Page 25 of Finding Her Panthers

That took more restraint than expected. My need for them is so great. I just know one of us will break soon.

***

Swinging open my apartment door is odd. It looks the same as it always did. The same crazy colors, but so quiet, almost abandoned. The stillness is startling. Was it only two days ago we were living here? I turn on the lights. The guys spread out in the space. I realize this is the first time they have been inside, making me self-conscious for some reason. I turn a critical eye to the room. It isn’t big. We made it home, the first of my adult life, but it pales in comparison to their place.

“Go pack all that you need. We don’t want to be here for long,” Jax informs me, leaning up against the back of the couch. James wanders around the living room, taking in the pictures we had scattered around. Blue stood firm in front of the door, constantly on guard, daring someone to try to get in.

I nod, turning sharply, hurrying into my bedroom. I go right to my closet and pull out my suitcase that has hardly been used. I had no money or desire to travel. The furthest I have gone is across town to stay in a hotel with Penny. She called it our staycation getaway. We went to the spa and salon for the first time and pampered ourselves for two whole days with massages, facials, waxing, the works. It was amazing. We had the ultimate girl time. We promised we would do it every couple of months. Then life got in the way, those pesky bills.

Laying the suitcase on the bed, I empty a few drawers into it. I love wearing my guys' clothes, and I’m sure I still will, but I need some things they don’t have. I pile on a few shirts, socks, and underwear. I have never been a leggings kind of girl, so I make sure to add several pairs of jeans, some shorts, and tons of my comfy sleep pants. I add on my second favorite pair of boots, some sneakers, and my warm slippers.

I move on to the bathroom, grateful to be able to get my girly shit. My favorite shampoo smells like strawberries.

Taking my load back to the bedroom, I attempt to shove it all in the too-small suitcase. Once I force the zipper closed, I look around the room. At the last minute, I decided to grab the picture of Penny and me from my nightstand, along with my kindle. I don’t like going anywhere without my stories. Since the day I discovered books, I have been able to live someone else’s life where you get to go on a fantastic journey, fall in love, be anyone you want to be. It has been my escape away from my dreary life.

I turn in the doorway, giving it one last look, not sure when or if I will ever stay here again. Suddenly I hear cursing from the living room. I spin around, hurrying out with my suitcase dragging behind me.

“What’s going on?” I am alarmed. Jax’s hands are shifted, his claws digging into the counter. James is sniffing the air, pacing around the rooms.

“Jax received a text. There may be a bomb.” Blue's voice is covered with violence, his face hard. “We’ve been followed.”

“Holy shit? A bomb where? In here?” I ask urgently.

“We don’t know for sure,” Jax growls, moving fast to me, grabbing my arm, pulling me over quickly to Blue.

“Take her. Leave now. Go to the house,” he demands.

“What? No. We all stay together,” I say, panicking.

“Call Stephan. Tell him to lock everyone down but do a sweep of the club. Call Kerian, too. We may need him in on this,” he continues, ignoring me.

“No. Jax.” Now he’s really scaring me, and he won’t even look at me. Blue grabs me from behind at my waist, pulling me to the door, my suitcase in his other hand.

“Call some of the others, get them to the house, put them outside the gate to patrol,” he instructs.

“Jax,” I say desperately, reaching out to him.

“Baby girl, go. We will be there soon,” he tells me unconvincingly, gripping my chin roughly, placing a hard kiss on my lips.

James does the same, the sadness in his face unlike anything I have seen on him.

“James,” I whisper.

“We will be fine. Don’t worry,” he tries to assure me.

Blue pulls me back harder, forcing me out of the door, hurrying me down to the car. He opens the passenger side, looking around cautiously, practically throwing me into the seat and slamming the door, giving my suitcase the same treatment before jogging around to the driver's seat. My hands are shaking so hard trying to buckle my seatbelt until I finally succeed. I grip the handle on the door to keep from hitting it when Blue peels out of the parking lot.

My mind is swirling with fears and emotions. I can’t lose them right after finally finding them. I have to suck back tears. I have to keep it together. I know Blue will take care of me but who will take care of them? I look behind my seat, expecting an explosion, fire, or something. But it’s all quiet. Maybe it was meant just to scare us. I have never prayed so hard as I did as we drove away.

Chapter Eight

Blue

I have to concentrate on not breaking the steering wheel, prying my fingers off, one at a time, loosening my grip. This is some fucked up shit. I have to keep it together, for Harmony at least. The hardest thing I have had to do was leave my brothers in an unknown situation. The fear in the cab is stifling.

The top priority at this time is keeping Harmony safe, bringing reinforcements, finding out if the bomb threat is real, and taking care of the threat. In that order. As much as I would love to find and kill the asshole who wrote the text, I have to get to a safe place with my precious cargo. I glance over quickly, watching her gather herself. My teeth grind together, fighting the urge to pull over and pull her into my arms.

Not having a choice, I keep driving, watching the rearview mirror for any suspicious vehicles, hitting the system to engage my phone.

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