Page 92 of Single Mom's Bikers

Rose doesn’t have her usual quip about my obsessive checking of locks. She steps inside without preamble, her expression grim. “We need to talk.”

“What’s going on?” I ask.

She glances toward the kitchen, her voice dropping further. “Somewhere private.”

The unease bubbling in my stomach churns harder. I nod toward the living room, far enough from the girls that they won’t overhear.

As soon as we’re alone, Rose turns to me, her tone clipped. “You need to pack. Essentials only—clothes, documents, enough to last a few days. We’re moving.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. “What? No. We’re not running again.”

“You don’t have a choice.” She checks her phone compulsively, her jaw tight. “Death’s Head isn’t just sniffing around anymore. They’re working with him.”

Him. She doesn’t need to say Luca’s name. The ice forming in my gut is enough.

“You don’t know that.” But even as the words leave my mouth, they feel hollow. Of course she knows. Rose always knows.

“Don’t be stupid.” She herds the girls toward her car despite my protest. “You think Death’s Head showing up is a coincidence? They’re working with him. He’s found you.”

“The brothers will protect us.”

“And Luca will get everyone killed.” She checks her watch compulsively. “They’ll have a grave if we don’t act now,” she snaps, her calm façade slipping. “You know what’s at stake. Look, I didn’t want to tell you, but Clay sent a text on my way here. He said something happened at The Den this morning.”

The room tilts. “What? The brothers—I haven’t heard anything from them.”

“I don’t have the full details yet. Draven hasn’t been picking up his calls, so I’m trying to be calm, Evie. It’s getting too dangerous out here. You have to?—”

Her phone buzzes, cutting her off. She swipes the screen and answers. “Clay,” she says sharply. “I’m with Evie. Please talk.”

Clay’s voice fills the room, rough and tense. “Draven was taken.”

My legs feel like they might give out. “Taken? By who?”

“We don’t know who,” Clay continues. “It happened this morning at The Den. Sarah saw it.”

Rose’s face hardens as she speaks. “What do you mean,taken?What exactly did Sarah see?”

“She was in the office when it happened,” Clay says. “Draven was behind the bar, doing inventory. Three SUVs pulled up—black,tinted windows. Four men came in while the rest stayed with the vehicles.”

I grab the back of the couch to steady myself, my legs threatening to give out.

“They grabbed him before he could call for help,” Clay continues. “She said one of them mentioned sending a message, but that’s it. She didn’t recognize any of them.”

Rose’s jaw tightens. “And you’re sure it wasn’t Death’s Head?”

There’s a pause on the line. Probably Clay thinking about how Rose knows about MC business.

“Draven told me about them,” she lies, clearing his doubt before he asks.

“Okay,” Clay continues. “There was one guy in a leather cut,” he admits. “But the others—suits. Organized.”

The wordsuitssend a chill through me. My breathing quickens as my mind spirals.

“Where did they take him?” Rose asks sharply.

“No idea. They were gone before anyone could react.” Clay exhales heavily. “We’re looking into it. He’s going to return. Okay?”

She doesn’t answer right away. Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see hesitation—something rare and unnerving. “Okay.”

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