19
Storm
A dozen of my brothers were out scouring area farms by one in the morning. The council and I had stayed behind to study the video. I wouldn’t have been worth shit on my bike. Too much adrenaline rushed through my veins.
I’d deleted the part where Madeline was forced to strip. Each time I thought of it, remembering the agony and tears in her eyes, I raged like a savage. Readying to tear the Hunters’ prez to shreds. Then I’d think about my woman, tap down my unhinged emotions, and focus on finding her and the others.
What we knew for sure, they were in a metal building. The way Angel talked about allergies, Raul suggested we check out grain silos in the area. It was something, and we ran with it.
The part where she said I cheated four times and asked how I’d feel if she were with four men had to be a clue. We agreed there must’ve been four Hunters with her.
My girl was damn smart. Quick on her feet.
We needed to be.
Hour after torturous hour, my girl occupied my every thought as we put a plan together. Now in my office, I rocked in my chair, sometime after eight in the morning. My eyes were closed after my sixth cup of strong, black coffee. I’d had a monster migraine since the video call.
I sensed someone standing in the doorway. I’d left it open to hear the activity inside the building. Didn’t want to miss anything.
“What?” I grunted.
“Thought you were asleep.” Track’s voice was low.
“Asleep while rocking my chair? Asleep while my brothers work their asses off to find Madeline and the others? Asleep while God knows what’s happening to my woman? Fuck no, I’m not asleep.” I stopped my chair, opening my eyes, shooting a deadly glare at my best friend.
“Clearly not.” Track dropped into the chair in front of my desk. “A grouchy cuss like you needs some rest… at least a nap. Go up to your room. I’ll wake you in a couple of hours or if I hear something.”
“No.”
“She’d want you to rest.”
“No!” I slammed my hand on the desk. It was fortunate my mug was out of the way, or I would’ve knocked it over. “You saying you’d sleep if your woman was missing?”
“Point made. But a nap will help.”
“I’ll nap here… later.”
“Storm your bed—”
“I can’t,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’ll smell her in the bed, brother. I can’t…” I rubbed my hands over my cheeks, utterly drained, not having slept in twenty-four hours.
“Shit, man.” He scratched the back of his head. “I get it. This shit has got to be ripping you up inside.”
I grunted. Track had no idea how fucked up I was. I couldn’t show my true feelings, couldn’t look weak to my brothers. I was dying. Fuckin’ dying. Sick with worry for Madeline and the others. Grieving the loss of AJ. It was all too much.
A paralyzing fear seeped into my veins when I’d nodded off an hour ago. I’d had the worst nightmare of my life. Those goddamned Hunters, one by one, had their way with my Angel. Her blood-curdling screams had jolted me awake.
“Do you need anything?” Track leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.
“Just my woman.”
“Right. Well, I’m gonna check in with my dad. He was calling in a marker.”
“I don’t want him using them up. We may need them for Brynne.” Brynne was Tina’s daughter who was attending college in Montana. We had two sets of eyes on her at all times. Just waiting for the day when we’d capture her and reunite her with Tina. Raul may need his markers for his old lady’s daughter.
“Don’t worry about Brynne. We gotta get Madeline and the others back. They’re the club’s immediate priority.” Just hearing him say Angel was a priority helped me breathe a little easier. My brothers wouldn’t rest until she was found. Hearing it comforted me.
“Thanks.”