Page 14 of Harley's Hex
“Nothing,” Hex snapped, gripping the edge of the counter. “Not a single thing happened. She just vanished.”
Savage exhaled. “Bullshit,” he breathed. “She left for a reason — but she’s smart. She’s not going to put herself in danger. She’s probably lying low, figuring out her next move. Are you sure that she didn’t do or say anything to let you know why she was leaving town?”
Hex ran his hands over his face, frustration and panic coiling in his chest. “She can’t just vanish like that! I need to know she’s safe! She’s carrying my baby.”
Savage’s tone hardened. “Let me guess, she told you about the baby, and you fucked everything up. Do I have that about right?” he asked.
“No,” Hex shouted. He knew that lying to Savage would get him nowhere, and right now, he needed his club’s Prez’s help. “Yes,” he breathed. “I fucked up, and I need to find her to tell her that.”
“Oh, I can tell you that wherever Harley is, she already knows that you fucked up,” Savage taunted. “I’ll put some feelers out. But in the meantime, check with her friends, search the usual spots she hangs out in, try getting a hold of her phone records, and anything else that you can think of. Someone will have seen her. She might not want to be found, but sooner or later, she’ll turn up. I’ll be in touch when I know more, and you do the same,” Savage ordered, ending the call. Hex slammed the cell phone down on the bed, his heart hammering as he grabbed his keys, jacket, and gun, moving like a man possessed. He’d drive all night until every street in Huntsville blurred past as he retraced places she liked to go, stopping at bars, diners, even the old warehouse she’d once joked about wanting to check out. Savage was right—she might not want to be found, but sooner or later, she’d turn up, and when she did, he’d be ready to hit his knees and beg her for another chance.
By the time the sun was setting, Hex’s chest ached from worry, and every instinct inside of him screamed that she was farther than he thought. Harley had gone somewhere far, and she didn’t want to be found. He just hoped to hell that she hadn’t gone somewhere that could be dangerous for her or their baby. He was starting to think of the baby like that—as theirs, and he had to admit he liked it. What had scared the hell out of him just a few days ago now filled him with dreams of the future.
He sank onto a bench at the local park she used to walk, his phone in hand, scanning the horizon, muttering her nameover and over. “Harley, Harley, come back.” Sure, he knew he sounded crazy, but he had given up caring.
Every second that passed made him feel more helpless, more furious. He wanted to chase after her, drag her back, shake her until she understood that she couldn’t run from him, from what they had. But he had lost that right when he acted like an ass when she told him about the baby. Getting her back was going to take work, but earning her forgiveness was going to take groveling.
All he could do was continue to try to track her down, wait, and hope he found her before the baby came. And one thing was certain—he wouldn’t stop until he did.
Hex’s hands were shaking as he slouched over the dashboard of his truck, the city lights of Huntsville blurring his vision. Every street he passed felt empty without her, every passing car a reminder that she was out there, somewhere, and he couldn’t reach her.
He had been searching for her for just over two months now, and to say that finding her consumed him was an understatement. He had taken an honorable discharge that his commander had offered him about a month ago. There was no way that he’d be able to continue to look for Harley and work on base. Thankfully, his commander understood his situation and had worked with him, getting him that discharge.
He was working nights at Savage Hell to give Savage a break from bartending. He and Bowie were picking up the slack around the bar, not wanting to hire another bartender because they were both hopeful that Harley would come back andresume her position at the bar. Hex didn’t have the heart to tell them that she probably wasn’t coming home.
His phone buzzed. He grabbed it from the dashboard. “Hurricane,” Hex answered. “What’s up?”
“Hex,” Hurricane said. “You need to sit down. I’ve got a lead on Harley.”
Hex’s pulse jumped. “Where? Tell me.”
“She’s been staying with Brandi and Reacher, up here in Yonkers,” Hurricane continued.
“She’s been there this whole time, and you didn’t think to call and tell me?” Hex challenged.
“I just found out, actually,” Hurricane admitted. “My wife just had a baby, and I’ve been a bit out of the loop lately. Reacher didn’t say a word about her staying with them; otherwise, I would have called you sooner.” He thought that he had made some friends up in Yonkers. Knowing that Reacher had been keeping a secret like this from him for months now really pissed him off. If the shoe were on the other foot, Reacher would beat his ass for that kind of betrayal, and Hex had to admit, he was thinking about doing just that to Reacher.
Hex clenched the steering wheel, relief and frustration colliding in his chest. Relief that she was safe, and frustration that she’d run all the way back to Yonkers without a word. “I should have known she’d go north,” he muttered, voice low. “But why didn’t she call?”
Hurricane’s tone was clipped. “Brandi said that she’s scared. And she’s got her reasons. You’ll have to be careful, Hex. She’s not going to just let you barge in and take over. You need a plan if you want to reach her—and one damn good apology.”
Hex’s jaw tightened. “I don’t care about plans and all that shit. I’m leaving now to drive to Reacher’s. Can you send me his address? I can handle the apology to Harley, but I’ll need some time to work my way back into her life. She won’t forgive meeasily. I’ll need a place to stay while I’m up there groveling. Can I use one of your rooms above the bar?”
“Yep,” Hurricane said, his voice softer, but still firm. “I’ll let Brandi and Reacher know that you’re coming. They’ll keep her there until you get there, but you need to handle this with patience, Hex. She needs to know that you’re all in with not only her but with the baby, too. Otherwise, she might vanish again. Take it from someone who’s been there, man. Being a dad is worth every bit of grief that she’s going to give you.” Hex was sure that was the truth, and honestly, he couldn’t wait to meet him or her.
Hex tossed the phone back on the dashboard and started the truck. His heart was hammering in his chest. Hurricane told him that he was going to have to be patient, but he wasn’t sure if that was going to be a possibility. He hated that word—patient. Harley didn’t need him to be patient. She needed him to be relentless, steady, and unwavering. And that was exactly what he was going to be once he got to her up in New York. Yonkers wasn’t just miles on a map anymore. It was the distance between him and Harley—and he would close the distance, no matter what it took.
Hex’s truck rolled through the snowy streets of Yonkers, his headlights cutting through the near whiteout conditions. His jaw was tight, knuckles white on the wheel. Seeing the miles between them stretch longer than he wanted had made his chest ache with every passing second. He couldn’t wait to get to Harley and tell her that he had fucked up. Savage was right—she probably already knew that, but he needed to give her the words, and then, he’d beg her to take him back.
He parked outside of Brandi and Reacher’s place. It was quiet, understated, and looked to be safe. Hex exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. He didn’t need to scare her by marching in there and making demands. He needed her to know he was here for her and that if she and the baby would have him, he was theirs.
He rapped sharply on the door, and a moment later Brandi opened it, her eyes cautious but warm. “Hex,” she said softly. “She’s inside. She’s been expecting you.”
“You told her that I was coming?” he asked. He worried that if Harley knew that he was on his way to New York, she’d take off again, and this time, he might not be able to find her. That thought terrified him.
“I did,” she said. “I thought that it was for the best, you know, for the baby and all. She’s been having issues with her blood pressure, and if she can’t get it under control, the doctor said that she’s going to have to go on bed rest. The last time that Harley was on bedrest, she gave him hell. It was right after they got back to Huntsville when the Dead Rabbits took her. She had a few busted ribs, and she had to take it easy, which meant that Harley gave him hell around every corner. He couldn’t help but smile at the memory.
Brandi stood aside, ushering him in, and when he stepped inside the house, he saw her—Harley. She was sitting on the couch, hands folded over her giant belly, eyes wide but bright, scanning the door as if expecting him to disappear before she could reach him.
