“It’s just a ride to the airport, Faye,” I grumble. “Where’s Shayla?”
I feel comfortable around Vinnie’s woman, because she’s Talon’s cousin and I’ve been around her multiple times before.
“Exactly, it’s just a ride,” she says infuriatingly. I ignore her presence and walk to the door, but she runs up next to me.
“I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be,” I tell her, softening my tone.
“Do you like it here? Are you happy?” she continues, the concern in her tone sincere.
I stop and face her. “Sweetie, let me find Elizabeth, and then we can have this discussion. Deal?”
She nods. “Okay.”
“Good.”
Luckily for me, Talon is out front, waiting for me.
“You ready to go?” he asks, getting into the club’s black four-wheel drive.
I nod and look down at Faye, lean forward, and kiss her on the top of her head. She’s a pain in the ass, but she’s right, she is growing on me. “Stay out of trouble.”
“Find her,” she says. “And be safe. I know you can do this.”
Is she a motivational speaker now too?
I put my suitcase in the back and then slide into the passenger’s seat. Loud music flares, but Talon lowers it. I spare him a thankful glance.
He grins as he starts to exit the parking lot. “Sounds like Faye’s music.”
I make a sound of agreement.
Talon laughs, then turns serious. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? You say the word and I’m there.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m just making sure the cops are doing everything they can. There’s nothing you can do to help. Stay with your woman and your kid.”
Talon has his own little family now: his woman, Tia, and her son, Rhett, who he’s taken on as his own. Talon might have been the Wild Men president, but being part of the Wind Dragons seems to be working out for him really well. I’ve never seen him so happy.
“I know you can handle yourself. Just know that I’m here if you need me.”
“I know,” I say, and I do. “I really want to find her, you know? Even though I’m not keen on working with this cop.”
“No shit,” Talon says, groaning. “Fuck, never thought I’d see the day. Be careful. You know you can never trust them.”
“I know,” I say, leaning my head back against the headrest. “We’re going to have to just deal with each other and work as a team, forget the cop and biker shit until we find Elizabeth.”
“Easier said than done,” Talon says, gripping the steering wheel. “But you’re right. I really hope you find her, brother. I know she meant something to you.”
“Yeah,” I say softly. “She did.”
And she does.
Not finding her isn’t an option.
? ? ?
She’s sitting at the gate when I see her.
I drop into the seat next to her. She’s wearing a blue top, jeans, and pink-and-black sneakers. She looks fuckin’ adorable, and it annoys me. I shouldn’t think she’s adorable. I shouldn’t think she’s anything except someone I’ve called a temporary cease-fire on. We’re on the same team for now, but as soon as we’re done here, things will go back to normal. We’ll step back onto our opposite sides and pretend we never knew each other.
“Finally decided to show up, hey?” she murmurs, not bothering to look up from the magazine she’s flipping through. She doesn’t have any polish on her nails—they’re just short and blunt—but her fingers and hands are still pretty and feminine.
“It’s a domestic flight, no need to be hours early,” I decide to point out.
She glances at her watch. “Cutting it a little close, don’t you think? I’d rather be early than take any chances. I want to get there as soon as possible.”
Yeah, I almost missed the flight, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“What are you reading?” I ask her, relaxing in the chair, stretching my legs out. “How to be a feminist in 2017?”
She smirks, but I don’t get a rise out of her. She simply ignores me, which makes me want to push her more. Get a reaction out of her. What makes her tick?
What is she like in bed?
I shake my head as if that will get rid of that thought. Fuck, my mind doesn’t need to go there. Nope, not at all.
“You going to be quiet the whole trip?” I prod, wanting her to speak. “Do we have a plan for when we get there?”
She closes her magazine, which is actually Guns & Ammo.
I get hard.
Fuck.
“We need to liaise with the local police there. They’re expecting us. Well, at least they’re expecting me.”
“Didn’t tell them you’re bringing along an outlaw biker with you?” I tease, grinning at my own comment.
“No,” she simply says, turning her body toward me. “I think I’m just going to surprise them with that one.” Then she mutters under her breath, “I’m sure they’ll be just as thrilled as I was.”
I grunt in agreement. I can’t pretend like I was looking forward to this, but that was before I saw her. I scrub my hand down my face. No. Her looks don’t change the fact that she’s a cop, and I can’t ever go there. Not only would I never be able to trust a cop, but I’d lose respect in my world for fraternizing with the enemy.
“What, don’t you like Faye?” I ask her, twisting her words around a little. “I’ll be sure to pass on the message to the woman who is helping find your cousin when she doesn’t have to.”
Her eyes narrow to slits. “I wasn’t talking about Faye, and you know it.”
Her lips.
They’re flawless. Heart-shaped and the perfect size. I’d like nothing more than to close the space between us and taste them. Why don’t I ever want something that’s good for me? I never seem to choose the easy route. Maybe easy is boring. Maybe I’m just a person who can never get what he wants without a fight.
I’m okay with that. I fought to leave the trailer park where I grew up, to become something, even though it may not seem like I became someone to be proud of, but in my mind, I did. When my mom was alive, she was so proud that I was in college. She never lived to see me graduate, but I know it would have been the happiest day of her life. Would she want me to be a biker instead of using those three degrees? Probably not. But it is what it is, and I am what I am. I joined the Wild Men right before I finished college. They became my family, and I never looked back, using any skills I gained in school as an asset to the club. I made them money with investments and playing in the stock market, shit like that. I didn’t need to get a “real” job.
“We’re going to have to get along until we find her,” I say, offering her my hand. “Why don’t we call a truce for now?”
We’re here for one reason, and that’s to find Elizabeth. Yes, I’m attracted to Johanna, but it’s not like I’m going to act on it. I’m a grown man, and I can control myself.
I think.
She eyes my hand for a second before placing her small one in mine. “So I’m not a cop, and you’re not a biker? We’re just—”
“Ranger and Johanna.”
She nods and lets go of my hand, even though I don’t want her to. The airline personnel call us to board, and I follow behind her, wondering what the fuck I’m getting myself into.