Page 116 of Frisco

So, Shane’s club had history here. Right. I didn’t know what to take from that, but it was what it was. I’d heard it enough.

I wanted to check on Aly, find Shane, and then get those assholes who came after us. Those were my priorities now.

The doors slid open and I felt Shane before I heard him. “Kali?!”

“I’m here.”

The curtain was flung open, and Shane was at my side in two steps. He started to hug me, but paused and stepped back. “I don’t want to hurt you.” He was looking me all over again, and this time, now that I was a whole lot more clear-headed, I was seeing the strain it was taking him to keep himself under control.

He was almost shaking.

I reached out, touched his arm, and his hand came over mine instantly. I could feel his tension. He felt like cement under my touch, but he drew in a sharp breath at my touch. “Jesus, babe.” He came in, his voice hoarse. “Do you know how many years I lost when I realized you were missing?” Still shaking, but his eyes closed, and he stepped in, resting his forehead to mine.

“Oh, baby.” I touched his waist.

He let out a rueful sigh, half grinning. “Do you know how much I didn’t know I needed to hear you call me that until you just did?”

I grinned, feeling an assuredness that it would all be okay.

It had to.

Had to.

“How’s Aly?”

“I should be asking you. They closed ranks as soon as they got her in there. Her man got here and they took off.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know how to process that. Happy she had someone that cared that much about her? But also, pissed because Aly was my family and he just met her. “What about Harper? Justin?”

A whole different vibe came into the room, and my stomach dropped.

It sunk low, a ball of dread nestled right next to it and I saw a transformation come over Shane.

This was biker Shane looking back at me. Ghost.

A shiver went down my spine, because I could understand why everyone was so scared of him, of them, if this was what they got to see.

I swallowed around a lump in my throat. “What is it?”

He blinked, once, before saying, “They’re gone.”

“What?” I shook my head. “What does that mean? What do you mean they’re gone?” My voice was rising with each question.

“When I realized you were gone, and when her man realized your friend was gone, we all went apeshit. The whole bar locked up, and I mean, we locked everyone inside. Lights were on. Music was off. We went through every person in that bar, checking phones. Everything. If we’d been cops, none of that would’ve been a legal search, but good thing we aren’t. I gotta warn you now, though. We pissed off a whole lot of people doing what we did, but Aly’s man was right with us. We couldn’t find you guys, and we couldn’t find your friends. We started a search right after, and Stripes called in a favor. Got us in touch with a local guy who uses search dogs. That’s how we found you when we did, but it took a while.”

The air was pulled out of me. I… I couldn't comprehend this. “Justin and Harper? They’re gone too?”

Wait.

I gasped, grabbing Shane’s arm. “You didn’t–no, no. Their bodies?” God. Pain seized my insides. I couldn’t finish that thought.

“No. They were taken like you guys, or that’s what we were thinking until you both showed up. Two sets of wheels left the back house’s driveway that’s attached to the other road. Security cameras picked up two vans leaving. One went south, yours. And one went north. We’re assuming that was theirs.”

The room became stifling. The air was thick, pressing down on me.

Justin and Harper. They were kidnapped.

“Babe.” Shane stepped in again, his voice gentle. He cupped the side of my face, tracing a thumb over my cheek in a tender touch. “We need to know who these guys were. What do you remember about them?”

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