Page 40 of Smooth As Whiskey

Fifteen minutes later, once we were both ready, I looked at the bedroom door. I've never dreaded walking out of my room and to the main part of the clubhouse ever in my life.

Not like I am this morning.

I remembered the looks my brothers gave me.

If I wasn’t the man I am, it would have shriveled my balls.

But I wasn’t a coward.

Far from it.

I kicked ass, and I took names.

And if I proved to Sutton that I was the right man for her, then by god, I would be the greatest man to ever walk the planet.

With Maisie’s hand in mine, we walked down the hall, down the steps, and then we walked out of the clubhouse.

I felt the glares from my brothers, but I knew they wouldn’t do or say anything with Maisie right there with me.

Once I got her safely ensconced in the truck I had bought a few weeks ago, we started looking for Sutton.

For hours and hours, we looked and nothing.

She wasn’t at Coal and Adeline’s place. She wasn’t at Pipe and Gabby’s place. Nor was she at Asher’s.

But what freaked me out?

We went to the salon.

Sutton had canceled every appointment she’d made for at least six months.

I went to every single brother and asked if they knew where she was.

None of them would tell me.

Especially Asher.

I recalled her following him into his office, so I knew that he knew.

The fucker just wouldn’t tell me.

After I dropped Maisie in my room at the clubhouse with what I now knew was the movieFrozen, I headed to the main room, got a cup of coffee, and waited.

***

My eyes kept watch on the clock.

I knew Gabby would know where Sutton was.

If Asher wouldn’t tell me, then Gabby would.

The moment the door opened, and I saw Pipe with Gabby’s hand in his, I stood up and then stormed over to where Gabby had just entered the clubhouse, “Gabby, where is she?”

She narrowed her eyes, then shrugged, “I can’t tell you, Irish.”

I growled, “Why the fuck not?”

Then she lifted her hand and counted down, “One, she asked me not to. Two, you’re an asshole. Three, you don’t deserve her. Four, she needs this time away from you. And five, you lost all respect in my eyes when you left Sutton to watch your daughter while you fucked that whore.”