Page 12 of August's Ride with Arrow

“Have a new motivation to get them taken care of, I see?” Thunder says.

“Yeah, and she's on her way to Denver instead of home with me, all because of Savage Bones. So let's go and put a bullet in each of their heads and end this so I can go get my girl,” I growl, making Thunder shake his head.

We've been back in Mustang Mountain for a few days now, and I haven't left the clubhouse. I've been digging into the details, trying to figure out anything and everything I can about Savage Bones.

“When was the last time you slept?” Atlas asks as he steps into my office, which is next to his, but much smaller.

“I can't sleep. I nap here and there,” I say, saving what I've been working on for Atlas.

“You know I don't order you guys around very much, but I am giving you a direct order. You are to leave this office, and go up until you've gotten eight hours of sleep. Take some sleep medicine, do some meditation, whatever shit you got to do, but you have to get some sleep. You are no good to us walking around like a zombie.”

“Fine. Give me a few minutes. I've got to call my hacker friend, as he's going to trace some of these withdrawals that have gone to Savage Bones and see if we can track down where the money went and where they used it. Then I will go and sleep,” I tell him as I pick up my phone.

Even though he nods, he doesn't move from the doorway. Instead, he stands there and listens to my entire call. The moment I hang up my phone, he points to the stairs.

“Go. I'll have someone check on you before dinner,” he says.

I don't even argue because my body hurts. Even my eyes ache. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be able to fall asleep without any help. I’m so tired.

After collapsing on my bed, I pull out my phone and look over my messages to Kat. First thing I do is text her, wishing her a good morning, which seems to start off our conversations for the day. We talk about anything and everything, and we’re really getting to know each other. As much as I hate being away from her, I'm really enjoying this time of learning about her and what makes her tick.

After replying to her last message, as I wait for her reply, I drift off to sleep. The next thing I know, Ginger is waking me up.

“Hey, Atlas sent me to wake you up. You've been asleep for almost ten hours now. There's food downstairs and you have a visitor,” she says.

“Visitor? Are you sure it's for me?” I’m confused because I don't usually have anyone visiting me.

“Oh yeah, we all double checked,” she says, with a big smile on her face.

“All right, give me a few minutes, and I'll be down,” I say, stretching and trying to wake up.

Since I had my Kitty Kat in my arms back in Sturgis, I haven't slept that well.

I guess Atlas was right, and I did need sleep.

After using the restroom to make sure I look halfway decent, I splash some cold water on my face and change my shirt before I head downstairs. I have no idea who's come to visit. Maybe someone from in town. For all I know, it could be Ruby.

When I walk towards the kitchen and see who's sitting at the dining room table, my knees almost buckle.

“Kitty Kat, what are you doing here?” I say, completely shocked.

CHAPTER 6

KATHERINE

“Kitty Kat, what are you doing here?” Arrow's voice fills the air, and suddenly I'm doubting the decision to come here.

Why did I let Bridget and Penny talk me into this? He was probably just trying to let me down easy. Although he didn't have to text me every day, all day, if that was the case.

After a couple of bottles of wine at Penny's house when we got back, I admitted how I felt about him and everything that had happened. Both of them convinced me to take a chance and show up here. That way, he’d know how I felt. They were both so sure it would turn out great.

“Penny and Bridget convinced me I should come?” I say, suddenly shy with several of his friends and a couple of the girls all in the kitchen with me.

I can't get a read on his face. Is he happy, or is he pissed? I have no idea, but the room is quiet, and at that moment, my stomach decides to announce that I haven’t eaten since about ten a.m. this morning.

That noise seems to break Arrow out of whatever trance he's in, and his stance softens.

“Let's grab some food and take it back to my room so we can talk,” he says softly. Putting his arm behind my back, he leads me up to the kitchen counter, where there's food laid out buffet-style.

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