Page 34 of Redemption

The moment the door to our room closes behind us, he pulls me into his arms, his lips eagerly seek mine. Under any other situation, with the adrenaline flowing through our bodies, we’d be a second or so away from him pounding his dick into me, but there’s no time to be wasted.

Pulling away from him, I look up at his stoney expression and just start sobbing.

“I shouldn’t have left her,” I gasp out the words that have been echoing through my mind. Swiping my hand across my face, I turn to the closet to grab my backpack. The sight of the stupid safe enrages me and I smack it.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Vector says, wrapping his arms around me to pull me against his chest. Lifting my, now, bright red palm up to his mouth for a kiss. “None of this is your fault. I’ll fill you in on everything once we get back, but we need to move now.”

I nod, trying to control my tears as he tries to soothe me.

“Now, are you going to tell me why you’re so mad at the safe?” he asks me, undoubtedly trying to lighten my mood.

“It’s a lie,” I snivel. “Roman showed me how to unlock it.”

“Yeah, about that,” he says, with a chuckle. “I hid your money in the bathroom so no one would nick it. You get packed, I’ll grab that.”

I’m glad my back is to him as my snort blows a snot bubble and I quickly cross to get some Kleenex, wiping my face before seeing to the task at hand. I look up at the knock on the door, to see Vector opening it for Roman.

“I’m ready, let me get one of your bags,” he says, and I see he just has one small bag with him just as his eyes take in the size of my backpack. “Actually, I can fit both on my bike.”

“Appreciate it,” Vector simply responds, and I’m pleased he doesn’t tease me about how much I packed. Now more than ever, I understand how important it is to pack lightly when we’re traveling by motorcycle.

“I’m ready,” I say, once I’ve double checked the room.

“Before we go, I need ask you to do something,” he starts slowly, holding his hands out in front of him. “I know we haven’t talked about living arrangements yet, but I want you to take some time off work and stay at the clubhouse with me.”

“How much time?” I ask, wondering how much damage I would do to my career if I wasn’t around to oversee the project I was tasked with.

“A week, maybe two,” he responds, and I immediately start shaking my head at him. “Babe, we have to get a handle on this. Whoever did this, they could have just as easily taken you today, and I need to know you’re safe.”

“I love you, but no. I cannot be a prisoner because something might happen,” I tell him, needing to put my foot down so this doesn’t determine the course of our relationship. “Besides work, I wouldn’t just leave Pops alone.”

“We can bring him to the compound. He can have the master bedroom in Bridget’s house for now,” he counters, but I cross my arms against my chest. “I need you to at least give me a couple of days, Sloane, please?”

I finally nod my head. Technically, I had already taken Monday off to help Pops with the errands and chores I’d typically be doing over the weekend. Now, it sounds like we’ll get himsituated at the compound and I can work remotely the first two days of the week.

With my agreement, Vector reaches for my bag and we head downstairs to check out and leave. The beauty of the ride home is marred with worry for Grace and wondering what steps are in motion to find her.

We’re an hour into the trip when I suddenly remember she has a son and that’s when my tears start to flow. Poor Vector. His head jerks as he briefly looks over his shoulder, as if trying to figure out what is wrong with me. There’s a sign for an exit directly ahead of us and he points at it, letting me know we’re making a stop.

Chapter 12

Vector

It’s bad enough that Grace was kidnapped, but how the hell do I comfort Sloane? I can’t look her in the eyes and tell her everything is going to be alright—because there are no fucking guarantees.

“There has to be something we can do,” Sloane sobs the moment she hops off my bike and lifts the facemask of her helmet.

I grip her arm as I lower the kickstand and hit the ignition.

“Look at me, love,” I keep my voice low as I swing my leg over and stand beside her. Without the hum of the engine, we’re in danger of attracting unwanted attention. “Crasher is keeping tabs on things while we’re on the road. If anything happens, I’ll get a call.”

“She has a son, Vector.” Sloane’s voice cracks and I remove her helmet, pressing my forehead to hers.

“There’s nothing you’re going to say that I haven’t thought of. I love that you want to do something, but it’s not our place,” I respond as I ever so slightly increase the pressure of my grip her shoulders. “You need to understand that when a man like Ford says she’s under his protection, he’s going to move heaven and hell to get her back safely. I wouldn’t have ridden away from there if I had any doubts.”

Hearing another bike approach, I turn my head to see Roman rolling up on us. He was ahead of me so must have circled back from the next exit when he noticed I wasn’t behind him anymore; I wave him past so Sloane won’t get flustered.

“I just feel like I should be doing something,” she mumbles, letting out a shuddering breath. “Back home, I could have called Chet to bring his coon dogs out to help tracking.”

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