the storage box I kept on the shelf. It held the key to my bike, some cash, and the gun Simon had given me last year.
Tucking the gun into my jeans, I straddled the bike and slid the key into the ignition. Once it rumbled to life, I grabbed a bucket helmet and snapped it into place. The club had already started riding, but I was just a few miles behind. I sent up a silent prayer that Callie would be found safe, then I twisted my fist and shifted into first, taking off to join my club.
THIRTEEN
CALLIE
“If you need anything else,just come grab me.”
I smiled up at the boy who used to flirt with me in English class. Garrick Rutherford had grown into a handsome man who now ran the local library. He happened to currently be single, the owner of a local vacation rental, and enthusiastic about doing everything within his power to help me.
“Thank you so much Garrick, I will.” I placed my hand on his arm, hoping my flirting was paying off. It seemed I had finally found a source in Rose Ridge that wasn’t loyal to the Stone Riders. The power clearly went straight to my head as Garrick grinned, knocking on the table before walking off. Once he was gone, I pulled my cell phone out and shot a text off to Laura.
Me: Library is a success, how’s the bar?
It was midafternoon, so I wasn’t expecting much, but the local early birds might prove useful.
We’d devised this plan after our rather pathetic attempt the day prior to glean club secrets. After I left Wesley’s house, I found Laura arguing with Killian over something and pulled her away, explaining we needed to regroup. I hid my emotions over Wes treating me like club pussy behind a careful mask of indifference. I knew my ex was used to getting any woman he wanted, and since I was in his space, it only made sense that he’d try to get me on my knees, or my back, but what made me angry was how close I had been to caving to his requests.
I loathed how attracted I still was to the man, so today I was determined to stay away from the club and begin my search outside of the fortified walls the Stone Riders had to keep the town out. I devised a new plan to poke around the town in hopes someone might spill random information about what’s happened recently.
My search started with the library. While I knew the local reporters were likely still on the payroll of the local club, there was a chance some smaller papers or even local bloggers had put out their own reports that would have been buried. Since the cabin didn’t have Wi-Fi, I had my laptop with me while sitting at an old wooden table. Old carpet ran under stacks of books all lined up in rows in front of me, keeping me hidden away in the back.
My phone buzzed on the table with a text.
Laura: It’s pretty slow here, all I’ve gotten so far is an invite to the Stone Riders infamous community barbeque where they allow the town to participate in judging their chili. I have one guy who keeps drinking and seems to have a loose tongue, I’ll be in touch soon.
I smiled at my phone, excited that she seemed to be getting somewhere. I clicked on an article that seemed promising, all while I texted Killian, asking how Max was. When I concocted this plan, I knew I’d need something more stable for him today, considering we’d be gone for a while.
