Page 6 of Outplayed

“Nope. But hey, there’s a bar just down the road—”

“Fuck no,” Blue said.

“Yes. Yes, I like that idea.” Zara clapped, and once more, I was smiling, because again, Zara would get her way. It wasn’t that she was spoilt per se, she was just loved by Talon and in return, the Hawks members would do anything for her. She added, “Come on, guys, it’s just down the road, like five places away. We can walk. Nothing’s gonna happen.”

The crowded bar was dim and rowdy. We drank some more, danced, and had a great time. The only part I could have done without was Zara talking about my brother and wondering if he could be quiet during sex. I even banged my head against the back of the booth where the Hawks men sat.

Blue, Pick, and Griz quickly left. “Maybe I should join them. I really don’t feel like hearing about what my brother gets up to in bed. It’ll probably cause me to chuck.” I actually did feel sick to the stomach.

“Block your ears,” Deanna said.

For the sake of my sanity, I did just that. They kept talking while I glanced around the bar; that was how I caught some other bikers, who weren’t Hawks, saunter up. They tried to cotton onto Zara. I was about to tell them where to go, but Griz came up and told them we were Hawks property. I wanted to scoff I wasn’t anyone’s property, but I didn’t. I knew when to keep my mouth shut. I got out of the booth just as Blue ordered Zara to go dance.

Usually, I’d be all for kicking arse if needed, but I wanted to keep a better eye on Zara, so I went back out onto the dance floor with them.

Since nothing had happened all night, I thought I would be fine to go and get us some drinks. It was stupid of me to think that.

It was a foolish and dangerous mistake.

I also didn’t think Zara would leave the group, yet she had. She must have because next, I saw her being carried over someone’s shoulder outside. Not seeing Deanna, Julian, or any of the Hawks guys, I put the drinks down and hurried after them.

Outside, I took a lungful of air and scanned the streets. I spotted another guy with the one who was throwing Zara into the back of a car.

“Fuck,” I barked. I didn’t have my car, but I had to follow. When my eyes landed on a parked car, I knew I was about to do something I shouldn’t.

Talon had taught me to jack cars at a young age. Thankfully those skills were still with me. Once I managed to get the car started, I booked it after the vehicle that held Zara before it disappeared out of sight. It was already way down the road.

Fear gripped my heart. It wasn’t fear for myself, but for Zara.

She’d already been through enough in life. I didn’t want anything to happen to her.

If I didn’t know Talon loved her more than his own life, I would have stepped between them and made sure she knew who Talon had been. But since spending some time with both of them, I could see how taken they were with each other, and it wasn’t my right to stop what was happening.

Christ, I had to warn the brothers at the bar. Pulling out my phone, I made a quick call. When Griz answered, I rushed out, “Zara’s been taken. I’m in pursuit. I’ll get her back to the bar. Don’t leave.”

“Fuck,” he roared.

“I’ll get her back,” I promised.

“You’d better. I’ll ring Talon—”

“No! Wait. Give me an hour. I can do this.”

Silence greeted me on the other end for a moment and then, “Fine,” he clipped and hung up. Thank Christ I was at least smart enough to have my gun in the back of my jeans with my jacket covering it.

This was the type of shit I was born for. The thrill of the hunt. I would make these motherfuckers pay in one way or another. No one took from the Marcus family. No matter what type of business we were in.

I’d lost count of the time I’d been following at a distance. I started to slow when they pulled off into a driveway with an electric gate out front. There was a guard station at the side and security inside. One guy. Without making a scene, I sped up and drove by as if I wasn’t following the dickheads’ every move. The place was huge. Some jerkoff either had little dick syndrome or just liked to flaunt his riches.

Down the road, I pulled off to the side and thought of my options. I could just pull up to the gate and hope they’d open if I told them I was some hooker there to see whoever was behind the gate.

Shit, I suddenly felt like I was about to see the big and powerful Oz.

There was also the option of sneaking through the woods that surrounded the property. Surely the whole place wasn’t guarded. Then again, the estate looked as if it’d have cameras everywhere.

Front door it was.

At least I’d stolen somewhat of a flashy car; it could help get me in.

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