Page 26 of Her Obsessed Biker
“We got a lot on the line right now,” I add. “The Kings have survived a hell of a lot worse. But we do it smart. We do it together.”
Another chorus of agreement follows. Fists pound the table.
Deadeye gives me a look, unreadable but knowing. He hears the edge in my voice. Sees the heat under the steel.
I stand. “Church adjourned.”
They all rise with me. Usually, no one moves till I leave the room, but I signal for them to go on. I’ve noticed Deadeye rubbing his knuckles together all through the meeting. He only does that when he’s anxious about something.
The men exit the room, the sounds of their boots thudding against the worn wooden floors, mingling with mutters of conversation.
After the last one has left, Deadeye steps forward, arms crossed over his chest.
“This about club business?” I ask, settling back in my chair.
His mouth tightens. “It’s about your girl.”
My spine straightens before I can stop it. “What happened?”
He doesn’t waste words. “Someone’s been asking questions around town. Gas station. Grocery. Even at the garage.”
I go cold. “About her?”
He nods once. “Didn’t use her name, but the description was damn close. Blonde. Early twenties. Driving an old red Ford pickup. Said he was trying to find a missing person. Something about some ‘runaway daughter’ bullshit, but the vibe was off.”
“How off?”
“Too polished to be passing through. Didn’t give a name. Didn’t leave a number. Asked too many questions and then disappeared.”
My jaw clenches. I already know where this is headed.
“Also, her truck was ransacked behind The Black Crown last night,” Deadeye adds grimly. “Nothing was taken, but he made a mess. I asked Tyler to clean things up and drive the truck up to your cabin this morning.”
I shoot to my feet, blood pounding in my ears.
“The bastard,” I growl under my breath.
Deadeye watches me, unreadable. “You got a suspect?”
“Her stepfather,” I growl. “Piper told me he’s a real jerk. God, if he shows his face around here…”
“He’s a dead man,” Deadeye finishes, his voice dripping with ice.
“Damn right.”
I pace for a second, trying to rein in the rage clawing through my gut.
She’s been here for less than two days. I’ve already seen how raw she is, how much she’s been through. The bruises might not be on the surface, but they’re there…buried deep.
She told me she was scared of him. That she ran. And now he’s here?
No fucking way I’m letting him get within a hundred miles of her.
“Lock the perimeter,” I bark. “I want guards posted at the cabin. One at the end of the trail, one at the ridge above the trees. Discreet but armed.”
Deadeye nods. “Done.”
“Put Cruz and Diesel on rotation at The Black Crown. If anyone shows up asking questions, I want them flagged. Interrogated. If they can’t give a clean answer, we detain them. Clear?”
