“Who’s driving you?” she asks, leaning against my bedroom wall.
Not you, I think to myself.
“I don’t know. Where’s Talon? He can take me,” I say, lifting up the suitcase. Faye hands me the little key for the lock and I put it in my pocket. “Thanks.”
“Why do you want Talon to take you? Don’t you think you should get to know the other men too? I’m sure Rake or Tracker can take you. They’re sitting outside doing nothing right now.”
“It’s just a ride to the airport, Faye,” I grumble. “Where’s Shayla?”
I feel comfortable around Vinnie’s woman, because she’s Talon’s cousin and I’ve been around her multiple times before.
“Exactly, it’s just a ride,” she says infuriatingly. I ignore her presence and walk to the door, but she runs up next to me.
“I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be,” I tell her, softening my tone.
“Do you like it here? Are you happy?” she continues, the concern in her tone sincere.
I stop and face her. “Sweetie, let me find Elizabeth, and then we can have this discussion. Deal?”
She nods. “Okay.”
“Good.”
Luckily for me, Talon is out front, waiting for me.
“You ready to go?” he asks, getting into the club’s black four-wheel drive.
I nod and look down at Faye, lean forward, and kiss her on the top of her head. She’s a pain in the ass, but she’s right, she is growing on me. “Stay out of trouble.”
“Find her,” she says. “And be safe. I know you can do this.”
Is she a motivational speaker now too?
I put my suitcase in the back and then slide into the passenger’s seat. Loud music flares, but Talon lowers it. I spare him a thankful glance.
He grins as he starts to exit the parking lot. “Sounds like Faye’s music.”
I make a sound of agreement.
Talon laughs, then turns serious. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? You say the word and I’m there.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m just making sure the cops are doing everything they can. There’s nothing you can do to help. Stay with your woman and your kid.”
Talon has his own little family now: his woman, Tia, and her son, Rhett, who he’s taken on as his own. Talon might have been the Wild Men president, but being part of the Wind Dragons seems to be working out for him really well. I’ve never seen him so happy.
“I know you can handle yourself. Just know that I’m here if you need me.”
“I know,” I say, and I do. “I really want to find her, you know? Even though I’m not keen on working with this cop.”
“No shit,” Talon says, groaning. “Fuck, never thought I’d see the day. Be careful. You know you can never trust them.”
“I know,” I say, leaning my head back against the headrest. “We’re going to have to just deal with each other and work as a team, forget the cop and biker shit until we find Elizabeth.”
“Easier said than done,” Talon says, gripping the steering wheel. “But you’re right. I really hope you find her, brother. I know she meant something to you.”
“Yeah,” I say softly. “She did.”
And she does.
Not finding her isn’t an option.
• • •
She’s sitting at the gate when I see her.
I drop into the seat next to her. She’s wearing a blue top, jeans, and pink-and-black sneakers. She looks fuckin’ adorable, and it annoys me. I shouldn’t think she’s adorable. I shouldn’t think she’s anything except someone I’ve called a temporary cease-fire on. We’re on the same team for now, but as soon as we’re done here, things will go back to normal. We’ll step back onto our opposite sides and pretend we never knew each other.
“Finally decided to show up, hey?” she murmurs, not bothering to look up from the magazine she’s flipping through. She doesn’t have any polish on her nails—they’re just short and blunt—but her fingers and hands are still pretty and feminine.
“It’s a domestic flight, no need to be hours early,” I decide to point out.
She glances at her watch. “Cutting it a little close, don’t you think? I’d rather be early than take any chances. I want to get there as soon as possible.”
Yeah, I almost missed the flight, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“What are you reading?” I ask her, relaxing in the chair, stretching my legs out. “How to be a feminist in 2017?”
She smirks, but I don’t get a rise out of her. She simply ignores me, which makes me want to push her more. Get a reaction out of her. What makes her tick?
What is she like in bed?
I shake my head as if that will get rid of that thought. Fuck, my mind doesn’t need to go there. Nope, not at all.
“You going to be quiet the whole trip?” I prod, wanting her to speak. “Do we have a plan for when we get there?”
She closes her magazine, which is actually Guns & Ammo.
I get hard.
Fuck.
“We need to liaise with the local police there. They’re expecting us. Well, at least they’re expecting me.”
“Didn’t tell them you’re bringing along an outlaw biker with you?” I tease, grinning at my own comment.