Page 14 of I Should Hate You-but I Don't

Kingsley glanced at River and shook his head. "A bar owner in Billings thinks he hired Kenna a few months ago. I want to check it out."

Goosebumps broke out on River's arms. She grabbed Zane in excitement. Through the years, Kingsley had gone away many times, searching for Kenna, and always came back empty-handed.

It'd been almost a year since she'd heard anything about Kenna from the two brothers.

"Is she there?" Her heart raced. "Do you think it's her?"

"I don't know anything until I go check it out." Kingsley's gaze softened. "If I learn of anything solid, I'll call Zane. He can pass the info to you."

"Thank you." She swallowed. "Thank you so much."

She would never be whole until her sister was back in her life. Bouncing around from one foster home to another, she never set down roots long enough to trust any of the foster parents to ask their help in finding Kenna—besides, she'd held her promise to Kenna.

She hadn't talked about her dad to anyone, not even Zane or Kingsley.

"Will you be back by Sunday?" asked Zane.

Kingsley's brows lowered. "If I ride straight there and back, I could probably make it to the visitation but—"

"Don't push yourself. I can go by myself to talk to Dad." Zane clasped Kingsley's hand. "Watch your back. Stay alert."

The second Kingsley left them, she stepped before Zane and threw her arms around his waist. No matter what happened between her and Zane, she was thankful for the Stafford brothers.

Chapter Six

Zane

––––––––

Ridge Stafford sat across the table from Zane. Because of his violent criminal charges, he remained chained to the table. There would be no touching, no handshake, no hug.

All Zane could do was sit there and take in all the changes to his old man over the years. He'd gone completely gray. In prison, his dad received the customary crew cut but kept his beard wild and untamed.

"Where's Kingsley?"

Not once had either of them missed a visitation day. When their dad requested a visit, they showed up. Zane was the acting president in his dad's absence. The moment his dad walked out of prison, Ridge Stafford would rule over Gem Haven Motorcycle Club—rightly so.

Zane would gladly step down. He never desired to be president or run the compound. Just making sure each business ran smoothly was a full-time job. Keeping the MC profitable added hours onto his days.

"He got word Kenna Pruitt could be in Billings working at some bar. He wanted to check it out before her trail got cold." He studied the gash over his dad's left eye. "What happened to you?"

His dad shrugged off his concern. "He better find her."

"What have you heard?" he asked.

"I don't hear anything." His dad looked sideways at the guard. "Pruitt wants one thing before he dies, and that's to know his daughters are alive and safe."

He never questioned how his dad talked to River and Kenna's dad. They were in different areas of the prison, and those on death row had no contact with any other prisoners.

"We're doing everything we can," he murmured. "River's with me. Kingsley's trying to find Kenna."

"He better hurry. Pruitt wants to know his girls are safe before he goes to the injection table."

"And when will that be?" he asked.

"Hell, who knows? It could be tomorrow or years from now. It's a political game. Nobody gives a damn about him. They're only spending tax dollars while they bullshit in the courts." His dad met his gaze. "Tell me about the club."

Knowing his dad wouldn't talk about the deal he got into with Pruitt, Zane spent the next fifteen minutes going over financials and discussing the members. Until his dad was released, the goal wasn't to grow the MC but to build strength and loyalty. The members were aging, as was he, and with maturity, Gem Haven was getting stronger and more dependable.

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