Last Ride (Wind Dragons MC #5.5)(11)

He groans and puts his hand out, palm up, silently asking for another knife. I pick one up from the ground, where I have them buried in the grass in a line, and hand it over, handle first.

“Not exactly the romantic type,” he grumbles, then throws the knife. “I need help coming up with an idea.”

“Why don’t you cook her dinner?” I suggest, racking my mind. “With candles. Or take her away, on like a cruise or something? Oh, and buy her something. We like presents.”

“That simple, huh?” he says, crossing his arms over his chest and studying me. “Dinner, candles, look into a vacation and a present.”

I nod. “I can come shopping with you, if you like.”

He rubs the back of his neck and sighs. “Yeah, all right. Sounds good.”

“Okay. See, an old man can learn new tricks.”

“I’m not old,” he growls, looking grumpy, just like someone his age would.

“You’re pretty old,” I say slowly, wrinkling my nose.

“Don’t tell anyone about this.”

“I won’t,” I say, rolling my eyes. “And what’s the big deal anyway? Anna’s a lucky woman to have a man who wants to spoil her a little, especially while being far out of the honeymoon stage.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles, but I just smile. Arrow is a very private person, and he doesn’t like people knowing shit about him. I’ve known the mercurial man next to me for so long, and for some reason, I just get him. We could stand like this for hours, in silence, throwing knives, and I’d be okay with it. The silence between us is more than the loud conversation between others. It’s filled with friendship, love, and acceptance, with a bond that can only form from being to hell and back with someone.

“Do you ever think about her?”

“Who?” he asks, even though I’m sure he knows who I’m referring to.

“Mary.”

He takes a few moments to reply. “Yeah.”

“Me too,” I say, my voice tinged with sadness.

And now we have two ex–Wild Men under our roof.

I guess you never know what will happen next.

“I better get to work,” I say, wiping my hands on my jeans. “The feds want my help with a case.”

“I don’t know why you want to help them,” Arrow grumbles, shaking his head.

I grin and place my hand on his shoulder. “Need more contacts, so next time you go to jail I can get you out sooner.”

His lip twitches.

I say ’bye and make my exit.

None of the men like me working for the feds, but I’ve always been a woman with a plan. The more connections I make, the more power I get, the more I’ll be able to protect my family. My ambition—it’s for everyone.

They just need to trust me.





SIX




Sin

Four hours later

WHEN Faye doesn’t answer her phone, again, I start to panic. She was supposed to be at home at six o’clock, but it’s now seven. I picked up Clover from school with Asher, as I always do when Faye is working at the firm, and Faye always comes straight home so I can head to Rift or the MC. On the off chance she doesn’t, she will always call or text.

A bad feeling settles in my gut. Something is f*ckin’ wrong, I just know it. I put the kids in the car and drive to Rake and Bailey’s house. When Rake finds me standing on his front step, Asher on my chest and Clover at my side, he quickly opens the door.

“Everything all right?” he asks, lifting Clover in his arms and giving her a big hug.

“Yeah,” I say in a light tone, but the look in my eyes says something else, and Rake doesn’t miss it. “Just thought Clover could play with Cara while we have a quick chat.”

We walk into their living room, and Clover runs over to Cara, happy to be seeing her friend. Bailey walks into the room, her smile dropping as she looks between us. She walks over to me and takes Asher from my arms, along with his baby bag. Then, she says one word, a word that lets me know that Rake has indeed chosen the perfect woman. “Go.”

Go, just like that, for us to handle our shit, because she has the kids and the home covered.

Now that is a f*ckin’ old lady; not even one question asked.

I walk back out front and Rake follows, closing the door behind him. “Faye is missing.”

Three words.

Fuck I love you; those three words, Faye is missing, would incite pain and fear in the strongest of men. From all the men in this club. From every person Faye’s beauty and strength has touched. Especially from me.

The queen is missing, and we need to find her, real f*ckin’ quick, before I blow up this whole motherf*ckin’ city. I honestly don’t know how to deal with the prospect that someone is hurting her right now. Faye is the love of my life. I’ve never really been a romantic, or one to believe in soul mates and shit, but that woman was made for me. A hundred f*ckin’ percent. And without her . . .

Fuck.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life, but being terrified isn’t going to help me. I need to get her back, and right now. I need to think. I don’t need anyone to panic. I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it. I can’t even wrap my head around this.