“Hey. Let’s go.” Track nudged me out. Boxer and Lynx were at the door.
“I’m sorry,” came Tina’s sad voice.
“It’s okay,” Track told her.
“Get him to eat,” Tina whisper-shouted from behind me.
Track didn’t respond.
We went out of the clubhouse. I paced like a trapped lion, gripping the hair on the top of my head. I felt out of control. Helpless. On my last nerve.
“Where is my woman?” I roared, pulling my hair. “Any fuckin’ thing could’ve happened to her. She could be out of the state. The fuckin’ country by now. Jesus…” I dropped to my knees, gasping for air. If she was out of the country, it could be impossible to find her. But I wouldn’t ever stop searching. Hoping. Loving her.
A guttural scream tore from my lungs as I dug my nails into my head. Curling into myself, I rocked, unloading everything that had been building inside me. I let it all out: anger, fear, hate. The hate I felt for myself was almost as horrendous as the fear I had for my Angel.
My brothers surrounded me, placing their hands on my back and shoulders to keep me anchored. Protecting me in this weak moment. They didn’t feed me lies or give me false hope. This situation could end only two ways, depending on what we did about Winters Township. Their silence told me they understood the state I was in. And they were here for me.
We were family—a brotherhood like no other.
We weren’t like some clubs who chantedbrothers before others. We didn’t subscribe to that way of thinking. My Uncle Matt showed me how his old lady, Sugar, and their children meant the world to him. He expected the rest of us to have the same mindset. Still, my brothers and I would go to the ends of the earth for each other. Take a bullet if it meant saving the other, like AJ. We would always have each other’s back and our old lady’s and children, like Justin’s daughter.
Minutes passed before I’d gotten my shit together. A hand gripped each of my biceps, lifting me off the ground. A flask was thrust into my hand. It didn’t matter if it was morning; I needed it to settle my nerves. I took a swig, embracing the burn.
“We got you,” Track muttered in a lethal tone. I was sure he hated seeing me this way, just as I would feel about him. Seeing a brother breakdown rarely happened. When it did, it crushed us all.
“Got two things to tell you. I need you stable.” Boxer squeezed my arm.
I lifted my gaze, meeting his deadly ice-blue orbs. “Tell me.”
He looked at Track, who nodded.
“First, my contact in Winter’s Sheriff’s Office said Miller has been on edge the last few days. Last weekend, he was seen talking to a couple of Hunters.”
I fisted one hand and took another swig from the flask. “What else?”
Boxer gripped my bicep as if he sensed my inner turmoil. After serving in the Marines together, he read me well. “Miller ducked out of work today saying he wasn’t feeling well. I’m expecting an update within the hour.”
I stared Boxer in the eyes. “He’s mine even if his involvement is small.” I cut my eyes to Track and Lynx. “You hear me? Miller is mine. That fucker who made my woman strip and assaulted her, mine too. They. Are. Mine.”
“The Hunter’s prez we can’t promise,” Track said.
I seethed at his words. “Why the fuck not?”
Track squared his shoulders. “Raul called in a marker after the video call.”
My chest squeezed tight, feeling anger andgratitude. Raul might’ve needed it to bring Tina’s daughter home. Instead, he burned it for me. I owed him big. This was a debit I didn’t know if I would ever be able to repay, but I would damn sure try.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?” Going behind my back was never acceptable. “And why isn’t he telling me himself?”
Track sighed. “He’s out riding with the others. You were messed up, man. He didn’t know if anything would pan out. Didn’t want to give you false hope.”
“I’ll deal with Raul later.” I rubbed my eyes with the tips of my fingers, feeling the grit caused by lack of sleep. It was also too damn bright out. “What did he find out?”
“He called just before I pulled you out of the kitchen. Turns out the Dirty Hunters are from California. Their prez’s name is Dawg. He was part of another MC, Westside Heretics.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’ve heard of the Heretics. Big into selling blow and prostitution. They occupy Northern California.”
“Well, Dawg tried to take out the Heretic’s president. The dude is in a coma.” Track shook his head.