Page 51 of Property of Spike

“We’re getting him backtomorrow.”

The words settle in the air, heavy with promise. And I’ll be damned if I let anything stop me from making it happen.

***

“You really should’ve stayed home,” Bones mutters, gripping the steering wheel tight. “Not just for your safety, butfor Riley’s. You’re the face of this club, Prez. One look at you, and that bastard Chuck will know exactly where she and Asher are.”

“I get your logic,” I say, my voice steady. “I do, brother. But Ineededto be here. I needed to be in this damn car when Maverick brings my son out of that house. I needed to be the one to hold him first, to take him back to his mother.” I gesture toward the windows. “Besides, these are tinted past the legal limit. No one can see me.”

Bones stays quiet, jaw tight. He knows I’m right, but that doesn’t stop him from worrying. It never does. I don’t know how many times I’ve told him he doesn’t need to be my damn bodyguard, yet here we are.

“Here he comes,” Bones says, relief bleeding into his voice.

My eyes lock past Maverick and land on Chuck, standing on his porch, arms crossed, scowling like the miserable bastard he is.

He may not be able to find my family yet, but he’s gonna try. This won’t be the last time I see Charles Landry.

Maverick yanks open the passenger door and climbs inside, slamming it shut. Before he even has a chance to hand Asher back, I reach forward, carefully taking my son into my arms.

“Hey there, son,” I murmur, my voice soft and filled with relief. “Your mommy misses you very much.”

I check him over, my fingers running gently along his tiny arms, legs, and belly. No bruises, no marks. He’s warm and breathing.Safe.

Satisfied, I press a kiss to his soft little head before securing him into his seat.

“Get us the fuck out of here, Bones,” Maverick growls. “Before I jump out and beat that bastard until he can’t fucking function.”

My blood runs cold. I snap my gaze up to Maverick. “What happened?” My voice is sharp, deadly. “Are you hurt?”

Sure, Maverick can watch out for himself. But, I’ll kill any bastard who harms any member of my family. That includes the stubborn Outlaw.

I narrow my eyes, watching Maverick shift in his seat, gripping his thighs like he’s trying to hold himself back from going feral. My patience is already hanging by a thread. I need answers.

“What happened?” I repeat, my voice cold. “Did he touch you?”

Maverick shakes his head but doesn’t meet my eyes. “Not me.” His jaw clenches tight, the muscles ticking. “But that fucker sure as hell wanted to make sure I passed along a message.”

I already know I’m not gonna like this. “Spit it out.”

Maverick exhales through his nose, looking out the window like it’ll stop the rage from swallowing him whole. “He said to tell Riley to enjoy her time playing house. That it won’t last. That he can’t wait to have her back and under him so he can teach her a lesson. Took everything in me to turn and walk away, Spike. If I didn’t have your boy in my arms, I wouldn’t have.”

The air in the car turns suffocating.That motherfucker.

Bones curses under his breath. “Knew this wasn’t over. Does he know she’s with the Shadows?”

“Not sure, but I wouldn’t doubt it,” Maverick says. “It’s not even the words he said, brother. It’s the way he said them. There was something almost wild behind his voice.”

The only thing that stops me from leaving this car so I can put a bullet in Chuck’s smug face is the tiny sound that comes from the infant seat. A small, soft noise.

Asher.

I look beside me. He’s awake now, blinking up at the ceiling, completely unaware of the war raging inside me.

I exhale sharply, running a hand down my face, forcing the red-hot fury down before I do something reckless. I can’t afford to lose my shit. Not here. Not now.

“Get us the fuck home,” I mutter.

Bones nods, pressing his foot down on the gas.

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