Page 86 of Static

Sylvia had taken the kids outside to play. I would have liked to have had her here for the talk, but she had asked to take the kids. I wasn't sure if I should insist she stay because I didn't want to rub it in that I was on the path to becoming an old lady. She wouldn't hold that against any of us. And she knew we all loved her. I wished some older gorgeous man would show up and sweep our friend off her feet. One day it would be her time. I just knew it.

"Thanks," I told them all and hurried upstairs to grab my purse. When I stepped outside, I hesitated, because there were even more bikers here now than there were before.

"I swear, they're multiplying," I whispered to myself. Not that I would complain. The guys were here to help our men. And to protect us. I'd be forever grateful for that. I just wished they weren't all staring at me as I walked up. Keep moving. Keep moving. It was a chant in my head as I approached. I gave Static a wide eyed look, indicating I needed to speak with him.

"Everyone, this is my girl, Sugar," he told the guys. "This is Kilo, Ruck, and Overdrive," he told me.

I gave them a small smile and a wave.

"What's up?" Lock asked, looking right at me.

I swear the man had a sixth sense for trouble. I'd heard the guys talk about it before. I wasn't sure if I was projecting my stress and worry to everyone, or if he was just picking up on it. "I just got a call from the Pima Sheriff's Department."

They all tensed up. It was something to see. Muscles bunched and flashed as far as the eye could see. If I wasn't head over heels for my own biker, it might have been enough to send a girl into a coma.

"What'd they want?" Static demanded. His voice was low and edgy.

The girls were right. All of the men were all keyed up. They didn't like waiting around for the other shoe to drop. They'd made their move and I knew it was killing them, having to wait to move on their advantage. I hated to put any more stress on them. I explained what the officer told me.

Lock's jaw tightened, but he softened his look when he glanced over at me. "No problem. Static, Idaho, Ricochet, and Hush. Go with her. Get her place sorted out and then get back home."

"Should we send more men?" Rip questioned.

"No. If this has nothing to do with Fremont, the cops there are going to get jumpy if too many of us show up. I trust you all to take care of her and each other."

"Thanks, Lock," I told him with a smile.

"Take the cage ride," Priest offered, tossing us a set of keys. "It'll hold all of you better than her car will."

It didn't take long for us to pile in the truck, with Hush driving, and head out toward my house.

I was sitting in the back between Static and my brother.

Ricochet glanced over at me. "You alright?"

"Yeah," I replied with a firm nod. Twisting my fingers together in my lap, I tried to hide the fact that my hands were shaking. This was going to be the first time I'd been back to my home since that night. Others had grabbed my and my kids' things from there for me.

Static took one of my hands and held it for the rest of the drive.

"Anything seem out of place, Ma'am?"

I looked over at the officer in disbelief. "You mean other than the fact that everything is strewn everywhere?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, other than that," he admitted with a sheepish grin.

I shook my head and couldn't help but laugh. "Not as far as I can tell." My stomach was roiling and my chest was tight. Just being in here was difficult and I hadn't even stepped foot in the kitchen. I asked Ricochet to take that room. He lived here with me long enough to know what should be in there. Though why criminals would break into my house to steal my flatware, I'd never know.

"Nothing seems to be missing," Ricochet said as he came out of the kitchen, echoing my words.

"Probably just kids," the cop offered.

I looked around at the mess. Every item I owned was littering the floor. The kitchen table was flipped over. Chairs were lying on their sides. My couch cushions were slashed. "Kids?"

The cop shrugged again. "Best guess unless you know someone who would want to break into your home."

"Yeah, definitely kids." Ricochet said it with an emphasis that I knew all too well. He didn't think it was kids, but the cops didn't need to know that. It was his cue to drop it.

I met the guys' eyes, but kept my mouth closed about Fremont. "No, Officer. I don't know of anyone."

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