Page 102 of Wolf.e

“No.” I answer simply.

Her blue eyes turn to mine in the mirror. I bend down to kiss her shoulder and try to explain.

“What is love?” I ask.

She doesn’t answer, she just keeps her eyes on mine so I continue.

“The day I met you was a rift in time. From that rift forward, there is only before I met you and all the days to follow. I just don’t think the word love means enough to describe that.”

Her lips turn up in a smile and she closes her eyes, satisfied with my answer. I kiss her neck. It’s the most honest thing I’ve ever told another living soul.

The ride to the St. Henry's cabin is slow going with a thick fog ahead of a warm front. When we arrive, I’m ready to get this deal done and go home to the hot, naked body in my bed.

The cabin is used as one of our storage cabins for a reason. It’s quiet, secluded and off the radar. It’s also in the dead zone between Chatham and Liberty Counties that neither sheriff’s jurisdiction ever wants to touch.

“Where is he?” I ask Jake, getting off my bike. It’s 9:05 p.m., he’s already late. I pull my helmet off and set it on the back of my bike, looking up at the sky. The fog is thick still but beyond that the night is clear and stars litter the sky.

Here now. If this guy shows up on time, I’ll be back within the hour. Be naked.

Queen

I already am.

I smirk at her response, picturing all the ways I’m going to sink into her when I get home. I’ve never been more grateful to have such a secure property since she needed a safe place to be.

I flinch as the sound of a twig crunching under a boot startles me and it’s a lot closer than Jake was when I turned around.

“The fuck?” I find Jake two feet from me, raising his hand that grips some sort of pipe. It comes down in slow motion.I don’t even have time to pull my gun before it connects with my skull.

“Sorry, bro—it’s not personal, just business…” His voice echoes as everything goes dark.

My eyes flutter open to the sound of birds. I shoot up in bed. It's still dark but it’s almost four. The last I remembered seeing the clock was after one, I fell asleep thinking Gabriel was just late for the first time ever, but now, a feeling of dread settles in my stomach.

Gabriel is never late. He always arrives on time or early.

I pick up my phone and hope to find a message telling me why he isn’t here but there’s nothing except a few pictures from Layla who’s still at the rally with the girls. I text him but it’s marked as undelivered. I call, straight to voicemail.

I feel my face contort. I know his phone is never off. He’s always on high alert for any situation that may arise. I start to pace around the room, biting my nails as I do.

I try Jake and it also goes straight to voicemail.

I pour myself a stiff drink from the glass cantor on Gabriel's dresser. I knock it back and try to rationalize what is happening.

Fuck. I have no idea.

I pull my phone out and open the AirTag app. I haven’t even used it yet, but at least if I check where he is I’ll be able to guess if he’s safe before I decide to wake up half the club.

I scroll with shaky fingers to find Gabriel’s location. I wait as it takes an eon to load. When it does, my heart drops into my stomach. He’s at St Henry’s cabin?

“The night we had the party at St Henry’s old resort… I’ve had him once, I’ll have him again.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. No that’s not it. He wouldn’t. I instantly push that thought out of my mind. Chelsea was someone he bided his time with—nothing more, nothing less. He wouldn’t touch her, that’s not why he’s there. I know it with everything in me. It must be where he met the seller, but something isn’t right.

I pace for a few minutes and try to text him again, knowing in my gut that he and Jake must be in some sort of trouble. Maybe the sale was a set up by DOS?

Or someone found out they were meeting? Either way, he wouldn’t be this long. I read his last text from me at 9:05. An hour. Even if the guy was later, he still would have been home hours ago.

I text Sean and Layla, but get no answer. I try to phone Sean, but he doesn’t answer that either. I know they are staying at Glen Eden along with a lot of the club so I wouldn’t be surprised if they drank too much.

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