Page 94 of Hunter

“What you getting at, Mint?” I didn’t like where he was going with this.

“I’m saying that I have no idea what conclusion she’s going to come to.” Mint downed the rest of his beer and staggered from his stool. “I suggest she stops being your girl and becomes your old lady as soon as possible. If things don’t change, she’ll be gone before you know it. Be a true biker and go claim your woman.” With that, Mint staggered back into the crowd, catching himself a hot blonde who’d had five shots too many, while I was left with his words.

I looked down at the bar, at the glass of whiskey and at the beer beside it.

“Anna,” I scoffed, a smile tugging at my lips. “I should’ve known.”

I thought back to Mallory, to where she was in my room with that amazing little boy, and I knew Mint was right.

Mallory had needed her space after coming back from the hospital. She had wanted to go back to her mother’s house at first, but because Spider’s whereabouts were still unknown, it had been decided it was too dangerous for her to leave the compound, and so she’d ended up staying in my room, and I stayed in one of the other spare rooms at the compound.

Mallory had split her time between staying in her room and hiding among the girls of the club, whom she had grown close to since she had come back. The few times she had talked to me was about things relating to Adair, and even then she kept it short and brief, going to girls if she needed something instead.

I fucking hated it. I wanted to grab her and force her to come back to me, to get over it and touch me like she used to. But I didn’t. I let her draw away from me, thinking she needed the time and space to come to terms with what had happened, and then I thought she would realize I meant more to her, to Adair, and in doing so, she would choose to stay.

But she was forgetting that I knew her. I knew every inch of her. I knew she liked to read books on the grass. I knew she liked to sing Bible songs as lullabies. I knew she loved it when I took control. I knew Mallory Ward. I knew she loved me. I knew she wanted to be with me.

Now, it was time for me to show her that she could be.

I snatched the beer from the bar, downed it in one go, slammed it back down so hard it almost smashed, and stormed through the party.

Time to get me my old lady.

* * *

Empty.

The room was empty.

At first, I thought she had gone to visit Kay or Anna, but as I turned to go search the compound, I saw the note. A single piece of card, written on the back of one of the business cards from the nightstand drawer.

I’m sorry.

I felt my heart fall through my chest and onto the floor. My limbs felt still and heavy like I was encased in a room full of concrete. I looked at the black ink, curved and carefully written, going over and over it again, as if the words might change if I looked at them hard enough.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

They didn’t change.

“Hunter?” came from the doorway.

I turned, expecting to see Mallory, her big, brown eyes and red hair shaping her beautiful face, Adair in her arms. I didn’t find that.

Instead, a short, disheveled, blonde-haired woman in red boots stood there, looking cautious and concerned.

“Hunter? What’s going on?” Anna asked, stepping slowly into my room. “Where’s Mallory?”

Memories resurfaced and pieces clicked into place. I felt the dread rise in my stomach and throat as I whispered the hoarse word, “No.”

“Hunter? What’s goin—”

Anna didn’t get time to finish as I flew to the dresser, grabbed the handle, and snatched the drawer open. Clothes flew out as I scavenged through them, throwing them aside with little care. I searched and searched, only finding socks, boxers, and a few condoms.

“They’re not here!” I bellowed. “They’re gone!”

---