Page 54 of Rescue Us

“What’s wrong?” I asked, taking a swig from the water bottle.

“I broke a table,” was all he said.

“Really?”

He only chuckled, running his fingers along his mouth.

I sighed, shaking my head. “Just make sure she has a safeword. I don’t need to find out that you got charged with—”

“Don’t worry about me, Cyrus. I know that communication is key.”

“Good.” I went to ask him if Amber was finally giving him the time of day but his next words stopped me.

“I heard that Price is causing a ripple. Someone from another chapter saw him and before they could take him down, he disappeared again. I don’t like not knowing where he is.”

My back stiffened. “I’m assuming this was in another city and that Piper’s okay?” Jaron had asked us to watch out for her and their daughter but since Price Davies had disappeared, we didn’t need to as much anymore.

“Yeah, he made his way north it seems. I don’t know what his deal is. It’s not like people won’t recognize him. His face was splashed on the news for years. Fucking fucker is making me itchy but Piper’s fine. Thank fuck she’s fine.” Sammy drank half of the bottle before continuing. “Jaron’s adding a new security system at their house thanks to Lucas. You know, all the years he’s helped the club, I’ve never actually met him.”

“He stays away.” I had been friends with Lucas Crane’s son, Rowan, but we only contacted each other lately when we needed something.

“Right.” Sammy finished off his water, rose from the couch, and went to the kitchen. “Why are you up still?” he asked, throwing the bottle into the recycling bin.

“Couldn’t sleep,” I mumbled, needing something stronger than water.

“Everything okay?”

I looked at him then. He was smaller than me, but it still felt like I was looking in a mirror. “I don’t know. I’m feeling off tonight. I guess I—” My phone suddenly rang off in the distance. We both knew that if someone was calling this late, something was wrong. We learned that from experience.

Heading back to my bedroom, I picked my phone up off the nightstand. My eyes widened when I saw Ainsley’s name flashing across the screen.

“Who is it?” Sammy asked from the doorway.

“It’s Ainsley,” I told him.

“Really? The quiet girl?”

Ignoring him, I answered the phone. “Hello?” When no response came, I frowned. “Ainsley?” My heart skipped a beat that something was wrong with her. She shouldn’t have been calling me, a text or a video chat yes, but I hadn’t earned her trust enough yet for her to actually speak to me. This didn’t make sense. “Are you there, pet?”

I sensed Sammy behind me. He was probably wondering why I called her pet. As much as I loved him, she would be the first one to know. If she ever asked, of course.

“Ainsley,” I repeated when suddenly, a click sounded in my ear. I pulled the phone from my ear and stared at the small screen. She hung up.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know but I’m going to find out.” I threw on a t-shirt, followed by a hoodie, and went to the door, when I realized that Sammy was still standing there. “What?”

“You’re going over to her place?” he asked, something I couldn’t quite put a finger on, flashing behind his eyes. “Now? At this time?”

“Yes, because something’s wrong. Not that I have to explain anything to you, brother.” I went to walk past him when he stepped in front of me. “I don’t recommend trying to stop me.”

“I’m not stopping you,” he bit out. “But I want you to be sure about this.”

“Just like you are? Come on, Sammy. Get your fucking head out of your ass and tell Amber that you’re in love with her.” Not waiting for a response from him, I rushed out of the apartment and headed to Ainsley’s place.

I tried calling her again, hoping that maybe she would pick up and talk to me. But the phone only rang and rang. She didn’t even have her voicemail set up.

As soon as I sat my ass in the SUV, I sent her a text.

---