Page 56 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

“Lex coming to help you?” Noah asked, lifting a brow.

Carter cringed slightly. “I doubt it. See you later.”

Lifting his focus to the early spring sky overhead, Noah headed out toward the road, a little more hopeful. A ways down the road and headed up one side of a massive hill, he was kicking himself for not accepting her ride. He jostled his duffel on one shoulder and dug deep to reach the top.

After he started the downward trip, he glanced over one shoulder and could no longer see the building the club was housed in. And with that, Brody was out of his life.

Why did it hurt so fucking bad?

9

“Chris?” Brody stepped into the hallway, frowning. “Chris?”

An eerie silence fell over the apartment. Chris’ bag wasn’t where it had been the night before and the only reason he knew exactly where it had been was he’d considered it on the way to bed, supposing he should clear out a drawer.

Clear out a drawer.That’s how far gone he was.

He checked his phone for the time. Nearly eleven.

Maybe he’s washing clothes again?Brody marched toward the small laundry area, but found it empty. After checking the apartment from top to bottom, including the downstairs hall, it was obvious.

Chris was gone.

Maybe it’s for the best.

Brody snarled. It wasn’t for the fucking best. He worried where his boy was… if his relative had taken him in…

If he was safe.

I have no idea where he was going. How the hell will I find him?

There were more unanswered questions than answered ones. Heading for his truck so he could see if he could track Chris down, Brody’s cell rang and vibrated in his pocket. He saw it was a text from Stace.

911! Call me!

Brody’s heart seized in his chest. Was there something wrong with Parker? He attempted the call, but it dropped three times in a row. Instead of wasting more time, he jumped behind the wheel and revved the engine before spinning out of the parking lot and onto the street. He reached his ex’s house minutes later and jumped from his truck.

Heart beating madly, Brody raced up the doorstep and barged into the front door unannounced. He raced through the foyer and stopped in the living room—where he found Parker, Stacey, and Geena hanging up streamers and balloons. Parker’s friend, Riley, sat on the floor blowing up a balloon.

“Hey, dad,” Parker said with a wave, a big smile on his face.

He paused and took a breath. “Hey.”

“Hey, darling, you were supposedto call,” Stacey said, stepping down from an aluminum stepladder. She glanced up at her handiwork. “Does that look uniform?”

“The call kept dropping, and I was already headed to my truck anyway.” He lifted his gaze to where Stacey eyed the streamers. “My first concern isn’t your decorations,” he said before glancing at his son, glad the boy seemed relatively okay. “I assumed something had happened to Parker.” He paused.“Nothing’shappened to Parker, right?”

“Of course not,” Stacey said, walking closer. “It’s myotherson.”

Brody frowned. “Has something happened to him?”

“Yes,” she said, nearly bouncing on her feet. “He called this morning. He’s on his way here.”

Brody sighed with relief. “That’swhy I got a 911 text? You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

Stacey’s smile faded some. “Youwerehis stepfather.”

“For a few months,” Brody replied. “Fourteen years ago. The kid probably doesn’t remember me.”

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