Page 51 of Zeke

“Don’t know yet, but we need to get to the bakery,” I tell him.

By this point, everyone knows the bakery is a hot spot for us to be watching. More than that, everyone knows about me and Zeke and our battle over the girl that works there. I’m not surprised when I see Brawler relax a little. I’m sure he doesn’t think it’s anything important, but I turn and walk out the door without looking back at him. Zeke wouldn’t have messaged me unless it was an emergency, especially not about Kira. He wouldn’t want to risk me beating him there. If he’s willing to let that happen, it means she’s really in danger.

I kick on my bike and let the engine roar to life before tearing ass out of the restaurant’s parking lot and heading to the other side of town where Kira lives, Brawler right at my six, ready to deal with any trouble that may come our way.

Of course, when I pull up, Zeke’s bike is already there, but I don’t see him. I run up the stairs to the apartment, hoping I’m not too late, and I knock on the door.

“Kira?” I call through into the apartment. “Kira, are you in there?”

I wish I could say I’m surprised when Zeke answers the door for her, but I expected that. What I didn’t expect was to see Kira perfectly fine but obviously rattled, holding two bags.

“She’s coming home with me,” Zeke tells me, and my heart breaks in two. If she’s packed her bags to go with him, then it is clear who she’s chosen.

“Good,” I say despite the fact nothing feels good at all. “She’ll be safe there.”

Zeke looks both relieved and thrilled as he takes Kira’s hand and walks her outside to his bike. I watch from the window as he gets her bags strapped to the back of his bike, then helps her onto the seat behind him, and takes off out of the lot toward the farmhouse.

And that’s it. That’s the end of my campaign to win Kira’s heart. As she rides away on his bike, I know any chance I had has gone up in smoke.

Justice is still here, so I turn to him, trying not to show how devastated I am on my face.

“What happened?” I ask, wanting some answers if I’m giving up on the chase.

Justice shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair. “Not really sure,” he says. “But it’s obvious someone has an issue. There were some flowers. Apparently, she’s gotten them before, but without a note, only tonight there was one. It said, ‘Do not ignore me.’”

“Damn,” Brawler says. “That’s creepy as hell.”

“No kidding,” I say, nauseous at the thought of someone sending something like that to Kira. “Who do you think it is?”

Justice shrugs, and I look at Brawler who does the same. “Hell if I know,” he says.

“Yeah,” I say. “Me neither. Let’s check the place, inside and out, make sure no one missed anything.”

“I already did the inside,” Justice says. “But feel free to have another look. Maybe I missed something.”

I nod and head into the apartment. I don’t bother drawing my gun since Justice already cleared the place out, but I do keep my eyes peeled. I get to Kira’s bedroom and stop in the doorway, looking in. I take a breath and try to ignore the pain in my chest that has settled so deep that I almost can’t think of anything else. Seeing her room, a space where she and I might have shared intimate moments if I hadn’t lost, is another nail in the coffin.

I do my best to search for anything out of place, in every drawer, pausing on her underwear drawer. The lingerie isn’t the kind I’d envisioned in my fantasy, but it is no less sexy. Silk and lace in every color…

Damn it. I need to get my head off this topic, but it’s hard when she’s our current mission. When did the Ruthless Kings become personal security, anyway?

Oh, right. When both of our VPs fell for the same girl.

I go to the living room after coming up empty-handed on any clues and sit on the couch, pulling out my phone. I don’t know who I want to talk to. It isn’t Zeke. He’s probably busy anyway, taking Kira up to his room…

I shake the thoughts away again. I can’t focus on that if I’m going to do my job.

Speaking of my job, since I’m sure Zeke is preoccupied, it’s going to fall on me to call Eden. She needs to know what’s going on. I only hope she’s having a better day than me.

I pull out my phone and Brawler asks, “Who are you calling?”

“Big Red,” I say as I dial my sister’s number. He nods and takes a seat in the kitchen, waiting for me to tell him what to do.

Justice comes back in before Eden picks up and says, “Outside is clear. If you guys have this, I’m going to head back to the farmhouse.”

I nod at him and give him a little wave to let him know that it’s fine, and he heads out.

“Eli?” Eden says, picking up the phone.

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