Secret Mayhem (Back Down Devil MC #4)(23)

“What…?”

“Where the hell is Ava?” Shay asked.

“I’m sorry,” Kaity said. “Oh, shit. She was in the hall. Avery and I were talking to her. She said she was going for a walk or something. We tried to stop her…”

“You didn’t f*cking try hard enough I guess,” Shay spat.

Erik grabbed Shay by the shirt. “Talk to her like that again … I dare you.”

“Hold up,” Gaige said, pulling Erik’s hand away from Shay. “Ava just walked out?”

“Yeah,” Kaity said. “She was acting weird. I don’t know. I never met her before.”

“Fucking hell,” Shay said. He took a step and then stopped. He touched Kaity’s arm. “I’m sorry for yelling, Kaity. I owe you more respect, considering what you did for us. It’s just… she's not safe out there. There's more to her than meets the eye."

Kaity nodded. “I kind of picked up on that. I should have run after her.”

“Like hell,” Erik said. “Nobody leaves this clubhouse."

“Okay,” Kaity said.

Shay looked at Gaige, then to Erik. “I have to find her.”

“Christ, man,” Gaige said. “If she’s gone…”

“She's not far. I know it. She wouldn’t just leave. I have to f*cking find her.”

“Oh man, you really like her,” Erik said.

Blaine stepped up to the group. “Hey, Kaity. My baby love.” Blaine puckered his lips.

Kaity shook her head. “Nasty.”

“Yeah, I am,” Blaine said. “Hey, who do we like?”

“Shay and Ava,” Gaige said.

“Oh, that sweet thing,” Blaine said. “You see her eyes? She’s not a biker chick. She’s like… like an innocent outsider. Lost. She needs a guiding hand. A man. A big cock…”

“I’m leaving,” Kaity said. “I need to throw up.”

“Fuck, Blaine,” Erik said.

“I have to find her,” Shay said again. “Here’s what we do. Erik, Gaige, you guys get everyone ready. Stay local if you can. Blaine, will you come with me?”

“Yeah, bro,” Blaine said. “I’m always ready. Riding. Fucking. Drinking. Fighting. It’s what I do.” Blaine put his fingers up. “Wait, did I get that list right?”

“Stay right here,” Shay said.

He ran down the hall to his bedroom. He opened the door and saw Ava’s bag on the floor. He grabbed it and looked inside. It didn’t appear as though anything was taken from it.

Why would she leave without taking her shit?

Shay dropped the bag and charged from the room. When he spotted Blaine, he had a reliever pinned against the wall. He was thrusting at her, making her giggle.

“I swear on it,” he said with a grin. “It’ll wrap around your wrist. Like a snake.”

“Can it choke me?” the reliever asked.

Blaine laughed. “Yeah, it can choke you. And fill your belly up. One stop shop…”

“Let’s move,” Shay yelled. “Right now.”

Blaine kissed the reliever and said, “I’ll be back later. You better be hungry.”

Shay and Blaine ran from the clubhouse. The parking lot was filled with bikers all gearing up for their rides. Shay and Blaine were the first to start their motorcycles and take off. Shay knew there would lots of eyes on him as they sped out of the compound. But this was his business. He needed to find Ava. Before Nile did something to her. Before his goddamn brother did something to her.

As they rode down the main strip in town, Shay kept his eyes moving left to right. She couldn’t have gotten far unless she hailed a cab. If she did, she could be anywhere. If she really wanted to be gone, she would be gone. But she left her bag in the room. That meant something.

At a red light, Shay looked at Blaine.

“Hey,” Blaine yelled. “Got any ideas?”

“None,” Shay said. “Where would she walk?”

“What does she want?” Blaine yelled. “What’s her… thing?”

Shay shook his head. He had no idea. The only real information he knew about her was the way her body hadn't been touched in a long time. And he knew she was running from something, but he knew nothing about it. The only reason he would run would be for freedom. Freedom from guilt and bad choices.

The light turned green and Shay made a quick left. Blaine hurried to follow, darting between two cars, narrowly missing getting clipped and dropping his motorcycle. Shay knew where to go. He sped up. He was going to go where the road ended. The ocean was the end of the world in some sense, and perhaps the beginning of a new journey.

When Shay stopped his ride, he climbed off and grabbed Blaine by the shoulder. “Stay right here. I’ll be right back. I want to see if she’s on the beach.”

“I won’t move, brother,” Blaine said. “Unless I see something worth chasing.”

Blaine smiled and Shay ran to the beach. The paved road quickly turned to sand. He climbed over a small dune and looked down the beach. Families played happily, completely unaware that danger lurked around the corner almost daily and that he was the one who kept them safe. It didn't bother him though, he didn't do it for recognition.