Page 138 of Stone

His stare hardened. “You think it’s the Sinners?”

“Sinners?” a voice asked.

I steeled myself, then turned around and faced my destruction. “The Burning Sinners MC.” I stared into green orbs that once looked at me with nothing but love but now were void and empty. “Burning Sinners,” she repeated, her eyes glazing over in thought.

Her internal magnet pulled my gaze down her body, drinking her in.

She was still beautiful, probably more so, in fact. Age had rewarded her with perfect bone structure. Her smooth cheeks were now angled, and the thin layer of teenage puppy fat had disappeared from her jaw, which curved seductively into her graceful throat.

Elise was everything I knew she’d be, except more. Much, much more.

“Do you think these Burning Sinners have taken her?” Elise demanded. I watched, fascinated, as her vacant eyes sparked to life with worry for her friend.

My heart jolted.

There she is.

Tex approached, and I tore my gaze away from her and barked, “Update?”

“The Scouts say Slash hasn’t been there for a few days,” he relayed. “Four of ‘em are missing, includin’ their SAA. They’re not at any of the safe houses we know of. They’ve disappeared.”

“They’re dead,” Abe bit out through clenched teeth. “If they’ve touched her—”

“No, Abe.” Elise walked over and touched his arm. “Don’t go there. She needs you to think clearly and straight. Think about your last conversation with her. Where did she say she was going?”

Abe squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his forehead. “She was headin’ to the big superstore over in Mapletree, the one in that industrial area.”

Elise’s eyes slid to me. I could almost see the wheels turning as her mind raced over Abe’s words. “Can I talk to you privately?”

My jaw clenched. Being alone with her was not wise.

“John,” she whispered, her hand going to my arm. “Please.”

I shook her off, ignoring the burn searing my skin, and gestured toward the new garage.

She took off, craning her neck and calling out, “Hurry!”

I sauntered over, eyes never leaving her as she leaned her back against the building. That was the moment I noticed how thin she was, painfully so.

My gut dropped. It wasn’t my business how much Elise ate. She had a husband for that. The thought made my hands clench into fists. “What is it,” I asked, probably harsher than I meant to. I jerked my thumb toward Abe. “As you can see, Elise, I’m busy.”

Hurt flashed behind her jade greens, but she jutted her chin up regardless. “When you said Burning Sinners, it rang a bell immediately. I was at the superstore last week, and I saw a few of them on their bikes in the parking lot, screwing around. When I left, a couple were riding ahead of me on Long Mile Road. I saw them turn into a dirt track about halfway down. Maybe there’s a house or a building back there. It makes sense. If Iris had been at the superstore, they could’ve seen her and made a move, even ran her off the road.”

The urgency in her tone and the intensity of her gaze made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Elise knew more than she was letting on, but I didn’t have time to question her.

I craned my neck and bellowed, “Abe!” watching as he hoofed it over. “Tell him,” I ordered Elise.

She jerked a nod and began relaying the story again.

Bracing, I spun around to head for the clubhouse, steps faltering as my stare fell on Adele.

My wife stood with my boy on her hip, her eyes darting between me and Elise.You okay?She mouthed.

Yeah,I mouthed back, following it up with,You’re a nut.

She shot me an exaggerated wink before turning on her heel and heading for the main doors, curvy hips swaying as she held Xander tight in her arms.

Biting back my laugh, I followed, my stride determined as I barked orders to the men as I went.

---